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"The play on the field is a direct reflection of coaching"

Double Barrel

Double Barrel

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"The play on the field is a direct reflection of coaching"

This a Bill O'Brien quote after today's debacle.

As I was watching the game with a friend, we were trying really hard to name one good thing this team does.

And we got NOTHING.

41-0 at one point in the second quarter...

...what do they do good?

Absolutely nothing. Zilch. Nada. They do NOTHING good, or even one thing sorta' very well.

Bob McNair needs to listen to his head coach when he says "the play on the field is a direct reflection of coaching".

It doesn't get more simple, or honest, than that.

Today we saw a team get outcoached, outplayed, and had no fight in its gut. My buddy said it reminded him of a team with a 5th year head coach on his way out. Players were consistently out of position on defense and they never swarmed the ball carrier. I'm not sure I've ever seen one half with so many long TD runs and catches.

It's like we were watching the football equivalent of the Harlem Globetrotters and the Texans were the Washington Generals. I half expected one of the Dolphins players to run to the crowd with a buck of water and throw it with confetti coming out. Maybe see a Dolphins player spin the football on his finger as he was dancing into the endzone backwards while doing the moon walk.

This probably did not need its own thread. I'll merge it with another one tomorrow. I just needed to get this proverbial dog poo I stepped in out of my proverbial shoe. I'm not even upset. Apathy has no emotions. Just numb and wondering why it was ever so important to get football back in this city.
 
I really wanted sphincter chin to be an improvement over Kubes..

He is, instead, an order of magnitude step down on the scale
of coaching capability/talent.

Honestly, he makes Dom look like Lombardi.

Mia/Hou seemed like a matchup between FBS/FCS. Never seen anything
like 41-0 at half in the NFL -- not in my lifetime..
 
eriadoc said:
When someone tells you who/what they are, listen. Applies to all walks of life.
Click to expand...

This is true. I once told my wife, during argument, that I was a piece of schit. It stopped the argument cold. Only she didn't believe it.

McNair, believe it!
 
Double Barrel said:
"The play on the field is a direct reflection of coaching"
.
Click to expand...

I think a coach is supposed to take it when they screw up like that. And he's saying the right things. It is ultimately always on the coach.

That said, the coach should be fired. If he gives up 4 TDs due to poor tackling and is out of the game in teh first quarter (twice in the same season) it's a sign the team either a) doesn't care anymore or b) is so devoid of talent they need to all go.

Either way, this team needs a shake up.
 
Drugs, alcohol, and lots of coffee on Monday. Our lives as Texan fans haven't changed much, have they?
 
I never played the game. I just watch it. I've watched my entire life (like a lot of you) but I've never really thought I knew what it was like inside a team or what things looked like to the players or coaches. Bob McNair I feel like comes from the same basic stock as most of us where the depth of his understanding comes from. I see him as a big, rich, heavily invested fan. Some fans are smart and some are stupid. Some of them think they know what they're looking at and some really do. I don't know Bob McNair (or Cal) well enough to know which group they fall into for certain but I do know that they appear to think they're doing things the right way.

Our biggest issue has always been drafting. I think we've never had people who were seriously good at identifying talent either in scouting positions or in the GM spot making the call on who we take. We hit on 1st and sometimes 2nd round picks like everyone else does but we simply don't identify football players well in the crowd once you get down to the 3rd round and beyond where they all start to look the same to the uneducated eye.

The lack of ability to evaluate players extends to guys already on our roster where we hold on to busts too long, sign other teams castoffs to bad deals too often, and give out contracts to players that aren't realistic reflections of what they can do today. We have no eye for talent from McNair on down. Nobody can see a football player unless he's an elite football player that the whole world can also see (consensus 1st rounder). When guys with first round grades who don't deserve them fall in the draft we jump in like we just discovered gold like bad teams do while smart teams back away and keep drafting guys we've never heard of or don't have high on our board.

This inability to evaluate has transcended three coaches and two GM's so it's bigger than either of those positions (but clearly none of those guys were able to correct it either so they've been a big part of the problem)

McNair can't do it because he's a glorified fan at heart.

Can't replace the owner so the only path out of this mess is I guess another GM and it has to be one who is a proven commodity if at all possible. That GM has to be allowed to do his job and both tear down whatever the hell it is that now exists in the wake of what Casserly and Smith did over the years in regards to scouting and build a legit talent evaluating apparatus in its place as well as hiring a new HC to assemble a staff and put all of this together.

McNair can be of little help in this. That's established. He needs to sign checks and step aside.
 
O'Brien last night: "We've only played 7 games. There is still a lot of football left to play."

Ummmm, coach, 7 games is almost halfway through the season.

At least his guys "battled it out" and they WON THE SECOND HALF!!!

Seriously, he said this. They.Won.The.Second.Half. :mcnugget: :texflag:

I'm so tired of this bland coachspeak, but I expect nothing else short of an epic meltdown. At least give us that one day. Just one epic meltdown, like a cherry on top of this crap sunday.
 
Double Barrel said:
O'Brien last night: "We've only played 7 games. There is still a lot of football left to play."

Ummmm, coach, 7 games is almost halfway through the season.

At least his guys "battled it out" and they WON THE SECOND HALF!!!

Seriously, he said this. They.Won.The.Second.Half. :mcnugget: :texflag:

I'm so tired of this bland coachspeak, but I expect nothing else short of an epic meltdown. At least give us that one day. Just one epic meltdown, like a cherry on top of this crap sunday.
Click to expand...


No ****? He actually said this?

This sumbitch needs to get his ass out of town! Just plain GTFO. If I was Bob McNair that **** would be a firing offense.
 
>O'Brien last night: "We've only played 7 games. There is still a lot of football left to play."

ha ha ha ha..

HAH HAH HAH...

HAHH AHHHHAHH HAHHHH HAHHHHH..

Well coach, it's actually 11 if you count the preseason.

I'm still waiting for the team to actually _play_ in a game.
As in, show up prepared from the get-go..
 
Double Barrel said:
O'Brien last night:
At least his guys "battled it out" and they WON THE SECOND HALF!!!

Seriously, he said this. They.Won.The.Second.Half. :mcnugget: :texflag:
Click to expand...

I would've been arrested had I been there when he said that. I would have kicked his ass all the way back to Boston ... literally, cars would pass us on the freeway and see Scooter repeatedly kicking Bill O'Brien in the ass across state lines. Some great quotes would probably come from the tirade that accompanied those kicks as well.
 
I was watching the O'Brien press conference yesterday, and part of me feels sorry for the guy. Not the coach, but the man himself. I think he is sincere and really wants to win. I do not doubt that he probably spends 100% of his time on trying to figure out how to fix this team. He seems like a nice enough dude and like most of us, I really wanted the guy to be our head coach for many years of success.

But, he keeps saying over and over, week after week, that he's got to figure out a way to coach these guys. That the consistent failures in all three phases are on him. And watching that press conference, I think he truly cannot figure out how to fix any of it. I mean, he says so himself. I don't think he's falling on his sword to protect his players. I think he really is confused right now. He looked like he had a mild form of PTSD yesterday.

John McClain, for all the grief he gets, is a good historian of Houston pro football. He been covering it in Houston for 37 years. And even he said that he has never seen something so bad as the first half of the game against the Dolphins. This is a guy that goes back to Luv Ya Blue and has seen the Oilers when they were truly abysmal ('81-'86). McClain has seen a lot of bad football, and even he was shell-shocked by last Sunday.

When a head coach is constantly telling you that the terrible results are his fault and he has to figure out how to coach better...you start to believe him.
 
Double Barrel said:
O'Brien last night: "We've only played 7 games. There is still a lot of football left to play."

Ummmm, coach, 7 games is almost halfway through the season.

At least his guys "battled it out" and they WON THE SECOND HALF!!!

Seriously, he said this. They.Won.The.Second.Half. :mcnugget: :texflag:

I'm so tired of this bland coachspeak, but I expect nothing else short of an epic meltdown. At least give us that one day. Just one epic meltdown, like a cherry on top of this crap sunday.
Click to expand...

At least his guys "battled it out" and they WON THE SECOND HALF!!! - I thought Brown University alums were bright. If you win the second half 26-0 but lose the first half 41-0 the net gain/loss is an EFFING LOSS!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wasn't angry during the circus but now I'm really getting ticked listening to this clown.
 
chicagotexan2 said:
At least his guys "battled it out" and they WON THE SECOND HALF!!! - I thought Brown University alums were bright. If you win the second half 26-0 but lose the first half 41-0 the net gain/loss is an EFFING LOSS!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wasn't angry during the circus but now I'm really getting ticked listening to this clown.
Click to expand...

One thing he said in yesterday's press conference that really puzzled me because I've never heard a pro head coach say a such a thing. He said at halftime, when the score was 41-0, they had already accepted that they lost the game. So, he told the team to win the second half.

Now, I get that we knew that 41-0 was beyond comeback, but to hear a head coach just admit such a thing a day later is just weird.

That, and he kept praising the punting after so many 3-and-outs. That was weird, too. "At least we punted well." hmmm.... :hmmm:
 
Double Barrel said:
One thing he said in yesterday's press conference that really puzzled me because I've never heard a pro head coach say a such a thing. He said at halftime, when the score was 41-0, they had already accepted that they lost the game. So, he told the team to win the second half.

Now, I get that we knew that 41-0 was beyond comeback, but to hear a head coach just admit such a thing a day later is just weird.

That, and he kept praising the punting after so many 3-and-outs. That was weird, too. "At least we punted well." hmmm.... :hmmm:
Click to expand...

I thought please please tell me BoB you're just being a smart ass, but he believes this crap.
 
Double Barrel said:
One thing he said in yesterday's press conference that really puzzled me because I've never heard a pro head coach say a such a thing. He said at halftime, when the score was 41-0, they had already accepted that they lost the game. So, he told the team to win the second half.

Now, I get that we knew that 41-0 was beyond comeback, but to hear a head coach just admit such a thing a day later is just weird.

That, and he kept praising the punting after so many 3-and-outs. That was weird, too. "At least we punted well." hmmm.... :hmmm:
Click to expand...
Well what else was he gonna say? That game was scorched earth bad & truthfully he couldn't be complimentary about anything we did that day....including the coaching...
 
There is no way for it not to be. The coaches have failed miserably. I'm not sure who the main culprit is for the QB debacle and why we never drafted one, but the defense is a huge problem that is on Crennell, and I have no idea why he hasn't been fired already. His defense started out really bad, and has gradually gotten worse and worse. He has to go NOW, and the longer he stays the harder it will be for anyone to justify OB staying by the end of the year.
 
Every aspect of football this team fails at. All on the coaches. Expecially the one with no experience as a pro coach or GM. This guy is learning on the job for his next job. Twice this season this team has looked like a division II directional school vs the state school. This guy is a joke or so much smarter than everyone he looks stupid. 42-0 and 41-0. Seriously. That really happened. I will never get over those two straight up ass whipping. That's what they were. Ass whippings up and down the field. This guy is clueless. Last year it was arian and an unreal turnover ratio in our favor. Now we all we got is this staff and no game plan or coaching. But God forbid you miss a practice, or a flight. That won't be tolerated. Who cares about blocked in the back penalties special teams. Who cares about an O lineman learning one position when he can learn all five. Who cares about TACKLING drills at practice. If this dude cares so much about practice and preparation than how can now one know how to tackle. How did this genius get his ass handed to him by an Interim coach. Think about that. An Interim coach beat him in every aspect of the game. An interim coach took his starters out In the 3 qtr of a professional football game against our GM and HC savior. Aghhhhhhhhh
I just went on a rant.
Screw OB.
 
And another thing. This guy's is a year and a half into a power run game. A year and a half. No where's to be found. Next year we will still be looking for that power run game and a decent qb. Not a franchise qb, but a decent one. Lord knows this guy is so smart he will ruin our only hope as a franchise qb if he has the nerve to waste his time on drafting a kid. Lord knows if the kid messes up hoyer will be rolled out there to finish the job.
Savage was never an option. That's why he's on IR. That was the genius in him shutting us up about drafting a qb. He did draft a qb. We cant say he didnt
 
mussop said:
Crennel is doing a horrible job. This is not a knee jerk statement. He should be let go after this game. This defense is not being coached well. This standard of play cannot be or accepted or tolerated and it's a direct reflection of poor coaching. OB needs to grow a pair right now and cut ties with crennel.


The defensive play is by far the biggest disappointment of the year for this tesm.
Click to expand...

That was after the Atlanta game. Fire em all. Clean house. Wonder what team south we'll be next.
 
we will win the AFC south divison and make it to the SB some how

also we will finally beat INdy in Indy
 
And restating the college atmosphere complaints.

Jayson Braddock ‏@JaysonBraddock 13h13 hours ago
Texans players have said that O'Brien and his staff treats them like college players and talks to them like kids.

This makes me think of when Swearinger was surprised that he had to be in special teams meetings because he was a high draft pick. Maybe Swearinger had a better understanding of how things work in the NFL than O'Brien.
 
And one more, because he validates one of my observations.

Jayson Braddock ‏@JaysonBraddock 15h15 hours ago
Players in the Texans' locker room have called the atmosphere as college-like. The rotations of QBs, quirky OL moves, S moves etc, fits.

I don't think enough attention has been paid to the line shuffling. It seems more like college cuteness than a practical use of resources. This first occurred to me when Filo was shuffled his rookie pre-season instead of being given the chance to learn his position. O'Brien has been idealistic on this, and ignoring the reality that NFL players are specialists. Sometimes shuffling works, but not with rookies and free agents with no chemistry. Hell, our vets are frustrated with it; Derek Newton allowed two consecutive sacks trying to play right guard in the Dolphins game. The players can't be buying it anymore.
 
Brisco_County said:
And one more, because he validates one of my observations.

Jayson Braddock ‏@JaysonBraddock 15h15 hours ago
Players in the Texans' locker room have called the atmosphere as college-like. The rotations of QBs, quirky OL moves, S moves etc, fits.

I don't think enough attention has been paid to the line shuffling. It seems more like college cuteness than a practical use of resources. This first occurred to me when Filo was shuffled his rookie pre-season instead of being given the chance to learn his position. O'Brien has been idealistic on this, and ignoring the reality that NFL players are specialists. Sometimes shuffling works, but not with rookies and free agents with no chemistry. Hell, our vets are frustrated with it; Derek Newton allowed two consecutive sacks trying to play right guard in the Dolphins game. The players can't be buying it anymore.
Click to expand...
Wasn't everyone on NFLN praising Hoodie for doing this same thing this year, and how it was so cutting edge?
 
_hire a college coach_

_get a college atmosphere_

The strength coach thing is absurd. They are pros
and mostly control their own workload due to the
players CBA.

_these_
_are_
_excuses_
 
Double Barrel said:
"The play on the field is a direct reflection of coaching"

This a Bill O'Brien quote after today's debacle.

As I was watching the game with a friend, we were trying really hard to name one good thing this team does.

And we got NOTHING.

41-0 at one point in the second quarter...

...what do they do good?

Absolutely nothing. Zilch. Nada. They do NOTHING good, or even one thing sorta' very well.

Bob McNair needs to listen to his head coach when he says "the play on the field is a direct reflection of coaching".

It doesn't get more simple, or honest, than that.

Today we saw a team get outcoached, outplayed, and had no fight in its gut. My buddy said it reminded him of a team with a 5th year head coach on his way out. Players were consistently out of position on defense and they never swarmed the ball carrier. I'm not sure I've ever seen one half with so many long TD runs and catches.

It's like we were watching the football equivalent of the Harlem Globetrotters and the Texans were the Washington Generals. I half expected one of the Dolphins players to run to the crowd with a buck of water and throw it with confetti coming out. Maybe see a Dolphins player spin the football on his finger as he was dancing into the endzone backwards while doing the moon walk.

This probably did not need its own thread. I'll merge it with another one tomorrow. I just needed to get this proverbial dog poo I stepped in out of my proverbial shoe. I'm not even upset. Apathy has no emotions. Just numb and wondering why it was ever so important to get football back in this city.
Click to expand...
LOL!!.....This is actually the funniest/best post I've read in the last 2 days....love the Globe Trotter analogy...lol....
Scooter said:
I would've been arrested had I been there when he said that. I would have kicked his ass all the way back to Boston ... literally, cars would pass us on the freeway and see Scooter repeatedly kicking Bill O'Brien in the ass across state lines. Some great quotes would probably come from the tirade that accompanied those kicks as well.
Click to expand...
LOL!!! I'd pay big money to see that YouTube
 
Nitrofish said:
I agree, he really acted and said weird things. I'm telling you something is going on behind the scenes we are not aware of. He looked pale and shaky with a deer in the headlights look in his eyes.
Click to expand...

I pointed out in the gameday thread that shortly after Miami scored yet another long touchdown, the camera cut to O'Brien on the sidelines and he was nervously twiddling his thumbs like a young boy. I said it then that I'm normally not a body language guy, but I've never seen that before from a coach. It was like he was just a step shy to biting his fingernails. For that moment it seemed to me like even he was genuinely scared for whatever came next.

I did feel kind of bad for him. That doesn't excuse his job performance. I just think it's clear to everyone and maybe even himself that he might not be long for this league.

Brisco_County said:
And one more, because he validates one of my observations.

Jayson Braddock @JaysonBraddock 15h15 hours ago

Players in the Texans' locker room have called the atmosphere as college-like. The rotations of QBs, quirky OL moves, S moves etc, fits.

I don't think enough attention has been paid to the line shuffling. It seems more like college cuteness than a practical use of resources. This first occurred to me when Filo was shuffled his rookie pre-season instead of being given the chance to learn his position. O'Brien has been idealistic on this, and ignoring the reality that NFL players are specialists. Sometimes shuffling works, but not with rookies and free agents with no chemistry. Hell, our vets are frustrated with it; Derek Newton allowed two consecutive sacks trying to play right guard in the Dolphins game. The players can't be buying it anymore.
Click to expand...

Such a good post, especially the bolded portion. I wasn't really aware of the OL moves but that's certainly interesting if what you're saying is so. I agree that you really do have to hone your craft here. Just the mere act of line play can change dramatically by simply moving one spot to the left or right in the NFL. A big reason why so many college players never make it is because they can no longer get by on sheer talent. Everybody here is big, powerful, fast. This league is about technique. Unnesseciary shifting for the sake of shifting is either because O'Brien doesn't understand that or can't teach that.

Other than injury, what other logical reason could there possibly be for "quirky OL moves"?
 
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speedfreek said:
_hire a college coach_

_get a college atmosphere_

The strength coach thing is absurd. They are pros
and mostly control their own workload due to the
players CBA.

_these_
_are_
_excuses_
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, it's not just an excuse. I have been a strength coach for almost 20 years, and I have witnessed high level athletes perform like crap because their nervous system is fatigued. I'm not sure if you know this or not, but the body can only handle so much stress, and it treats all stress the same. Think of your body as bath tub with multiple faucets that can fill the tub. We are obviously having a crap season so that creates stress, O'Brien is supposed to be a hard ass, coming down very hard players - more stress, you have the stress that every player goes through during practices and games and finally you add in a strength and conditioning program that is overly stressful, eventually the bath tub overflows and the body is fried.

Also, unfortunately, most strength and conditioning coaches get jobs based on who they know. I work with a number of college athletes during the summers and I get the opportunity to look at ALOT of different programs - the range from pretty good to absolute crap - it's shocking. Some of the crap programs come from big name schools.

I use a system called the Omegawave, which effectively shows me how an athlete's body is functioning before we start a session. I'll have athletes that test poorly but tell me they feel fine. Being dedicated and hardworking, they'll want to try their normal workout for the day, and it almost never goes well for them.
 
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