The Houston Texans took a big step this week in firing Head Coach and GM Bill O’Brien. While surprising, the move is not unwarranted.
An 0-4 start was the final straw in what has been a topsy-turvy year for Houston. The Texans could never quite get over the playoff hump during O’Brien’s tenure. Four Division championships in five years was not enough.
His relationship was strained with players at best. A heated argument with franchise face J.J. Watt sealed his fate.There are reports that O’Brien began losing the locker room as early as last season. That feeling was elevated by the questionable trade of DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals in the offseason.
O’Brien’s personnel decisions have the Texans roster in a state of disarray. Bad trades have left the organization without a 1st or 2nd round pick in the 2021 draft. They had no 1st round pick in 2020 either. The Texans spent the most money on players this year at $253 million. Thats $9 million more than their in-state rival Dallas Cowboys.
The poor roster moves have made the offense ineffective. DeAndre Hopkins elevated an oft-injured receiving core. With Hopkins gone, the onus has been on DeShaun Watson to carry too much of the burden.
While O’Brien wasn’t considered a coach on the hot seat at the beginning of the season, his firing is surely warranted. None one thought he would be the first one gone though.
Adam Gase of the New York Jets has an equally strained relationship with his players and the Jets are probably the worst team in football at this point. Dan Quinn’s Falcons cant hold a lead, stop a nosebleed, or do anything well at this point. Yet O’Brien was first.
There is always a surprise firing every year. O’Brien has filled that void. I think we see no more than three, maybe four additional coaching changes by Black Monday. Jacksonville’s Doug Marrone and Detroit’s Matt Patricia are both coaching on borrowed time as well.
What’s next for the Houston Texans? First and foremost, they have to find a general manager. The team has been without one for almost a year. O’Brien previously covered those responsibilities in addition to his coaching duties.
This is a four year project for the next football leadership. They need a rear general, a Dwight Eisenhower if you will. The General Manager needs to have superseding power.
That Eisenhower type needs to find his General Patton to continue the history analogy. Who is General Patton? The first choice is Kansas City Chiefs Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
The thing to remember is that the Texans will not be the best job available. Should the Falcons move on from Quinn, Atlanta will be a better destination. No draft picks in 2021 and little wiggle room in the cap will make a rebuild tough.
