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By JOHN MCCLAIN
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
If everything goes according to plan, new Texans coach Gary Kubiak will dig into the Oilers archives for his co-defensive coordinators.
Although nothing is finalized because both are under contract, Kubiak wants Arizona linebackers coach Frank Bush and Miami co-defensive coordinator Richard Smith to run his defense.
Bush and Smith played key roles in one of the most important periods in Oilers history, what's known as the run-and-shoot era (1987-93) of Jerry Glanville and Jack Pardee.
During those seven years, the Oilers made the playoffs each season, something no other team accomplished during that period.
As any student of Houston's pro football history knows, those Oilers teams had terrific achievements and devastating letdowns.
Bush spent 10 years (1985-94) in Houston as a player, scout and assistant coach. Smith spent five years (1988-92) with the Oilers as an assistant coach.
Bush was an outside linebacker the Oilers selected in the fifth round of the 1985 draft. He was nicknamed "Cornbread" by Glanville, who said Bush ate everything in the dining hall chow line but the cornbread.
Bush earned a starting job as a rookie. He played for two seasons before he was forced to retire because of a congenital spinal defect.
Although Bush sought the opinion of many doctors, none would approve him to continue playing because one hit in the wrong spot could have left him paralyzed. When he finally came to grips with the reality of the situation, Bush had a decision to make.
From player to coach
Because the Oilers respected Bush so much, rather than cut him loose after his forced retirement, they offered him a job in the scouting department under personnel director Mike Holovak. Bush scouted for six years.
In 1992, Pardee asked Bush to coach linebackers under defensive coordinator Jim Eddy. Bush attacked his new job as if he were still playing linebacker. In a short time, he became recognized and respected as an outstanding position coach.
Like Smith, Bush was an assistant on the teams that suffered the two most frustrating playoff losses in franchise history — Buffalo after the 1992 season and Kansas City after the 1993 season.
Bush was wise enough to finally get out of town after 1994's 2-14 season in which Pardee was fired and defensive coordinator Jeff Fisher was elevated to replace him.
Bush's association with Kubiak began in 1995 when they were both part of Mike Shanahan's first staff with the Broncos. Bush earned Kubiak's respect during his nine seasons coaching linebackers and special teams.
When Bush wanted to return to coaching linebackers, the Broncos didn't have a vacancy. He was offered a job at Arizona, where Clancy Pendergast — another former Oilers assistant — was the new defensive coordinator.
In their two seasons together with the Cardinals, Pendergast and Bush helped Arizona finish 12th and eighth in defense.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/3610563.html
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
If everything goes according to plan, new Texans coach Gary Kubiak will dig into the Oilers archives for his co-defensive coordinators.
Although nothing is finalized because both are under contract, Kubiak wants Arizona linebackers coach Frank Bush and Miami co-defensive coordinator Richard Smith to run his defense.
Bush and Smith played key roles in one of the most important periods in Oilers history, what's known as the run-and-shoot era (1987-93) of Jerry Glanville and Jack Pardee.
During those seven years, the Oilers made the playoffs each season, something no other team accomplished during that period.
As any student of Houston's pro football history knows, those Oilers teams had terrific achievements and devastating letdowns.
Bush spent 10 years (1985-94) in Houston as a player, scout and assistant coach. Smith spent five years (1988-92) with the Oilers as an assistant coach.
Bush was an outside linebacker the Oilers selected in the fifth round of the 1985 draft. He was nicknamed "Cornbread" by Glanville, who said Bush ate everything in the dining hall chow line but the cornbread.
Bush earned a starting job as a rookie. He played for two seasons before he was forced to retire because of a congenital spinal defect.
Although Bush sought the opinion of many doctors, none would approve him to continue playing because one hit in the wrong spot could have left him paralyzed. When he finally came to grips with the reality of the situation, Bush had a decision to make.
From player to coach
Because the Oilers respected Bush so much, rather than cut him loose after his forced retirement, they offered him a job in the scouting department under personnel director Mike Holovak. Bush scouted for six years.
In 1992, Pardee asked Bush to coach linebackers under defensive coordinator Jim Eddy. Bush attacked his new job as if he were still playing linebacker. In a short time, he became recognized and respected as an outstanding position coach.
Like Smith, Bush was an assistant on the teams that suffered the two most frustrating playoff losses in franchise history — Buffalo after the 1992 season and Kansas City after the 1993 season.
Bush was wise enough to finally get out of town after 1994's 2-14 season in which Pardee was fired and defensive coordinator Jeff Fisher was elevated to replace him.
Bush's association with Kubiak began in 1995 when they were both part of Mike Shanahan's first staff with the Broncos. Bush earned Kubiak's respect during his nine seasons coaching linebackers and special teams.
When Bush wanted to return to coaching linebackers, the Broncos didn't have a vacancy. He was offered a job at Arizona, where Clancy Pendergast — another former Oilers assistant — was the new defensive coordinator.
In their two seasons together with the Cardinals, Pendergast and Bush helped Arizona finish 12th and eighth in defense.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/3610563.html
