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Houston Texans QB Brock Osweiler scoffs at the criticism of him

If you were critical of the Houston Texans giving quarterback Brock Osweiler $18 million per season in free agency, you’re feeling pretty good so far.

Osweiler has yet to impress. He has three touchdowns, four interceptions and a 72.2 rating.

You don’t need to be an all-22 film junkie to know that’s not a great start. And he has been criticized for his mistakes, specifically his decision-making. That doesn’t bother him in the slightest.

“I think that’s hilarious, to be honest with you,” Osweiler said, according to the Houston Chronicle. “The critique comes from a whole lot of people that don’t know my read on that play. They’ve probably never actually sat in an offensive meeting in their life, let alone a quarterback meeting in the National Football League.

“That’s why I don’t look at Twitter. That’s why — no offense to anybody [media] in here — I don’t watch anything. I don’t read anything.”

Houston Texans QB Brock Osweiler is off to a slow start (AP)
Houston Texans QB Brock Osweiler is off to a slow start. (AP)

That’s true, to some degree. There are many who criticize Osweiler without knowing all the details of the play call. The details can be hard to determine.

However, there is also far more information available than before. Anyone can subscribe to NFL Game Pass and watch the coaches’ film. There are plenty of football experts who are adept at breaking down film and understanding what went wrong on a play.

And again, even a casual fan can understand that Osweiler hasn’t been great so far. But his coach, Bill O’Brien, had his back.

“I think the guy is playing pretty well,” O’Brien said, according to the Texans’ transcripts. “I know he’s had some interceptions and obviously that’s not good and we have to stop doing that. But when you watch the tape, based on what we’ve asked him to do, it’s been pretty decent.”

Osweiler was a gamble for the Texans, though not a bad one. It’s hard to acquire a competent quarterback in the NFL, and the Texans were getting one with a second-round pedigree, who learned from watching Peyton Manning for four years and who helped the Denver Broncos win some huge games last season. The contract was a shock to many who just looked at Osweiler’s seven career starts. He has looked, at times, like a quarterback who hasn’t had a ton of playing experience, but it’s early in the season and he’s not worried.

“I don’t use my lack of starts as an excuse for anything,” Osweiler said. “I expect myself to play at an extremely high level. I have great confidence in my abilities and what I can do and I have great confidence in the teammates around me to help me do my job. I’m never going to use my lack of starts for an excuse or say ‘I’ll figure it out eventually’ or anything like that. Bottom line, I expect to play at an extremely high level and an extremely high level right now.”

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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!