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Overflow Thread 1-4-2021

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Firing BoB and end of the season (buzz surrounding Texans HC and GM interview requests) sure does bring about a ton of comments! Here’s an overflow thread for the rest of the day and evening.

Daily Thread 1-4-2021

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AgentWD40 authored a “crossroads” think piece late Sunday night, so today’s conversation starter dives into the topic!

SHOULD THEY STAY OR SHOULD THEY GO NOW?

(The Clash self-rec)

As most of you know, I’m not much of an X’s and O’s guy.  I’m also not a “salary cap and contracts” guy, so that particular aspect of roster building will be pretty much ignored in this post.  Anyway, now that the season is over, I thought I’d look at our entire roster (including guys on IR, suspension, and the COVID list) and rank them in terms of whether or not we should keep them in 2021.  Again, I’m mainly ignoring contacts and salaries, but simply focusing on each player’s skill level, potential, and contribution to the team.  Also, in the final postgame thread, I posted a link to my long-running Texans Stats Spreadsheet, so feel free to check that out as well.

OFFENSE
Despite the resounding disappointment of the 2020 season, I think we actually have a lot of talent on offense.  Sure, there are some salary cap issues (which I won’t address here), but I feel really good about Watson and our receivers.  The main places we need improvement are with the running game and the interior offensive line.  So let’s do this…

  • Obvious Starters:
    • Deshaun Watson (QB) – I mean… duh.  Dude is a monster.  Easily a top five QB.
    • Laremy Tunsil (OL) – Yes, he’s a great LT, but his contract also makes him untradeable.
    • Tytus Howard (OL) – Future bookend tackle along with Tunsil.
    • Will Fuller V (WR) – Played like a legit #1 receiver this year.  Extend him.
  • Likely Keepers:
    • Roderick Johnson (OL) – Solid swing tackle and spot starter.  I’d hold on to him.
    • Charlie Heck (OL) – He was always gonna be a project. I doubt we cut a rookie this early.
    • Max Scharping (OL) – Should have been the starter.  Get this man a good OL coach!
    • Keke Coutee (WR) – Ball security issues aside, I loved the way he played this season.
    • Isaiah Coulter (WR) – Hasn’t played much, but again, I doubt we cut a rookie this early.
    • AJ McCarron (QB) – Not the same type of QB as Watson, but he’s a reliable backup.
    • Jordan Akins (TE) – He’s our best TE, and I look forward to seeing him under a new OC.
    • Pharaoh Brown (TE) – Easily our second best TE.  Kind of a diamond in the rough.
    • Duke Johnson (RB) – I got no beef with Duke, just gotta use him right.
  • On the Bubble:
    • Brent Qvale (OL) – He might worth keeping around as a backup, I guess.
    • Brandin Cooks (WR) – I’d love to keep both Cooks and Fuller… but will we?
    • Randall Cobb (WR) – Cobb has played well, but Coutee makes him kinda redundant.
    • Kahale Warring (TE) – His injury history and lack of big plays put him in a dangerous position.
    • Chad Hansen (WR) – I really like Hansen and hope the new regime keeps him.  #gritty
    • Scottie Phillips (RB) – Come on!  Show us some Scottie Phillips already!
    • Buddy Howell (RB) – Best pure RB on the roster right now, but that’s not saying much.
    • Cullen Gillaspia (RB) – Good blocker, good ST player, but ultimately expendable.
  • Meh:
    • Dontrell Hilliard (RB) – Good returner, but he’s been on the team for like 15 minutes.
    • Josh McCown (QB) – Why did we sign this old man?  Let’s find a rookie to develop.
    • Senio Kelemete (OL) – Eh… take him or leave him, but as a backup only.
    • Darren Fells (TE) – Decent pass catcher, but he’s old and can’t block.
    • Damion Ratley (WR) – Gig ‘em… but we all know he’s just filling space right now.
  • Cut This Dude Now:
    • Zach Fulton (OL) – Fulton is garbage.  Please fire him into the sun.
    • Nick Martin (OL) – See above.  I have no faith in our interior OL.
    • David Johnson (RB) – Sorry, DJ.  You’re a nice guy, but you’re old and overpaid.

DEFENSE
I had a much harder time doing this on the defensive side of the ball, probably because our defense was so hilariously bad this season.  We also had a lot of injuries and thus a lot of random backups and/or street FAs getting snaps, many of whom I didn’t know existed.  In an ideal world, we’d replace the vast majority of them, but that’s just not realistic.  So keep in mind that a lot of the guys I listed as “keepers” are mainly just decent but unspectacular players that we kinda need to keep on the roster since we can’t do it just with FAs and rookies.  We should also note that the lack of offseason this year really stunted the development of our rookies.

  • Obvious Starters:
    • J.J. Watt (DE) – Shut up.  Don’t even talk about it.  I’m not listening.  La la la la la.
    • Bradley Roby (CB) – I mean… he’s the only legit starting CB on the roster.
    • Justin Reid (S) – Defensive leader who I’d like to see get extended in the offseason.
    • Zach Cunningham (ILB) – He should have made the Pro Bowl this year.
  • Likely Keepers:
    • Ross Blacklock (DT) – Rough start to his career, but I doubt we cut a rookie this early.
    • Brandon Dunn (DT) – Just an average vet player who does his job but not much else.
    • Charles Omenihu (DE) – I really liked ol’ Chuck this season.  Pass rusher of the future?
    • Carlos Watkins (DE) – Just an average vet player who does his job but not much else.
    • Jonathan Greenard (OLB) – I think he looked okay when he got a chance.
    • Brennan Scarlett (OLB) – Just an average vet player who does his job but not much else.
    • Jacob Martin (OLB) – I love when Martin can just explode with speed off the edge.
    • Peter Kalambayi (ILB) – He’s a decent enough backup.
    • A.J. Moore Jr. (S) – Kinda unheralded by the media, but I like him a lot.
    • Michael Thomas (S) – I seem to recall Thomas having a pretty good season.
    • Keion Crossen (CB) – He’s been halfway decent filling in as a starter.  Solid backup?
    • Lonnie Johnson Jr. (CB) – Needs more development, but has a future on this team.
    • John Reid (CB) – Hasn’t played much, but (once again) I doubt we cut a rookie this early.
  • On the Bubble:
    • P.J. Hall (DT) – Rough injury history, but he looked good when he played.
    • Auzoyah Alufohai (DT) – Seems like he might be a nice prospect.
    • Tyrell Adams (S) – Good not great as a backup.  Replaceable.
    • Phillip Gaines (CB) – I seem to recall a few decent plays this season.
    • Gareon Conley (CB) – He could be a good #2 CB if he’s actually healthy.
    • Benardrick McKinney (ILB) – Liability in coverage, we might trade him to save cap space.
  • Meh:
    • Andrew Brown (DT) – Who?
    • Mark Fields (CB) – Who?
    • Geno Stone (S) – Who?
    • Nate Hall (LB) – Who?
    • Jonathan Owens (S) – Who?
    • Cornell Armstrong (CB) – Yeah… most of our corners are just bad.
  • Cut This Dude Now:
    • Vernon Hargreaves III (CB) – Could he be the most hated corner on our roster?
    • Duke Ejiofor (OLB) – Duke hasn’t played a single snap since 2018.  It’s time to cut bait.
    • Whitney Mercilus (OLB) – I’m sad to say that Merc is done.  He was invisible this season.
    • Dylan Cole (ILB) – Sorry, but the guy just can’t stay healthy.
    • Eric Murray (S) – Wildly overpaid, not good, etc.

SPECIAL TEAMS
This list was pretty easy.  We actually have a good special teams unit.

  • Obvious Keepers:
    • Jon Weeks (LS) – He’s the GOAT.  Enough said.
    • Bryan Anger (P) – Good punter, and had plenty of practice this season (sigh).
  • Likely Keepers:
    • Ka’imi Fairbairn (K) – I know a lot of people like to hate on Fair Bear, but he’s a decent enough kicker, so I doubt he gets cut.

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.