Bill O'Brien to become coach of Houston Texans

[Brady6]

Bill O'Brien to leave Penn State to become coach of Houston Texans, ESPN's Schefter and Mortensen report.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...agrees-to-become-head-coach-of-houston-texans

 

[Betterthanmost]

I don't like it for him. Just too soon.

 

[ausbacker]

Stop hogging all the threads Brady6.

If proven to be true, congrats to BOB.

 

[IcyPatriot]

If proven to be true, congrats to BOB.

Yes he's already better than most of them ... especially the retreads.

 

[TheBeers]

Good move for him. That team has talent, they do need a QB. So queue the Mallet to Texans trade thead in 5... 4... 3...

 

[convertedpatsfan]

Obviously I understand when someone wants to grab a better job opportunity, so good for O'Brien. But at the same time, I think people should be honest about it.

One of Penn State's top recruits is now saying O'Brien told him just days ago he was staying.

Incoming Penn State recruit Thomas Holley, the school's second-highest ranked recruit in 2014, told ESPN.com that he had a conversation Saturday with O'Brien, who told the defensive lineman that he way staying with the Nittany Lions.

"He said it's not true, he's going to be at Penn State and he's going to be there for me when I get there," Holley told ESPN.com.

Source: Houston Texans to hire Bill O'Brien of Penn State Nittany Lions - ESPN

It's possible the kid is lying too but if he's not, then I am disappointed in O'Brien for misleading recruits. And what do some of last year's recruits think? They kept their commitments to Penn State even after the fallout from the sex scandal, they honoured their commitments to BOB, only to have him walk out on them. Now they're stuck, or have to take a year off to transfer.

Again, I get that the world is a cruel place and people lie and these kids will eventually learn that one way or another. But it is disappointing if it's true.

 

[Brady6]

Obviously I understand when someone wants to grab a better job opportunity, so good for O'Brien. But at the same time, I think people should be honest about it.



One of Penn State's top recruits is now saying O'Brien told him just days ago he was staying.







Source: Houston Texans to hire Bill O'Brien of Penn State Nittany Lions - ESPN



It's possible the kid is lying too but if he's not, then I am disappointed in O'Brien for misleading recruits. And what do some of last year's recruits think? They kept their commitments to Penn State even after the fallout from the sex scandal, they honoured their commitments to BOB, only to have him walk out on them. Now they're stuck, or have to take a year off to transfer.



Again, I get that the world is a cruel place and people lie and these kids will eventually learn that one way or another. But it is disappointing if it's true.

What was O'Brien supposed to tell the kid I'm leaving for a job nobody has offered me? If you're a football coach you ultimate goal is obviously the NFL you don't pass on that and anyone should understand that.

I guess he could go around and tell his recruits just so you know if the NFL offers me a head coaching job. I think 99% of college coaches would have to do the same.

O'Brien did what was right for the program he worked for his decision was made after the fact.

 

[fnordcircle]

RE: That kid feeling betrayed. Sucks, but people are allowed to change their mind.

He probably had no idea what Houston was going to offer him.

I think he's going into a really good situation there it's a team that drastically under-performed this year has a solid running game and some great defensive talent and he's got the #1 overall.

Good for him.

 

[Fencer]

So who is he likely to raid from the Pats and take with him? Daboli, Pepper, and/or the WR coach whose name I'm forgetting to be coordinator? Edelman at WR?

 

[Deus Irae]

He's got a lot of talent on that team, and he can either take the QB or the monster pass rusher at 1.1.. That's a worst-to-first situation just waiting to happen.

 

[Wrath Mania]

I agree with you guys that, in essence, he's allowed to do what he wants. And he probably wants the challenge of the greatest level of competition, that's fine. Still, I'm kinda disappointed he's bailing so soon.

He wouldn't be the first coach to go back on his word or anything (hi Tuna, or even BB with the J-E-T-S), but still, if I was involved with PSU, I'd be miffed.

Aside from that though, I wonder if it's too hasty of a move to begin with. I felt the same way when JMD was whisked off to Denver. I get that Houston is only one year removed from being a playoff team, that they still have some great pieces and the number one pick. But still, is it the best fit for an offensive mind? It's just like last year, when Chip Kelly almost went to the Browns before having a lucid moment and going to Philly instead. Clearly the better program. For some reason this makes more sense to me if BoB was going to, say, Detroit. But whatever. Just conjecture.

 

[ausbacker]

RE: That kid feeling betrayed. Sucks, but people are allowed to change their mind.

He probably had no idea what Houston was going to offer him.

I think he's going into a really good situation there it's a team that drastically under-performed this year has a solid running game and some great defensive talent and he's got the #1 overall.

Good for him.

If O'Brien does indeed confirm as the Head Coach for the Texans, who can blame him? They've got a solid foundation of talented albeit dysfunctional players (this season), resources, a moderately competitive division, he'll probably be offered a considerable pay raise given everything is bigger in Texas (or so the marketing goes) and he's back in the big time. Hell, as a cherry on top we'll even throw in the number 1 pick and you can take a franchise QB or pair Clowney with J.J. Watt for good measure. If that's not enough, hell, trade on down and collect futures.

You cannot fault a man for taking up an offer as such. Part of me wishes him well the other sees the Texans as an immediate AFC contending rival with a soon to be very good Head Coach who has just navigated a destroyed program back into relevance.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

What was O'Brien supposed to tell the kid I'm leaving for a job nobody has offered me? If you're a football coach you ultimate goal is obviously the NFL you don't pass on that and anyone should understand that.

I guess he could go around and tell his recruits just so you know if the NFL offers me a head coaching job. I think 99% of college coaches would have to do the same.

O'Brien did what was right for the program he worked for his decision was made after the fact.

Again, I understand that BOB wanted to get back into the NFL. I don't fault him for that.

But I do think he should be honest with that recruit who asked him just a few days ago about his future. If he said he's not sure, fine. But when you tell someone you're going to be there, that you'll be there when the kid gets there, that's just a flat-out lie. And quite frankly, I have no idea why I have to even explain such an obvious thing.

And while there are a lot of strange things in the NCAA, one of them is definitely how a coach can move around but a recruit has to take a year off of his eligibility if he wants to do the same.

You don't have to tell the whole truth, I get that. But you shouldn't lie. He could tell the recruit he interviewed and he hasn't been offered the job. He could say he isn't seriously thinking about it. But when you say you are going to be there, then you're not, that crosses the line. If you give your word to someone, then you go back on it, that's not right.

And I think it goes a step further than that when you pull something like that in football. As the head coach, you ask your guys to sacrifice for the greater good, for the team, for each other. Then the head coach skips town while lying about it. If you're going to play for that guy, are you really going to buy into that program all the way?

Maybe. I mean Nick Saban left the Dolphins to build a powerhouse program in Alabama only two weeks after saying, "I guess I have to say it. I'm not going to be the Alabama coach."

So maybe BOB will be successful in Houston. Maybe not. But I would be very disappointed to find out that he lied to a young teenager. Part of being an adult is dealing with the tough situations. So is part of being a football coach. This would be a failure in both cases.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

He's got a lot of talent on that team, and he can either take the QB or the monster pass rusher at 1.1.. That's a worst-to-first situation just waiting to happen.

Good points. It will be interesting to see how pick #1 is used by BOB. If he's a BB disciple? He trades out of it....

 

[ausbacker]

Good points. It will be interesting to see how pick #1 is used by BOB. If he's a BB disciple? He trades out of it....

You know TBS, I was just having a discussion with an Aggies and Texans supporting friend who is hoping against hope that the Texans use it to take Johnny Football after passing on Vince Young. He's finally conceded to me that it's more than likely the Texans will trade out of first and accumulate picks (which is the smarter move in my humble opinion).

The Texans are a good team who had a horrid 2013 (much like the Falcons). They can set themselves up (draft wise) for the next 5 years if they get it right in 2014 (mind you, so can the Falcons).

 

[patsinthesnow]

So as Sciz pointed out in the draft forum, this may be our last chance to trade Mallett. Will BoB bite?

#1 Clowney
#33 Mallett

 

[varjao]

This was the best HC job available, not only because of the picks , the fact is that the Texans already is a playoff team, they got bad luck this year and also a lot of off the field issues, after a certain point they just gave up the season.

If they do a good job on the next draft they will be in position to win 9 games at least next season imo.

That said, I would not draft a QB, not the top ranked, maybe on the third or fourth round, to develop. I would give a new shot to Keenum and maybe try a veteran like Cutler if he leaves Chicago.

Schaub must go.

 

[Deus Irae]

So as Sciz pointed out in the draft forum, this may be our last chance to trade Mallett. Will BoB bite?

#1 Clowney
#33 Mallett

Well, the FA quarterback situation is pretty bleak....

 

[Wrath Mania]

For whatever it's worth, here's a pretty good article that illuminates some of O'Brien's frustrations at Penn State this year. Kind of puts his decision in better light.

Bill O'Brien, the outsider, arrived at the perfect time; maybe he's leaving at the right time, too | PennLive.com

 

[Wheelman]

I don't care that Bill O'Brien told that young recruit that after he told the world Bill O'Brien was staying for sure. It's not fair on O'Brien either.

Ideally O'Brien speaks honestly to the recruit provided the recruit keeps his mouth shut about it.