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Daily Thread 1-1-2021

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Happy New Year! There’ll be a single thread for all bowl games, and it posts at 10 a.m. CT today. Today marks the beginning of a new year, but also the final chapter of this year’s Heh Report. A big “Thank you” to BarryFromTexas for taking time each week to fill our hearts with lots of Heh’s and HOL’s and randomness.

Week-16-Heh-Report-Bengals

12-31-2020 Daily Thread

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It looks as if Watson will be gunning for a couple of records: Most passing yards in the 2020 NFL season, and most passing yards in a single season in Texans history. Also: Texans CB Keion Crossen will have his work cut out for him as he tries to limit Titans WR A.J. Brown this Sunday afternoon.

Also as an FYI: There will be a bowl games thread that posts today at 10:00 a.m. CT.

Texans QB Deshaun Watson can match a Matt Schaub record, bury another against the Titans
By Mark Lane, TexansWire

Excerpt: Because Mahomes is sitting, it means his passing yards for the season are locked at 4,740. Entering Week 17, it is the most in the NFL.

Second-most passing yards in the NFL belong to Deshaun Watson at 4,458. If he can get 283 passing yards against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, he will pass Mahomes for the passing title. The last Texans quarterback to win the passing title was Matt Schaub in 2009 with 4,770. That is one record that Watson can match.

The Schaub record that Watson could eclipse against the Titans at 3:25 p.m. CT at NRG Stadium is most passing yards in a single season in Texans history. Watson would need 313 to set the record.

The three-time Pro Bowler has produced a 300-yard game in five of his last six ballgames. Watson also threw for 335 and four touchdowns against the Titans in Week 6, a 42-36 overtime loss. All of his production was in regulation, not benefiting from the overtime period at all.

Texans’ Romeo Crennel says CB Keion Crossen ‘learns from his mistakes’
By Mark Lane, TexansWire

Excerpt: “Keion has always had a lot of confidence in his ability and what he could do and now he’s getting an opportunity to play defense pretty much on a full-time basis,” interim coach Romeo Crennel said.

Over the past three starts, Crossen has collected 23 combined tackles and five pass breakups. His four pass breakups in the 37-31 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals were especially impressive as he earned them going against Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Green.

“I think that you see that he competes,” said Crennel. “He will accept a challenge. He’s not perfect, but he learns from his mistakes and so I see him getting better and being able to make plays on the ball, and he tackles. I think this opportunity for him has been very helpful.”

Though Gaines may be back in time for the season finale against the Tennessee Titans Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CT at NRG Staidum, the Texans may continue to rely on Crossen as they attempt to lock up their AFC South rival’s dynamic receiving corps. Crossen would get a great learning experience guarding receiver A.J. Brown, who has 60 catches for 924 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season. Houston will see the full force of the Titans as they have yet to lock up the division or a playoff spot.

Daily Thread 12-30-2020

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Musical chairs on the OL, except this time it’s due to a slew of injuries to the two starting OTs. Also: He won’t get to play in Game 16, but perhaps waiver wire acquisition CB Geno Stone gets a chance to audition for the new Texans GM and HC in 2021?

Texans may have to shuffle offensive line in season finale versus the Titans
By Mark Lane, TexansWire

Excerpt: If the Texans don’t have Tunsil, they will have to move Roderick Johnson, who started at right tackle against Cincinnati, out to left tackle. Replacing Johnson at right tackle would be fourth-round rookie Charlie Heck. Max Scharping could replace Qvale at left guard, although the club also has Senio Kelemete to play along the inside if need be.

Texans claim rookie S Geno Stone from Ravens, place on exempt-commissioner permission list
By Mark Lane, TexansWire

Excerpt: The Texans claimed rookie safety Geno Stone from the Baltimore Ravens. The club then placed Stone on the exempt/commissioner permission list.

Daily Thread: 12-29-2020

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I’m out of town Monday (yesterday) through tonight, so there are no news articles for today’s Texans Chat article. There will be a College Football bowl game(s) thread that posts at 3:00 p.m., and it’s a single thread for both bowl games, so check out the bowl game schedule below.

Cheez-It Bowl, ESPN, 4:30 p.m. CT

#21 Oklahoma State vs. #18 Miami

Valero Alamo Bowl, ESPN, 8:00 p.m. CT

#20 Texas vs. Colorado

Daily Thread 12-28-2020

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Despite the loss to the Bengals on Sunday, Watson secures the Texans franchise record for TD passes in a single season (30). JJ Watt decides to vaguely call out teammates he’s unimpressed with when it comes to effort and whatnot.

Deshaun Watson sets Texans’ single-season passing TD mark, eclipsing Matt Schaub
By Mark Lane, TexansWire

Excerpt: Quarterback Deshaun Watson threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to tight end Darren Fells to break Matt Schaub’s record for touchdown passes in a single season in Houston Texans history.

Most of the credit goes to Fells, who bulled his way into the end zone after being swarmed by Cincinnati Bengals defenders. However, Watson did throw the other 29 throughout the course of the season.

Schaub originally set the record in 2009, and also earned a Pro Bowl selection that season.

https://twitter.com/aaronjreiss/status/1343314167852396549?s=20

Daily Thread 12-26-2020

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Saturday’s college football slate features three bowl games. I’ve listed the bowl game viewer guide in the article. There’ll be a single game thread for all three bowl games today, and it will post at noon CT.

SERVPRO First Responder Bowl, ABC, 2:30 p.m. CT

#19 Louisiana “Ragin’ Cajuns” (9-1) vs. UTSA (7-4)

Reasons Why You Should Watch The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl

– Louisiana’s running style under head coach Billy Napier has been among the nation’s most effective over the last few years. UTSA might be relatively new to the bowl world, but this is the third bowl in a row under Napier. His team is going to bring the attitude along with RB Elijah Mitchell and a great backfield.

– UTSA will be fired up to play in this, but Louisiana is going to play disrespected. It beat Fiesta Bowl-bound Iowa State 31-14, and it’s only loss of the season is to unbeaten Coastal Carolina. Nothing against this bowl, but the Ragin’ Cajuns deserved a brighter spotlight against a bigger opponent. Now they have to show why.

Lending Tree Bowl, ESPN, 2:30 p.m. CT

Western Kentucky (5-6) vs. Georgia State (5-4)

Reasons Why You Should Watch The LendingTree Bowl

– WKU went from having no offense to rolling late in the year, winning its last three games and getting the attack working in the last two to help earn the bowl nod. It might not bring a ton of high-flying O, but it’s a well-coached team under Tyson Helton that pulled out one of the more fun bowl games of last year – a 23-20 win over Western Michigan. The effort will be there.

– If WKU doesn’t bring the offense, Georgia State will. The Panthers – led by dangerous freshman QB Cornelious Brown – are versatile, explosive, and can put up points and yards in bunches. The program has just one bowl win in its young history – a 2017 victory over WKU.

FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl, ESPN, 6:30 p.m. CT

Liberty (9-1) vs. #12 Coastal Carolina (11-0)

Reasons Why You Should Watch The Cure Bowl

– Be super-ticked if this isn’t among the best bowl games of the entire season. Liberty beat two ACC teams and would’ve made it a third if not for a late blocked kick against NC State. The team is the real deal, and so is a Coastal Carolina team that deserved to finish higher than 12th in the final College Football Playoff poll. Both of these teams were hoping for something bigger than this, but facing each other will be enough of a test.

– The Liberty offense is all but unstoppable when it gets going. Former Auburn quarterback Malik Willis is a total yardage machine, former FCS star Joshua Mack leads a loaded group of backs, and the offense keeps on coming with big play after big play. It’s a fun team with a fun style, but …

– No one is more interesting than a Coastal Carolina team with a great energy, an offense that no one can quite seem to figure out – it’s brilliant at getting the key guys in space on the outside – and a defensive front that’s as active and productive as any in college football.

Daily Thread: 12-24-2020

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So…I just forgot. HOL. We’ll have the regular daily thread tomorrow, it’ll be a special Christmas edition of Barry’s Heh Report. And, we’ll have a Saturday thread as usual. Then, the normal game day threads on Sunday.

Daily Thread 12-23-2020

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As the 2020 NFL season heads into the final two weeks, there are three head-coaching jobs officially open — the Houston Texans, Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons — with more sure to come in the weeks ahead.

There are many intriguing candidates this year, from candidates rising up the offensive and defensive coordinator paths to those from the NCAA ranks to former NFL head coaches looking for their next shot.

Who will get each job? Let’s break down each opening and come to consensus on whom we’d hire for each club. We also added our picks for the jobs with the 1-13 New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars, who are likely to be looking for a new coach soon.

Who should the Lions, Texans and Falcons hire as head coach? We debated and made picks for NFL openings
By Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano, ESPN

Excerpt:

The situation: After starting 0-4, the Texans fired coach and general manager Bill O’Brien. He went 52-48 and won four division titles in seven seasons in Houston. Executive vice president of football operations Jack Easterby is handling GM duties on an interim basis, and Texans chairman/CEO Cal McNair said last month that Easterby “will have a significant role in helping shape our future.” The team interviewed former Lions and Colts coach Jim Caldwell on Monday.

Fowler: This job is fascinating, Dan, because you have a top-tier quarterback in Deshaun Watson to drive your franchise. But the overall roster is middle-of-the-road at best. Bill O’Brien traded away the first- and second-round picks in April’s draft. The Texans are set to be $12.9 million over the salary cap, and the presence of VP Jack Easterby clouds the hierarchy. Can a new coach overcome all that?

Graziano: Someone asked me on the radio the other day what’s the best job of those that are open or will be, and my knee-jerk answer was this one because of Watson. There isn’t another job that comes with a QB this good.

But your point about the draft picks is well taken, and they have a lot of work to do to build something up around Watson. While people will connect QB-centric candidates with this job, I almost wonder whether you don’t need one, since Watson is such a known quantity. CEO-type coach here instead of QB-whisperer type. Just a theory.

Fowler: I could see that. You can always get a killer offensive coordinator to structure the offense. Since Watson still has some deficiencies, such as pocket presence, I like a partnership with an offensive head coach who can take him to a new level. The ability is there to become an undisputed top-three quarterback. I have a sneaky suspicion that Eric Bieniemy will at least strongly consider this job, but we’ll see. Which CEO types do you like here?

Graziano: I share your suspicion on Bieniemy for this job, and my experience talking to him leads me to believe he can be that CEO type rather than just a deservedly promoted offensive coordinator. Marvin Lewis wants back in, and he won a lot more games in Cincinnati than most people have. Might be worth a shot to see him at the helm of a different organization. Somebody else with previous NFL head-coaching experience could work, like Leslie Frazier or Raheem Morris or even Jim Harbaugh.

But I keep coming back to Bienemy as the likely choice here, maybe because I keep hearing it everywhere. It’s the kind of rumor you’ve heard so much that you start to wonder.

Fowler: Such a natural tie-in too, with Watson’s connection with Patrick Mahomes, since they’re good friends and draft-mates. As Chiefs OC, Bieniemy has helped Mahomes develop into the game’s premier passer. We’re not saying Watson is Mahomes, but perhaps Bieniemy can guide Watson in a similar way.

The coach we’d hire: Eric Bieniemy, offensive coordinator, Kansas City Chiefs