O’Brien gets defensive about offensive line
For the umpteenth time since 2014, Bill O’Brien was not fond of a question he was asked about his Texans.
Bully O’Brien reappeared on a rainy Tuesday inside the safety of the team’s practice bubble, verbally treating a media member like dirt and reminding everyone which guy is in charge of pretty much everything on Kirby Drive in 2019.
A peasant inquires about the mysterious state of veteran Matt Kalil, the Texans’ seemingly injured starting left tackle, who is supposed to protect Deshaun Watson in less than three weeks against New Orleans inside a roaring Superdome.
The dictator flicks the pointless annoyance away, substituting harsh words for the oldfashioned heel to the face.
“Is he hurt? I don’t have to release an injury report until the season starts,” O’Brien said. “Every time I come up here, I get asked about 50 questions about injuries. So you’ll get an injury report when the season starts. Right now, I will tell you he is out of practice, per the head coach’s discretion. How is that for an answer? You good?” Yes, your highness.
The Texans’ transcript chose a softer tone. It also removed a few important words.
Somewhere up above, George
Orwell was grinning.
“You’ll get an injury report when the season starts,” O’Brien officially said. “Right now I’ll tell you that he’s out of practice per the head coach’s discretion.”
Oh, well. This is the era of fighting fake news with more fake news — and a head coach gaining general manager power after his team is embarrassed in a home playoff game. Simply a sign of the times.
We’ve been dealing with the polarizing sides of O’B for five-plus seasons. One day he’s fighting with everyone and trying to pull off his best Bill-Belichick-behind-a-podium impression. The next, he’s personally apologizing for another teapot moment, cracking self-deprecating jokes, calling each media member by name, and swearing he’ll stand behind the podium for as
long as the Q’s keep coming.
It’s all on me. That’s not my job. We’ve got a bunch of good guys. Best fans in the world.
You know the drill. The only interesting part Tuesday was the lingering uncertainty surrounding Kalil’s Week 1-17 future.
The seventh-year pro is supposed to be the new answer at the most important position on the offensive line. The Texans’ line allowed a league-high 62 sacks last season, which partly contributed to Watson’s being forced to take a bus to Jacksonville for a game against the Jaguars. Since a frustrated Duane Brown forced his way off McNair Island, the Texans haven’t had a left tackle worth a darn.
Kalil, 30, has played in just 18 games the last three seasons, missed the entire 2018 campaign due to injury, and was signed to a one-year, $7.5 million deal initially viewed as a team insurance policy.
With former GM Brian Gaine forced out and the head coach running the whole show, King O’Brien now receives all the Kalil questions.
So yes, Kalil’s health and playing status are worth inquiring about. Every day. And every week until the Texans finally prove they can consistently protect the franchise’s
most valuable asset.
Former fifth-round pick Roderick Johnson has impressed thus far during training camp and is pushing for more playing time. Nick Martin is again under center. Seantrel Henderson must stay healthy (there’s that word again) to hold down the right tackle spot. First-round pick Tytus Howard, a tackle in college, is still proving his NFL worth. The same for 2018 secondrounder Max Scharping.
When we entered last season, the Texans’ line was the team’s biggest question mark. From 0-3 to 9-3 and the depressing playoff dud versus Indianapolis, the weak wall around Watson kept breaking. As the Saints and “Monday Night Football” approach, the Texans’ OL is still the Q that can’t be answered.
If you ask something simple about Kalil — is he hurt? — the tense reply is constantly replayed on local talk radio and becomes national NFL news.
“How is that for an answer? You good?”
I don’t know, Coach. You tell us.
The only solution that matters is the Texans successfully protecting Watson for the first time in three years.
The organization had one main job to do this offseason: Build a better line. If they fail their QB again, O’Brien won’t have to say anything. You’ll know the real answer.