I met Bill O'Brien last week. He spoke at a Brown University alumni event; my dad went to Brown and they somehow let me in despite my Aggie credentials. Nice guy, very approachable, with the same self-deprecating sense of humor you hear in interviews. He didn't reveal anything earth-shattering, but it was interesting. Here's some of my impressions, but understand these are in my words, not his, so don't read too much into anything:
- His traits of a good leader: communication, people skills (different than communication -- more about recognizing that you need to take different approaches to connect with different people), competence (when you stand up in front of these guys you better know what you're talking about), good heart (understanding that his players and staff have real-life issues that are sometimes more important than football), courage.
- Talked (and joked) about his college days, and his mother's reaction when he graduated and said he wanted to get into coaching.
- People say he had to have courage to take the Penn State job after the scandal, but he said the players who stayed when they could have transferred were the real courageous ones. He still considered it a great opportunity. It was a lot different sitting at the head of the table than being an assistant.
- They draft for best player available, hopefully filling needs. The draft is such a fluid situation that you can't go in with a rigid plan. Also have to anticipate needs two or three years in the future.
- They need to get younger and faster.
- He really wants guys who are passionate about and love the football. Even with the money involved (and most players don't see the huge money) it's very demanding and their hearts need to be in it.
- They didn't feel that any of the top QBs in the 2014 draft were the right guy. Said great ones are hard to get so they're trying to find one they can develop. He likes Mallett and wants him back.
- Somebody asked about the importance of patience. He gave the example of Su'a-Filo, who he thinks is going to be a good player but had to miss a lot of the offseason program and was behind.
- Somebody asked about the sideline "incident" with Brady when he was in New England. Brady threw a pick in the end zone and was chewing out the WR, who had just signed with the team that week. The WR hadn't run the best route but Brady also made a bad throw and O'Brien was tired of listening to him.
- They're trying to emulate the Patriot approach of identifying players who can fill certain roles, which also applies to cap management. What he meant by that has become more clear in the last week...
- He was asked (by my brother) whether last season's turnaround from the year before could be attributed to his ban on Segways at the facility. He laughed and said it was crazy. There were guys who would drive them across the locker room from their lockers to the showers. He said no more.