Well yeah, it's way too early for an absolute proclamation. I'm saying today's snapshot is that the odds of OB staying is more than 50%, and it has everything to do with QB play. If the stellar performances continue, he's absolutely safe. It's all about the QB. That's how the league works. I don't really see a scenario where we play .500 ball with great production out of the QB, but if that were to happen, then yeah he might be out. I get the sense that OB rubs McNair the wrong way.
Not really.... you're nitpicking that he decided to start the season with Tom Savage, and you're using Watson's largely unprecedented rookie performance as a negative against BOB for not "seeing" it in training camp/pre-season. Again, if it was that obvious all the time... Romo would have never started over Prescott, Brady would never have been on the bench as long as he was, Warner would have never been passed over multiple times and relegated behind Trent Green, etc. etc. etc. Plenty are going to "credit" BOB for Watson's weekly improvement, his overall seamless transition to the NFL, and his unprecedented amazing performance today... I also think its a little generous to attribute that all to him. If you want to judge him solely by preparedness/player evaluation... you do realize that how a team adapts/adjusts throughout the season is almost just as important (if not moreso) than how they enter the season out of training camp. This is not a set-it-and-forget-it type league. You can't simply install a system/name a lineup at the start of the season and expect it to work out flawlessly for the entire year. Right now, both the coach and the team are trending in the right direction... they looked damn well prepared to play the last 2 weeks, against teams expected to be playoff teams. His rookie QB is looking less and less like a rookie each snap... sure, we may have just struck gold with the most NFL ready rookie QB ever... or maybe its a pretty good partnership between an NFL coach (who are still pretty vital to a team's performance), and an above/beyond talented rookie.
We don't know what Watson looked like in the preseason. In what I saw of them, Savage was the better preseason QB. Watson has grown by leaps and bounds in just 2 weeks since the Bengals game, no telling how he looked 5 weeks ago when this call was probably made. I was in the camp that never wants a rookie to start week one, particularly behind what looked like an extremely bad line the first 2 weeks. Maybe if he starts week one, and gets lit up behind that line, he isn't playing as confidently as he is right now. All that we know for sure is that he is playing extremely well, so whatever they have been doing has worked. I can't believe that there are still people stupid enough to actually think BOB chose Savage week 1 simply because he didn't like Watson and thought Savage was the long term answer for this team. It's also funny how people selectively choose what BOB is responsible for. QB looks like s**t, BOB is terrible at developing QB's. Offense looks magical, Watson is saving BOB's sorry ass. An offense can't succeed without a good QB, and a good QB can't succeed without a good system around him. It looks like we have both right now.
For those getting on BoB. Did we not all watch the same preseason? Savage was better. There is no arguing it.
Since you appear to want to go down with the ship I will bite. You are clearly wrong about Watson(made some moronic comments that were worse than anything BobbytheGreat said) and BoB. Offensive line. Did you not watch what was happening to Tom Savage? He holds the ball too long.
I know Savage holds the ball too long. Then why start him? And right the OL isn't good. Do you really trust this line to protect Watson going forward?
O-line cohesiveness evolves with more reps and experience. Even terrible lines can become salvageable after a period of consistency of playing together... add Watson's elusiveness, and more importantly his innate sense of pocket awareness (which can't always be "taught"), and the line issues are likely mitigated as time goes on. Still doesn't mean they don't need to upgrade.... XSF alone may get Watson double the contact than he deserves. The sack he allowed with just base 4 man pressure yesterday was unacceptable.
maybe filo should cut his hair off. that long hair hasn't worked out for him. Looks like a dothraki blocks like a squire. Hopes of Brown returning have faded for me. Another excellent game plan by B.O.B. I knew he had it in him just had to rempve the tb12 fantasies, for now.
Playing better and better for sure. Was worried this week with Mancz being out and thinking LeBeau was going to bring it but they held up nicely. As far as the OL moving forward and assuming Brown is done as a Texan, only Martin, Allen and the 2 rookies (Davenport and Fuller) will be under contract next year. Wouldn't mind resigning Mancz as he has proven to be serviceable and can play both C and G. You hope Davenport is ready and basically go all in on the best LT available.
Unless they trade into the first or second round, I don't expect a 3rd round or later LT to be a definite difference-maker (unless, for some reason, this is an extremely deep draft for tackles... honestly, I don't know). I also don't know what's available via free agency, but if they're going to spend somewhere... the O-line needs as much help as anything. But, you see how just having the threat of a QB with mobility and pocket awareness tends to not only make the line look better... but also ended up opening up the running game as the game went on, which I do feel is a strength of the line as is (since XSF is that bad at pass blocking, but is also that good at run blocking).
Doubtful it'll be that deep but all for moving up if there is a guy we like in the 2nd. Think moving into the 1st will be really costly from where we're at. As far as FA, best bet is to hope for some cap casualties. Solder will be the premier LT FA this summer but hard to imagine pulling him from the Pats, even though Belichick has shown he'll let go of good players. He's 29 so could be in store for another big payday.
Stand fast, brothers. 3 years of total incompetence is not to be undone by a rookie phenom. We must oust BOB for the good of our new lord and savior, DeShaun.
As an ardent O'Brien supporter, I laugh at this thread. He's going nowhere. Funny what s quarterback does for an offense.
Your examples are poor comparisons and they actually proved how bad Bob's decision was to start Savage after the whole training camp and preseason. All of your examples to start those unknown QB that proceeded to have great success have one thing in common, the original QB got hurt and those coaches did not have any other better choice. Bob MADE his choice to switch to Watson after 2 quarters into the season with Savage 100% HEALTHY. If you want to credit him on "his development of Watson", then ask yourself how much snaps he gave to Savage in the training camp with the first team while how much he gave to Watson. So 2 magical quarters are what he needed to throw away the whole training camp preparation?
I have a feeling there are going to be some good hot takes that I go back in find soon. Only way he is leaving is due to him wanting to leave. I think Watson may be able to save the Smith/O'brien Marriage.
You're again working with the presumption that Savage was declared far/away the more accomplished player... what if they were deemed about even, and the only reason Savage got the edge was because Watson was a rookie? The fact that he didn't wait too long to go to him speaks volumes as to where he truly stood on that matter. Its also clear that you're putting a ton of emphasis on training camp/pre-season when we all know that roster moves/benchings/substitutions occur throughout regular seasons... based on actual regular season performances. 1 actual game (or one half of an actual game) is likely far more valuable to experience, learning, and development vs. an entire training camp/off-season where this stuff just can't be simulated. Lastly, who's going out of their way to credit him with his development of Watson? Not sure why you put that in quotes... did I ever say that? Agree that it took an injury for those previous examples to make a move... which makes it even more egregious. Are you suggesting that if Bledsoe never gets injured, Belichick never makes a move to the HOF in waiting? Those coaches had it pretty easy from that viewpoint... and most definitely "lucked" into making the right decision. BOB has some good fortune to count on as well... had the O-line performed even just a smidge above awful, Savage may have been able to stick.
Its gonna be one of those 'we hate each other, but we stuck together for the kid' marriages. If BoB wins and does well and the ticker is pointing up with Watson, I can see him forcing his hand into getting ricky smits a "promotion"
