Texans Morning Huddle – O’Brien Era Underway
Happy Sunday everyone! We do appreciate you stopping by with us, to check out all things Texans-related! Today we find out how, exactly, head coach Bill O’Brien evaluates his signal callers, what the front office has done, to reshape the roster according to the new head coach and what our former boy, Andre Johnson is venting about us to the media this time.
Enjoy!
Houston Texans’ Bill O’Brien gives glimpse at how he evaluates quarterbacks – by Tania Ganguli
"“We always talk about being an athlete in a 6-foot circle,” said Hoyer, now competing withRyan Mallett, another New England transplant,to be the Texans’ starting quarterback.Athleticism means something different for quarterbacks than any other position. The metrics change. Being fast isn’t as important as being able to step over an out-stretched arm to avoid a sack.Brady has it. Some faster quarterbacks don’t. It’s one of the qualities that have helped him become one of the greatest ever, even if most of the league didn’t always appreciate the former sixth-rounder’s talents."
How the Texans reshaped their roster to Bill O’Brien’s specifications – by Tania Ganguli
"“This year … and I would say last year, we really stuck to our beliefs in basically what type of, the body type of a player,” O’Brien told me. “… You’ll see a bigger team, a longer team, length of arms, length of legs, athletic ability. You’ll see a different looking team.”There has been a difference, especially on defense.According to ESPN Stats and Info’s David Kiarsis, defensive linemen acquired by the Texans with O’Brien as head coach and Romeo Crennel as defensive coordinator average 23 pounds heavier than those acquired through the draft or free agency by the Texans when Wade Phillips was defensive coordinator. The difference there when you only count draft picks is 14.5 pounds. Drafted defensive linemen averaged arms a full inch longer with Crennel as defensive coordinator than with Phillips. Defensive backs acquired in the past two years average nearly two inches taller than those taken when Phillips was here."
J.J. Watt up for 2 ESPYs – by Deepi Sidhu
"ESPN announced its nominees for the 2015 ESPYs on Wednesday, and J.J Watt has a chance to potentially garner a pair of the sports awards next month.The two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year has been nominated for an ESPY in two categories.Watt is up for Best Male Athlete alongside Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers), and Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers).The three-time All-Pro is also a nominee for Best NFL Player along with Tom Brady (New England Patriots), Antonio Brown (Pittsburgh Steelers), DeMarco Murray (Philadelphia Eagles), and Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers).‘The 2015 ESPYs’ will air Wednesday, July 15 at 7 p.m. CT on KTRK ABC-13."
Andre Johnson Continues to Vent On the Texans – by P.D. Starr
"Have you ever been miserable enough to enjoy not going to work?“Nah, that’s probably the first time that’s ever happened.”- Andre JohnsonIt has been almost four months since Andre Johnson and the Houston Texans have parted ways in a nasty breakup involving playing time, a reduced role in the offense, and an underlying contract dispute. After the ugly breakup between the Texans and Johnson, he landed with the Indianapolis Colts on a three-year deal worth $21 million, with $10 million of the contract guaranteed."
Next: Peyton Manning to Texans, The Mistake That Never Happened