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Daily Thread 12-10-2020

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Neat little series by TouchdownWire called “Mythbusters,” with this particular article tackling the infamous “no huddle” topic, especially at a quick tempo, and if it’s a fix for a passing game on a no-matter-what basis. Lastly, a monster video breakdown by Texans_Thoughts that’s just so much fun to watch, and learn, and enjoy what we’re seeing.

Mythbusters: Why no-huddle isn’t the universal cure for every ailing offense
By Doug Farrar, TouchdownWire

Excerpt: In this series, Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar dives down into the NFL’s common myths and examines what the real story is. In this installment, let’s look at the idea that the no-huddle offense, especially at a quick tempo, is a fix for a passing game on a no-matter-what basis. 

Generally speaking, when teams have success out of no-huddle, there’s an immediate “build the whole plane out of this” statement regarding the help tempo can give a passing game. But it’s not always the case. First, there are different kinds of no-huddle — it’s not always speed no-huddle. When Philip Rivers was with the Chargers, I distinctly remember a lot of no-huddle in which the Chargers would bleed the clock. That was less about forcing a defense to hurry up, and more about keeping a defense in unfavorable personnel without the ability to substitute. Second, there are instances in which it can hurt a quarterback as much as it can hurt a defense.

Texans_Thoughts on twitter:
“As heartbreaking as the #Texans loss was to the Colts, there were plenty of positives to takeaway, and I broke them down in this video – Deshaun vs an ELITE defense – Keke Coutee and Chad Hansen showing PROMISE – Defensive formula for FUTURE success Enjoy.”

Daily Thread 12-9-2020

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Texans Unfiltered posted an article by YoungAriGold and Texans Thoughts that delves into what they think the next Texans HC needs to possess, and I encourage everyone to read the full article. Also: In that article they’ve linked to an article at ToroTimes (Deshaun Watson: The Case for MVP 2020) that I have also posted a link to within today’s daily thread article.

All Deshaun Watson Needs Now Is His “Phil Jackson”
By YoungAriGold & Texans Thoughts

Excerpt: After Bill O’Brien was dismissed this season, my initial thought was to hire a defensive-minded HC given the holes on defense, and the fact I believe Deshaun will thrive no matter the HC. That changed for me last week; I want a HC who is going to maximize the talent of Deshaun Watson as he isn’t even close to hitting his ceiling. The Texans need to look for a HC that understands who Deshaun is as a QB, player, and person. They need to lay out their vision for the team on both sides of the ball as they impact how Deshaun can thrive.

They also need to understand they have a player that cares more than anybody else in that locker room and gives you the ability to establish a winning culture quickly. When your leader cares how Deshaun Watson does, it makes setting that culture a lot easier; it becomes infectious and spreads throughout the organization.

However, culture also needs to spawn from the top of the organization, enact the change required to become a true winning organization. The Texans need a HC that can evolve and build an organization, offense, and defense, not just one of the three. You can’t hire a HC that is looking to replicate previous success at their former team because you are doing a disservice to Deshaun at that point. He isn’t just any other QB; he is Deshaun Watson.

Deshaun Watson: The Case for MVP 2020
By Martin Marroquin, ToroTimes (Article was posted 1 week ago, by the way)

Excerpt: Even with the pressure of playing from behind, Deshaun Watson has performed. Completing 140 of 201 passes for 1855 yards, along with 16 touchdowns and only two interceptions. The Clemson product also accounts for 87.9 percent of the Texans total offense, which is a higher percentage than any of the other three mentioned quarterbacks.

Watson is third in passing yards despite not ranking in the Top 10 in passes completed or attempted in 2020. That is due to him leading the league in yards per attempt. So even though Watson ranks 15th in pass attempts in the NFL, he is making the most of his opportunities.

As mentioned, the Houston Texans rushing attack is among the worst in the league. This should allow defenses to really focus on stopping Watson and the passing game, but that has clearly not slowed down the young quarterback.

Watson’s counterparts have the luxury of a running attack to make their jobs easier. Each of their team’s ground games are in the Top 20 in rushing yards and all three are in the Top 11 in yards per carry. To reiterate, the Texans are 31st in rushing yards and 28th in yards per rush.

Daily Thread 12-8-2020

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Even Sarah Barshop gets some digs in on the departed HC of the Texans. Jason La Canfora talks at length about John Dorsey being one of the GM candidates for the job in Houston, and he cites unnamed or anonymous sources to back up his claims.

Despite tough loss, shorthanded Texans find two promising receivers
By Sarah Barshop, ESPN

Excerpt: It’s only one game, but the fact that the Texans had both Coutee and Hansen on the roster makes their decisions about their wide receivers this offseason even more questionable. Former general manager and head coach Bill O’Brien not only didn’t play Coutee, but because he believed there was no future for the receiver in the offense, he signed slot receiver Randall Cobb to a three-year, $27 million contract. Coutee was behind both Cobb and punt/kickoff returner DeAndre Carter on the depth chart, a healthy scratch for six of Houston’s first nine games this season before Carter was cut last month.

Texans general manager search: Former Browns, Chiefs GM John Dorsey expected to interview with Houston
By Jason La Canfora, CBS Sports

Take it with a grain of salt since it’s La Canfora’s “reporting,” but if the below is true then you can bank on Jed Hughes likely putting forth a considerable recommendation for John Dorsey to be strongly considered by Cal McNair for the GM job, especially with the tie-in Dorsey has with Bienemy from their time together in K.C. (A package deal might be the easiest sell, considering Watson’s reported/rumored advocacy of Bienemy to Cal McNair, which of course IIRC was also a La Canfora-reported tidbit of info from not too long ago). Then again, who is to say that Bienemy has a positive view of Dorsey and/or vice versa?

The extra bit of fun is that it’s not unreasonable to speculate that Easterby might have something to say about John Dorsey’s pattern of a bit of a blind eye when it comes to off-the-field issues such as Tyreek Hill (kicked off the Oklahoma State team for an arrest, but no charges filed, regarding domestic abuse issues with his then-girlfriend) and Kareem Hunt who was with K.C. and then found a 2nd chance in Cleveland when, you guessed it, Dorsey was the GM for the Browns.

Excerpt #1: It’s exceedingly rare in the NFL that any general manager gets a third opportunity to run a team, but former Browns and Chiefs GM John Dorsey may have a chance to defy the odds. 

League sources said that headhunter Jed Hughes, who twice previously conducted GM searches in which Dorsey prevailed, remains very high on the longtime personnel executive, and is advocating for his consideration for the opening in Houston in which Hughes’ firm is overseeing. The Texans search is puzzling to many around the league, with an owner, Cal McNair, who has never had to make a hire of this magnitude before and much speculation about the role that director of football operations Jack Easterby will play in the hire, along with search firm Korn Ferry, run by Hughes.

Excerpt #2: The Browns are quite possibly headed to the playoffs with a roster that Dorsey largely constructed, and Dorsey also has ties to Chiefs assistant coach Eric Bieniemy; Bieniemy will almost certainly have the opportunity to interview with multiple teams again this January and sources said that Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson is a big proponent of Bieniemy (he coaches Watson’s friend, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes).

Excerpt #3: Dorsey’s roots are under longtime Packers executive Ron Wolf, whose lineage tends to be in demand for front office openings, and several people with knowledge of the situation in Houston affirmed his name is in the mix with the Texans and indicated Hughes ongoing affinity for his work.

Daily Thread 12-3-2020

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Wednesday’s injury report and a link to the Colts injury report. Also, Steph is salty about a throwaway line that says the Texans would like to retain Fuller on a new deal, and on the exact same day Watson says “It’s very important to re-sign Will Fuller.” 2020, y’all.

Texans vs. Colts Wednesday injury report: DT Ross Blacklock misses with illness
By Mark Lane, TexansWire

Whole-Ass Article: The Texans had three players who did not participate in practice. Fullback Cullen Gillaspia was out with a back injury, while running back C.J. Prosise and rookie defensive tackle Ross Blacklock were each out with an illness.

Punter Bryan Anger had limited participation with a right quad injury. Safety Lonnie Johnson was also limited with a knee injury.

The Colts had eight players who did not participate in Wednesday’s practice, including quarterback Philip Rivers.

For the latest on Indianapolis’ injury situation, check out the Colts Wire.

Maybe Deshaun Watson is the GM.

Deshaun Watson: ‘Very Important’ for Texans to Sign Will Fuller to New Contract
By Jenna Ciccotelli, BleacherReport

Excerpt: Houston Texans wide receiver Will Fuller V is serving a six-game suspension for violating the league’s PED policy, but teammate Deshaun Watson wants the front office to look past it when the time comes to sign the 26-year-old to a new contract this offseason. 

“That’s very important,” Watson said, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. 

Fuller is on a fifth-year option with the Texans and will hit free agency after this year.

Daily Thread 12-2-2020

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In a nightmare world where all Texans QBs are ruled out of a game, which Texans player(s) would be the QB on game day? Also: Andre Johnson talks about what he envisions for the Texans offense now that they’ll be without Will Fuller for the rest of the season.

What would the Texans do if all their quarterbacks were out with COVID-19?
By Mark Lane, TexansWire

Excerpt: If the Texans were to have their quarterbacks unavailable for a regular season game, receiver Randall Cobb could be an emergency option, as he was a quarterback for the Kentucky Wildcats his freshman year and also threw a pass this year for the Texans.

Andre Johnson On Texans Offense Without Fuller
By Anthony R. Wood, SI.com

Excerpt: Houston’s offense had found their rhythm as the season wore on and losing Fuller is a disappointing loss. However, team legend and former All-Pro wide receiver Andre Johnson is confident that the Texans can cope without the soon-to-be free agent.

“I think they’ll be fine,” said Johnson on Tuesday, who was speaking to SI as a part his work with Crown Royal to promote water breaks.

“When you have a loss like that, you know Will’s a big play guy, he always seems to find the end zone,” said Johnson. “But the other guys just have to step up and just play.”

One such guy is wideout Keke Coutee. A fourth-round pick by the Texans in 2018, the Texas Tech Red Raider exploded on the scene his rookie year with 109 receiving yards on his debut at the Indianapolis Colts, before recording a further 110-yards during their loss to the Colts in the playoffs that season.

Daily Thread 12-1-2020

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You know, there’s just no use in posting into this “article” any of the dozens of articles that cover the Fuller-Roby situation. Everyone knows what’s happened. This team continues to be a laughing stock in new, creative ways that rival the best a fiction writer could ever produce.

The mismanagement since Bob McNair passed away has been the only constant. There will now be plentiful articles dissecting it all, I am sure of it. It’s unavoidable and it’s been earned. I’m sure I’m missing things on the list, but off the top of my head:

  • Hiring Brian Gaine to be GM after the previous GM made a departure to care for his dying wife
  • Firing Brian Gaine and naming the numbers guy Chris Olsen as interim GM
  • Then firing Olsen so as to give the HC the GM position
  • Hiring a “culture” guy, which that’s panned out WONDERFULLY hasn’t it? Look at all the good culture they have now!
  • Pursuing Nick Caserio which led to threats of tampering charges by the Patriots organization
  • Promoting Easterby to VP of Football Operations
  • Allowing the HC/GM to trade a superstar caliber WR for dubious reasons, which also backfired because…why again?
  • Standing by and watching the HC/GM sign bad players to bad contracts, and signing decent players to bad contracts, that impacts the salary cap in ways Chris Olsen never would have permitted to happen but of course he was dealt with to eliminate that opposition of sound reason.
  • Creating roundtable sit-downs with Cal and Janice McNair alongside Romeo Crennel and Travis Johnson (coaches and players who are black) to show a listening ear to the challenges of black people, only to later fire the P.R. person who likely led that effort because she was no longer a culture fit of course, and we haven’t seen any of those sit-downs since, of course.
  • Attempting to bring in Earl Thomas for a workout then backpedaling, only for us to later learn that several Texans players protested O’Brien’s attempts to consider Thomas for the roster.
  • Firing the HC after it was now overtly obvious that it had to be done, rather than earlier as it should have been done before multiple damages to the roster and cap could result.
  • The disastrous “candid” words, after the firing of the P.R. person, by Texans President Jamey Rootes that involved such gems as “You don’t know what I know” while in a stroke of genius also simultaneously promoting his new self-authored book on LEADERSHIP.
  • And now this. Two premiere players, vital to the success of the team, scrubbed from the remainder of the year and perhaps a bit of next year to start off with, as well, due to performance-enhancing substances that they of course had no clue they were taking substances that were on the no-go list.
  • Let it also not be lost on anyone that Brian Cushing is (for now) the Houston Texans assistant strength and condition coach who himself also had his own run-ins with a similar situation when he played LB for the Texans. No f***ing wonder Andre Johnson decided he wanted to bolt from his duties with the Texans. He probably was wise enough to get while the getting was good. AJ80 is a smart man, and good for him.

They could release Cushing, I suppose, whether he’s played any real role or a suspected role or no role at all. They’re just running out of people to fire, to be honest. I haven’t seen this many deaths, to cover up indiscretions and deflect from a “larger picture,” since Season 3 of The Sopranos.

Would Cal consider an extinction-level event by removing Rootes and Easterby and anyone else? Because it doesn’t appear that with or without Bill O’Brien here Easterby (and Rootes) has been able to truly produce and build a good culture that keeps the Texans name out of the mouths of an ever-hungry media. All of the coverage, past/present/future, has been fairly earned. And all of it should fall at the feet of the man who inherited and runs this clown show of an NFL franchise. Can’t fire HIM, though.

If it was tenuous to get GOOD GM and HC candidates before now, it surely has now raised yet another red flag up many candidates’ flag poles. This has been an utter mess that has been constant, tumultuous water being tread by Deshaun Watson who at this point deserves whatever medals and commendations can be given him for his efforts to provide some semblance of dignity and respect for this organization and its fans. I would also add JJ Watt to that list, and Romeo Crennel as well.

Winning out seemed like somewhat of a possibility, but now? I don’t know, and frankly what would it even matter with this newest dark cloud cast over the organization as a whole. Players have their responsibilities, yes, but so does the staff who manages players and other staff.

It’s turning out that unlike what Rootes said, we indeed do know what he knows or maybe more aptly we know what he doesn’t know or what he fails to admit and take responsibility for. We know that whatever leadership has been there high above the football field, behind fabulous glass walls and rich wood-grained desks, has been an utter, abject failure.