There comes a time for many NFL quarterbacks where they just prove to be unable to produce against the high level of competition in the league. Now, that’s not to say that Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler is there just yet, but it’s hard to argue that he’s not trending downward in a big way.
Even after a game in which Osweiler’s Texans lost 27-9 against his old team, the Denver Broncos, head coach Bill O’Brien not only stated that he’s not considering benching his QB, but took it even a step further than that.
Per ESPN’s Sarah Barshop:
“He’s a good player,” O’Brien said. “I think it’s very difficult to come into a new system and a new team and just pick it up right away. I think everybody has to do a better job.”
It seems to be a common trend for a fair share of NFL coaches. While they don’t want to send negative vibes in the direction of their young quarterbacks, which makes sense, they also refuse to put the blame on them when it’s needed. For Osweiler and O’Brien though, what the world witnessed on Monday Night Football in Week 7 is something that needs to be addressed, not pushed to the backburner.
The main reason is that it’s been more than just one game. While Osweiler’s 3.2 yards per attempt were the lowest in the NFL this season, according to ESPN Stats & Information, this whole season has been a disaster for the most part for him. Beginning with Monday, the 2016 free-agent acquisition completed 53.7 percent of his passes for just 131 yards while posting a quarterback rating of 60.1.
As a whole this season, Osweiler has been mediocre at best for the Texans and unquestionably hasn’t been worth his $72 million deal that features $37 million guaranteed in the first two years alone. He’s completed 58.2 percent of his passes through seven games while throwing for just 1,533 yards, eight touchdowns and eight interceptions. His 71.9 quarterback rating currently ranks as No. 30 in the NFL, ahead of only Blaine Gabbert and Ryan Fitzpatrick.
For O’Brien, even when he placed some level of blame on Osweiler, he almost immediately reflected the issues onto others once again.
“I think he can play better,” said O’Brien, whose Texans lead the AFC South with a 4-3 record. “I know that the receivers can run routes better. We continue to work and we continue to go down the same inconsistent road, but eventually we have to find consistency or we’re not going to be where we want to be.”
So while O’Brien has no interest in benching Osweiler, who has struggled as much as any other quarterback in the NFL, it’d be nice to at least hear him put some pressure on Osweiler. It may be tough for a player to come in and learn a new offense, but imagine what it’s like for rookies like Dak Prescott and Carson Wentz, and both have been far better than Osweiler this season. The argument isn’t going to work for Texans fans for long, and if the 25-year-old quarterback can’t improve soon, he’s going to be quickly be seeing the label of “bust” attached to his name.
