During yesterday's press conference, the mainstream media finally asked Texans head coach Gary Kubiak why the Houston offense consistently struggles for one and dominates for the other. Kubiak was able to respond with what changes spark the second-half turnaround. Yes, Gary knows what makes the offense tick, and there are still the same problems every week.
I shouldn't have to tell you that the Q-and-A, while a bit wordy, is worth reading, but I just did so forgive me. While we're at it, let's throw in a jump since I'm also going to need to respond.
Press Member: Gary, you went down and kicked a FG early in the game, but, in terms of the entire first half, can or do you do anything, [such as] change routine, to try and get your team from being at a deficit after a half of play. It seems consistently you are.
Kubiak: ...We have to figure out a way to get more snaps and we're down from the standpoint of time of possession as a football team. Second half, we came out and went up-tempo. Last week, we started the game up-tempo. Don't know if y'all noticed that, we went two plays at the line of scrimmage. We're searching to get more snaps and to stay on the football field because that's the only way to be effective.
Yes, the defense is on pace to be one of the worst defenses of all-time, so you want the offense to control the ball. In a classic display of strategery, Kubiak recognizes the need for more snaps, but he seems to forget about Arian Foster, the league's leading rusher, early and often.
I didn't notice the up-tempo, Gary, but you just admitted to calling it for the first half of the San Diego game (20 points) and the second half of the Jacksonville game (21 points). Surely up-tempo makes sense now that you say it aloud...right?
John McClain: When you say up-tempo, it makes sense now, you gonna do that all the time? What exactly does that mean? Does it mean getting out of the huddle quicker? Snap quicker?
K: Obviously, you have things you're trying to get done in a game formation-wise. Find out how people are gonna play you defensively and if you get yourself in a bind - some of those motions, and some of those shifts, and some of those things that you do as coaches to give defenses problems you gotta say, "I'd rather have tempo and snaps. I'm not worried about creating you problems right now." We gotta get some snaps. That's kinda where we were when we went in at halftime. We had 22, 23 snaps at halftime. We had the ball to start, so we were trying to figure out a way to come out of the half with 50 snaps. About the best way to do that is try and run them as fast as we can.
I have to give credit to McClain for stating what I was thinking as I heard the press conference. I give no credit for Kubiak's answer which suggests that the offense comes out conservative to see how the defense wants to play them as opposed to watching game film and anticipating what they want to do.
Also, I know he, correctly, wouldn't admit his gameplan in a press conference, but I do hope Kubiak got a clue as he spoke. This up-tempo offense has scored 41 points over the two halves it has been run, according to Kubiak's admittance. The normal offense? Six points. Maybe it's just me, but I would let Matt Schaub and the offense off the leash if my job were on the line and my defense was historically bad.
Stop searching for more snaps, Coach, and move to the up-tempo offense for more than one half.