Tim Beck removed from offensive coordinator role, reassigned

Texas has relieved Tim Beck of his offensive coordinator role. He will remain on the staff, being reassigned to a different role on the team

After firing defensive coordinator Todd Orlando, more coaching changes were expected to be made. Those changes have now been made as Tim Beck has been relieved of his role as offensive coordinator according to Anwar Richardson of Orangebloods.com.

There were earlier reports that Beck would have the opportunity to keep his role as offensive coordinator until Texas’ bowl game and possibly keep it after that. Instead, Head Coach Tom Herman decided to make the move now, reassigning Beck to a non-offensive coordinator role on the team.

While the offense was not the issue that caused Texas to go 7-5 this year, it struggled in the second half of the season. After only throwing two interceptions in his first six games, quarterback Sam Ehlinger threw seven interceptions in the second half of the season. Texas ranked sixth in the Big 12 in rushing this year, relying on Ehlinger in most games.

Excluding the Texas Tech game, the Longhorns only averaged 17 points per game down the stretch. Going 1-3 in those games, when Texas’ offense did not play well, they struggled to win games.

Beck has been on the coaching staff since Herman took the head coach role in 2017. LSU’s Joe Brady and USC’s Graham Harrell are seen as the favorites to take over the position.

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Chris Carson remains the Seahawks starting running back

Despite the emergence of running back Rashaad Penny Week 12, Chris Carson remains the Seattle Seahawks starting running back for now.

Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson struggled last week against the Philadelphia Eagles while Rashaad Penny posted one of the better games of his career. But for now, it appears there is no starting running back controversy in Seattle.

“I mean, Chris is our guy,” offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said Friday. “We know that. He’s playing terrific football as well. But, like what happened last year some, each week, sometimes different guys step up. It happens that way in the passing game. Different receivers step up. Happened in the running game.

“Of course, we want to get Rashaad his touches, get him in the game – in terms of forcing it to happen, we’re not going to do that.”

Against the Eagles, Penny finished the day with 14 carries for 129 yards and a career-long, 58-yard touchdown run.

Penny’s off-season work paid off for both him and the Seahawks and Schottenheimer has noticed a real difference in the second-year running back.

“I think he feels better, I think he feels like his conditioning is better” Schottenheimer explained. “I think that’s part of the confidence of a young player. Hey, I feel better. I feel like I can do more. It’s cool to see him get rewarded for that when he goes out and performs the way that he did.”

So for now, Seattle will continue to utilize the one-two punch of Carson and Penny, playing whoever is hot at the time. The Seahawks running backs’ next chance to square off is Monday night against the Vikings in primetime.

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Texas may make coaching changes as soon as this weekend

Texas has had a disappointing season and that may come at a cost to some coaches. Texas is expected to make some changes to the staff soon.

This season has been a disappointing one for the Longhorns, currently sitting at 6-5. While much more was expected of this team, it has failed to produce victories, let alone compete for a conference championship. Because of that, some changes may be made after the season finale.

According to Anwar Richardson of OrangeBloods.com, Texas could be making changes to the coaching staff as early as this weekend, no matter what happens in Friday’s game against Texas Tech.

While it seems like Head Coach Tom Herman is safe, members of his staff are in danger. Offensive coordinator Tim Beck and defensive coordinator Todd Orlando have taken a lot of heat the past few weeks for the Longhorns’ performances.

While both coaches have stated that they are not worried about their future, their time may be coming to an end in Austin.

With the regular season ending on Friday, Texas must figure out their coaching situation as soon as possible. Since the early signing day for recruiting is on Dec. 18, Texas must have it all worked out by then.

First and foremost, Texas must focus on Texas Tech to finish their season out on a positive note. They will face the Red Raiders at 11:00 a.m. CST on Fox.

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WATCH: Bills OC Brian Daboll gave fans a ride from game

Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll orchestrated the sweetest drive of Buffalo’s 8-3 season off the field following Sunday’s 20-3 win versus the Broncos (3-8).

Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll orchestrated the sweetest drive of Buffalo’s 8-3 season off the field following Sunday’s 20-3 win versus the Broncos (3-8).

The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reported this feel-good family story Wednesday ahead of the AFC East second-place team’s trip to Dallas to face the Cowboys on Thanksgiving.

Racheal Hall takes her 12-year-old son Ethan to a Bills game every year. Hall’s cousin Mike Bonefede is a 10-year season ticket holder and the group was heading New Era Field Sunday when Bonefede’s truck broke down. A mere four miles from the stadium, the five-person group Ubered the rest of the way in.

But after the Bills beat Denver, surcharge pricing pushed the cost of a trip all the way home to nearly $300. The group decided to begin walking away from the stadium with the hopes that distance and time away from the just-finished game would lead to more affordable pricing.

During the walk, Bonefede recognized a man in traffic with his window rolled down as the man in charge of the Bills offensive play calling, Daboll himself. Mike struck up a conversation which led to the offensive coordinator offering to drive the group to a nearby Tim Horton’s where they would be able to wait for an Uber the rest of the way.

Hall told the Democrat and Chronicle that she believed her cousin was simply friends with the kind driver and was discussing the game unknowingly, even referencing her son’s wish for his fantasy WR John Brown to catch a pass coming true. Eventually, Hall asked Daboll how he knew Bonefede and learned the truth: the group lucked into a ride from the game for free thanks to their team’s OC.

Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll gives fans a ride from game (Bills Wire)

Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll orchestrated the sweetest drive of Buffalo’s 8-3 season off the field following Sunday’s 20-3 win versus the Broncos (3-8).

Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll orchestrated the sweetest drive of Buffalo’s 8-3 season off the field following Sunday’s 20-3 win versus the Broncos (3-8).

Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll gives fans a ride from game

Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll orchestrated the sweetest drive of Buffalo’s 8-3 season off the field following Sunday’s 20-3 win versus the Broncos (3-8).

Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll orchestrated the sweetest drive of Buffalo’s 8-3 season off the field following Sunday’s 20-3 win versus the Broncos (3-8).

Seahawks still committed to getting Rashaad Penny going

The Seattle Seahawks are still hoping to get some value out of Rashaad Penny in the final few weeks of the 2019 season.

It’s clear the Seattle Seahawks have not utilized 2018 first round draft pick Rashaad Penny nearly as often as expected.

Penny was a monster at San Diego State, and was selected with the intention that he would either become the full-fledged starter in Seattle, or would at least form a formidable running back tandem alongside Chris Carson.

Instead, Carson has retained his status as the team’s bell-cow, while Penny has been relegated to straight backup duty, only handling the ball six times in his last two games combined.

While the team is down on Penny’s performance as of late – he was benched after fumbling against San Francisco and never returned – there is still hope that he will get more involved down the stretch, and that he will play well.

“For us to go where we want to go, I think Rashaad will help us win games and he’s chomping at the bit,” offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer commented on Thursday. “We just don’t ever plan exactly how it’s going to play out. Chris [Carson] has been playing so good right now but, when Rashaad get his chances, I think he’ll play well.”

Penny has just 36 rushing attempts on the season (about five per game) and has rushed for 167 yards and a touchdown, while also hauling in three receptions for 34 yards.

Those numbers pale in comparison to what Carson has done, and even with the fumbling issue it is clear he is – and should be – the preferred option in Seattle.

“We’re really pleased with what Chris is doing,” Schottenheimer continued. “He’s playing really, really well. You guys know the way we are, and the way we want to get multiple backs involved.”

The Seahawks are set to take on the Eagles in Philadelphia on Sunday morning, and all signs point once again to Carson handling the vast majority of duty in the backfield.

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Seahawks addressing mounting ball security concerns

After logging five fumbles and an interception against the 49ers, the Seattle Seahawks need to re-focus on protecting the football.

The Seahawks were able to narrowly escape the 49ers in Week 10 despite major issues in protecting the football. Against San Francisco, Seattle fumbled five times – including three for losses – and quarterback Russell Wilson threw an interception.

Well into the second half of the regular season, ball security remains a major point of emphasis for Seahawks’ offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.

“We continue to address it, do some ball security circuits and things like that,” Schottenheimer said Thursday. “The thing we talk about with our guys – the fundamentals, we’ll continue to drill that – there’s also a philosophy.”

Schottenheimer explained there is a fine line, however, between protecting the ball and playing to win. He used running back Chris Carson as a prime example.

“We don’t want them to lose their competitiveness – that’s the way Chris runs, he runs competitive – but they’ve got to understand that there’s nothing more important than the ball,” Schottenheimer said. “We talked a little bit about that this week, our guys get it. They’re aware that we need to do it better, they can do it better, and we expect that we’ll start that this week.”

But to keep a playoff berth a realistic goal, the Seahawks will need to do more than just “start that this week” – they’ll need to prove it won’t be a major issue going forward in the homestretch of the season.

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Texans OC Tim Kelly says Bill O’Brien taught him everything he knows about evaluating talent

Houston Texans first-year offensive coordinator Tim Kelly says that coach Bill O’Brien schooled him on every aspect of talent evaluation.

Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien has his team atop the AFC South (6-3) and is one of the best teams in the conference.

Part of the secret sauce has come from the crucial and unexpected trades O’Brien influenced from Aug. 8 onward. While he’s taking criticism for some of his roster decisions — trading Jadeveon Clowney to Seattle for Jacob Martin, Barkevious Mingo, and a thrid-round pick — his roster additions have worked in Houston’s favor.

Trades for running backs Duke Johnson and Carlos Hyde along with left tackle Laremy Tunsil have the Texans as the fifth-ranked rushing offense.

Receiver Kenny Stills has been tremendous in his role with the offense, and the midseason move for cornerback Gareon Conley along with the waiver claim for former first-round cornerback Vernon Hargreaves show that the Texans are committed to boosting the talent at positions that needed it.

Offensive coordinator Tim Kelly has taken notes.

“All I know is that as far as with him and personnel, he’s taught me everything I know about evaluating talent,” Kelly told reporters Thursday.

What O’Brien has taught everyone through the first 11 weeks of the season is that the club doesn’t believe they’re out of it, and they will constantly churn their roster.

Being a coach in the NFL comes with the criticism, whether justifiable or not, and a coach is only as good as the next win or bad as the next loss. O’Brien has been a hot seat nominee, but his personnel moves have made the Texans a hot ticket.