Aside from scoring more points than the opponent, Bill O'Brien places a premium on three key statistics.
Turnover differential, first down efficiency and penalties.
"When we don't turn the ball over, and we take the ball away, we win," the head coach said on Monday's 'Bill O'Brien Show'. "I mean, it's a hundred percent. Yesterday we had three takeaways and we took care of the ball and we won the game."
On the season, the Texans are at minus-2 in that category. They've turned the ball over 11 times and forced nine takeaways. In 2014, Houston set a franchise record and led the NFL with 34 takeaways. In the three victories this year, the Texans were plus-6. The five losses have seen them at minus-9.
O'Brien also said what first down efficiency, on both sides of the ball, is a key.
"Defensively and offensively if we can do a better job on first down, gaining yards on offense and stopping them on defense, putting them in longer yardage, where they have to hold the ball a little bit longer, that's going to be big for us," O'Brien said.
The third stat O'Brien pointed to was penalties. Especially on special teams.
"We get a good punt return and we get a penalty and now instead of, that's a 40-yard difference than where the ball would've been after that punt return," O'Brien said. "I think we did a good job yesterday on special teams of not having any penalties. Offensively and defensively, we had a few penalties, but we've got to cut those out, because I think if we can, in those three areas, be better, we'll be in better shape to win games."
So far in 2015, the Texans are averaging 7.5 penalties a game, which ranks them 22nd in the NFL. Last season, they only committed 5.9 penalties per, which had them tied with Green Bay for the 7th-best mark in the League.
O'Brien and the Texans will practice on Tuesday at the Houston Methodist Training Center. The players will then have off until next Monday.
Aside from scoring more points than the opponent, Bill O'Brien places a premium on three key statistics.
Turnover differential, first down efficiency and penalties.
"When we don't turn the ball over, and we take the ball away, we win," the head coach said on Monday's 'Bill O'Brien Show'. "I mean, it's a hundred percent. Yesterday we had three takeaways and we took care of the ball and we won the game."
On the season, the Texans are at minus-2 in that category. They've turned the ball over 11 times and forced nine takeaways. In 2014, Houston set a franchise record and led the NFL with 34 takeaways. In the three victories this year, the Texans were plus-6. The five losses have seen them at minus-9.
O'Brien also said what first down efficiency, on both sides of the ball, is a key.
"Defensively and offensively if we can do a better job on first down, gaining yards on offense and stopping them on defense, putting them in longer yardage, where they have to hold the ball a little bit longer, that's going to be big for us," O'Brien said.
The third stat O'Brien pointed to was penalties. Especially on special teams.
"We get a good punt return and we get a penalty and now instead of, that's a 40-yard difference than where the ball would've been after that punt return," O'Brien said. "I think we did a good job yesterday on special teams of not having any penalties. Offensively and defensively, we had a few penalties, but we've got to cut those out, because I think if we can, in those three areas, be better, we'll be in better shape to win games."
So far in 2015, the Texans are averaging 7.5 penalties a game, which ranks them 22nd in the NFL. Last season, they only committed 5.9 penalties per, which had them tied with Green Bay for the 7th-best mark in the League.
O'Brien and the Texans will practice on Tuesday at the Houston Methodist Training Center. The players will then have off until next Monday.
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