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All encompassing Bill O'Brien thread

Here we go again:

According to a source with knowledge of the situation, O’Brien wanted to promote Watson after his performance in Week 1 of the preseason against the Carolina Panthers, but was talked out of it by general manager Rick Smith.The source was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity.Watson, who led the Texans to a 57-14 rout of the Tennessee Titans Sunday, spent all offseason behind Savage, who was named the starter the night Watson was drafted 12th overall.But according to the source, when O’Brien approached Smith about his thinking, Smith said he should "give it time," in part to ensure that Watson wasn’t being rushed."(O’Brien) knew what he had a long time ago," the source said, adding that "it wasn’t a matter of if, but when" Watson would get the nod.



http://houston.cbslocal.com/2017/10/04/texans-obrien-watson-starting-qb-preseason/
 
I heard on 610 this morning that there were internal sources that said Rick Smith shut down BOB from starting DW4. He wanted to start him apparently but got shut down by upper management. Those damn meddling kids!!!
 
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I heard on 610 this morning that there were internal sources that said Rick Smith shut down BOB from starting DW4. He wanted to start him apparently but got shut down by upper management. Those damn meddling kids!!!

Sure they shut him down but starting DW4 in the second half of the first game was OK! Likely story from O'Brien
 
I find it odd as well since BOB named Savage the starter from day one. Also, Rick Smith seemed to leave it open as far as who would be the starter...

I agree. Coupled with the news that Rick Smith nearly traded up to #6 with the Jets to get Deshaun, I feel like this is being pushed out by someone in the O'Brien camp to make him look like less of an idiot for rolling with Savage at first.
 
Huh? Ok not back to back.

It's odd to hook your chosen QB in week one at all. Doing it twice is just whack.

I'll bet without looking no HC has ever hooked his starting QB in the starting game twice. Wanna bet on that?
I haven't read ahead, so this has probably been posted; but recent news says OB wanted to elevate Watson to #1 after the Carolina preseason game. The decision to stay with Savage was Rick's suggestion, but one OB agreed to.
 
I haven't read ahead, so this has probably been posted; but recent news says OB wanted to elevate Watson to #1 after the Carolina preseason game. The decision to stay with Savage was Rick's suggestion, but one OB agreed to.

And you believe that?

In law folks often talk about preponderance of the evidence. But that leaves off half the sentence. Credible evidence.
 
I haven't read ahead, so this has probably been posted; but recent news says OB wanted to elevate Watson to #1 after the Carolina preseason game. The decision to stay with Savage was Rick's suggestion, but one OB agreed to.

No, the story said Rick recommended O'b be sure that's what he wants to do. It was still Billy's decision.
 
I don't think there's a Kubiak Cult going on here. It's just a fact, Kubiak is the only other successful coach we had here, so it's only natural to compare the current coach to the previous. We did it when Kubiak took over for Capers & if we ever move on from O'b we'll do it to him as well.

Successful? If you consider being a playoff team but not a true contender successful then yes, Kubiak and BOB have both been successful.

BOB's been every bit as successful as Kubiak was here, yet the mob has their pitchforks out.
 
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It is worth considering that apparently BOB spent a lot of time with Watson according to that same report. That would lead me to believe that he was going to make the move to Watson sooner than later...
 
Successful? If you consider being a playoff team but not a true contender successful then yes, Kubiak and BOB have both been successful.

BOB's been every bit as successful as Kubiak was here, yet the mob has there pitchforks out.

Difference is that Kubiak was an offensive coach that had a great offense almost since day 1 that had to be forced into hiring a defensive coach to make that team successful, and yes pre-Schaub injury they were very much a contender in 2011. BOB is an offensive coach that prior to the last two weeks had a truly offensive offense, and the defense is all that saved him. If current trends continue, they will very much be a true contender again
 
I'm in a holding pattern until the results of the KC game are in. This will be big test for every component both offensively and defensively. If the Texans can pull off another sound and/or amazing outing....then I will take a sip or two of the Kool-Aid. It's a big season with some tough games ahead that will gauge how this group is progressing. My biggest concern still lies with the OL and a close second goes to Fuller who must show consistency with his hands to keep defenses truly honest.

Of course, I would like to see O'Brien get Foreman more touches so he can get into a groove during the game...RB's, not all but the majority are like this. I don't think O'Brien needs to wait until Miller has a lingering injury before getting Foreman more involved. His hands have proven to be just fine and with more reps, I think the same would happen in his ability to more effective in picking-up blitzes.

I believe Watt has had an extended pre-season and this could be the game that he finally shows he's back. This in conjunction with a strong outing by Clowney could go a long ways towards taking the pressure off the DB's.
 
I'm in a holding pattern until the results of the KC game are in. This will be big test for every component both offensively and defensively. If the Texans can pull off another sound and/or amazing outing....then I will take a sip or two of the Kool-Aid. It's a big season with some tough games ahead that will gauge how this group is progressing. My biggest concern still lies with the OL and a close second goes to Fuller who must show consistency with his hands to keep defenses truly honest.

Of course, I would like to see O'Brien get Foreman more touches so he can get into a groove during the game...RB's, not all but the majority are like this. I don't think O'Brien needs to wait until Miller has a lingering injury before getting Foreman more involved. His hands have proven to be just fine and with more reps, I think the same would happen in his ability to more effective in picking-up blitzes.

I believe Watt has had an extended pre-season and this could be the game that he finally shows he's back. This in conjunction with a strong outing by Clowney could go a long ways towards taking the pressure off the DB's.
Your last paragraph is the key. I think this upcoming game is more of a test for Vrabel than O'Brien. He and RAC need to find a way to corral Hunt and get a pass rush on the new-and-improved Alex Smith. If O'Brien, Watson, and Co. can muster up 24-30 pts (fingers crossed) then the defense should pull it's weight and help bring home a win.
 
Difference is that Kubiak was an offensive coach that had a great offense almost since day 1 that had to be forced into hiring a defensive coach to make that team successful, and yes pre-Schaub injury they were very much a contender in 2011. BOB is an offensive coach that prior to the last two weeks had a truly offensive offense, and the defense is all that saved him. If current trends continue, they will very much be a true contender again

Differnece is Kubiak had Schaub and BOB had Os.

Bottom line is they both accomplished the same thing.

Only difference is it only took BOB 3 yrs to do the same thing as Kubiak.
 
Your last paragraph is the key. I think this upcoming game is more of a test for Vrabel than O'Brien. He and RAC need to find a way to corral Hunt and get a pass rush on the new-and-improved Alex Smith. If O'Brien, Watson, and Co. can muster up 24-30 pts (fingers crossed) then the defense should pull it's weight and help bring home a win.

24 points should be enough to get a win.

Of course I was hoping they would score 24 points last week.
 
Do people just completely forget the Harvey effect in this city before the first game? These players are humans, too, and have family and friends that were dealing with a devastating natural disaster. I give the team, coaches included, a mulligan for that game. They were obviously distracted by real world events leading up to that game.

As far as the Savage as starter, who really gives a crap other than those with agendas. Watson was not playing like he is now in preseason, and just about everyone was okay with giving Savage a chance.

20/20 hindsight seems to make a lot of folks experts on everything.
 
OB started off with a playoff caliber roster where Kubiak started off with a somewhat less than that caliber roster. Pretty damn big difference.
Steelb just likes convenience.

Starting out with Carr had to be tough enough...
And then to train Schaub, which had barely played ball in the NFL.
 
So did BOB.

Neither had QB's.

The 2 things both HC's had in common
Right, but they didn't face the same caliber of opponents.

Only the Jags 5-11 team finished below 500 in Kubiak's first 3 years.

O' Brien had his choice on what to do with the QB position.
Kubiak was stucked with Carr.
 
Right, but they didn't face the same caliber of opponents.

Only the Jags 5-11 team finished below 500 in Kubiak's first 3 years.

O' Brien had his choice on what to do with the QB position.
Kubiak was stucked with Carr.

For 1 yr

BOB didn't have much to choose from once Ricky decided to pass on to differing degrees. Bortles/Jimmy G/Carr.
 
For 1 yr

BOB didn't have much to choose from once Ricky decided to pass on to differing degrees. Bortles/Jimmy G/Carr.
For 3 years, not 1.

......

I don't know who passed on whom.

As a HC, O'Brien has the input.
He took Savage, whom he had recruited in college.
 
You lie, your feet stank and you hate Jesus if you think OB started out with even a cousin to as bad of a roster as Kubiak did. Don't be an intellectually dishonest douche bag just for the sake of argument.

2-14 = 2-14

Both men started without a QB.

Yes BOB had more talent and did more with that talent.
 
kanye-west-not-this-again-gif-300x168.gif
 
For 3 years, not 1.

......

I don't know who passed on whom.

As a HC, O'Brien has the input.
He took Savage, whom he had recruited in college.
We have no idea if Rick did not have plans for pick #1-#3, leaving the choice of QBs to O'Brien.............anyone he wanted as long as it was after the 3rd round. One cannot keep saying that Rick has control of who gets picked and where, and then turn around and strongly argue that O'Brien has some unknown level of "input." Some people (not directing this comment to you) tend to present O'Brien's pick inputs only when there is a negative connotation to them.
 
We have no idea if Rick did not have plans for pick #1-#3, leaving the choice of QBs to O'Brien.............anyone he wanted as long as it was after the 3rd round. One cannot keep saying that Rick has control of who gets picked and where, and then turn around and strongly argue that O'Brien has some unknown level of "input." Some people (not directing this comment to you) tend to present O'Brien's pick inputs only when there is a negative connotation to them.
That happens with supposed Smith picks too. I've always been of the opinion that picks (i.e., setting the draft board) are group decisions involving the all the coaches and scouts.
 
You lie, your feet stank and you hate Jesus if you think OB started out with even a cousin to as bad of a roster as Kubiak did. Don't be an intellectually dishonest douche bag just for the sake of argument.

That's why it was infuriating to see all the fellating of O'Brien for "rebounding in 2014!" after the 2-14 year.

Anyone who's anyone knows that 9-7 was back to where the team SHOULD have been, and O'Brien's shittiness prevented the team from winning 11-13 games that year, with multiple failures scattered throughout the year including Dallas, Pittsburgh, Cincy and a couple others.
 
That happens with supposed Smith picks too. I've always been of the opinion that picks (i.e., setting the draft board) are group decisions involving the all the coaches and scouts.
I think it's a little bit of both.

Sometimes, a different person, like Wade, would have to go to bat for a guy he really like (J J Watt), for example.
 
I think it's a little bit of both.

Sometimes, a different person, like Wade, would have to go to bat for a guy he really like (J J Watt), for example.
Also true.
Although I do wonder if the Kirby gang puts as much study and background work into the mid-round picks as they seem to do in rounds 1 and 2. I wonder if Smith and O'Brien leave those to the position coaches and scouts.
I don't know this, obviously
I'm just wondering.
 
Also true.
Although I do wonder if the Kirby gang puts as much study and background work into the mid-round picks as they seem to do in rounds 1 and 2. I wonder if Smith and O'Brien leave those to the position coaches and scouts. I don't know this, I'm just wondering.
I wish they would put as much effort in the middle rounds as they do the late rounds and UDFA's that they hit on quite often. It's just crazy how the Texans consistently miss on the middle round draft picks.
 
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