HOUSTON TEXANS WEEKLY RELEASE - NFL.com

GENERAL MANAGER RICK SMITH
TEXANS COACHING C STAFF
2010 HOUSTON TEXANS COACHING STAFF
Gary Kubiak
Frank Bush
Rick Dennison
Joe Marciano
Ray Rhodes
John Benton
Perry Carter
David Gibbs
Chick Harris
Johnny Holland
Larry Kirksey
Greg Knapp
Bill Kollar
Marc Lubick
Bruce Matthews
Brian Pariani
Frank Pollack
Robert Saleh
Matt Schiotz
Cedric Smith
Head Coach
Defensive Coordinator
Offensive Coordinator
Special Teams Coordinator
Senior Defensive Assistant
Offensive Line
Assistant Defensive Backs
Defensive Backs
Running Backs
Linebackers
Wide Receivers
Quarterbacks
Asst. Head Coach/Defensive Line
Offensive Assistant
Offensive Assistant
Tight Ends
Assistant Offensive Line
Assistant Linebackers
Assistant Strength & Conditioning
Strength & Conditioning
OFFENSIVE OFFSEASON HIRES
The Houston Texans made three additions to the offensive
coaching staff in the offseason: Offensive Coordinator
Rick Dennison, Quarterbacks Coach Greg Knapp and Offensive
Assistant Marc Lubick.
The 51-year-old Dennison is in his 16th season in the NFL
as a coach and his 25th year in the league overall. Dennison
has spent 24 years with the Denver Broncos, first as
a player from 1982-90 and then as a coach from 1995-09,
before being named the Texans’ offensive coordinator on
January 11, 2010.
Dennison served as offensive coordinator in Denver from
2006-08 after his predecessor, Gary Kubiak, left Denver to
become the head coach of the Texans. He coached the
Broncos offensive line from 2001-05 and resumed that role
in 2009. He also coached Denver’s special teams from
1997-2000 and was an offensive assistant from 1995-96.
Knapp is also in his 16th season in the NFL as a coach,
including the last nine seasons as an offensive coordinator.
Overall, Knapp is entering his 25th year in coaching.
Knapp coached Texans QB Matt Schaub in Atlanta from
2004-06 as the offensive coordinator of the Falcons.
Knapp spent last season as the offensive coordinator for
the Seattle Seahawks and guided an attack that averaged
316.8 yards per game, including 218.9 per game through
the air.
Lubick is in his third season in the NFL as a coach or
scouting assistant. He worked as Colorado State’s tight
ends coach and recruiting coordinator in 2009. He worked
as the Rams wide receivers coach from 2005-07.
Rick Smith is in his fifth season as Texans general manager
after being named to the post on June 5, 2006. The
Texans have accumulated 36 wins since then, giving
him the most wins for a general manager in Texans history.
The Texans have gotten better every season with
Smith at the helm and
posted their first winning
season in 2009,
going 9-7. Smith has
built a team that has
battled throughout the
year as evidenced by
a combined 14-6 record
in the final month
of the season over the
Rick SMITH
GENERAL MANAGER
5TH YEAR WITH TEXANS
15TH YEAR IN NFL
RICK SMITH
2006-10 General Manager
Houston Texans
2006 Assistant General Manager
Denver Broncos
2000-05 Director of Pro Personnel
Denver Broncos
1996-99 Defensive Assistant
Denver Broncos
last four years. That record ranks fourth in the NFL and
tops among teams in the AFC South. Houston had an NFLworst
.211 winning percentage in the last month of the
season before his arrival.
Smith has assembled a front office staff that has the
Texans pointed toward sustained success in the NFL and
has established himself as a prominent voice around the
league in his four years at the helm with the Texans. He
was appointed to the NFL’s prestigious eight-man Competition
Committee by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on
December 5, 2008 and was honored with the Tank Younger
Award in 2008, presented annually by the Fritz Pollard Alliance
for outstanding work in an NFL front office. Smith
was also an original member of the General Managers Advisory
Committee that provides advice and other feedback
to the NFL Football Operations department on the integrity
of the game, expansion of technology and other ways to
improve the game.
Smith’s main philosophy has been to build through the
draft and supplement via free agency. Last season, 13
players who the Texans signed or acquired during Smith’s
tenure started 10 or more games. In the final win of the
season against the Patriots, 15 of Houston’s 22 starters
had been with the Texans since his arrival in June 2006.
During the 2009 draft, Houston selected eight players,
with four starting at least one game. First-round pick LB
Brian Cushing was selected to the Pro Bowl and name
Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year. Secondround
pick DE Connor Barwin led all NFL rookie defensive
ends with 4.5 sacks.
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