San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
O’Brien optimistic going into fifth season
HOUSTON — Texans coach Bill O’Brien is approaching his fifth season with a team that’s brimming with promise and determined to return to the playoffs after a one-year absence.
With the offseason program behind him, O’Brien will laugh it off, but those who work with him insist they’ve detected a noticeable difference in their head coach. Not exactly a swagger but more like confidence that comes from an offseason in which the Texans made meaningful moves that affected every department within the personnel side of the organization.
If O’Brien’s lighter on his feet, it’s not because he went on a diet. It’s because he has just about everything in place for the Texans to make another run at an AFC South title, barring debilitating injuries for a second consecutive season.
“I love working here,” O’Brien said over lunch in the team’s cafeteria. “I like the way we’re set up right now. I really enjoy coaching the players. I say that every year, but it’s true.
“When the players aren’t here, it’s not a lot of fun. I like our staff, too. I think this organization’s in a good place right now.”
It’s no wonder O’Brien’s so excited.
He got a four-year extension and a raise. His close friend, Brian Gaine, has finished his first offseason as the general manager. Injured players are on schedule in their rehabilitation. And, for the first time since he was hired in January of 2014, O’Brien has a bona-fide starting quarterback in place.
And not just any quarterback. Deshaun Watson is a franchise quarterback with everything it takes to reach the elite level that he flashed during seven games, including six starts, last season when the Texans finished 4-12, their worst record under O’Brien.
After observing O’Brien for almost 4 ½ years, Texans fans should know by now that O’Brien tries hard not to go overboard in his praise of players unless they’ve reached the superstar stratosphere like defensive end J.J. Watt and receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
But when Watson is the subject, O’Brien can’t conceal his enthusiasm about coaching the second-year quarterback and what they might be able to achieve for an offense that could be one of the NFL’s best.
“It’s great for our organization to have that stability at quarterback,” O’Brien said. “And it’s because of Deshaun. He’s a really good guy. He’s a fun guy to coach. He wants to be challenged. He wants to constantly improve. He loves the game. He loves coming in every day and going to work. I love his mindset and approach to things.
“I have a lot of confidence in him and the players around him. He’s got the skillset. He puts the time in. I know he’s the type of player that when you call a play, it’s got a chance to work. He knows what needs to be done to make the play work.”
Watson has let O’Brien and quarterbacks coach Sean Ryan know that when the game is on the line, he wants the ball in his hands.
Because Watson has been recovering from knee surgery, O’Brien took it easy on him in the offseason program. He participated in every drill but 11-on-11. He worked hard in individual drills and 7-on-7 situations. He worked on every conceivable situation he could face under the circumstances, and Watson’s improvement mentally was impressive, ac- cording to his coaches and teammates.
“I think we got a lot done with Deshaun relative to what he was able to do in the class room and on the field,” O’Brien said. “I think he’s got a great future.”
And the future begins in the first game at New England, where Watson will try to help the Texans defeat the Patriots at Gillette Stadium for the first time.
O’Brien plays a substantial role in Watson’s development. Both say they have a special bond as teacher and pupil. They spend hours together off the field, watching tape and trying to create new ways to attack defenses.
There’s a mutual respect guided by high expectations for an offense that averaged 39 points in the quarterback’s last five starts. But O’Brien and Watson know they must adjust the offense because defensive coordinators will spend a lot of time trying to develop schemes to contain the quarterback.
“That’s the challenge of the league,” O’Brien said. “A lot goes into that challenge. How do you anticipate teams are going to try to defend you? What did you research to try to be different than what you did last season?
“That’s what this league’s all about — trying to meet that challenge and putting your guys in position to make plays.”
When regular season begins, the Texans could have seven or eight new starters, including four in the offensive line. O’Brien worked closely with Gaine after he was brought back from Buffalo to oversee the personnel operation.
“We have a great relationship,” O’Brien said. “It’s easy to discuss things with him. We talk or text every day. That doesn’t mean we always agree on everything. The lines of communication are great. That has to happen to have a successful organization.”
Looking back on the offseason, O’Brien said, “We made a lot of strides in all three phases relative to this time of the year. What we set out to do — getting these schemes taught and implemented, seeing these guys improve their physical skillset — we definitely got those things accomplished.
“The proof will be in the pudding in camp and preseason about where we are. I feel like we’re in a good place right now from a mental and physical standpoint as we prepare for training camp.”