ON THE SAME PAGE
David Culley, Nick Caserio share vision for getting the team back to winning.
For the Texans to avoid a rebuild that takes a millennium, a collaborative effort between general manager Nick Caserio and coach David Culley is paramount.
Other than the McNair family, headed by chairman and CEO Cal McNair, Caserio and Culley are the most important members of the organization. They’re largely responsible for the success or failure of the team’s reconstruction.
Hired 28 days apart in January, Caserio and Culley have spent the last four months developing a productive working relationship that’s based on communication, respect, knowledge, flexibility and an ability to not allow disagreements to become personal.
Between them, Caserio and Culley boasted a combined 47 years of NFL experience when they were hired by the Texans for lead roles for the first time in their careers.
One reason they work so well together is because their personalities have similarities and differences.
Caserio is driven and disciplined. He’s fanatical about details. He’s personable and private at the same time in that he doesn’t like to reveal too much about himself or the way he conducts his business. He’s confident in his methods and secure in his position.
Caserio listens to suggestions from those who work with him. They believe in what he’s doing. He lets those under him know what’s expected and allows them to do their jobs.
His co-workers respect Caserio for being a straight-shooter. They say he’s honest, doesn’t bully, backstab, embellish the truth or do things that’ll make him look good to the McNairs. He understands he was hired to do a job for the McNairs, and he’ll do it to the best of his ability.
Culley has an engaging personality. He’s outgoing and full of energy. He’s got an easy laugh and a firm handshake. He’s never met a stranger. He talks to everyone he sees and makes them feel comfortable. He’s humble and treats people with respect.
Culley takes immense pride in being a head coach for the first time, and he’s determined to succeed. His door is always open. He’s a good listener but an even better storyteller. So much of Andy Reid has rubbed off on him because they spent 16 years coaching together.
“Every day you walk in the building, and he’s the same guy, regardless of what’s going on,” Caserio said recently about Culley. “That speaks to who he is.
“He’s handled (everything) well. He’s very observant, and he’s very wise. He sees a lot of things, and he’s got a great perspective. He knows how to articulate that message to the team. He’s very clear, and they’ve responded. The communication between him and the players has been pretty fluid, and they work well together.”
Rather than take the safe route by hiring a candidate with head coaching experience or a red-hot coordinator, Caserio took a chance on Culley and made him a head coach for the first time at any level of his career.
When it comes to making personnel decisions and hiring assistants, Caserio will do everything within his power to help Culley succeed. And Culley will do everything he can to reward Caserio’s faith in him.
“When I got the job, I knew what Nick was all about,” Culley said. “I knew he’s all about football and winning. His record speaks for itself. He knew about me. He knew what my situation has always been and how I’ve approached things throughout my career. We’re like-minded in how we believe a team should be run.”
The more time Caserio and Culley spend together, the stronger their relationship will become, and that belief in each other should expedite the rebuilding process.
“It’s been really good from that standpoint (of ) understanding where Nick wants to go,” Culley said about their relationship. “He understands where I want to go. We’ve meshed, and we’re all in with what we’re doing right now.”
Caserio isn’t a typical general manager, and Culley isn’t a typical head coach.
Caserio oversees the personnel side of the operation, but coaching is also part of his background. He’s like another assistant coach, a role created for him in New England working under Bill Belichick.
Two times during his 20-year career with the Patriots — the last 13 as director of player personnel — Caserio was a member of Belichick’s coaching staff.
Even as the personnel director, Caserio attended offensive meetings, was on the field for practice and worked game days in the coaches booth wearing a headset and communicating with Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
When reporters were allowed to watch an early part of Thursday’s OTA at Houston Methodist Training Center, Caserio was all over the field with Culley and the other coaches, watching the players and communicating with them.
McNair signed off on Caserio’s decision to hire Culley. At 65, he had 27 years of experience as an NFL assistant but had never been a coordinator or attracted interest from teams looking for head coaches.
Their offices are next to each other at NRG Stadium, and they spend a lot of time talking about the team and their vision for the Texans.
“I would say his consistency day-to-day is phenomenal,” Caserio said about what’s impressed him the most about Culley. “His attitude, his messaging to the players and (his) messaging to the coaching staff. We’re excited about the opportunity in front of us. I think
(the) most important thing is just focus on today and keep moving forward.”
Culley’s job as a first-time coach has been made even more difficult by quarterback Deshaun Watson’s legal troubles and so many changes to the roster, including the acquisitions of 49 new players, including 41 veterans.
Culley has a way about him that allows him to bond with his players. He treats his players and assistants with respect.
He’s a good teacher who has a knack for getting across his point in a manner his players understand.
Culley approaches each practice and meeting with the kind of enthusiasm that’s infectious. The new job has brought on new responsibilities for him.
“Before I came here, I used to make suggestions,” he said about his career as an assistant coach. “Now I’ve got to make decisions. I knew when I got the job that was going to happen.
“I can remember when I used to make all those suggestions, if they took them, good. If they didn’t, that was OK, too (because) that wasn’t me having to make that decision.
“That’s flipped now. I understand exactly what it’s all about. I understand now when that decision is made (it’s) because that’s what I felt was best for the team, and I embrace that.”
Culley is happy to admit he’s living his dream.
“It’s been everything I envisioned and more,” he said. “It’s been nonstop since I (got) here. The beauty of it is that we’re now getting to be with our players on the field. Our coaches are able to start coaching and developing our culture.
“I couldn’t be (happier) with where we (are) with this staff and where we are as a team.”