BILL O’BRIEN AGAIN WANTS TO REACH THE TOP OF THE AFC SOUTH.
With an improving division and question marks at quarterback, a 10-6 record remains a lofty goal
Approaching his fourth training camp as Texans coach, Bill O’Brien has a lot to worry about besides his job security. • When the Texans kick off camp Wednesday in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., O’Brien will be focused on trying to win a third consecutive AFC South title and not a contract extension.
The Texans have dominated the division under O’Brien with a 14-4 record that could be 15-3 if he had not rested so many starters in the last regular-season game in Nashville because it had no bearing on their playoff situation.
This season, Tennessee seems to be the sexy pick to dethrone the Texans as AFC South champs. The Titans added talent on both sides of the ball, and quarterback Marcus Mariota is healthy and established.
By comparison, O’Brien is going to camp with three quarterbacks — Tom Savage, Deshaun Watson and Brandon Weeden — who have combined for two wins and three touchdown passes with the Texans.
Despite his inability to develop a legitimate starting quarterback, it’s preposterous to think O’Brien’s job could be in jeopardy after three consecutive 9-7 seasons and a playoff victory, but that hasn’t stopped speculation that his fourth season could be his last.
Bob McNair is one of the NFL’s most patient owners. He fired Dom Capers after a 2-14 season. He fired Gary Kubiak on the way to a 2-14 finish.
Before the wild-card playoff game at Oakland in January, McNair quickly shot down national media reports O’Brien would be fired if the Texans lost to the Raiders.
When they defeated Oakland, the O’Brien obituaries disappeared. Or were put on hold.
McNair said in March he would wait until after the season to discuss an extension with O’Brien. When pointing out that he extended Kubiak with one year remaining on his contract, McNair emphasized “if coach is happy” as part of the criteria.
“Happy” doesn’t seem to be a big part of O’Brien’s nature when it comes to football. It’s not the way he’s wired.
O’Brien will tell you he’s in this business with one goal, and that’s winning a Super Bowl. Last season, when they lost in the divisional round at New England, is the closest O’Brien has come. And Kubiak, for that matter.
The Texans haven’t advanced beyond the divisional round. Houston fans haven’t seen their team reach the AFC Championship Game since the Oilers after the 1979 season.
O’Brien makes no predictions, but he promises hard work that will generate the competition and camaraderie he hopes will lead to another playoff appearance and a chance to reach their goal.
The Texans hope moving training camp to The Greenbrier, one of the nation’s most exclusive resorts that provides cooler weather for practice, will pay off over the second half of the season with fresher legs and perhaps fewer nagging injuries. They also believe going on the road for camp can help build team chemistry.
What will play a bigger role in their success or failure is more consistency and production at quarterback. Savage is O’Brien’s newest starting quarterback, following Brock Osweiler, Brian Hoyer and Ryan Fitzpatrick. Counting Matt Schaub in 2013, this will be the team’s fifth starting quarterback in five years.
In 2018, expect Watson to make it six new starters in six years.
Let’s be realistic: General manager Rick Smith would not have traded up with Cleveland to get Watson if they didn’t plan for him to be the starter and, hopefully for the Texans, finally provide them with a franchise quarterback.
Strength of the team
The defense — No. 1 last season — should be the strength of the team, especially with end J.J. Watt returning.
The running game should be improved with the addition of rookie D’Onta Foreman — if he can stay out of trouble — behind Lamar Miller.
After each practice at camp, O’Brien will get more questions about progress from Savage and Watson than any of their teammates. Expect a lot of positive responses.
O’Brien always prefers to talk about the team rather than individual players. No matter what the questions, especially in camp, he usually tries to bring the topic back to the team.
As for the quarterbacks, with Savage as the starter but having to earn that distinction every day in practice, O’Brien will tell us it’s a competitive position.
O’Brien will call the plays
Players get most of the attention, of course, but it’ll be interesting to watch changes on the coaching staff.
O’Brien is calling plays and doesn’t have an offensive coordinator now that George Godsey is gone. Sean Ryan moved from receivers to quarterbacks and John Perry from tight ends to receivers. Tim Kelly was promoted to tight ends.
And, in a move that got the most national attention, Wes Welker was hired and given the title of offense/specialteams assistant.
Defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, one of the best in history, is O’Brien’s first assistant head coach. Mike Vrabel was promoted from linebackers to defensive coordinator. Bobby King was hired to coach linebackers. The coaches will be working 24/7 at training camp. They don’t get time off as the players do.
No matter how hard the coaches work or how much the players improve, we all know that unless Savage — or Watson — becomes the kind of quarterback who’s been missing from O’Brien’s offense, they could be saddled with another 9-7 record.