When the Houston Texans signed Brock Osweiler to a contract for $72 million, over four years with $37 million guaranteed, it raised a number of eyebrows across the NFL.

The quarterback, 25, was expected to re-sign with the Denver Broncos. With Peyton Manning finally out of the way, the Broncos were meant to become Osweiler’s team.

He has led the Broncos to an overtime win against the then undefeated New England Patriots earlier in the season and helped them stabilise while Manning was out injured.

So the move to Houston was unexpected. The Texans were always going to make a move for him, they’ve been searching for a top level quarterback for years. Osweiler may just be the answer to their prayers.

Moving to a new team means learning a new playbook. Texans head coach Bill O’Brien’s isn’t the easiest to adapt to, it’s very similar to his offensive coordinator playbook from his time in New England. 

Osweiler has been doing his very best to learn the playbook, which can contain a number of complicated play calls for formations that have to be picked up very quickly into the offseason. 

Compliments from his receivers

Speaking to ESPN, veteran wide receiver Cecil Shorts said Osweiler was “like a student from the jump,” and that is was very easy to see what he “he learned from 18 (Peyton Manning).

On the offensive side of the ball, the Texans face of the franchise is DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins finished third in the NFL in receiving yards with 1,521. He did that playing with four different quarterbacks, none of them possess the skills of Osweiler.

But it is Osweiler who is helping Hopkins. Speaking to ESPN, The Pro-Bowl wide receiver said that if Osweiler sees something he doesn’t like in practice or team meetings “he'll speak out” and try to help. Hopkins said that Osweiler isn’t the type of quarterback to “hold his opinion.

DeAndre Hopkins will be looking to be on the end of Osweiler’s passes. Photo: The Sports Daily. 

Osweiler woking off the field

Head Coach Bill O’Brien’s playbook takes time to learn. Some players may not put in the time required to learn it and become successful, but not Osweiler.

He’s even gone as far as to enlist his wife to help him learn the playbook during time at home, away from practice. Speaking to ESPN, Osweiler said that he will have his wife act as the offensive play caller and have her read plays to him. 

He can then “try to picture it (the play)" and verbalise it back to her. This helps his cadence in the huddle. Osweiler said he makes sure to say in the correct way so that when he steps into the huddle during practice “things are coming out clear.”

If the Texans are hoping to improve on last season’s wildcard playoff appearance, Osweiler fully committing himself to the cause is going to help in a big way. 

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About the author
Connor Bennett
Everton editor for VAVEL UK - contributing since 2015. Premier League accredited journalist. Journalism graduate from Liverpool. Writing about Football, eSports and the NFL. Email: [email protected] | Twitter: ConnorBennett14