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FIRE O'BRIEN NOW!!!

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https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sp...-Bill-O-Brien-wastes-his-chances-13487739.php

PHILADELPHIA — Benardrick McKinney made a spectacular play to snare an interception, giving the Texans the ball at the Philadelphia 46-yard line.

The Texans had a three-point lead and with a touchdown drive could put the Eagles into a desperate double-digit deficit situation.

Instead of attacking with a quickness, an almost standard coaching move on such a turnover, the Texans went conservative.

A pass for minus-1 yard. A give-up draw play. Then a quick screen designed as more of a hop-and-pray call than one meant to succeed.

Just like that, the Texans had almost wasted an opportunity.




I say almost because the Texans faced a fourth-and-5 at the Eagle 41. Prime go-for-it territory, though the necessary yardage was a couple yards outside the preferred distance.

But as is the usual for him, Texans head coach Bill O'Brien elected to punt.






  • There just isn't much margin for error in the NFL. Every decision could be costly. This one was.

While the Eagles went for broke all day (4-for-4 on fourth down) trying to win the game, the Texans were trying not to lose the game. A game that the Texans knew could lead to their earning a first-round playoff bye for the first time in team history.


Undermanned with a slew of players injured or suffering injuries during the game, the Texans were up against it anyway, but they didn't take the game by the throat when they had the chance.

A dreadful rushing attack meant they would need to win the game through the air, but O'Brien tried to win the game on defense and field position. A game in which his secondary was so depleted that they had players on the field who were not in the NFL a few weeks ago.

In the end, the Texans put together a spirited comeback and took a lead with two touchdowns in the final five minutes, before the defense blew the game.

That is because O'Brien finally cranked up the offense. When the Texans were desperate.


He didn't coach with any urgency after that turnover early in the third quarter, or later in the period when his team faced a fourth-and-2 at midfield with the score tied 16-16.

Both times, he punted as if this were going to be a low-scoring, ball-control affair.

With two teams that had horrendous secondaries and poor running games, that simply wasn't going to be the case.

It took O'Brien too long to figure it out.


Thus, the Patriots celebrated Sunday and they are now back in control of the No. 2 seed and a first-round playoff bye.

I assure you Bill Belichick didn't coach scared.


Sorry for bad formatting on mobile. Just another dudes perspective.
 
BOB wanted Mahomes, not Watson at all. If not Mahomes then he wanted cam Robinson and to have savage as the starter:


In speaking to sources with the Texans, the decision to draft Deshaun Watson was all Rick Smith. The war room was stone silent when Smith announced the team was moving up for Watson. It was his decision to make, and he was the one who executed the trade. Sources with the team say Bill O'Brien did not want the Texans to draft Watson. O'Brien wanted Pat Mahomes, and if Mahomes did not make it to them, then O'Brien wanted to draft Alabama left tackle Cam Robinson and have Tom Savage be the starting quarterback for the 2017 season. O'Brien is known to be a poor college evaluator, but fortunately for the Texans, the organization did not listen to him when it came to passing on Deshaun Watson.

Aside from taking Watson, the Texans scouting staff pushed for the team to draft other second-day gems like Benardrick McKinney, Zach Cunningham, Brandon Brooks, Glover Quin and many more, including fifth-round stud nose tackle D.J. Reader. It will be interesting to see if the new scouting department under O'Brien yes-man Brian Gaine can draft as well as the previous regime that loaded the roster with elite players like Watt, Hopkins, Clowney, Watson, and the injured Will Fuller.

Read more at http://walterfootball.com/draft2019mmd_16.php#RJ2Hopk6sPg4Wx7y.99
 
As if OBrien not giving Watson any reps with the 1s wasn't evidence enough in favor of Savage.

Watson has saved alot of jobs in his short time here.

Can't wait to hear the excuse train chug on this one.

Cant blame BOB for wanting Mahomes.

Good thing is we'll get to see if this article is fair or not, after the next couple of drafts.

It appears the McNair's disagreed with this article since Ricky's gone and BOB's here.
 
So now you're saying the McNairs make good football decisions?

I'm saying Ricky wasn't very good at his job and Uncle Bob is dead.

Times are changing for the better down on Kirby.

I'm also saying the McNair's actions regarding Ricky should tell you who was truly calling the shots. But it wont.
 
Letting a guy go care for his wife but saying we have to have a GM. Damn that is sinister. Once again you've created a narrative unsubstantiated by facts.

Just depends on what you think really happened and if it was a way out. Are they keeping Ricky on for insurance purposes? It really doesn't matter if he was let go or not. Bottom line is he gone and ain't coming back. Meanwhile BOB is still here and probably will be for the next 4 yrs. Much to your chagrin. How about letting BOB and the new GM get a fair chance to cleanup the mess that was left for them.

Nah cant let that happen, despite probably endind up with the 2nd winningest season in franchise history and a better winning percentage than your boy Kubiak had as a HC.
 
I'm also saying the McNair's actions regarding Ricky should tell you who was truly calling the shots. But it wont.

No one ever argued Rick Smith was the GM doing what GMs are supposed to do.

Rick brought in Osweiler. BO'b couldn't work with him.

Rick brought in XSF BO'b couldn't work with him.

Rick brought in Nick Martin, he continues to under perform under BO'b.

Rick brought in Jeff Allen. BO'b couldn't coach him to a starting RG.

Rick brought in Hopkins... who's going to the pro bowl, Miller might as well, brought in by Rick because BO'b wanted him.
 
No one ever argued Rick Smith was the GM doing what GMs are supposed to do.

Rick brought in Osweiler. BO'b couldn't work with him.

Rick brought in XSF BO'b couldn't work with him.

Rick brought in Nick Martin, he continues to under perform under BO'b.

Rick brought in Jeff Allen. BO'b couldn't coach him to a starting RG.

Rick brought in Hopkins... who's going to the pro bowl, Miller might as well, brought in by Rick because BO'b wanted him.

I'm through talking about the past.

I'm just glad times are changing down on Kirby and Ricky's mediocrity currently resides in Arizona. Far-Far from Kirby.
 
Bwhahaha the lack of talent comment really needs to be thrown out the damn window at this point. 9 straight wins clearly shows we have plenty of talent to compete with any team.


The lack of talent is at specific positions , not roster wide …. The OL is full of duds and the corner spot has been thin since camp and got thinner when Kevin Johnson called it a career now KJax sits one out and they are playing guys who are fringe / end of the 53 guys ....


Other than those two position groups , I think they are better than average. Problem is , those two position groups are very important to the success of any team. Those positions are costing them W's … Just look at the last loss - strip sack cost them and the secondary couldn't cover.
 
The lack of talent is at specific positions , not roster wide …. The OL is full of duds and the corner spot has been thin since camp and got thinner when Kevin Johnson called it a career now KJax sits one out and they are playing guys who are fringe / end of the 53 guys ....


Other than those two position groups , I think they are better than average. Problem is , those two position groups are very important to the success of any team. Those positions are costing them W's … Just look at the last loss - strip sack cost them and the secondary couldn't cover.

Sign 2 veteran FA (LT & CB) to bridge the rookies drafted in 2019 to shore up both positions.
 
Claiborne has aleways struck me as the 'ton of potential' guy that can't quite ever get it done. Why Melvin? I would think Coleman/Desirs/Roby/Callahan

Claiborne has quitely had a very good yr.

2 yrs ago Melvin was really good with the Colts. I dont know how he's done with the Raiders.

Out of the guys you listed Roby is the only outside CB. Callahan is the guy I like the best.
 
Claiborne has always struck me as the 'ton of potential' guy that can't quite ever get it done. Why Melvin? I would think Coleman/Desirs/Roby/Callahan

Wasn't Claiborne the one drafted by Dallas that scored like a 4 on the Wonderlic test? I think they said it was the lowest score they ever had. Or am I getting him mixed up with someone else?
 
Wasn't Claiborne the one drafted by Dallas that scored like a 4 on the Wonderlic test? I think they said it was the lowest score they ever had. Or am I getting him mixed up with someone else?

Think so, but not sure. Wasn'the considered a bust? Maybe he's matured.?
 
BOB wanted Mahomes, not Watson at all. If not Mahomes then he wanted cam Robinson and to have savage as the starter:

I can see this and if I recall the Texans had Mahomes come in for 2 days and then Watson for 2 days to evaluate both before the draft. There was a report that came out after that (don't remember who or when) that said the Texans favored Watson. I remember hearing about this from a guy at work and being disappointed because I wanted them to go after Mahomes. At the time I believed the report that Watson's ball velocity was too low for the NFL (45 mph and the lowest of the QB's at the Combine.) and thought it would lead to more interceptions. Mahomes, on the other hand, had a cannon arm with a velocity around 55 mph at the Combine. This is the only reason I was against getting Watson. Thought he had all the other intangibles of leadership, accuracy, mobility, pocket awareness, smarts, and enough size to be a decent QB but I just couldn't get past that velocity!

Looking back on it now, I just wonder if that ball velocity report was just an inaccurate reading or that someone planted it to throw off other teams so their team would have a shot at getting Watson. I gotta believe if Watson's reading would have been as high as Mahomes he would have been the 1st QB taken in the Draft and may have gone #1 overall if Cleveland would've had any sense. In the end it worked out well for the Texans and I guess that was Rick's parting gift to the organization. If Rick didn't get anything else right in any of his other drafts, as some here believe, he sure nailed that pick!
 
I can see this and if I recall the Texans had Mahomes come in for 2 days and then Watson for 2 days to evaluate both before the draft. There was a report that came out after that (don't remember who or when) that said the Texans favored Watson. I remember hearing about this from a guy at work and being disappointed because I wanted them to go after Mahomes. At the time I believed the report that Watson's ball velocity was too low for the NFL (45 mph and the lowest of the QB's at the Combine.) and thought it would lead to more interceptions. Mahomes, on the other hand, had a cannon arm with a velocity around 55 mph at the Combine. This is the only reason I was against getting Watson. Thought he had all the other intangibles of leadership, accuracy, mobility, pocket awareness, smarts, and enough size to be a decent QB but I just couldn't get past that velocity!

Looking back on it now, I just wonder if that ball velocity report was just an inaccurate reading or that someone planted it to throw off other teams so their team would have a shot at getting Watson. I gotta believe if Watson's reading would have been as high as Mahomes he would have been the 1st QB taken in the Draft and may have gone #1 overall if Cleveland would've had any sense. In the end it worked out well for the Texans and I guess that was Rick's parting gift to the organization. If Rick didn't get anything else right in any of his other drafts, as some here believe, he sure nailed that pick!

Watson doesn't have the arm of Mahomes, but he ain't no Schaub either
 
Long time scout on the subject generally and Watson specifically - Link.


Good article but I still have to wonder why Watson fell to the 3rd QB taken when his only knock was arm strength (velocity). He had everything else you could ask for in leadership, accuracy, size, poise, pocket awareness and a National Championship over a highly touted Alabama team. So what did the Bears and Chiefs see in Trubisky and Mahomes that they thought Watson didn't have?
 
Good article but I still have to wonder why Watson fell to the 3rd QB taken when his only knock was arm strength (velocity). He had everything else you could ask for in leadership, accuracy, size, poise, pocket awareness and a National Championship over a highly touted Alabama team. So what did the Bears and Chiefs see in Trubisky and Mahomes that they thought Watson didn't have?

Actually his size/build were questioned by some (CnD here for example) especially with his running. Also many coaches prefer pure pocket passers.

Tom Landry was slow to start Staubach because he was unpredictable once he started scrambling. That's the mindset.
 
I can see this and if I recall the Texans had Mahomes come in for 2 days and then Watson for 2 days to evaluate both before the draft. There was a report that came out after that (don't remember who or when) that said the Texans favored Watson. I remember hearing about this from a guy at work and being disappointed because I wanted them to go after Mahomes. At the time I believed the report that Watson's ball velocity was too low for the NFL (45 mph and the lowest of the QB's at the Combine.) and thought it would lead to more interceptions. Mahomes, on the other hand, had a cannon arm with a velocity around 55 mph at the Combine. This is the only reason I was against getting Watson. Thought he had all the other intangibles of leadership, accuracy, mobility, pocket awareness, smarts, and enough size to be a decent QB but I just couldn't get past that velocity!

Looking back on it now, I just wonder if that ball velocity report was just an inaccurate reading or that someone planted it to throw off other teams so their team would have a shot at getting Watson. I gotta believe if Watson's reading would have been as high as Mahomes he would have been the 1st QB taken in the Draft and may have gone #1 overall if Cleveland would've had any sense. In the end it worked out well for the Texans and I guess that was Rick's parting gift to the organization. If Rick didn't get anything else right in any of his other drafts, as some here believe, he sure nailed that pick!
I always thought Watson threw the ball as hard as he needed to and that his in-game velocity would be higher than his combine velocity because that's what I saw when I watched him in college. My biggest, and pretty much only knock on Watson's play were his 30 INTs in two seasons. That told me he is slow to see disguised coverages post snap.
 
Actually his size/build were questioned by some (CnD here for example) especially with his running. Also many coaches prefer pure pocket passers.

Tom Landry was slow to start Staubach because he was unpredictable once he started scrambling. That's the mindset.

I can understand that if it were Brady or Manning being picked ahead but we're talking about Trubisky (listed at 6'2" to 6'3" and 222 lbs) and Mahomes (listed 6'3" 230 lbs) both not much bigger than Watson (listed 6'2" and 220 lbs) and I don't think either was considered a "pure pocket passer" coming out of school. Trubisky had 308 Rushing Yards his final year of school and Mahomes had 285 Rushing Yards his final year while Watson had 629 Rushing Yards. I realize Mahomes has a more sturdier build and that was one reason I preferred him over the others but he is still way more mobile than any of the traditional pocket passers. I guess we'll never know why one team picks a player over another and there will always be some "head scratchers" for picks on every team. That's why there are 1st round busts and HOF UDFA's!
 
I always thought Watson threw the ball as hard as he needed to and that his in-game velocity would be higher than his combine velocity because that's what I saw when I watched him in college. My biggest, and pretty much only knock on Watson's play were his 30 INTs in two seasons. That told me he is slow to see disguised coverages post snap.

I never heard anything about his in-game velocity vs. his combine velocity so I can't speak to that but, he doesn't seem to have much of a problem now seeing disguised coverage's post snap.
 
Watson has had issues reading the corner blitz.

To be fair, Watson and the Texans have issues reading the CB blitz. Defenses have noticed his pre-snap tendencies are to read the safeties and LBs. As a result, defenses are not moving around as much as they did during the winning streak and then confusing the Texans with CB blitzes or LBs on delayed blitzes.

It's a systemic issue. The OL and RBs are not picking it up. On many occasions there are not any hot routes in the direction of the blitz and then you add Watson who either doesn't get rid of the ball fast enough or looking in the opposite direction of the blitz and you have a recipe for an inept offense.
 
I'm at a loss as to why we even bother to argue about the o-line. It's pathetic, horrible, mind bogglingly terrible. If it weren't for Watson and a few receivers, we wouldn't have an offense at all.
 
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With Rick Smith as GM you cant say this is correct.

Reid has control over his personnel dept.

If BOB had the same for the last 5 yrs I would be in total agreement with you.

O’Brien has shown little ability to evaluate and pick players to fit his “scheme”.

And where does this notion come from that HC doesn’t have any say in personnel decisions?

I’m no fan of Rick Smith or the way that the Texans run business sometimes but O’Brien has had 5 years now to find and bring in his type of guys.

“Oh geez, I guess I’ll just play these guys because I have no say in my football team”.

Not buying it.
 
O’Brien has shown little ability to evaluate and pick players to fit his “scheme”.

And where does this notion come from that HC doesn’t have any say in personnel decisions?

I’m no fan of Rick Smith or the way that the Texans run business sometimes but O’Brien has had 5 years now to find and bring in his type of guys.

“Oh geez, I guess I’ll just play these guys because I have no say in my football team”.

Not buying it.

Good thing is with Gaine here we're going to find out the truth.

I've been consistent in my beliefs since 2010. You've disagreed since then. Maybe just maybe the reason BOB hasn't gotten the guys he wanted is because of organizational dysfunction? Another thing many here were denying for yrs.
 
O’Brien has shown little ability to evaluate and pick players to fit his “scheme”.

And where does this notion come from that HC doesn’t have any say in personnel decisions?

I’m no fan of Rick Smith or the way that the Texans run business sometimes but O’Brien has had 5 years now to find and bring in his type of guys.

“Oh geez, I guess I’ll just play these guys because I have no say in my football team”.

Not buying it.

Steelb has created this fantasy where there is no war room, just Rick Smith in a Darth Vader outfit and a runner.

Funny though, as soon as a pick or move is good that was someone else who magically controlled Darth Smith's mind.
 
Steelb has created this fantasy where there is no war room, just Rick Smith in a Darth Vader outfit and a runner.

Funny though, as soon as a pick or move is good that was someone else who magically controlled Darth Smith's mind.

Seems you're still denying the organizational dysfuntion.
 
Good thing is with Gaine here we're going to find out the truth.

I've been consistent in my beliefs since 2010. You've disagreed since then. Maybe just maybe the reason BOB hasn't gotten the guys he wanted is because of organizational dysfunction? Another thing many here were denying for yrs.

And maybe OB hasn't known just what he wanted? As n OL coaches and player types?
 
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