Accountability a welcome sight
So far, the Texans under the watchful eye of Bill O’Brien have been progressing well. “We are on schedule” O’Brien stated, and further that the
“We are definitely on schedule with special teams.”
“We are definitely on schedule with special teams.” As regular readers will know, last season on these pages we called for the firing Joe Marciano. While special teams isn’t a sexy part of any football team, they can make a difference. Marciano’s continued employment until just after Kubiak was fired, was in a way symbolic of what had gone wrong last season. To hear “special teams” is going well, is a very good thing for the fans.
Speaking of, that’s another aspect of the regime change in Houston that fans have long cried out for. Accountability. One get’s the impression that O’Brien isn’t going to tolerate the wasting of talent like Trindon Holliday or to an extent Jacoby Jones. He won’t keep a coach around if that coach fails to manage his players in a way that get’s the job done. That also extends to players. One has to wonder if Randy Bullock for example starts shaking kicks how long he’ll last.
More from Houston Texans News
- Houston Texans: Can Sean Payton really be the next head coach?
- Houston Texans Draft: Michael Mayer should be a no doubter at pick 12
- Houston Texans already telling fans the Davis Mills era is over
- Houston Texans have hand forced, waste no time in firing Lovie Smith
- Houston Texans: Pros and Cons of keeping Head Coach Lovie Smith
That’s not to say O’Brien is going to be a quick hook coach, rather the expectations and accountability are much more concise then under the previous establishment. The competition at every area, the pending release of one of our quartet of quarterbacks… let’s face it they aren’t taking all four into training camp. The best case from a “we like these guys” perspective is that Savage goes to the practice squad and the other fight for the starting slot.
Reality check is, Keenum or Yates will be looking for work.
Nov 10, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Case Keenum (7) during the game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Arizona won 27-24. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
That leads us to the biggest problem facing O’Brien in a way. Andre Johnson. The longer he sits out, the more he falls behind the team. That in turn harms the “Team First” mantra we’ve been hearing. Is one player, even Johnson above the rules? Are exceptions for greatness made? Or do you stick to your guns on accountability. It’s a tough decision, and how O’Brien handles this I think will be the best insight we have into the sort of empire he’s setting in place there at NRG Stadium.
Keep your browsers here to the Torotimes for all your Texans news and insight!
*Quotes courtesy of the Houston Texans PR team transcripts