4 lessons Texans chairman & CEO Cal McNair needs to learn from 2020
2020 was a lost for the Houston Texans as they finished 4-12. However, that doesn’t mean it has to be a wasted season, which is what it would be if they didn’t apply any lessons from the missed opportunity. Here are four lessons chairman and CEO Cal McNair needs to learn from 2020.
1. Don't double-up the coach as GM
(AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
History is replete with examples of coaches who took on the general manager job and failed miserably. Giving Bill O'Brien too much control took away his focus from what was happening on the field. Houston got the worst of both worlds with a below average general manager and a distracted coach.
2. Don't engage in the "Peter principle"
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The "Peter principle" is a management concept that employees get promoted based on past success to the point where they are no longer competent, because sometimes skills from one job aren't applicable to another. Too many people were promoted beyond their skill level that their experience allowed. Just because you're the guy that discovered removing one olive from the jar can save the company a million dollars doesn't mean you need to be the new CFO. McNair needs to keep people in their lanes.
3. Don't waste your franchise's QB's time
(AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Deshaun Watson played a complete 16-game season and didn't spend a practice on the injury report. The three-time Pro Bowler had his best year to date as he set the franchise record for passing touchdowns, passing yards in a single season and also took home the league's passing title. How many times will Houston have this level of fortune, good health, and production from Watson? He will only get better, and Houston needs to surround him with better talent so he doesn't end up being the next Philip Rivers, who had eight seasons missing the playoffs among his 14 years as the starter for the Chargers from 2006-19.
4. Start valuing draft picks
(Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP)
Personnel acquisition is easy: just throw drafts picks around and you can get whoever you want. Need a Pro Bowler at left tackle? Just mortgage the future for him. However, it isn't just the dealing of draft picks, but also what is received when dealing your own star players. How does DeAndre Hopkins not net a first-round pick? If Houston was going to execute a soft rebuild, they needed to acquire premium picks for their top level talent. The Texans will be stuck in a .500 holding pattern if they don't start caring about draft picks, one way or the other — preferably both.
