Interim HC Romeo Crennel doesn’t have new news on Texans CB Gareon Conley’s timeframe for a return to the active roster. Rivers McCown looked at the DVOA numbers for Watson/BoB and Watson/no BoB. I’m no math surgeon, but I think it’s clear, at least in the samples from previous seasons and the samples thus far this year, which combo is producing better results.

Texans CB Gareon Conley still not close to returning to the secondary
By Mark Lane, TexansWire

Excerpt: The former 2017 Oakland Raiders first-round pick has been recovering from offseason ankle surgery that has complicated his return to the playing field.

“He’s trying to get back but I don’t think that he’s where we need him to be right now,” interim coach Romeo Crennel said. “He’s had second opinions and they haven’t been able to pinpoint anything definite. We’ll have to see how he does and if he can get back.”

Conley provided Houston with 27 tackles and 11 pass breakups in eight games last season, starting in two of them. The Texans could really use his talents in Week 7 as cornerbacks Vernon Hargreaves and Lonnie Johnson are dealing with injuries following the Texans’ 42-36 overtime loss to the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium.

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For more info about what DVOA is, visit the DVOA field guide and go with the ultra short version, or the “short” version if you want to some heavier reading. Anyways, Rivers (I think) is saying that basically BoB’s preferred ways of doing things on offense wasn’t exactly working out according to the DVOA numbers.

The ultra short version of DVOA is this: DVOA measures a team’s efficiency by comparing success on every single play to a league average based on situation and opponent.

Deshaun Watson, 2017 passing DVOA, with many of his college concepts due to timing: 23.1%

Deshaun Watson, 2020 pass DVOA since O'Brien's firing: 39.3%

Deshaun Watson 2018, 2019, first four games of 2020 pass DVOAs under O'Brien: 9.5%, 9.5%, 16.8%

😤

— Rivers McCown (@riversmccown) October 21, 2020

Texans add 6′ 3″ and 325 lbs. of hopefully run-stuffing beef to the DL via a former Texans player, Eli Ankou, who is now back after being claimed off waivers (Colts). Cowherd says Packers over Texans is his “bet of the year.” Texans Thoughts with a breakdown video of the Texans-Titans game.

Texans sign DT Eli Ankou off waivers from the Colts
By Mark Lane, TexansWire

Excerpt: Ankou has experience with the Texans. Houston signed the former UCLA Bruin as an undrafted free agent in 2017. The Texans waived Ankou at the end of that preseason, and he caught on with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

In Jacksonville, Ankou played 11 games, collecting 1.6 sacks, 19 tackles, a tackle for loss, and two quarterback hits through the 2018 season.

In 2019, Ankou played for the Cleveland Browns, starting in two games of his nine played.  The 6-3, 325-pound defensive tackle recorded seven tackles and a tackle for loss.

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Colin Cowherd says his “bet of the year” is Packers over Texans, saying that Houston will let the Packers do whatever the Packers want to do. In this video, he and others discuss how the Packers always match up well with teams who aren’t bullies (basically saying the Packers will out-finesse you if you get into that type of game with them).

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Here's my initial thoughts to the #Texans Titans game. Talked about Deshaun's brilliance, who's to blame on defense and RAC's decision to go for 2, among much more!
Frustrating loss for sure, but good to see the offense drop 30 two times in a row.https://t.co/TK8oXkezWo pic.twitter.com/apY8DCRCcd

— Jordan Pun (@Texans_Thoughts) October 19, 2020

The Texans lose in Overtime to the Titans. Where were you the day the Texans defense gave up 6 football fields and three feet of offense to the Titans? Reminder: Let’s discuss/debate viewpoints and leave out the extracurricular personal jabs.

I usually post 2 or 3 bits of postgame, late night stuff I find about the Texans. Not this time, though. I just didn’t really find anything that stood out to me.

Have a great Monday, and as an FYI there’ll be a Monday Night Football thread today that posts at 3:00 p.m. CT (Kickoff is 4:00 p.m. CT), and it serves as both the thread for that game between the Chiefs and Bills and also for the normally-scheduled MNF game that kicks off at 7:15 p.m. CT between the Cardinals and Cowboys.

As always, check out https://506sports.com/ for sportsball schedules and coverage maps.

BarryFromTexas brings us the Week 5 Heh Report. TGIF y’all.

Week-05-Heh-Report

Watson talks about the importance of controlling Clowney. And Jair Lopez of TexansUnfiltered shares his Good, Bad, and Ugly of the Texans from last Sunday’s 30-14 victory over the Jaguars.

QB Deshaun Watson says Texans ‘got to control’ Titans’ Jadeveon Clowney
By Mark Lane, TexansWire

Excerpt: “You’ve got to control him,” Watson said. “You’ve got to get the ball out quick. You’ve got to be able to do things that the ball is out of my hands and getting into space. He can definitely disrupt the game. I’ve seen with my own eyes for two years. Seeing him and watching him in college and then watching him in the pros. Yeah, he’s a problem for sure. We’ve got to make sure that we know where he is at all times when he’s on the field.”

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Houston Texans Week 5 Recap: Good, Bad, Ugly Against Jacksonville Jaguars
By Jair Lopez, TexansUnfiltered

Excerpt: The offense was humming, and Cooks had a stellar performance after only accruing 10 receptions for 138 yards through the first four weeks. Will Fuller also had another solid game with four receptions for 58 yards and earned his third touchdown reception in three consecutive games.

Darren Fells had to step up with Jordan Akins sidelined with an injury; he finished with two receptions for 57 yards and a 44-yard touchdown reception. Fells showed some solid glimpses as a blocker and helped pave a lane for David Johnson late in the fourth quarter to put the game away.

Houston’s run game had its best performance against the Jaguars’ depleted defense. They had 22 attempts for 129 yards on the ground and averaged a solid 5.9 yards per carry.

David finished with his best game as he finished with 96 yards. He had 77 yards on his 10 carries outside the tackles and 19 yards on 7 carries when running between the tackles.

Titans beat COVID, and then they beat the Bills real bad. Should the Texans go after Le’Veon Bell or just stick with Johnson & Johnson? P.J. Hall is turning out to be a pretty smart addition to the Texans defense.

Le’Veon Bell To Houston; What Do The Texans Have To Lose?
By Anthony R. Wood, SI.com

Excerpt: If they are serious about getting something out of this season despite their 1-4 start, Bell should be considered. At his best, he’s one of the best backs in the league, hands down. He’s had three seasons rushing for over 1,200 yards and has 3,160 receiving yards to his name. 

Realistically, will he end up in Houston? Likely not. Their cap situation is not ideal, and their running back room is costing them a subs amount of money that they haven’t seen a return on yet. 

But if they want the rest of the league to see them as contenders moving forward, and if they can get him on an inexpensive short-term deal, what do they have to lose?

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DT P.J. Hall’s different skillset helps the Texans’ defensive line
By Mark Lane, TexansWire

Excerpt: “I think P.J. has good explosion,” interim coach Romeo Crennel said. “He’s got some quickness. He’s got a quick step and has some explosion. His center of gravity, I think, helps him at the line of scrimmage. He’s been showing up, making plays at the line, getting into the backfield at times, impacting plays.”

The former 2018 Oakland Raiders second-round pick has collected 21 tackles, two tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, and a quarterback hit in his five games with the Texans, four of which he has started.

“I think he’s been a good addition even though he’s a different type of guy that we’ve had in the past, but because of his skillset, I think he helps our defense,” Crennel said.

B-Mac to have season-ending shoulder surgery. Alex McGough is cut from the Practice Squad (again), making room for LB Kyle Emmanuel who was signed from the Raiders practice squad. Deshaun Watson nominated for FedEx Air NFL Player of the Week.

Report: Texans ILB Benardrick McKinney done for the season with a shoulder injury
By Mark Lane, TexansWire

Excerpt: The Houston Texans inside linebacker corps has taken a hit to its leadership and on-field ability.

According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, Pro Bowl inside linebacker Benardrick McKinney will undergo shoulder surgery, which will knock him out for the rest of 2020. The club is expected to place McKinney on injured reserve.

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Texans sign Kyle Emanuel off Raiders’ practice squad
By Charean Williams, ProFootballTalk

Excerpt: The Texans signed linebacker Kyle Emanuel off the Raiders’ practice squad, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Emanuel reunites with Texans inside linebackers coach Bobby King, who was an assistant with the Chargers when Emanuel was drafted.

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Texans QB Deshaun Watson nominated for FedEx Air NFL Player of the Week
By Mark Lane, TexansWire

Excerpt: Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson has been named a finalist for the FedEx Air NFL Player of the Week for his performance in Sunday’s 30-14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium.

Watson completed 25 of 35 pass attempts for 359 yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 109.1 passer rating, helping the Texans to their first win of the season in Week 5.

Brandin Cooks becomes un-invisible with 8 receptions for 161 yards and a 28-yard TD catch on a 4th and 5 play to put the game out of the Jaguars reach. Next up: A trip to Nashville…maybe.

Texans 30, Jaguars 14: Postgame News

Deshaun Watson says Texans’ goal was to get WR Brandin Cooks going early
By Mark Lane, TexansWire

Excerpt: According to quarterback Deshaun Watson, one of the big parts of the game plan was to involve Cooks was the start.

“I know Cooky didn’t have a catch last week so we wanted to get him going early,” said Watson, who threw for 359 yards and three touchdowns on the afternoon. “He had a big day, made some big-time catches. But that’s what we wanted to do, just kind of set the tone from the jump and get myself in a rhythm because as far as I go, the offense goes.”

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4th down gamble comes up big for Texans
By Drew Dougherty, HoustonTexans.com

This article needs to be read! Lots of great quotes from RAC, Cooks, Watson, and Roby.

Excerpt: Romeo Crennel wanted five yards.

Brandin Cooks gave him six points.

Leading Jacksonville, 23-14, with 4:46 remaining in regulation, the Texans faced a 4th-and-4 at the Jaguars’ 28-yard line. Crennel, in his first game as Houston’s interim head coach, could’ve easily sent kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn on to attempt a 45-yard field goal. Instead, Crennel wanted to move the chains, so he put Deshaun Watson and his offense back on the field.

Watson found Cooks over the middle, and the veteran receiver blazed into the end zone for a touchdown. Fairbairn’s extra point staked the Texans to a 30-14 advantage with 4:39 left in the game.

“All I was trying to do was get the first down because it was a two-score game,” Crennel said. “And the field goal, even though it would have put points on the board, potentially it might not have made a difference if they had gone down and scored. And so I wanted to try to get that done and kind of put it out of reach and make it much tougher for them to have a chance to come back.”

Happy footballing everyone! Check out https://506sports.com/ for schedules and broadcast information.

I don’t really watch SNL, but tonight’s SNL is hosted by Bill Burr so I’m going to be tuning in to see ‘ol Billy Red Ass give it a go.

This compilation is from appearances on Conan, which his comfort level on Conan and Conan’s ability to get out of the way and let a GOAT do GOAT things like Burr can do it’s just great TV. Fallon could never.