Fire Bill O'Brien

Yes; and Kubiak consistently - for YEARS - failed to do the same thing on the defensive side of the ball and it cost them prime years. Matt Schaub and/or Kubiak's offense was an absolute beast in '09 and '10 and the defense (along with some dubious decisions by Kubiak) torpedoed that two-year stretch.

It took Kubiak five seasons to hire a competent defensive coordinator - and he only did it because McNair threatened his job. Think about that...

And O'Brien didn't inherit Crennel - he hired him. Give him credit for turning the defense over to a coach who knew how to successfully build a system.

The offense has objectively played better in both second halves of the season so far - that's due to adjustments they're making at halftime. And he has - sometimes quite successfully - navigated around his talent.

Honestly, the thing that frustrates me about BOB is that he seems to have extinguished early potential. Remember him beating the Ravens by quickly installing a UH-like offense for Keenum to run after bringing him in off the streets? Where did that go?

 

You're hired.

 

Nah. That's O'Brien's scheme, that his own DC was picking apart. Scheme a freedom for the QB that leads one receivers defender into the tackle. If that 2nd wasn't bait idk what is. That DB knew it was coming, played off to bait it and came down like lightning the second Hopkins stood up. Also, WR screens in the NFL are easily the shittiest play call ever, so way to have a mechanism in your system that defaults to a play that fails 99.9% of the time. Andre Johnson took it to the house one time. That's the last time it'll ever work and it wasn't even for OB. OB was the douche that ran him off.

This is O'Brien's offense. These are O'Brien's guys. This is his team and he's the one wearing the headset. I place 100% of the outcome of this season on William O'Brien. He's holding these L's.

 

Yeah I agree OBrien did the better job on DC hire and deserves credit.

But I'm not sure playing like garbage in the 1st half and improving to mediocre in the 2nd half is sign of good adjustment. It's just a sign of finally not sucking.

On your Keenum point, that's true and it reminds me of Watson's stretch last year? O'Brien needs to completely abandon that old, slow developing system of his and just use the modified college systems that have worked.

 

I always hesitate to jump on the "FIRE THE COACH!!!!!!111" bandwagon after every loss, but man....it's getting harder and harder to stay off.

Thing is, it's not going to happen any time soon so there's not much point in bellyaching about it.

 

How is improvement not rooted in adjustment? I'm not defending him, by any means, but they played well enough in the 2nd half to win after playing like crap in the 1st half. No high compliment as I think Tennessee is fairly mediocre, and worse Sunday.

The slow starts are a calling card, and are maddening, especially because they do often seem to get better as the game goes on. It makes you wonder why whatever they do at halftime isn't discovered/implemented earlier. No coach should so routinely be blindsided by an opponent.

Yep; he's shown flashes of being a dynamic offensive coordinator; but we don't see enough of that guy, consistently, and that's frustrating.

 

I like Crennel and think he deserves credit, and O'Brien for hiring him, but he started with Wade's personnel. He achieved success early because he had talent, so I don't think "build a system" is the right way to view what happened there. He's a good coach who has delivered because he has players.

OTOH, O'Brien also started with talent on the offensive side. He had no QB but he had talent at skill positions and in the line. Unfortunately, he squandered his o-line assets immediately and continues to do so. That's the clear failure of the team.

 

IF we lose to the giants OB gotta go.

 

You’re right. I exaggerated for comedic effect.

But while we’re here, let’s examine some key differences. Fuller’s TD is clearly a team wide check instead of a secret. The DBs are lined up in man, all in a row practically. Having a left tackle who can sell getting blown by AND reach the safety AND make the block must’ve been nice. The blocks were not difficult and the path to the TD was easy. That was the perfect time to go to it.

Hopkins’ TD also clearly just the play, as the blocking reaches its targets again. His DB is off but the way Hopkins curled under the block essentially blocks his man as well and then the other blocker is coming in hot anyway. Hopkins TD is nothing short of DH seeing the matrix and having the athleticism to make what, 5-6 full speed cuts through traffic AND enough juice to finish. This is all about a top flight athlete turning a small gain into 6. It happens.

It would seem at the very least... having blockers involved helps.

 

I’m glad BOB spoke to Patrick to make sure the blame isn’t on him... he is good at that.

 

Highly unlikely that BoB gets fired since he signed that contract extension.

 

If you watch both screens... Fuller's was clearly a designed screen, and, frankly, a well-design screen. The issue was Bruce Ellington whiffed his block. Had he made it, Fuller would've run for a minimum of 10 yards.

On Hopkins' screen - it is poorly designed, giving more credence to Watson calling an audible. Hopkins doesn't have a single blocker not just anywhere near him - there's not a single blocker on his side of the field. It was DOA from the snap.

 

The media turning on O'Brien now is truly bizarre.

All we heard at the end of last season was that the Texans would be crazy to fire him and he'd instantly have a new job. He'd even be the top coaching candidate on the market.

 

Is this something Watson did a lot in college or last year? Just seems weird to blame him as if O'Brien didnt put it in the gameplan at some point.

 

It's not bizarre at all. They sat and watched the last 2 games with us. They see the same things that we see. Failed play call after play call.

 

He's been doing that for a while. His offenses rank in the bottom 10 every year