Some truth to it Jerome Solomon says don't dismiss Osweiler's claims. PAGE 20
Facts show that Brock Osweiler’s comments aren’t that far-fetched
Poor Brock Osweiler.
It’s interesting that a guy who has never said a bad word about Houston or the Texans or Texans fans, can be so universally disliked.
On the field, he was not very good, but he was likable.
Now that he is gone, we’re supposed to pile on the guy? Give me a break. Last week, Osweiler praised the coaching he has received in Cleveland since he was traded there a few months ago.
“The best part is I’m getting coached hard on my fundamentals,” Osweiler said. “And I believe firmly that when your fundamentals and your feet are right as a quarterback, you’re going to make great decisions and you’re going to throw accurate footballs.
“I think that’s something that slid last season. I’m not going to go into great detail on that, but they did. My fundamentals slid, and because of that, you saw some poor decisions and some poor throws. If you go back to 2015, I feel like my fundamentals were pretty tight.”
I see nothing to argue about in that opinion.
That hasn’t stopped Texans fans and Texans media fans from attacking Osweiler for those comments. (Yeah, I know, it only adds to the media bias conspiracies to note that there are far more fans than journalists among Houston sports media, but facts are facts.)
So what if Osweiler’s recognition of good coaching in Cleveland is a veiled shot at the coaching he received in Houston?
I guess this would be good time to mention that in Osweiler’s defense, George Godsey, the guy who coached the Texans quarterbacks, the guy who ran the Texans’ offense last season, was fired at the end of the year. So, again, I ask, what is there to argue?
Numbers don’t lie
If you don’t think the Texans’ coaching is shaky, you must be blinded by your fandom.
The Texans’ offense last season was one of the worst for a playoff team in the history of the NFL.
In three years, Bill O’Brien’s offense has been much closer to the worst in the league than the best.
The Texans rank in the bottom third in most offensive categories. Only three teams have scored fewer offensive touchdowns and only the Texans and Rams have averaged less than five yards a play.
So, it isn’t an outlandish thought that Osweiler didn’t receive the best coaching in his year here.
O’Brien has bragged that the Texans have more formations than any NFL offense.
The team’s playbook of pages and pages and pages of cadences to go with pages and pages and pages of formations, doesn’t leave a lot of time for work on fundamentals.
O’Brien has said the team will simplify things a bit this season. Thank goodness. Especially since the Texans drafted Deshaun Watson in the first round.
Last summer, O’Brien told ESPN that it would be “extremely difficult” for a rookie to run his offense.
It wasn’t that easy for a veteran,
either.
Perhaps in attempting to confuse opponents, O’Brien has done more to confuse his quarterbacks.
Success elsewhere
Gary Kubiak wasn’t concerned about having an impressive playbook with a slew of formations to prove how smart or innovative he is. Execution and fundamentals meant more to the former Texans head coach.
In that system, Osweiler started seven games — winning five — for a team that went on to win the Super Bowl.
In O’Brien’s system, Osweiler looked like a lost puppy.
Maybe Cleveland head coach Hue Jackson has figured out how to make Osweiler look respectable.
When Osweiler signed with the Texans, I checked with as many people as I could find to get a sense of how good (or bad) of a quarterback he was or could be.
The consensus was that he was OK. Not great, not terrible, just OK.
Well, he slipped to terrible last season.
If he gets back to being OK, or better, what will be thought of his comments then?
Let’s at least hope he is OK enough to earn the Brown’s starting job.
If so, Oct. 15, when Cleveland comes to NRG Stadium to face the Texans, could be a fun Sunday for a likable guy.