If you watched HBO’s Hard Knocks you couldn’t help but not like Bill O’Brien.
O’Brien did a great job at Penn State taking over the program at its lowest point. O’Brien also was well-respected as a Patriots assistant coach.
The jury is out on O’Brien as head coach of the Texans – until now.
O’Brien’s main problem in Houston is not having a decent quarterback. O’Brien’s choices are Ryan Mallet and Brian Hoyer.
The five worst starting quarterbacks in the NFL right now are Mallet, Brandon Weeden, Michael Vick, Kirk Cousins and Colin Kaepernick.
The Cowboys are forced to play Weeden because of Tony Romo being out although they may soon turn to Matt Cassel.
The Steelers have to use Vick due to Ben Roethlisberger’s absence.
Cousins is the Redskins’ best fit for their ground-and-pound offense.
The 49ers have no choice but to hope Kaepernick gets turned around. They have too much invested in him and backup Blaine Gabbert is horrendous.
But O’Brien has a choice with his quarterbacks. Even Stevie Wonder can see that Mallet isn’t NFL starting caliber. Hoyer won games with Cleveland before coming to Houston. He gives the Texans a much better opportunity to win that Mallet.
The Texans have their biggest game of the season Thursday hosting the Colts. O’Brien has said he’s sticking with Mallet at quarterback. That decision not only is the wrong one, but could prove fatal to O’Brien’s future employment with the Texans.
