In most cases, games are a team sport...win or lose...but, in O'Brien's case he's had the opportunity to dictate an outcome based on the tools at his disposal; play-calling, situational personnel and time-outs.
Based on the fact that O'Brien has made some rather bad decisions with games on the line, consecutively, for the past four seasons...it makes it more difficult to stand behind him in the hopes that the light finally goes on in tough situations in year five. The fact that O'Brien is not at fault for how a game came down to his strategic decision options is irrelevant...at that crucial moment he must have clarity to see what's needed to help the team secure a victory.
I'm only going to use one example to make my point; time running down against the Patriots and Tom Brady on the sideline...no sane HC in the NFL would want to give the ball back to TB with time on the clock. Now O'Brien knows full well that his OL is somewhat questionable in the run game when it counts in short yardage situations. I'd bet every opposing HC knows O'Brien's "MO" in this situation is to run the ball between Martin and Su'a-Filo. O'Brien didn't think after the first try that going to a different call might improve his chances of getting a first down...no, he was more than determined to run Miller 3 times to the same spot. It didn't even dawn on him that if that's the play you're going to run come hell or high water, then maybe you might want to throw opposing defenses a curve ball and put Foreman on the field with a play-action that might help keep that defense on their respective heels....especially with Watson under center. He ran the same series of plays that he's done with every QB he's had on this roster. After four years of bad situational decisions and a division that is no longer a push over....it's probably time to move on from O'Brien.
As some have mentioned on this forum, O'Brien has had major input into the draft as well as FA acquisitions sine he's been here...for this reason and almost for this reason alone, I could justify the team finding a new HC...but the rational side of me knows better than to think O'Brien was pulling the personnel strings...and for this reason and this reason alone, I'd fire RS as well.
Now, O'Brien did say, "I only coach the guys I am given" leads me to believe that he's had little to no input into personnel decisions. Remember, he made this statement after he got back from vacation and found out that Osweiler had been signed. Of course, he did change his tune to the company rhetoric later but that first statement is the one that sticks with me.
