http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/3523509.htmlWriting's on the wall: Reeves is here to stayBy JOHN MCCLAINCopyright 2005 Houston ChronicleHere's a prediction that Dan Reeves will be the next Texans head coach, and Ron Hill will run their personnel department, probably as vice president of football operations.Owner Bob McNair just doesn't realize it right now.Reeves and Hill, his sidekick from Dallas, Denver and Atlanta, don't realize it, either.But think about it: Reeves admitted Monday, when McNair hired him as a consultant to evaluate the team's talent, that he's still interested in coaching if the right situation were available.Well, just about everyone wants to work for McNair and take over a team that's got only one way to go. And there's going to be a "help wanted" sign on the doors at Reliant Stadium.Although McNair won't admit it publicly, of course, when he shocked the NFL by hiring Reeves, he showed he has lost faith in general manager Charley Casserly.McNair said he hired Reeves to evaluate talent and to assist Capers and Casserly. He also said Reeves would not be evaluating the head coach and general manager.Yeah, right. If you had someone with Reeves' experience and knowledge on your payroll, wouldn't you ask what he thinks of your coach and general manager? Of course you would.The end is nearAfter the season, expect Casserly to follow Capers out the door. They have another year left on their contracts. McNair should settle with them so they can start looking for new jobs as early as possible.It's a shame because both are first-class acts who have represented the Texans and the city of Houston incredibly well, but both know they're judged on wins and losses, and no owner wants to have a team with the worst league record.We don't agree with McNair's decision to bring in a consultant at this point in the season because it's a slap in the face to Casserly and Capers, but if he were going to do it, it's hard to find someone more qualified than Reeves.So, with Reeves advising him ? and McNair should get associate director of pro scouting Bobby Grier involved in the process, too ? the interview process will begin.McNair might interview candidates such as San Diego defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, Washington defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, Denver offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, Chicago defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, Buffalo defensive coordinator Jerry Gray and Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt.Phillips, Williams, Kubiak and Gray have Houston connections, and McNair will be impressed with them.Phillips, the son of former Oilers coach Bum Phillips, has worked with Reeves at Denver and Atlanta.Williams was an assistant at the University of Houston and with the Oilers. Kubiak is a Houston native. Gray was a player and assistant coach with the Oilers.The more McNair is around Reeves, the more impressed he's going to be. McNair and Reeves have a lot in common. They attended the University of South Carolina. They're Southern gentlemen who are charming and respected.It's going to be difficult for McNair not to consider a man who has been to a record nine Super Bowls as a player, assistant coach and head coach.Hardly a revelationIt says here that, at some point in the process, a light bulb will go off, and McNair will think something like: "Hmmmm. I may have the best guy right here. He's only 62, which means he's younger than Dick Vermeil, Bill Parcells and Joe Gibbs. And, shoot, he's even a year younger than Marty Schottenheimer. By golly, I'm going to do it."Then, McNair will meet with Reeves and say something like, "Uh, Dan, I've interviewed all these candidates, and I'm really impressed with some of them, especially Wade and Gary and Jerry and Gregg, but I've got to admit that none has impressed me the way you have. Would you consider taking the job?"And Reeves will feign surprise and respond something like, "Well, gee, Bob, I sure hadn't thought of that, but since you bring it up, I'll take it."Reeves, who was fired by the Broncos and Falcons and not invited back by the Giants, had control of personnel in Denver and Atlanta.His righthand man who oversaw the drafts was Hill, a respected personnel man who, like Reeves, began his career at Dallas. Hill is out of work after being fired by the Falcons in June.Will they be the right moves? Who knows. At this point, there's only one right move for the Texans, and his name isn't Reeves or Hill. It's Bush.
