HOUSTON (Jan. 5, 2006) -- The Houston Texans are looking inside and outside the organization to find a replacement for fired coach Dom Capers. They met with one of each: receivers coach Kippy Brown and Kansas City offensive coordinator Al Saunders.
Brown and Saunders met with owner Bob McNair, general manager Charley Casserly, consultant Dan Reeves and McNair's son, Cal.
Miami offensive coordinator Scott Linehan interviewed Wednesday.
Brown, 50, has worked for the Texans since 2002, their first season. He promised to make changes if hired, but added he thought only a few were needed.
"I think we're close," Brown said at Reliant Stadium. "There are specific things that allow you to win close games that we didn't win. I've got some ideas on how to fix some of that."
The Texans averaged only 253 yards per game, third worst in the league, but Brown didn't think the team's poor performance would hurt his chances of getting the job. Instead, Brown said his knowledge of Houston's personnel and rapport with the players give him an edge.
"I have a better feel for what we need to do to become a playoff team than anybody coming in here," Brown said. "I think the players would rally behind me."
Brown's only head coaching experience in 27 seasons came in 2001, when he led the Memphis Maniax of the XFL.
Brown served as running backs coach for the New York Jets from 1990-92, spent two seasons at the University of Tennessee, then returned to the pros with Tampa Bay in 1995. He spent four seasons with the Miami Dolphins, coaching the running backs for two years before he was promoted to offensive coordinator under Jimmy Johnson. In 2000, Brown coached running backs in Green Bay.
Brown said he has been discussing jobs with other teams, but that the Texans' job topped his list. He didn't specify the other openings.
"Most people understand that if you have an opportunity like this one, they'll wait," he said. "They know these opportunities don't come around very often."
Saunders, 58, has also interviewed with the Minnesota Vikings and is a candidate to replace retiring Dick Vermeil with the Chiefs. Saunders has spent 15 seasons in Kansas City: 1989-98 under Marty Schottenheimer and the last five with Vermeil.
Kansas City had the NFL's best offense for the second straight season in 2005, averaging 387 yards per game. Also under Saunders, the Chiefs led the NFL in scoring in 2002 and 2003, the first AFC team to do that in back-to-back seasons since San Diego in 1981-82.
