PDS ‏@PatDStat 26m26 minutes ago
Ryan Mallett showed up late to practice today. Was sent home by O’Brien is expected back to practice tomorrow. #Texans

Starting to wonder a little about OB. He's doing some really good things for the team but he may need to work on his people skills a bit..... Today reminded me of that semi-famous spat he got into with Brady a few years back...



What's interesting in the video is Hoyer (in parka) jumps in between them....

Also, Aaron Hernandez make an appearance....

He's an ego maniac. Which is fine if he wins. When they start losing, he'll get run out of choir boy town.

If this team needed anything (other than a QB) it is someone who is rough around the edges and has the balls to stand up to players, coaches, and yes, hopefully the GM and owner when necessary. I can't imagine Kubiak ruffled too many feathers at Kirby.

Agreed and I think that's what our team of "good-boys" needs (although I would balk at getting in the owner's face neck burnin', jaws-a-flappin'). Being a super-alpha head coach is not a requirement to be successful and there's a long list of smart, somewhat passive but successful head coaches.

At this point in time, OB is just what the doctor ordered. I think the problem comes when a coach crosses over into tyranny. And a tyrant perceived to be making poor decisions usually doesn't last very long.... (see Caesar, Caligula, Nero, etc.)

I'm hoping that Mallett being late to practice was an honest screw up and not him pouting because he only needs to remember back a year to realize he'll probably get a chance this season.

I don't see O'Brien as an egomaniac. For example, when talking about the draft he's always very deferential to Rick Smith, even though I suspect that O'Brien has a lot of say in the draft room. Compare that to how a true egomaniac like Jerry Jones operates. By the way, O'Brien's explanation of that video was that Brady had just thrown a pick and was chewing out a receiver they'd signed just a few days before for running a bad route. He said that while the route wasn't great, Brady threw a bad pass and O'Brien didn't like Brady bitching and not taking responsibility. Both Brady and O'Brien said afterwards it was no big deal and they have a good relationship.

As far as the future at QB, one name to keep in mind for next year is Drew Brees. The Saints are in terrible cap shape and after this year cutting or trading him would save them more than it would cost in dead money. He's a staunch union guy so he's unlikely to take a pay cut to stay, especially on a team that will probably be in rebuilding mode. He's not exactly a youngster but if the Texans think they're a QB away they'd have to consider it.

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet · 14m14 minutes ago
Sources: #Texans are poised to make a quarterback change. They are preparing to play with QB Ryan Mallett as their starter vs. the #Panthers
Per Rapaports Twitter

Yay! If true, once and for all, give the guy some time (several games) to show what he's got.....

I'm actually kinda surprised at the move. Not saying that's not what I wanted to see, but I am surprised he pulled the trigger this quick. I had week 6 in our office pool.....dammit. :rolleyes:

Hope the kid does decent, and we don't have this go back and forth all season.

I'm surprised to, I'm surprised for the second time in 4 days ! O'Brien is looking very confused, indecisive, and inept on this whole QB shuffle deal.

Who cares about the why's, how's or appearance of it? We finally get someone that is young and at least has an unknown quality about him. We all know Hoyer sucks. I'm actually glad OB has the nads to pull the trigger despite eating crow over it in the media. And by all appearances he just swapped out our PR/KR too. And honestly, it won't shock me if a quick change is made at RB on Sunday. Now can we do something about Fat Randy???

BTW, I think if Foster were healthy, OB might have waited a little longer to make this move. Foster would have covered up some of Hoyer's flaws. Maybe OB thought coming out of camp that Blue and the running game would be a little better than it has been and he just came to the conclusion that the quicker gun and bigger arm is what they need to give them a chance at W's before the season is lost by Week4 with Hoyer at the helm and without Foster. Maybe I'm wrong here, but it looks to me the offensive pace is faster and the ball is out quicker with Mallett at QB.

Neither am I so concerned about appearances as I am about O'Briens analytical, decision making abilities, and commitment to his own decisions. His actions during the Draft, the offseason including OTAs, and preseason should indicate he was committed to Hoyer for atleast the early stage of the 2015 season which surely means more than 3 quarters. I mean even the greatest QBs have bad games, and I would have thought O'Brien would give Hoyer 2 or 3 games before he gave up on him and went to plan B unless he just flat second guessed his own decision before the first game was complete.

I agree this doesn't look great for O'Brien. I have never seen a QB change during week 1 that didn't involve injury.

But maybe O'Brien is the first coach ever who was telling the truth when he said QB is like every other position. Either way I hope the trigger is not as quick with Mallett since there is nowhere else to go.

I don't think Mallett and Hoyer are the same QB. Mallett has the arm to make the throws downfield but he is probably behind Hoyer on the quick, short throws.

Perhaps what OB saw was the Chiefs cheated up which shut down the running game and Hoyer couldn't force the issue deep. The only option, then, is to put in Mallett and hope he's accurate. Perhaps it is an overreaction to Mallett's performance in garbage time, but there is some sense in going with the guy more capable of stretching the field when you need the running game to have room to run.

If I were the head coach, I might even be willing to use Mallett in most situations then switch to Hoyer in the red zone where touch is more important than arm strength.

Mallett's throw on the two-point conversion was pretty damn good.

You know he's going to miss some short throws and you know that every once in a while he is going to do something profoundly stupid. I think you have to live with that because with no running game I don't think Hoyer is an option.

Good point, Chuck.

Hoyer doesn't have much going for him as a QB, but when he's had success, it was downfield. His best games in Cleveland were early 2013 going downfield to Jordan Cameron and Josh Gordon. He is not an accurate QB. He threw almost all short passes Sunday and still barely completed 50%.

I believe both Qbs are average at best. However, Mallet CAN be a weapon while Hoyer is simply a game manager at best. Me personally I am gambling with the weapon. He has something that other teams have to at least account for. Hoyer has nothing the defense has to account for. If you are going to be short AND not have a strong arm you'd better be deadly accurate in the short passing game. He is not.

If I'm BOB i'm taking 3 to 4 deep shots each quarter. Even if I know they're probably going to be incomplete. At least it keeps the defense honest and on its toes. While giving us enough space hopefully to run the ball.