Culley’s personality earns him Raven reviews
After time together in Baltimore, Griffin thinks new Texans coach can handle tough situation
After working with David Culley the past two years at Baltimore, quarterback Robert Griffin III is excited about Culley’s opportunity with the Texans and believes he has what it takes to succeed as an NFL head coach.
Griffin knows Culley is stepping into a difficult situation with the Deshaun Watson trade controversy, salary cap issues and no picks in the first two rounds of the draft, but the quarterback believes the coach is equipped to handle the experience. “This is his opportunity to show the league he should have been a head coach a long time ago,” Griffin said this week. “I think this would be a difficult situation for anyone when you have your franchise quarterback wanting out, but I think he can handle it — no matter what happens.”
Culley, 65, was the Ravens’ assistant head coach, passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach under John Harbaugh. He also has worked with head coaches Bill Cowher (Steelers), Andy Reid (Eagles and Chiefs) and Sean McDermott (Bills).
“The players like him and respect him,” Griffin said. “He’s very approachable and easy to talk to. He’s seen a lot and done a lot a bunch of different ways with a bunch of different personalities with (receivers) like Terrell Owens, DeSean Jackson, Tyreek Hill, Hollywood Brown and Dez Bryant.
“The organizations he’s been a part of have always protected their players. You won’t see him tear a player down publicly, and they’ll respect that.”
A few of the many reasons general manager Nick Caserio
recommended Culley to chairman and CEO Cal McNair were his communication skills, energetic personality and supreme confidence.
Culley will need those characteristics because of the turmoil he has inherited. It won’t be easy for Culley to deal with the chaos the Texans are experiencing.
“Culley has a positivity about him,” Griffin said. “That’s what you need. You don’t need a Debbie Downer as your head coach. You need a guy that’s going to uplift his players, and from what I know about him from the two years I spent with him, he’s that kind of guy.”
As the backup behind Lamar Jackson until he suffered a season-ending hamstring injury this season, Griffin watched Culley deal with different players and different situations, including the 2019 death of his son, Robert Demond Culley. His son, 45, was known as “Monty” to his family and friends. Culley and his wife, Carolyn, also have a daughter, Jessie.
“Losing his son, that was such a tough thing,” Griffin said. “I remember when his son passed talking with David and being there for him and praying for him and his family.”
The players offered support for Culley and grieved with him and his family.
“The players didn’t just say it because it was the right thing to do, but we really cared about him and what he was going through,” Griffin said. “I saw how strong he was and the way he handled that grief, that mourning period, and still showed up for work every day.”
As the Texans’ fourth head coach, Culley will have more responsibilities than at any previous time during his 27-year NFL career. He’ll preside over offense, defense and special teams.
Culley will rely heavily on contributions from his assistants, starting with offensive coordinator Tim Kelly and defensive coordinator Lovie Smith.
Most important is for Culley to get his message to his players and have them believe it. He’s got to be a strong, consistent leader the players learn to trust. That trust has to be built over time.
“I could see him interacting with the players,” Griffin said. “He gets a reaction out of his players. One thing that’ll happen is the players are going to hear him talk, and they’re going to know where they stand and what he expects from them.
“I think that’s important for any head coach to have that kind of relationship with his players.” Griffin, an eight-year veteran who’s a free agent, also worked with the Texans’ new quarterback coach, Pep Hamilton. In 2016, Griffin played for the Browns, and Hamilton was his position coach.
“Pep’s a mentor of mine, and I’ve stayed in close contact with him since my time with him in Cleveland,” Griffin said. “I’m ecstatic for him.
“I think he does a great job of creating a fundamental base for the quarterbacks he works with. When guys work with him, they play some of the best ball they’ve ever played. I think that’s because of the structure he has and the relatability.”
Hamilton, 46, played a significant role in Andrew Luck’s development at Stanford and Indianapolis. Last season, Hamilton did an outstanding job coaching Chargers rookie Justin Herbert.
“Pep’s a great guy and a great coach, and I think it’s phenomenal he got that job,” Griffin said.
Asked to describe what it is about Hamilton that’s helped him earn so much respect through the years, Griffin said, “Pep keeps it real. I think sometimes coaches feel they can’t really talk to their players. It’s not like they have to be a former player or be cool with their players as a best friend, but you want a guy who can coach you up.
“Pep’s going to talk to you and listen to you, and when it’s time to work, he works hard. I think players respect that about him.”