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Jeremy Brevard - USA Today Sports
Jeremy Brevard - USA Today Sports

O'Brien "Mic'd Up": 'This kid is a great quarterback'


by - Staff Writer -

“They gotta get used to winning. This kid is a great quarterback. They gotta get used to winning.”

That’s what Houston coach Bill O’Brien said on his team and Deshaun Watson while mic’d up for a segment with NFL Films during last week’s Texans game.

Even in a comfortable win over the Cleveland Browns, the clip takes you through the ups and downs on the sideline for an NFL coach in O'Brien, who’s worked closely with Watson during his record-breaking start.

In a pregame exchange, O’Brien compared Watson to one of the league’s best.

“He’s a very smart young player though,” O’Brien said to Houston assistant Wes Welker. “You know what I mean? Knock on wood. He’s plays the game in a calm way. I’ve been showing him a lot of Aaron Rodgers. Not that he’s Aaron Rodgers, but he plays the game calm.”

Later on a touchdown, O’Brien coaches his young QB up, where they weren’t in the right formation.

“This is me and you really getting to know each other,” O’Brien said after Watson's explanation of the call. “I got a gut feeling on things. I don’t really care about the hash a lot of the time. I don’t really care about the hash. I just want to get this play called because I know that guy don’t have it.”

Watson enters the weekend leading the NFL in touchdown passes (15) and ESPN’s QB rating (80.7).

Through five starts and one half of action, Watson has completed 61.5 percent of his passes for 1,297 yards. He’s added 202 yards with two more touchdowns on the ground.

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