Tag: Houston Texans

Special teams unit trying to be a turning point for the Texans

The Houston Texans’ special teams unit is trying to be a turning point for the team in 2019. Though less flashy, they are putting in work to win.

The offense and defense may get the credit for a team’s success. However, a lack of competency on special teams can be the ultimate restraint. The Houston Texans employ that train of thought; it’s visible in their recent improvement since special teams coordinator Brad Seely’s arrival in 2018.

Under Seely, the Texans have elevated from 29th in Football Outsiders‘ special teams rankings in 2017 to seventh in both 2018 and 2019 (through Week 9). For long-time Texans long snapper Jon Weeks, that improvement comes via a group that puts their collective heads down and works.

“I think we have a great special teams unit. I think we have a lot of great guys that understand their role on the team,” Weeks told The Texans Wire Monday. “They work very hard to better themselves each day. I think that we understand that there is always room for improvement.”

From Weeks to kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn to punter Bryan Anger to returner DeAndre Carter, the goal is simple for the Texans’ “third-team”: be a turning point, and, subsequently, make plays.

“We can be a turning point for this team,” Weeks continued. “We can help this team with explosive plays, whether its kickoff or punt returns or just making a big tackle on our kickoff coverage.”

Under coach Bill O’Brien, the Texans have taken a Bill Belichick-like approach to their special teams. Their 53-man roster contains a handful of specialized special teamers; including running backs Buddy Howell, Taiwan Jones, linebackers Barkevious Mingo, Tyrell Adams, Peter Kalambayi and safety A.J. Moore.

There is one consistent in the Texans’ special teams unit: hard work. Like the defensive line’s “Lunch Pail Crew,” the group takes pride in constant improvement and grinding out the less-flashy snaps.

“We understand the group of guys in our locker room,” said Weeks. “We understand that we can be special. But, we also understand that we have to put the work in to do it. Which is why I think everyone has seen the improvement because we have a bunch of guys that are willing to come in every day and put in work and make sure we are getting the best out of each other.”

Moving forward, the special teamers of the Texans may not be the superstars you tune into on Sundays. However, without them, Houston may not boast their 6-3 record and current AFC South first-place ranking.

Texans WR Will Fuller, TE Jordan Thomas return to practice

On Monday, the Houston Texans saw wide receiver Will Fuller and tight end Jordan Thomas return to practice.

The Houston Texans’ Week 10 bye appears to be a gift. On Monday, the team saw wide receiver Will Fuller (hamstring) and tight end Jordan Thomas (ribs) return to practice, per multiple reports.

Fuller, who suffered a serious hamstring pull in Week 7’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts, was a possibility to return to the lineup heading into the bye. It appears as if he chances to play in Week 11’s highly-anticipated matchup with the Baltimore Ravens are rising.

In 2019, Fuller has 34 receptions for 450 yards and three touchdowns. The team will not issue a report on the details of his practice session. They will mark him as either full, limited or a non-participant on Wednesday.

Thomas has not played in 2019. A second-year tight end from Mississippi State, the 6-6, 278-pound 23-year-old entered training camp as the favorite to start. However, a ribs injury suffered in the preseason derailed that thought.

Houston placed Thomas on the injured reserve on Sept. 1. He has to be activated from designated to return. The Texans have two tight ends on the active roster, Darren Fells and Jordan Akins.

In 2018, Thomas notched four red zone touchdowns while racking up 20 receptions for 215 yards. His imminent return means yet another big-bodied target for Deshaun Watson to target in the red area.

4 Texans who have to step up after the bye

With the bye week done, the Houston Texans will rely on a few players to get to the playoffs, including Gareon Conley and Charles Omenihu.

The bye week is behind the Houston Texans. With a week of rest in the books, Harris County’s finest now have their eyes set on the playoffs, and potentially more. However, getting there won’t be easy.

With the Texans’ defense a shell of what it used to be, Houston has reverted to becoming an offensive team. While Deshaun Watson and Co. can put up points in bunches, the defense must have some sort of reliability to backup the dynamic offense. Therefore, there are four Texans who have to step-up after the bye, with an emphasis on defense.

1. CB Gareon Conley

3-texans-must-step-up-place-j-j-watt
(AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

With the offensive line no longer acting as Houston’s kryptonite, the cornerback room becomes a prime position group in-position. The Texans, before the trade deadline, addressed the issue by bringing in 24-year-old and former Raider Gareon Conley in via trade.

The Texans have seen better cornerback play in Conley in the mix. In his two weeks of defending opposers’ No. 1 wide-outs, he has allowed a 50% completion rate, 136 yards, a touchdown and a 93.7 passer rating, per Pro Football Reference — stark improvements from his days in Oakland.

Houston needs a true lock-down cornerback. That only gets emphasized considering their lack of pass-rush with J.J. Watt out for the year. Conley is their top-option to do so. Though they don’t need Darrelle Revis, he can’t be Kevin Johnson either.

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Texans long snapper Jon Weeks gives back on Veterans Day

Veterans Day is special to Houston Texans long snapper Jon Weeks, who makes a point on giving back to the military community.

On Veterans Day, the United States recognizes those who fought for their freedom. For Houston Texans long snapper Jon Weeks, it means more to him; it’s family.

Weeks, who grew up as a military brat, saw his father serve 15 years in the Air Force, remembers his grandfather’s fight in World War II and recognizes his close friend who serves. He — as someone who grew up in both New York and Arizona — understands the importance of the holiday; not just for veterans, but for families like his who made sacrifices.

“Veterans day is so important. Not only are we thanking the men and women who served currently and former,” Weeks told The Texans Wire Monday. “But you got to remember how much the family sacrificed.”

Weeks doesn’t just understand the importance of Veterans Day, he also gives back. Recently, he partnered with Carnival Cruise Line to give U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Joshua Woodard a free cruise out of Galveston. The Woodard’s were also invited to the Texans’ annual Salute to Service game on Nov. 21.

Weeks’ charitable efforts with Carnival goes further than Woodard’s family. The cruise line donated $25,000 to Operation Homefront to help the organization continue its mission of building strong, stable, and secure military families.

Last week, Weeks was given the Texans’ nomination for the NFL and USAA’s Salute to Service Award. He calls the recognition an honor, one that hits close to home.

“I’m truly blessed to even tie myself into what these men and women do for us on a daily basis. It’s a true honor. I don’t think there is enough I can say about how special it is, about how close to me it hits,” said Weeks. “It’s a huge honor and it’s a privilege. I feel very honored that I was selected.”

In his 10 years in Houston, Weeks and his wife, Amanda, have been a staple at almost every military event the Texans have hosted, including the annual Houston Texans Military BBQ, where the two participated in greeting and serving food to attendees.

“The military community is so special,” said Weeks.

Last Thanksgiving, Jon and Amanda volunteered to serve Thanksgiving lunch to over 200 veterans at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston. He will be back in 2019. He calls the opportunity to meet Houston’s military community as an “unbelievable experience.”

“It’s something I’m very passionate about,” said Weeks. “As long as the opportunities to give back are out there, I’m going to give back.”

For Weeks, 2019’s Veterans Day will be spent practicing with his teammates after the Texans’ Week 10 bye. However, he makes sure that he completes his annual tradition: calling his dad, thanking him for his service and his sacrifice to halt his career in order to bring stability to his family.

“Honestly, it’s just a call to my dad, thanking him for what he did, thanking him for his service,” said Weeks on his Veterans Day tradition.

Giving back on Veterans Day does not have to involve a checkbook. Rather, as Weeks states it, it is simply thanking those who served and striking a conversation with them.

“Find your closest veteran possible and just go visit,” said Weeks. “These veterans just love the opportunity to sit down, talk and have a conversation and just talk to people… Find your closest veteran possible and just go hang out with them.

“At the end of the day, I always say I don’t think people thank them enough but, as always, thank you for everything.”

Texans eager for imminent return of receiver Will Fuller

The Houston Texans could be receiving wide receiver Will Fuller back into the lineup again. Naturally, they are excited about that.

The Houston Texans have adjusted well to the absence of wide receiver Will Fuller. Since the speed merchant suffered a hamstring injury in Week 7, Houston has won back-to-back games, averaging 413 yards per in the process.

However, when Houston can get Fuller back, they will. Though oft-injured and prone to drops, his speed, chemistry with Deshaun Watson and route-running adds an extra dynamic to the offense.

“Having a healthy a Will Fuller is no question a positive for the Houston Texans. Helps everybody in the room. Helps the team,” said wide receivers coach John Perry on Nov. 5.

On the season, Fuller has recorded 34 receptions for 450 yards and three touchdowns. His 17 deep targets rank second in the NFL, per PlayerProfiler, despite the missed time while his average target distance of 15 yards sits at 12th.

“It’s just good for him,” Perry continued, “because he’s such a good person who’s worked so hard. You just hate to see guys be injured at all. We’re excited to get the opportunity to have him back in the second half of the year.”

Fuller’s hamstring injury suffered in Week 7’s loss was expected to sideline him for a few weeks. However, his time table to return did not warrant a placement on the injured reserve.

Houston has employed the help of Kenny Stills to fill-in for Fuller. In his two weeks in the starting lineup, Stills has eight receptions for 74 yards.

Houston’s Week 10 bye may have allowed Fuller the adequate time to return to the lineup. Before the team went mute for the week, coach Bill O’Brien alluded to him trending in the right direction for his return.

Whether or not Fuller does return for Week 11’s tilt with the Baltimore Ravens will be known throughout the week. The first indication of his availability will be Wednesday’s practice, followed by reports on Thursday and Friday.

AFC South recap: Texans watch Colts lose, Titans win

While the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars took a bye week, the Indianapolis Colts lost and the Tennessee Titans won in Week 10.

The AFC South was not at full-power in Week 10. Half of their division took a bye week, with the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars recovering after a Texans win in London. Nevertheless, the division continued to bring drama by way of the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans.

With the Titans picking up a win and the Colts losing, the official AFC South standings heading into Week 11 have the Texans on-top. Here are the standings:

AFC SOUTH
1 Houston Texans 6-3
2 Indianapolis Colts 5-4
3 Tennessee Titans 5-5
4 Jacksonville Jaguars 4-5

After the bye, Houston will face the 7-2 Ravens in Baltimore. The Jaguars will host the Colts.

Ryan Tannehill leads the Titans to a comeback win over the Kansas City Chiefs

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

His stats aren’t gaudy, his game isn’t flashy, but Ryan Tannehill is starting to establish himself as “the guy” in Nashville. In his third game as the starter, the former Texas A&M Aggie had his first signature win as the starting quarterback of the Tennessee Titans.

In a back and forth affair, Tennessee’s win over the Kansas City Chiefs — with Patrick Mahomes— got wild in the fourth quarter. Up by five with less than two minutes left, the Chiefs attempted a field goal. It wound up mismanaged, giving the Titans ideal field position to string together a win.

Tannehill drove his Titans down the field on a four-play, 61-yard drive that took 58 seconds off the clock. The last score came on a decisive 23-yard touchdown pass to slot receiver Adam Humphries. That score decided that Tennessee still has a fighting chance in the division.

The Titans will enjoy a bye week before facing the Jaguars in Week 12.

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Ravens-Texans odds: Baltimore favored over Houston in Week 11

The red-hot Baltimore Ravens are favored in their Week 11 matchup vs. the Houston Texans.

The Baltimore Ravens (7-2) host the Houston Texans (6-3) during Week 11’s NFL regular season Sunday, Nov. 17th, at 1:00 p.m. ET at M&T Bank Stadium. The game can be watched on CBS and the NFL’s Redzone. The Ravens enter as a moderate favorite, according to odds from BetMGM.

The Ravens (-223) are favored by 4.5 (-110) points against the spread (ATS) over the Texans. New to sports betting? With a spread of -4.5, that means the Ravens need to not only beat the Texans, but they need to win by at least five points for an ATS wager on them to cash.

Looking to place a bet on this game or others? Get some action in the game at BetMGM. Sign up and bet at BetMGM now!

Feeling a upset? A $10 wager on the Texans (+180) would pay $18.00 in profit should they win outright. Meanwhile, a $10 wager on the Ravens to win outright returns a profit of just $4.48.

The Over/Under on the Ravens/Texans game has been set at 49.5, with a -115 line on the Over and an -106 on the Under for this Week 11 NFL matchup.

Want to get some action on this game? Place a sports bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, access SportsbookWire.com.

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