Hard Knocks with the Texans; Coaches like to curse (1 Viewer)

[Madden Curse]

Last two episodes were great. My opinion is that O'Brien had Charles James in his office as a direct result of Hard Knocks showing O'Brien gushing about James the week before. Basically telling him to stay motivated and that his roster spot was not a given (I think it obviously is). I have no problem with the swearing either. Marvin Lewis, Ryan and a host of other coaches all swore too. It's a tactic. He even swears when trying to keep Watt motivated. He's also direct when dealing with players and it's obvious they respect him.

Unless other guys are lighting it up and simply not getting screentime, I don't see how Charles James doesn't at least get rostered for special teams work. The guy seems to be a Swiss army knife - tackle machine on kickoffs, surprise elusive RB, and so on - though that could just be a product of editing.

Complaints about the swearing seem absurd. It's used for emphasis and punctuation, and is probably just habit by now. And trying to say that OB is 'too educated' or 'too upper class' to swear in real life is simply out of touch. The complainers should try to meet more people because their social circles must be pretty insulated.

 

[GregR]

James wasn't just editing. He was standing out that big to everyone watching the game live.

Of the corners who will likely make the team he's probably at or near the bottom in coverage ability. But special teams he definitely has been contributing in a big way and I'd think he's earned a spot for that.

It is a deep group of corners though. I kind of wonder if they keep James if they might cut Kenny Hilliard and go with Foster, Blue and Polk at RB and have James in case of emergency.

 

[Gr00vus]

Complaints about the swearing seem absurd. It's used for emphasis and punctuation, and is probably just habit by now. And trying to say that OB is 'too educated' or 'too upper class' to swear in real life is simply out of touch. The complainers should try to meet more people because their social circles must be pretty insulated.

I speak with a lot of people on a daily basis. None of them are inserting an f-bomb into every other sentence. In fact, you probably get some sort of disciplinary action sent your way if you did that in our workplace. I don't think I heard a swear word all day today. That seems to be relatively normal to me.

 

[Capella]

Complaints about the swearing seem absurd. It's used for emphasis and punctuation, and is probably just habit by now. And trying to say that OB is 'too educated' or 'too upper class' to swear in real life is simply out of touch. The complainers should try to meet more people because their social circles must be pretty insulated.

I speak with a lot of people on a daily basis. None of them are inserting an f-bomb into every other sentence. In fact, you probably get some sort of disciplinary action sent your way if you did that in our workplace. I don't think I heard a swear word all day today. That seems to be relatively normal to me.

Are you the head coach of an NFL team?

 

[BigSteelThrill]

Complaints about the swearing seem absurd. It's used for emphasis and punctuation, and is probably just habit by now. And trying to say that OB is 'too educated' or 'too upper class' to swear in real life is simply out of touch. The complainers should try to meet more people because their social circles must be pretty insulated.

I speak with a lot of people on a daily basis. None of them are inserting an f-bomb into every other sentence. In fact, you probably get some sort of disciplinary action sent your way if you did that in our workplace. I don't think I heard a swear word all day today. That seems to be relatively normal to me.

Are you the head coach of an NFL team?

Agreed. Quite different depending on the setting. Aggressive competition with men, this is not only okay... its really nothing to even consider.

Obviously in a normal pushing-paper, slacks and dress shoes office setting its different.

 

[elbowrm]

Can you spell spaghetti?

 

[ConnSKINS26]

This has turned out to be an interesting season.

I don't know a lot about these things, and didn't even know he had gotten into coaching--but Mike Vrabel seems like a good coach.

 

[SpruceGoose]

Complaints about the swearing seem absurd. It's used for emphasis and punctuation, and is probably just habit by now. And trying to say that OB is 'too educated' or 'too upper class' to swear in real life is simply out of touch. The complainers should try to meet more people because their social circles must be pretty insulated.

I speak with a lot of people on a daily basis. None of them are inserting an f-bomb into every other sentence. In fact, you probably get some sort of disciplinary action sent your way if you did that in our workplace. I don't think I heard a swear word all day today. That seems to be relatively normal to me.

Are you the head coach of an NFL team?

Agreed. Quite different depending on the setting. Aggressive competition with men, this is not only okay... its really nothing to even consider.

Obviously in a normal pushing-paper, slacks and dress shoes office setting its different.

the corporate environment is not the real world.

Its sanitized so nobody gets offended.

Education & socio economic level have nothing to do w/ whether or not you swear.

 

[James Daulton]

Wait, someone's upset that a football coach is cussing?

 

[Hawkeye21]

Complaints about the swearing seem absurd. It's used for emphasis and punctuation, and is probably just habit by now. And trying to say that OB is 'too educated' or 'too upper class' to swear in real life is simply out of touch. The complainers should try to meet more people because their social circles must be pretty insulated.

I speak with a lot of people on a daily basis. None of them are inserting an f-bomb into every other sentence. In fact, you probably get some sort of disciplinary action sent your way if you did that in our workplace. I don't think I heard a swear word all day today. That seems to be relatively normal to me.

I work in a business that sells and services tractors in Iowa. We deal with farmers all day long and between them and my mechanics there is a LOT of swearing. Most people I know throw a few cuss words in conversations.

It obviously depends on where you are and what you're doing of course. In sports I expect to hear plenty of swearing. When I played high school football our coach would swear many times. It always got his point across to us.

 

[karmarooster]

Loved the play by Charles James taking the carry to the house, was literally yelling as if one of my fantasy players scored a long TD. Even with the holding penalty -- was the highlight of the episode for me.

Sleeper RB for 2015??

Also the cut WR Lab made a great block for him on the play to seal the edge, which I didn't see the first time:

https://vid.me/B4TI

 

[Freelove]

Wait, someone's upset that a football coach is cussing?

Not me.

I think he comes off as a white collar, prep-school milquetoast putting on an act. An idea that is lent additional credence when you know his socio-economic background. Is that relevant to anything? Maybe. If people are picking up on that over a heavily-produced TV program, how glaring must it be to the guys playing for him in person?

And the problem there is that when the act you put on comes off as incongruent with your real personality, you lose authority and respect, whether you're trying to impress the fellas down at the corner bar, a woman on a date, an employer on a job interview, or a group of NFL football players as a head coach.

At my house, we already laugh at him every time he goes off on one of his little curse-riddled rants, just like we did any time Mike Smith talked about being tough and aggressive. My worry is that if things start off badly for the Texans -- which I fully expect them to, since they're going to suck pretty badly on at least one side of the ball -- he's going to lose these guys. Phonies never seem to hold up well as NFL coaches.

 

[RBM]

Complaints about the swearing seem absurd. It's used for emphasis and punctuation, and is probably just habit by now. And trying to say that OB is 'too educated' or 'too upper class' to swear in real life is simply out of touch. The complainers should try to meet more people because their social circles must be pretty insulated.

I speak with a lot of people on a daily basis. None of them are inserting an f-bomb into every other sentence. In fact, you probably get some sort of disciplinary action sent your way if you did that in our workplace. I don't think I heard a swear word all day today. That seems to be relatively normal to me.

He's coaching a football team

 

[ConnSKINS26]

Wait, someone's upset that a football coach is cussing?

Not me.

I think he comes off as a white collar, prep-school milquetoast putting on an act. An idea that is lent additional credence when you know his socio-economic background. Is that relevant to anything? Maybe. If people are picking up on that over a heavily-produced TV program, how glaring must it be to the guys playing for him in person?

And the problem there is that when the act you put on comes off as incongruent with your real personality, you lose authority and respect, whether you're trying to impress the fellas down at the corner bar, a woman on a date, an employer on a job interview, or a group of NFL football players as a head coach.

At my house, we already laugh at him every time he goes off on one of his little curse-riddled rants, just like we did any time Mike Smith talked about being tough and aggressive. My worry is that if things start off badly for the Texans -- which I fully expect them to, since they're going to suck pretty badly on at least one side of the ball -- he's going to lose these guys. Phonies never seem to hold up well as NFL coaches.

Or, you know...your perception of him through a few hour long shows is just uninformed. BOB is known as a leader of men, your post just doesn't jive with his rep. More likely its just you (and a few others) that thinks he comes off as phony. To me it seems natural. If anything, you knowing his socio-economic background gives you a clear bias--you seem to be expecting him to be fake in that regard.

 

[SameSongNDance]

Texans waived CB Charles James.
A Hard Knocks star, James was in the mix for one of the final corner spots. The Texans reportedly shopped James before releasing him, but didn't find any takers. A two-way player, 25-year-old James could resurface with another team.

Weak.

 

[Capella]

That sucks. Dude was a baller and seemed like a legit good guy.

 

[Madden Curse]

Texans waived CB Charles James.
A Hard Knocks star, James was in the mix for one of the final corner spots. The Texans reportedly shopped James before releasing him, but didn't find any takers. A two-way player, 25-year-old James could resurface with another team.

Weak.

First comment that turned up when I searched for news on this:

"I didn't realize George RR Martin was writing for Hard Knocks these days."

 

[-jb-]

Wow. What a crock of ####. And I mean that in the most upper middle class way so #### if you don't like my ####ingn language. I went to Chico State for ####s sake.

 

[ConnSKINS26]

Damn guys, not even a spoiler alert?

 

[BroncoFreak_2K3]

Texans waived CB Charles James.
A Hard Knocks star, James was in the mix for one of the final corner spots. The Texans reportedly shopped James before releasing him, but didn't find any takers. A two-way player, 25-year-old James could resurface with another team.

Weak.

He was the best RB on the team right now

 

[Madden Curse]

Interesting followup:

After he cleared waivers, Charles James was offered a slot on the HOU practice squad - but left to join the BAL practice squad.

And Kourtnei Brown got claimed by TB off waivers and is now on their practice squad.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/177939/ex-texans-kourtnei-brown-charles-james-louis-nix-find-new-homes

 

[Raider Nation]

Not the worst season; not the best season. Solidly average.

 

[ShamrockPride]

Based on all the unnecessary and unrealistically excessive cursing seen in all other HBO television, I'm convinced HBO adds in contract language that tells these coaches to swear it up.

 

[TripItUp]

some takeaways for me

1) Watt is respected but not liked by some of his teammates...they're sick of always hearing about him.

2) For being the superstar and Pro Bowler that he has been, Arian Foster got little airtime, don't know what it means but it doesn't add up

3) Cushing is a nutjob

4) Vrabel is a good coach

5) Agree with others that there is something off about Obrien, to me he spends too much time selling...seems like a decent, straight forward guy but there is something off about his leadership style.

6) Texans lack a vocal leader on offense

 

[Major]

Not the worst season; not the best season. Solidly average.

sounds like the Texans I've known for the past decade #smh

 

[Billy Bats]

2) For being the superstar and Pro Bowler that he has been, Arian Foster got little airtime, don't know what it means but it doesn't add up

Nah I wouldn't read into it, the show is about football, how much can you show a guy doing squats, running in a pool etc.? Everybody knows his status so give him a couple minutes, get a soundbite and move on.

 

[TheDirtyWord]

Thoroughly enjoyed this years Hard Knocks. Best season is some time...couple of takeaways:

1) Don't know if you can strategize this but having 3 of the fringe players get picked up by other clubs provided an added dimension and at least temporary positive closure to those story lines. I don't think we've seen that follow through in other seasons and it obviously was fortuitous.

2) JJ Watt is the real deal. Don't agree with whoever said he wasn't liked. Even if that were the case (maybe it is) - it doesn't matter. Guy is beyond reproach in terms of his dedication and effort not to mention performance. Tremendous insight and glimpse about what it takes to be great.

3) Vince Wilfork. Could you imagine him showing up in overalls in Bill Belichick's locker room? Great locker room guy it appears and better athlete than I would have given him credit for.

4) BO'B...the thing that turned me off with him a bit was after James is going to the bus and is carry that game ball after his improbable TD run, him hoisting it up for BO'B to see while BO'B is on the bus...while we don't know what interactions occurred between the two between the run and that, I thought the bird he flashed, even in a joking manner was a real weird response. At the end of the day, I don't mind vulgarity and if it's a baseline in any profession, football coach would have to be top 3. But it did seem 'inserted' with BO'B vs other coaches who've used it to varying degrees throughout other Hard Knocks. And that specific instance felt like a coach not entirely comfortable in his own shoes...

5) I always marvel about how the complexion of each season changes throughout the five episode run and how the team really does come together. How at the outset, these guys are simply not ready to play regular season football yet and by episode 5, they are chomping at the bit. And we are essentially getting to witness that transformation.

 

[TLEF316]

Since I've criticized Obrien throughout I have to give him credit when it is due. He came off really well last night during the cut down conversations. It was cool to see his thought process when he was talking with smith and he seems to do an awesome job when he lets the guys go. He gave them candid honest feedback and didn't blow smoke up their asses.

 

[TheDirtyWord]

Since I've criticized Obrien throughout I have to give him credit when it is due. He came off really well last night during the cut down conversations. It was cool to see his thought process when he was talking with smith and he seems to do an awesome job when he lets the guys go. He gave them candid honest feedback and didn't blow smoke up their asses.

Agreed here - thought of any coach I've seen do this, he was the best.

 

[BroncoFreak_2K3]

Thoroughly enjoyed this years Hard Knocks. Best season is some time...couple of takeaways:

1) Don't know if you can strategize this but having 3 of the fringe players get picked up by other clubs provided an added dimension and at least temporary positive closure to those story lines. I don't think we've seen that follow through in other seasons and it obviously was fortuitous.

2) JJ Watt is the real deal. Don't agree with whoever said he wasn't liked. Even if that were the case (maybe it is) - it doesn't matter. Guy is beyond reproach in terms of his dedication and effort not to mention performance. Tremendous insight and glimpse about what it takes to be great.

3) Vince Wilfork. Could you imagine him showing up in overalls in Bill Belichick's locker room? Great locker room guy it appears and better athlete than I would have given him credit for.

4) BO'B...the thing that turned me off with him a bit was after James is going to the bus and is carry that game ball after his improbable TD run, him hoisting it up for BO'B to see while BO'B is on the bus...while we don't know what interactions occurred between the two between the run and that, I thought the bird he flashed, even in a joking manner was a real weird response. At the end of the day, I don't mind vulgarity and if it's a baseline in any profession, football coach would have to be top 3. But it did seem 'inserted' with BO'B vs other coaches who've used it to varying degrees throughout other Hard Knocks. And that specific instance felt like a coach not entirely comfortable in his own shoes...

5) I always marvel about how the complexion of each season changes throughout the five episode run and how the team really does come together. How at the outset, these guys are simply not ready to play regular season football yet and by episode 5, they are chomping at the bit. And we are essentially getting to witness that transformation.

excellent post and summary.

 

[Chadstroma]

Didn't they bleep the swearing in years past on Hard Knocks?

 

[ShamrockPride]

Didn't they bleep the swearing in years past on Hard Knocks?

Lolno. It's HBO. They worship vulgarity.

 

[Madden Curse]

Didn't they bleep the swearing in years past on Hard Knocks?

It depended on the hours it showed. I saw one on a Saturday afternoon with bleeps, but everything from 9pm+ had no bleeps.

 

[Madden Curse]

Since I've criticized Obrien throughout I have to give him credit when it is due. He came off really well last night during the cut down conversations. It was cool to see his thought process when he was talking with smith and he seems to do an awesome job when he lets the guys go. He gave them candid honest feedback and didn't blow smoke up their asses.

Agreed here - thought of any coach I've seen do this, he was the best.

He did alright but I really wish he had been a bit more forthcoming with Charles James about how close the call was, I felt like he held back on that one in particular after gushing privately. Maybe because he knew it would be televised and James would see it anyway? Maybe because he said the same stuff? I dunno.

 

[TheDirtyWord]

Since I've criticized Obrien throughout I have to give him credit when it is due. He came off really well last night during the cut down conversations. It was cool to see his thought process when he was talking with smith and he seems to do an awesome job when he lets the guys go. He gave them candid honest feedback and didn't blow smoke up their asses.

Agreed here - thought of any coach I've seen do this, he was the best.

He did alright but I really wish he had been a bit more forthcoming with Charles James about how close the call was, I felt like he held back on that one in particular after gushing privately. Maybe because he knew it would be televised and James would see it anyway? Maybe because he said the same stuff? I dunno.

Well...he did go over that in the 4th pre-season game, his size was exposed and that was a significant factor in the evaluation process.

Again, we are seeing snippets of probably much more in-depth and frequent conversations between HC?GM, but it seemed to mirror the dialogue between Smith/BO'B. I thought that was pretty specific...

 

[Chadstroma]

Didn't they bleep the swearing in years past on Hard Knocks?

Lolno. It's HBO. They worship vulgarity.

No, I specifically remember watching Hard Knocks on HBO and thinking "That is odd they are bleeping the swearing since it is HBO". Either I am crazy or they did (or both).

 

[Chadstroma]

Didn't they bleep the swearing in years past on Hard Knocks?

It depended on the hours it showed. I saw one on a Saturday afternoon with bleeps, but everything from 9pm+ had no bleeps.

Ok, makes sense.

 

[Raider Nation]

Watt is respected but not liked by some of his teammates...they're sick of always hearing about him.

I saw zero evidence of this.

 

[TripItUp]

Since I've criticized Obrien throughout I have to give him credit when it is due. He came off really well last night during the cut down conversations. It was cool to see his thought process when he was talking with smith and he seems to do an awesome job when he lets the guys go. He gave them candid honest feedback and didn't blow smoke up their asses.

Agreed here - thought of any coach I've seen do this, he was the best.

Agreed

 

[Willie Neslon]

Feel like the Charles James cut is similar to the Woodhead cut in the Jets year. Ryan loved the guy but at the end of the day couldn't get over his size and went with the better physical specimen in Joe McKnight. Kind of like that James said FU and signed with the Ravens practice squad.

 

[Chadstroma]

I kind of felt like JJ was trying too hard to be Wilfork's buddy. Maybe that plays into the idea some got that JJ is not really liked much because there just did not seem to be much interaction with JJ other than Wilfork and it always seemed like JJ was the tagalong kid that just really wanted to be your friend so badly and ended up being slightly annoying because it. Maybe that is just the editing because there is a lot more than happens we never see. Maybe JJ had lots of friendly interactions with other players that we did not see.... all I remember of JJ this season was being the monster of a football player on the field, working out like a crazed man, doing 1,001 catches on the jugs machine, has a bed hidden in the laundry room and that he really wants to be Wilfork's buddy. BUt again, maybe it is just editing.

 

[Willie Neslon]

I thought Watt seemed super down to earth for someone who's a total superstar. I think some players didn't interact with him much because they're in awe of him and don't want to embarrass themselves during the interaction.

 

[Madden Curse]

The only disappointment I had with JJ Watt was that after the first few episodes, I was expecting at least one superhuman athletic feat per week, and he didn't deliver. The endless tire rolls and throwing accurate passes into the upper decks were freaking nuts.

 

[Madden Curse]

I thought Watt seemed super down to earth for someone who's a total superstar. I think some players didn't interact with him much because they're in awe of him and don't want to embarrass themselves during the interaction.

Yeah that was my takeaway, too. Wilfork was already a legend, and seems like he wears his heart on his sleeve rather than worry about "office politics", so it made sense for those guys to pair up.

 

[Capella]

The Watt opinions in here are hysterical. Guy is the biggest bad ### in the league and he knows it. The thought of Watt tagging along to have friends is

 

[belljr]

Kortnei Brown kinda reminds me of Bubbles from The Wire for some reason.

Lmao

 

[belljr]

I thought if you took a guy of someone's ps they had to go on regular roster?

Why is James on PS? I think he should have stayed

 

[ConnSKINS26]

I thought if you took a guy of someone's ps they had to go on regular roster?

Why is James on PS? I think he should have stayed

Once he passed through waivers he was able to join anyone's PS he wanted. He chose to leave. If he had been claimed on waivers, he would have been on someone's 53.

 

[belljr]

I thought if you took a guy of someone's ps they had to go on regular roster?

Why is James on PS? I think he should have stayed

Once he passed through waivers he was able to join anyone's PS he wanted. He chose to leave. If he had been claimed on waivers, he would have been on someone's 53.

ahhh

 

[tricky92]

I kind of felt like JJ was trying too hard to be Wilfork's buddy. Maybe that plays into the idea some got that JJ is not really liked much because there just did not seem to be much interaction with JJ other than Wilfork and it always seemed like JJ was the tagalong kid that just really wanted to be your friend so badly and ended up being slightly annoying because it. Maybe that is just the editing because there is a lot more than happens we never see. Maybe JJ had lots of friendly interactions with other players that we did not see.... all I remember of JJ this season was being the monster of a football player on the field, working out like a crazed man, doing 1,001 catches on the jugs machine, has a bed hidden in the laundry room and that he really wants to be Wilfork's buddy. BUt again, maybe it is just editing.

I kind of took it as the leader of the team going out of his way making a new player feel welcome. It didn't seem like many others were interacting with Wilfork, even though he seems like a super cool dude.

Overall it seems like a lot of great guys on that team, and I'm sure I'm going to be rooting for them in the AFC this season.