Houston Texans Promote Frank Bush as New Defensive Coordinator

This afternoon, the Texans announced that Frank Bush would be promoted into the position of defensive coordinator. (interview above) This is not really a surprise, but for many it is a pretty curious decision.

Why promote a guy from within for a defense that has been one of the worst in the league for years? What in his performance justified him being the only guy interviewed for the job?

Gary Kubiak claims that it became obvious to them that Bush was the best candidate available:

"Studying the guys that were out there, trying to go through things with (owner) Bob (McNair) and with (general manager) Rick (Smith), all my homework kept coming back to Frank. I just think that we've got something started here. We don't want to venture away from our 4-3 scheme and what we're doing."

Something started? The Texans were near the bottom of the league in both run and pass defense for the last three years. The only thing started is that the defense's house is on fire, and he is asking one of the guys responsible for that arson to put out the flames.

The Texans tried to interview Jerry Gray, secondary coach with Washington, but the Redskins denied him permission to talk to the team.

Bush in his press conference today claimed that the biggest difference in the defense is that it will be a more attacking style. Skeptical Texan fans remember that these same generalities were said when former DC Richard Smith was hired. For more discussion of the Bush hire, please check out my Texans Chick blog.