Osweiler taking good vibes into break after rough start
Standing at his locker stall Monday morning, Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler emphasized he doesn’t have any confidence issues as he struck an upbeat stance at the midway point of the regular season.
Osweiler has experienced some rocky moments with the Texans since signing a four-year, $72 million contract that included $37 million guaranteed. He’s thrown nine touchdown passes and nine interceptions and has a 73.1 passer rating.
But the towering quarterback has also helped the Texans achieve a 5-3 record and first place in the AFC South division.
Never lost confidence
“At the end of the day, I have great confidence in myself,” Osweiler said. “I’m my own biggest critic, if you will. When the game doesn’t go how maybe I want it to or how this team wants it to, I examine that film very hard. I’m very hard on myself to improve.”
Fans and others on social media have been even harder, not that Osweiler pays attention.
“As far as blocking out the outside noise, it’s really actually not that difficult,” he said. “I don’t look at social media and don’t really turn on the TV during the week. You’re occupied with studying.”
Osweiler is on pace to finish the season with 3,418 yards, 18 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.
“I think there’s been some good spots, and I think there’s obviously been some bad spots,” Osweiler said. “But I think the thing that’s encouraging is I feel like I’m getting better every single week and I feel like this football team is getting better every single week.
“So, there’s plenty of room for improvement. Fortunately we still have eight more games.”
The body of Osweiler’s NFL career closely resembles that of a passer approaching the end of a rookie season as a starter. He’s 10-5 as a starter in seven games at Denver last year and eight with the Texans.
Texans owner Bob McNair weighed in on Osweiler.
“He’s still basically a rookie,” McNair said. “He’s going to make some mistakes, but he shows that he has the talent, he has the ability and has the leadership that the team has confidence in him.”
Osweiler completed 20 of 29 passes for 186 yards in Sunday’s 20-13 win over Detroit and had a 83.4 passer rating. His 69.0 completion percentage represented a season high.
“I think he’s getting better and better,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “He and I talked for a while. I have great respect for the guy.
“When you come into a new system that puts a lot on your plate at that position, I don’t think it’s easy.”
The Texans are averaging 313.3 yards of total offense per game, including 199.3 passing. And they’ve scored just 12 touchdowns.
“Specifically, I would like to find a way to get this offense into the end zone more often,” Osweiler said. “We just need to find a way to get into the end zone more often, and it starts with me.
“Down the second half of the season, these last eight games, I’m going to do everything I can to clean up the turnovers and get this offense into the end zone more often.”
Osweiler’s latest turnover was in the first half while targeting Pro Bowl wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Seven of his nine interceptions have happened while throwing in Hopkins’ direction.
“He’s a tremendous talent,” Osweiler said. “Whenever I have DeAndre one on one, I’m going to try to get him the football. At the end of the day, I made a poor throw. The next time I’m in that position maybe I throw it away and live to fight another down.”
Rest, then back at it
With the Texans heading into an open date, Osweiler intends to recharge the batteries and reflect before studying the playbook as he gets closer to returning to work Monday in advance of a divisional road game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“Absolutely, I think the bye week it’s very important to not only rest your body physically, but you need to rest mentally,” Osweiler said. “I’m going to get as far away from this game as I possibly can and then as we get closer to Monday, pick up the iPad again and get ready for Jacksonville.”