The Houston Texans appear to be moving in reverse during head coach Bill O’Brien’s second season, and it’s being reported that some players have already started checking out just five games into the 2015 season.
Houston fell to 1-4 after being defeated at home by the reeling Indianapolis Colts, who were without starting quarterback Andrew Luck. Luck’s replacement, veteran Matt Hasselbeck, was so sick earlier in the week he needed to be hospitalized, but that didn’t stop him from passing the ball at will against Houston’s porous secondary.
The Texans were lifeless most of the night, but for a few stellar individual performances. Longtime beat writer John McClain of the Houston Chronicle remarked throughout the contest on his Twitter account that he couldn’t believe the lack of effort he was seeing.
Texans defense allowed 5 long TD drives to Atlanta. Now a 40-year-old is spanking them in embarrassing fashion. Inexcusable!
— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) October 9, 2015
Perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising, then, to find out Jayson Braddock of ESPN 97.5 in Houston saying players have indeed already checked out this year.
https://twitter.com/JaysonBraddock/status/652325959081816064
https://twitter.com/JaysonBraddock/status/652326275487539200
With 11 games remaining on the schedule still, this is a really bad sign for O’Brien and his coaching staff. On the plus side, perhaps another atrocious season will finally garner Houston a franchise quarterback (Jared Goff, anyone?).
Of course, if the Texans do land the No. 1 overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft, there’s a good chance O’Brien and his staff won’t be around to tutor the young lad.