Tag: Darren Fells

Keeping TE Darren Fells is key to the Texans’ red zone offense

The Houston Texans red zone offense will have the chance to stay in the top-10 in red zone production in 2020 with the retaining of TE Darren Fells.

The Houston Texans were tied for the fifth-worst red zone offense in the NFL in 2018 with a 50% conversion rate.

Their fortunes changed in 2019 as the AFC South champions finished as the seventh-best red zone offense with a 64.2% conversion rate. What was the difference?

Enter tight end Darren Fells. The 6-7, 270-pound former basketball player provided a big target for quarterback Deshaun Watson in the red zone. Fells was also able to develop cohesion with the two-time Pro Bowler, leading to seven touchdown catches, tied with receiver DeAndre Hopkins for the most on the team.

“A big, long target, athletic, he’s improving as a blocker, seems to be very reliable the closer you get to the end zone,” Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel said of Fells on Dec. 11, 2019.

 

If the Texans are going to stay in the top-10 in red zone production, they will need Fells to similarly keep playing at a high level inside the 20-yard line.

Texans QB Deshaun Watson loves ‘Big Mac Smash’ in the red zone

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson told NFL Network’s “Film Session” his favorite red zone play: “Big Mac Smash.”

“Big Mac Smash” — sounds more like a fast food menu item than it does Deshaun Watson’s favorite red zone play in the Houston Texans offense.

The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback joined Kurt Warner and Brian Baldinger on the season premier of NFL Network’s “Film Session” to talk about the 2019 season through tape breakdowns. Watson took to the dry erase board and drew up “Big Mac Smash” when asked to draw up his favorite play.

“I did a red zone play because I feel like, especially with young quarterbacks, that’s one area where it speeds up,” Watson said. “There’s so much you can do to try to influence the defense to get the ball in the end zone.”

According to Watson, the Texans ran the play during the AFC divisional playoff at the Kansas City Chiefs. Facing a second-and-goal from the 4-yard line, the Texans ran “Big Mac Smash” and scored a touchdown that put Houston ahead 21-0 late in the first quarter.

According to Watson, his read progression after the snap is tight end, which was Darren Fells, the receiver, DeAndre Hopkins, and then the running back flaring toward the flat.

When Watson saw the Chiefs’ inside linebackers split and Fells post up at the goal line, he knew it was the correct throw to make.

However, the play offers more options for Watson other than to find his 6-7, 270-pound tight end.

“There’s so much on the field,” Watson said. “Once you get in that red zone, it’s like it’s a chess match.”

The philosophy of the post-Hopkins Texans offense will be for Watson to make the right reads, not just overwhelm defenders with his uncanny athleticism.

The entire episode with Watson is debuted on NFL Game Pass on June 2, and is still part of the service’s complementary offer. NFL Network will air the episode on June 6.

Texans Talk Podcast: Catching up with TE Darren Fells

Houston Texans tight end Darren Fells joins the “Texans Talk Podcast” to talk about how his offseason is going and also the new-look offense.

Only DeAndre Hopkins caught as many touchdown passes for the Houston Texans in 2019 as tight end Darren Fells, who joined the “Texans Talk Podcast” on Friday.

Host Anthony Wood visits with the 33-year-old, who had a career year with the AFC South champion Texans in 2019. Find out how much of a leader quarterback Deshaun Watson really is behind the scenes.

Make sure to keep up to date with all of the latest Texans news, rumors, and analysis by subscribing to “The Texans Talk Podcast” on Apple, Google, Stitcher, or Audioboom.

Can TE Kahale Warring produce for the Texans in 2020?

2019 third-round tight end Kahale Warring spent his rookie season on injured reserve. Can he be a contributor for the Houston Texans in 2020?

Kahale Warring didn’t have a rookie season with the Houston Texans. Instead, the 2019 third-round pick from San Diego State was placed on injured reserve prior to the start of the season as he dealt with concussions.

Coach and general manager Bill O’Brien still believes the former water polo player can contribute for the Texans in his second year with the team.

“I do,” said O’Brien. “Look, I don’t think it was ideal for him to not play football last year.”

Warring was concussed during the club’s training camp scrimmages with the Green Bay Packers in early August.

“We felt like, as time wore on, it was best for us to work with him in the classroom and do some things that we were able to do out on the field relative — observe a lot,” O’Brien explained.

What Warring may have observed is Darren Fells catching a career-high seven touchdown passes from quarterback Deshaun Watson as the 6-7 former basketball player was a legitimate red zone threat. Another possible observation could have been former 2018 third-rounder Jordan Akins catching 36 passes for 418 yards and two touchdowns.

In other words, there is a place for tight ends in the Texans’ offense, and Watson will connect with them to move the chains.

O’Brien doesn’t have tabs on Warring as well as he would in a normal offseason due to the complications from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, from what O’Brien does know, the 6-6, 250-pound tight end is endeavoring to become a productive part of Houston’s offense.

Said O’Brien: “I know he’s working really hard right now. He’s in between Houston and the West Coast and I’m excited about Kahale’s future. I really like Kahale. I think he’s a hardworking guy and I think he’s got a lot of talent, and I think he’s going to be a good really good player for us.”

Warring will be a part of a crowded tight end room with Akins, Fells, and Jordan Thomas.

Texans TE Jordan Thomas has much to prove in third season

Houston Texans tight end Jordan Thomas has plenty to prove in his third season if he hopes to remain with the club that drafted him in 2018.

Houston Texans tight end Jordan Thomas had a promising rookie season. The 2018 sixth-round pick from Mississippi State started in 10 of his 16 games played, and seemed to develop into a red zone target as all four of his touchdowns were inside the 20-yard line. The 6-5, 277-pound big target caught 20 passes for 215 yards and developed a chemistry with quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Then, the Texans signed Darren Fells in 2019 free agency.

Then, the Texans picked Kahale Warring in the third round of that April’s draft.

Then, Thomas sustained a rib injury in preseason that landed him on injured reserve as the Texans had to trim down to a 53-man roster by Aug. 31. The Sumrall (Miss.) High School product wouldn’t be eligible to play until Week 9.

When Thomas did return from injured reserve, he logged five games, two of which he started, and caught one 8-yard pass from Watson. All of the gains Thomas had made over his rookie season were lost.

Now, Thomas finds himself in a precarious position as he enters his third NFL season.

Fells developed that same chemistry with Watson in his absence and took it to the next level with 34 catches for 341 yards and seven touchdowns. The Texans liked the cohesion Fells and Watson had in the red zone that they brought Fells back after his one-year deal expired.

Houston has a third-round pick invested in Warring. The coaching staff won’t brush him aside and let a pick from the top-100 of the 2019 draft class go to waste. The same can also be said of Jordan Akins, a third-rounder from 2018, who caught 36 passes for 418 yards and two touchdowns last season.

The odds are against Thomas. He costs the Texans $949,602 against the salary cap, which isn’t much. The same can also be said of the dead money to cut him, which is $29,602, according to Spotrac.

Thomas’ best shot is to take advantage of the reps he is given, whether by beating out some of the other tight ends on the roster or having the fortune to stay healthy when they are ailing. Whatever the case, the former Bulldog has to realize he is the underdog in the tight end room.

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The reason the Texans had to re-sign tight end Darren Fells

The Houston Texans re-signed tight end Darren Fells, but there was a reason they had to bring back the 33-year-old for another two years.

The Houston Texans re-signed tight end Darren Fells to a two-year, $7 million contract on Tuesday.

After producing career highs with 34 catches for 341 yards and seven touchdowns, which were tied with All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins for the most on the team, the Texans decided to bring back the 33-year-old who tried his hand at pro basketball before turning to the NFL in 2013.

Football is about the quarterback, and the reason the Texans retained Fells’ services is because of how he aided Deshaun Watson.

“It makes my job a lot easier,” Watson said of Fells on Dec. 4, 2019. “He’s a guy, basketball guy, big hands, and just a guy that’s been working his tail off ever since he got here. He’s a great teammate, great person and he just loves to work, he loves to win, he loves to have fun and just hearing his story and where he comes from and the way he got here, it’s very special.”

The Texans signed Fells in the 2019 offseason as an insurance policy of sorts. Houston already had two former 2018 draft picks in Jordan Thomas and Jordan Akins, and veteran Ryan Griffin was still on the roster. The Texans later drafted Kahale Warring in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft and released Griffin, but it was still a crowded tight end room.

Fells distinguished himself on the field with his work ethic and determination throughout offseason workouts and training camp.

“You can tell that’s why he’s having a great year because he stuck through it, he kept working and he has that faith that he’s going to continue to improve and strive to get better,” said Watson.

Now, the Texans will have at least two more years of Fells providing a reliable target for Watson. If Fells can continue to be a big red zone threat, Houston’s offense will retain yet another dangerous element.

3 free agent tight ends the Texans should consider signing

The Houston Texans have young tight ends on the roster, but availability has been an issue. Here are three tight ends the Texans need to think about.

The Houston Texans have three young tight ends on the roster in Jordan Akins, Jordan Thomas, and Kahale Warring. However, availability was an issue for Thomas, who missed 11 games for Houston, and Warring, who had his 2019 obliterated as he was placed on injured reserve before his rookie season began.

Houston was fortunate they signed Darren Fells to a one-year contract, and that he produced for the Texans’ passing game in 2019. However, they need to make decisions about their roster as free agency approaches. Here are three free agent tight ends the Texans need to consider when free agency opens up at 3:00 p.m. Central Time on March 18.

1. eric ebron

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(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

It isn’t just that he killed the Texans defense in 2018; it’s that in the same year he set the Indianapolis Colts’ franchise record for touchdown receptions by a tight end with 13. Even though Ebron is a Detroit Lions bust and he had a significant drop in production in 2019 with just three touchdowns, much of that can be attributed to the loss of Andrew Luck under center. Quarterback Deshaun Watson helped Fells catch a career-high seven touchdown passes ⁠— not bad for the 33-year-old. What could Watson do with Ebron?

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2019 Texans position review: Tight ends

The Houston Texans got nice production out of their tight end group in 2019 with Darren Fells and Jordan Akins leading the way.

The Houston Texans’ season is over. After finishing 10-6, they found themselves in the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs, only to lose a 24-0 lead to the Kansas City Chiefs, who moved on by winning in 51-31 fashion.

In recent years, the Texans have changed their tight end group mightily. In 2018, they took Jordan Akins and Jordan Thomas in the draft. They doubled-down on young tight ends in 2019, by selecting Kahale Warring in the third-round. Before then, Houston signed veteran Darren Fells in a presumed blocking/backup role.

Fells, 33, came aboard as a backup then enjoyed the best season of his career. The 6-7, 270-pound former basketball player became a favorite red-zone target for Deshaun Watson, catching a franchise-record (for tight ends) seven touchdowns. He recorded career highs in receptions (34) and receiving yards (341).

While Fells was a pleasant surprise in 2019, Akins developed into more of a complete tight end in year two. He blocked better, proved to be a dynamic threat after the catch and found himself as the No. 2 tight end in the offense.

Akins recorded 36 receptions for 418 yards and two touchdowns in 16 regular-season games.

As for the rest of the tight end group, Houston did not see much production from their young guns in Thomas and Warring. Both were placed on the injured reserve before the season; Thomas with broken ribs and Warring with concussion/hamstring injuries.

Thomas played five games and was largely a non-factor, hauling in one reception for eight yards. Warring did not play a snap and missed most of training camp.

Heading into 2020, the Texans have Akins, Thomas and Warring under contract. Fells will be a free agent after a career year in Houston. If he falls within the Texans’ price range, expect him back.

6 pending free agents Bears should keep eye on in Sunday’s divisional playoffs

With all eyes turned to the divisional playoffs, here are 6 pending free agents the Bears should keep an eye on Sunday.

The Chicago Bears haven’t played in the NFL divisional playoffs since 2011, which hurts more than usual given the lofty expectations surrounding the team before the season.

Free agency is just about two months away, and the Bears have plenty of decisions to make both in-house and on the open market. With multiple areas of need, free agency and the NFL Draft will be important for general manager Ryan Pace.

With all eyes turned to the divisional playoffs, here are 6 pending free agents the Bears should keep an eye on Sunday:

CB Bashaud Breeland

Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

Kansas City Chiefs

Cornerback is certainly a position of need for the Bears this offseason, which they’ll look to address either in free agency or the NFL Draft. Given the Bears can save $8 million in salary cap space if they cut veteran cornerback Prince Amukamara, he’s likely to be a cap casualty.

One option the Bears could turn to in free agency is Chiefs cornerback Bashaud Breeland, who had 48 total tackles, two interceptions and eight pass breakups in 2019. If Breeland, a talented player at an important position, hits the open market, the Bears would surely be interested — for the right price.

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7 player connections to Cardinals in Bills-Texans wild-card game

See who used to play for the Cardinals.

The Arizona Cardinals did not make it to the postseason but Arizona Cardinals fans can see a few former Cardinals players in the playoffs. The first playoff game of the weekend is between Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans. Between the two teams, there are seven former Cardinals.

Let’s check out who they are.

Bills LB Lorenzo Alexander

Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Alexander spent two seasons with the Cardinals in 2013-2014. He became a pretty good pass rusher when he got to Buffalo. He had 50 tackles and two sacks in 2019.

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