Crushing Bill O'Brien

**JimZipCode** · 06-11-2019, 01:35 PM

Tanier makes his disdain pretty evident:

Texans Wasting Deshaun Watson's Potential While They Play Their Game of Thrones
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ame-of-thrones

Watson is the NFL's forgotten young franchise quarterback because the Texans are stuck in a first-round playoff rut. Watson has no one blocking for him and only Hopkins to throw to, which holds him back from bigger accomplishments and flashier stats. The Texans spent the offseason doing little to change that as the Chiefs, Browns and other challengers to Patriots supremacy whizzed past them.

...the Texans finally did something this past weekend about their perennial also-ran status. The bad news is that they didn't execute some blockbuster trade for a receiver or an offensive tackle. Instead, they did what dysfunctional organizations typically do when they come to a crossroads: They played backroom power games. The Texans fired general manager Brian Gaine on Friday after he spent only 17 months on the job. Gaine replaced Rick Smith, who stepped away from the GM gig for family health reasons after the 2017 season, but who also spent the latter part of his tenure locked in a power struggle with head coach Bill O'Brien.

You know how your buddy keeps getting divorced and claiming he just can't seem to find the right girl? And how you always want to say "IT'S YOU! YOU'RE THE PROBLEM!" but your wife kicks you in the shins as soon as you open your mouth? That's O'Brien with general managers. Nothing is ever quite up to his standards, and it's somehow never his fault.
...
Back when J.J. Watt was having signature Hall of Fame seasons on defense and Houston's offense featured Hopkins, Andre Johnson, Arian Foster and a veteran offensive line, the Texans were embroiled in an endless quarterback controversy. O'Brien shuffled veterans like Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brian Hoyer as well as quasi-prospects like Ryan Mallett, Brock Osweiler and Tom Savage in and out of the lineup according to his weekly whims.

By the time Watson elbowed past Savage for the starting job in 2017—like Hoyer two years earlier, Savage held the starting job throughout training camp, only to be yanked in an opening-day loss—the offensive line had deteriorated and the receiving corps was a one-man band. The supporting cast grew even weaker last year...

The Texans surrendered a league-high 62 sacks last year. ... Watson is likely to take another pounding this year, and he won't survive too many more of them. No Texans player besides Hopkins caught more than 35 passes last year. The Colts beat the Texans in the playoffs by blanketing Hopkins and forcing Watson to subsist on shallow drags to Keke Coutee and checkdowns to running backs. The Texans did nothing about that in the offseason, so Hopkins will again be supported by slot specialist Coutee and oft-injured speedster Will Fuller at wide receiver...

A franchise quarterback is supposed to be an NFL organization's most valuable asset. But organizational unity and vision are at least as important.
...
Perhaps the third general manager will be the charm for O'Brien, and the Texans will finally build a quality supporting cast around Watson before he is sacked into oblivion or Watt becomes the governor of Texas or something. The Texans had better hurry, because time is running out for everyone. Including Bill O'Brien.

This is pretty much exactly how I see Bill O'Brien. O'Brien's #1 priority always seems to be making sure everyone understands that no one in the organization is smarter or has a bigger dick than he has. He's done less with more his entire Texans career. The team he took over had fallen apart the previous year after Kubiak's heart attack; but before that they were coming off consec double-digit win seasons. Honestly, not unlike Harbs taking over a team with great talent, but a little directionless and coming off a bad season.

O'Brien posted three straight mediocre seasons, one terrible season, and last year finally the stars aligned and he had a good season. By "stars aligned", I mean O'Brien managed to stick with one QB and keep him upright for a full season. He lucked into Deshaun with the #12 pick in the draft; and then still didn't understand what he had in him after training camp. Even now he can't be bothered to develop an O-line to protect him.

But he makes sure to get across during his press conferences, just how smart he is and what a good job he's doing.

Deshaun is fabulous. O'Brien can probably ride his talent and continue to look pretty for another few double-digit win seasons. But I am unimpressed. I think O'Brien's best role is either OC, or teaching offense clinics for college coaches.

**RavenIsh** · 06-11-2019, 01:59 PM

This shows how a player has to be careful where he's being drafted. Deshaun Watson is being wasted there. Also see how Josh Rosen is suddenly a journeyman after only one year in the league. Maybe we can fleece Jadaeven Clowney from them?

**cjandrze** · 06-11-2019, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by RavenIsh

This shows how a player has to be careful where he's being drafted.

I mean, does a player really have a choice where he is drafted?

**RavenIsh** · 06-11-2019, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by cjandrze

I mean, does a player really have a choice where he is drafted?

Oy. I was going to make the point against having a draft because players are without a choice as to what situation to best suit them, but I changed my mind and forgot to remove this comment. I love the draft as a fan, but I understand why some players are against it. But that has nothing to do with the thread. Just crazy how some players are drafted into bad situations.

**Ravenswintitle** · 06-11-2019, 04:05 PM

newsflash - it's the owner

and bleacherreport can rot your brain

**Jfoh** · 06-11-2019, 04:39 PM

Bad owner and head coach who thinks he’s the smartest person in every situation and in every aspect of football. Some guys can evaluate talent, some can coach talent up talent, some can find the perfect scheme for the talent they have and some guys can get guys psyched up to play. That’s four things. B.B. does the first three well but not the fourth. OB does the middle two half assed but the first and last nit at all. Hence his teams are not consistent and in playoff games against good teams with good coaching they lose.

**Ravenswintitle** · 06-11-2019, 06:03 PM

they should hire Reggie McKenzie

**The Excellector** · 06-11-2019, 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by Ravenswintitle

they should hire Reggie McKenzie

Now THERE’S a guy who didn’t get enough time to right a ship.

**I Touchdown There** · 06-11-2019, 07:27 PM

Texans-related, but I love John McClain's snarky tweets during the games when the Texans look bad

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

**JimZipCode** · 06-11-2019, 07:48 PM

Originally Posted by I Touchdown There

Texans-related, but I love John McClain's snarky tweets during the games when the Texans look bad

From Die Hard?

I thought that was Bruce Willis.

**JimZipCode** · 06-11-2019, 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by Ravenswintitle

bleacherreport can rot your brain

I been following Tanier around for years, first at Football Outsiders, then at SportsOnEarth, now at B-R. I think he's excellent. Don't really care what else they have on offer.