Another weekend, another Weekend Discussion thread. With a lot of college football games canceled this weekend, I suggest checking out the 6:30 p.m. CT game on ESPN 3 between #21 Liberty University and N.C State. Liberty U’s QB, Malik Willis, is a lot of fun to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZO_gJXkOtQ

BarryFromTexas checks in with a Heh Report after last week’s Texans loss to the Brownies. Thanks again, Barry!

Week-10-Heh-Report

Back to the rumor lab: The man who “knows what you don’t know” addresses season ticket-holders and tells them to calm down about their worries that Jack Easterby might be GM or might have a role alongside a new GM. Matt Miller says he’s heard from multiple agents who represent several top candidates for the job that the Houston gig is one “no one” wants. Lastly, to round out the rumor mill news, Texans_Thoughts provides a video breakdown of Eric Bienemy as a potential HC for the Texans.

Texans president: Jack Easterby will not be our General Manager
By Josh Alper, Pro Football Talk

Excerpt: During a Zoom call with season-ticket holders on Wednesday, Texans president Jamey Rootes was asked about Belichick’s assessment of Easterby.

“Jack would be the first person to tell you he’s not a personnel guy,” Rootes said, via Matt Young of the Houston Chronicle. “Jack will not be the General Manager of the Houston Texans. Jack realizes we need personnel expertise to put together the best football team. He doesn’t have enough time in the day. He’s working on sports science, working on nutrition. Spread the word. Jack has no intentions of being the General Manager.”

Rootes went on to say that the intention is to name a new G.M. in January and that “hope will spring eternal” for the team once they make that hire.

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Matt Miller’s Scouting Notebook: Fixing the Eagles, Latest 2021 Big Board & More
By Matt Miller, Bleacher Report

—The Houston Texans will be hiring a general manager and a head coach this offseason, with the team expected to make the GM a priority. That sounds great in theory, but I’m told from multiple agents who represent several top candidates for the job that the Houston gig is one “no one” wants. Said one agent: “You have to look at every job as maybe the only opportunity you’ll get, so maybe you jump early on one you don’t love, but the thing about being a GM that’s different than a coach is that you really get one chance, and if it doesn’t work out, you’re fired and out of the league. There aren’t many second-time hires for a GM job, so you better get it right when deciding where you want to work.”

There are reasons to like the Houston job—Deshaun Watson being a big one—but concerns about ownership and the influence of Jack Easterby, a former team chaplain who now wields a large amount of power, are valid and could push away the best candidates.

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Texans_Thoughts on twitter provides a 16-minute breakdown examining the potential for Eric Bienemy to be the next Texans HC. Timestamps:
0:57 Reasons for Bieniemy
5:43 Defending Bieniemy’s issues
11:06 Scheme film breakdown

Slow news day. A look at how the Texans (tell me if you haven’t heard this before…) need to stay focused on rushing lanes but instead of a running back this time it’s for an opposing QB (Cam Newton) in this weekend’s matchup vs. the Patriots. Also, the Texans have signed a WR to the practice squad who caught passes from Watson at Clemson.

Texans have to stay disciplined in rush lanes to defend Patriots QB Cam Newton
By Mark Lane, TexansWire

Excerpt: “Here again, and I know I talk about discipline a lot, but you have to be disciplined in your rush lanes and how you rush the guy because if you are undisciplined and you’ve got three guys on one side and one guy on the other, that creates a big running lane for the quarterback,” said Crennel. “We have to be disciplined and have two inside rushers, two outside rushers and collapse the pocket on him so that he can’t run.”

Newton has rushed 80 times for 335 yards and nine touchdowns in eight games. The former 2011 Carolina Panthers No. 1 overall pick has not rushed for that many touchdowns since 2015 when he rushed for 10 en route to an All-Pro selection as Carolina qualified for Super Bowl 50.

On Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, Newtown rushed 11 times for 21 yards and a touchdown. The Texans will have to stay true to their game plan to keep Newton from being equally as effective.

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Texans Are Reportedly Signing Former Clemson Wide Receiver
By Andrew Holleran, TheSpun

Excerpt: Houston, looking to add some depth at the wide receivers position, is reportedly signing a former Clemson Tigers wide receiver to the practice squad.

Artavis Scott, 26, is reportedly signing with Houston. He’ll reportedly be added to the Texans’ practice squad, but could eventually be activated to the game day roster.

The former Clemson Tigers wide receiver played for the ACC school from 2014-16. He made an immediate impact as a freshman, with 76 receptions for 965 yards and eight touchdowns in his first season. Scott added 93 receptions for 901 receiving yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore. He totaled 614 receiving yards and five touchdowns as a junior.