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[Pick 67] Davis Mills QB Stanford

steelbtexan said:
Then the rains came.

My question is, Mills seems to start off hot in most games, then his performance falls off pretty badly in the 2nd half. Is this because Kelly can game plan the beginning of the games but cant make 2nd half adjustments? Or is this on Mills?

The reason I ask this is remember the slow starts the offense used to hae under BOB with Kelly running the offense?
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The defense made adjustments and Kelly knowing Mill's limitations stuck with that particular game plan. Clearly they doesn't want to put too much on the youngsters plate. And we all know the running game is inept. What more can they do at this point.

This is why they were hoping TT would bring that veteran experience and Mills could've watched and learned. Unfortunately that's not happening right. Lol

Man this team just can't catch a break.
 
Texansballer74 said:
The defense made adjustments and Kelly knowing Mill's limitations stuck with that particular game plan. Clearly they doesn't want to put too much on the youngsters plate. And we all know the running game is inept. What more can they do at this point.

This is why they were hoping TT would bring that veteran experience and Mills could've watched and learned. Unfortunately that's not happening right. Lol

Man this team just can't catch a break.
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My mindset has always been learning on the field is the best way to learn.

With that said, I didn't want Derrick playing his rookie yr behind that OL becauseI thought he would get hurt. For some reason I dont think Mills is going to get hurt and this OL is equally as bad as the OL Derrick played behind. IMHO
 
Let me get this right, we’re still arguing if Mills was worth a third rd. pick coming off Deshaun refusal to play another down for Texans and only career back-up QB on 2021 roster?

Texans just handed Jag’s a butt kicking and first overall pick in the 2022 draft, that cannot be understated. Meaning Mills or whoever is the Texans starting QB next season will have Adien Hutchinson up his ass when facing Jags.

Selecting #1 overall isn’t everything though, take look at Trevor Lawerence 73.4 QB rating against the Texans last weekend vs a 3rd rounder, Mills 92.2 QB rating, on the road, in pouring rain.
 
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Speedy said:
So if I talk about a portion of a game, that’s fine, but the whole 60 minutes is moving the goal posts? Gotcha.
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Well yes. If I respond to a comment and then you come back with an expanded comment, that's moving the goal posts and requires further response.

What appears to be the case in recent games is that the offense start the game effectively moving the ball, but once the opposing team makes adjustments, we do not effectively respond. Our offense is shut down. Can Mills perform better under these circumstances? Sure. But he's a rookie still learning. I obviously cut him more slack.
 
beerlover said:
Let me get this right, we’re still arguing if Mills was worth a third rd. pick coming of Deshaun refusal to play another down for Texans and only career back-up QB on 2021 roster?

Texans just handed Jag’s a butt kicking and first overall pick in the 2022 draft, that cannot be understated. Meaning Mills or whoever is the Texans starting QB next season will have Adien Hutchinson up his ass when facing Jags.

Selecting #1 overall isn’t everything though, take look at Trevor Lawerence 73.4 QB rating against the Texans last weekend vs a 3rd rounder, Mills 92.2 QB rating, on the road, in pouring rain.
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If the Jags beat the Texans they still get one of Thibodeaux, Hutchinson or Stingley. They have been getting top 5-10 picks for the past decade. Just part of being one of the worst franchises in the NFL.

Can’t get upset at the Texans for beating a team that is worse than them. It’s to be expected and Texans are going to be in position to add a difference maker whether they are picking #1 or 3 or 5.
 
steelbtexan said:
You should be comparing him to the other rookie QB's.

And like I said rating systems lie. For instance do they take into account the putrid running game Mills is working with?
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I am. But not with stats which mean nothing right now. I’d still take Trevor Lawrence over Mills if the draft was redone today.

If Lawrence were here, I doubt Culley would handcuff him as much as Mills has been.
 
thunderkyss said:
I am. But not with stats which mean nothing right now. I’d still take Trevor Lawrence over Mills if the draft was redone today.

If Lawrence were here, I doubt Culley would handcuff him as much as Mills has been.
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I wouldn't,

More Clemson trash.

Talented, maybe Lawrence can learn. But I've always thought he was overrated. Good QB but not a great QB. Kinda like every other Clemson QB. Dabo doesn't do his QB's any favors when it comes to preparing them for the NFL. I hate Klubik went to Clemson. Dabo will probably make him an avg QB too. Dabo doesn't teach his QB's a darned thing. Choices guys you make in life.
 
Number19 said:
Well yes. If I respond to a comment and then you come back with an expanded comment, that's moving the goal posts and requires further response.

What appears to be the case in recent games is that the offense start the game effectively moving the ball, but once the opposing team makes adjustments, we do not effectively respond. Our offense is shut down. Can Mills perform better under these circumstances? Sure. But he's a rookie still learning. I obviously cut him more slack.
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And I initially responded to Mills being the replacement for Watson. How it got to a portion of a game to base that on, I don’t know.

But it doesn’t change the fact that even in those stretches of 13-15, there’s not a whole lot of difference. Adjustments shmajustments, they still aren’t moving the ball much and still aren’t moving the chains.

Constantly needing 15 play drives to get downfield isn’t going to be very successful for you. It’s nice when one comes together like the 1st drive last week, but then they had 3 1st downs on the next 4 possessions, because those double digit play drives can’t be sustained. Too many things to go wrong when you constantly need that many plays. Especially without a run game. You’ve got to get the ball downfield, get chunk plays, and they don’t do that.
 
thunderkyss said:
If we cross midfield against the Chargers I’ll be impressed.
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I'm looking forward to the game. With this Covid mess, we'll have to see how the new rules work. I just heard last night something like 29 Browns were out and someone who had never taken a snap was lined up behind center.
 
thunderkyss said:
If we cross midfield against the Chargers I’ll be impressed.
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Nobody knows Chargers w/Herbert better than Pep & Campen. Should help make this a better game than most would expect. Would not surprise me if Mills QB rating = Herbert. Bosa out only plus pass rusher, and Chargers D terrible against the run.
 
beerlover said:
Nobody knows Chargers w/Herbert better than Pep & Campen. Should help make this a better game than most would expect. Would not surprise me if Mills QB rating = Herbert. Bosa out only plus pass rusher, and Chargers D terrible against the run.
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So it's going to be a game of a team that can't run the ball vs a team that can't stop the run. Should be interesting.

Looking forward to going to the game with you.
 
Speedy said:
True to an extent, but throwing a ton of passes less than 10 yards that helps you to have a high competition percentage is still not telling you a lot. Not where I can look it up at the moment, but I’ll go out on a limb and say their QBRs are down there with Mills, meaning they aren’t having much impact, just like Mills isn’t. And I’ve also said it’s not like 1st rounders don’t bust.



Not holding anyone to any standards. But even if I were it’s still better than the excuses being made for him. He’s inexperienced. He’s a 3rd round rookie, blah, blah, blah. If he were putting up numbers say a 3rd rounder like Russell Wilson put up as a rookie, then we could talk. Hell, he’s not putting up numbers 4th rounder Dak Prescott did his rookie season.

If that’s holding him to standards then so be it. But those are the standards I want my QB to aspire to. Not that he’s less crappy than the crap of Lawrence, Wilson, or Fields.
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You're all over the place & are comparing apples to oranges. Circumstances matter whether you want to acknowledge them or not. Wilson & Dak came into infinitely better situations than Mills & as such you can't compare what they did as 3rd round rookies to Mills off of that alone. So pointing out the obvious things aren't excuses its just the reality of what this kid has had to deal with.

Furthermore, i think we all have the same standards we want Mills to aspire to...but trying to hold him to that right out of the gate in this cluster*&%# of a situation he landed in? unrealistic. As best u can, you gotta grade him on a curve.
 
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Mr teX said:
You're all over the place & are comparing apples to oranges. Circumstances matter whether you want to acknowledge them or not. Wilson & Dak came into infinitely better situations than Mills & as such you can't compare what they did as 3rd round rookies to Mills off of that alone. So pointing out the obvious things aren't excuses its just the reality of what this kid has had to deal with.

Furthermore, i think we all have the same standards we want Mills to aspire to...but trying to hold him to that right out of the gate in this cluster*&%# of a situation he landed in? unrealistic. As best upi can, you gotta grade him on a curve.
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Fair points. I think everyone agrees Mills came into a tough situation. However, the point of contention seems to be how much of a curve do you grade him on? For example, in the first half, he completes 95% of his passes and then struggles to complete 45% in the 3rd quarter. Yet, you will read posts that he played a great game. You cannot grade on a curve and say he played a good game if his offense is barely crossing midfield or getting two first downs in a quarter or he is going through stretches where he completes less than 50% of his passes.

I think we want to get Watson in the rearview mirror as soon as possible and want a reason to hope that Mills is the answer. However, grading on the curve can quickly turn to overcompensating or wearing blinders. Just ask Shallow Hal.
 
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thunderkyss said:
I am. But not with stats which mean nothing right now. I’d still take Trevor Lawrence over Mills if the draft was redone today.

If Lawrence were here, I doubt Culley would handcuff him as much as Mills has been.
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I have the opposite opinion. I didn't like Trevor before the draft and I still don't think he lives up to anywhere close to his draft position.

Mills is looking pretty darn good to me for a rookie, project QB. I think he has a high ceiling.
 
Earl34 said:
Fair points. I think everyone agrees Mills came into a tough situation. However, the point of contention seems to be how much of a curve do you grade him on? For example, in the first half, he completes 95% of his passes and then struggles to complete 45% in the 3rd quarter. Yet, you will read posts that he played a great game. You cannot grade on a curve and say he played a good game if his offense is barely crossing midfield or getting two first downs in a quarter or he is going through stretches where he is not completing less than 50% of his passes.

I think we want to get Watson in the rearview mirror as soon as possible and want a reason to hope that Mills is the answer. However, grading on the curve can quickly turn to overcompensating or wearing blinders. Just ask Shallow Hal.
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Very much agreed here. In my estimation he hasn’t played a good game yet…he’s just more or less has gradually learned to not be the reasons they lose…most of the time. He’s had a drive or 2 every game where he has looked pretty good, but overall, he’s not making enough plays & good throws that extend drives.

But in fairness to him, the talent around him continually puts him in 3rd and long situations with bad penalties. So it goes both ways.
 
Mr teX said:
Very much agreed here. In my estimation he hasn’t played a good game yet…he’s just more or less has gradually learned to not be the reasons they lose…most of the time. He’s had a drive or 2 every game where he has looked pretty good, but overall, he’s not making enough plays & good throws that extend drives.

But in fairness to him, the talent around him continually puts him in 3rd and long situations with bad penalties. So it goes both ways.
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I think he is a little better than that.
Non-existent run game and very lousy pass protection are big factors. He's definitely raw, but has really flashed some potential. Isn't he comparing really well with other rookie QB's?
 
Hardcore Texan said:
Mills is looking pretty darn good to me for a rookie, project QB. I think he has a high ceiling.
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If Mills is going to be anything in this league it will be because he’s smart & can pick apart defenses. He hasn’t shown that ability to me.

Trevor has exceptional athletic ability & can grow into someone who can breakdown defenses with his ability to scramble & run.

I prefer a pocket passer who can buy time. But if I had to choose right now I’m going with Lawrence.

I can’t wait to see Mills when they Olsen the reigns. Might change my mind then.
 
Hardcore Texan said:
I think he is a little better than that.
Non-existent run game and very lousy pass protection are big factors. He's definitely raw, but has really flashed some potential. Isn't he comparing really well with other rookie QB's?
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Every young qb in the league can flash potential for 1, 2 drives or even a quarter of a game. Saying Mills is "a little better than that" says that he's putting together halves of games where he's flashing more than looking like a deer in the headlights. & he's really only done that once in my estimation...The Pats game.

The team around him ain't doing him no favors, but he's not exactly doing himself a whole lot either. The best thing he does right now is not lose us games.
 
Speedy said:
And I initially responded to Mills being the replacement for Watson. How it got to a portion of a game to base that on, I don’t know.

But it doesn’t change the fact that even in those stretches of 13-15, there’s not a whole lot of difference. Adjustments shmajustments, they still aren’t moving the ball much and still aren’t moving the chains.

Constantly needing 15 play drives to get downfield isn’t going to be very successful for you. It’s nice when one comes together like the 1st drive last week, but then they had 3 1st downs on the next 4 possessions, because those double digit play drives can’t be sustained. Too many things to go wrong when you constantly need that many plays. Especially without a run game. You’ve got to get the ball downfield, get chunk plays, and they don’t do that.
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Looking at Mills game, got to ask myself, how many 2 yd per carry run plays help the QB to move the chains?
 
TheRealJoker said:
If the Jags beat the Texans they still get one of Thibodeaux, Hutchinson or Stingley. They have been getting top 5-10 picks for the past decade. Just part of being one of the worst franchises in the NFL.

Can’t get upset at the Texans for beating a team that is worse than them. It’s to be expected and Texans are going to be in position to add a difference maker whether they are picking #1 or 3 or 5.
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usually teams kill to move up

I’m all about getting best player

sure Texans can bank any pick

that’s half beauty of draft

ugly half are those who swing and miss

Texans have nailed three

All no longer or about to be no longer Texans so in the end, hasn’t mattered regardless, sad but true
:hankpalm:
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
Looking at Mills game, got to ask myself, how many 2 yd per carry run plays help the QB to move the chains?
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Fair question, but if people are going to say that's holding him back, and in the next breath say he's playing better than Lawrence or Wilson and not acknowledge those team's woes maybe holding them back, then that doesn't make a lot of sense.

2 yard carries, play calling, o-line, no playmakers, rookie, 3rd round, inexperience ... a lot of excuses there.
 
Speedy said:
Fair question, but if people are going to say that's holding him back, and in the next breath say he's playing better than Lawrence or Wilson and not acknowledge those team's woes maybe holding them back, then that doesn't make a lot of sense.

2 yard carries, play calling, o-line, no playmakers, rookie, 3rd round, inexperience ... a lot of excuses there.
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I'm saying a lack of a running game is holding all of the young QB's back. I'm also saying Mills has the worst running game of them all and 1 of the worst I've seen.

It's hard to have those sustained drives that we all want when you struggle to run the ball. Good news is this is an easy fix that I expect Caserio to rectify this offseason.
 
Speedy said:
Fair question, but if people are going to say that's holding him back, and in the next breath say he's playing better than Lawrence or Wilson and not acknowledge those team's woes maybe holding them back, then that doesn't make a lot of sense.
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I wasn't comparing Mills to Lawrence.

Speedy said:
2 yard carries, play calling, o-line, no playmakers, rookie, 3rd round, inexperience ... a lot of excuses there.
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Or a lot of legitimate reasons.
 
TexansBull said:
I had to scroll way too far down for someone to say that having no running backs that can muster more than 2 yards a carry affects Mills.
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This game can be funny/weird sometimes.

Mills wasn't hurt by the running game when it mattered the most against the Jags.

The Jags RB only outgained the Texans' by 3 yards (76 to 73), but the Texans and Mills were bailed out in the first drive by a crucial penalty by the Jags.
On another occasion, Cooks took it to the house on 3rd and 9.
The Texans were able to convert on third and short 3 times as opposed to none by the Jags.
On a couple other occasions, Mills get the chance to pat his stats before they punt the ball away, no biggie.
And Fairbarn was money outside 50yd.
 
beerlover said:
3rd rounders and beyond should be immune from unrealistic expectations.
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You mean the unrealistic expectations of saying the Texans have found Watson's replacement?

And expectations aside, I'm simply commenting on what has transpired on the football field. And that is, Mills is QB of the worst offense in football, and though there's all kinds of reasons why it is the worst, Mills seems immune from playing any part in it. Talk about unrealistic.

CloakNNNdagger said:
Mills has not one-handedly lost any game. It always falls on Mills as A contributing factor, not necessarily THE factor............the other "excuses" or "legitimate reasons." should always be factored in.
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Don't disagree with that, but he hasn't one-handedly won any game either. Of course Mills isn't THE reason. But I don't see too many around here even admitting that he is A contributing factor. It's always something else.
 
76Texan said:
This game can be funny/weird sometimes.

Mills wasn't hurt by the running game when it mattered the most against the Jags.

The Jags RB only outgained the Texans' by 3 yards (76 to 73), but the Texans and Mills were bailed out in the first drive by a crucial penalty by the Jags.
On another occasion, Cooks took it to the house on 3rd and 9.
The Texans were able to convert on third and short 3 times as opposed to none by the Jags.
On a couple other occasions, Mills get the chance to pat his stats before they punt the ball away, no biggie.
And Fairbarn was money outside 50yd.
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Texans don’t have a running game. That’s a fact. QBs are aided and hurt by having or not having a running game. That too is a fact.

Mills, or any QB for that matter, play is hurt in the absence of a running game.
 
TexansBull said:
To me this is the most concerning. I haven’t seen anything that would make me say he could be clutch, lead the team to win from behind, or anything of that nature.
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Agreed. With what has transpired on the field, no, we haven't seen that.

That said, and has hard as I've been on him, it doesn't mean he can't continue learning and maybe something clicks, or the factors around him get better, or any number of things that could positively work in his favor, but through 8 starts, there's not a lot there, with him or his team.
 
Speedy said:
You mean the unrealistic expectations of saying the Texans have found Watson's replacement?

And expectations aside, I'm simply commenting on what has transpired on the football field. And that is, Mills is QB of the worst offense in football, and though there's all kinds of reasons why it is the worst, Mills seems immune from playing any part in it. Talk about unrealistic.



Don't disagree with that, but he hasn't one-handedly won any game either. Of course Mills isn't THE reason. But I don't see too many around here even admitting that he is A contributing factor. It's always something else.
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Realitic expectations for me was they were going to win 4 games. I missed on the Tacks game.
 
Speedy said:
Agreed. With what has transpired on the field, no, we haven't seen that.

That said, and has hard as I've been on him, it doesn't mean he can't continue learning and maybe something clicks, or the factors around him get better, or any number of things that could positively work in his favor, but through 8 starts, there's not a lot there, with him or his team.
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There must not be alot with any of these young QB's according to your way of thinking.
 
I don't think the argument is about Mills anymore. As is often the case, it's about who is most right and who is most wrong about a player...subjectively, of course.

From all that I have read and heard about Mills, he has played well enough for the Texans to focus on other positions early in the draft. Because of what it looks like in college football this year, with there not being that "generational" quarterback prospect, and the Texans having huge needs elsewhere, every Texans fan should (I would think) be happy that Mills has at least looked capable of growing into (if he hasn't already) an inexpensive stop-gap QB while the Texans target players at other positions.
 
banned1976 said:
I don't think the argument is about Mills anymore. As is often the case, it's about who is most right and who is most wrong about a player...subjectively, of course.

From all that I have read and heard about Mills, he has played well enough for the Texans to focus on other positions early in the draft. Because of what it looks like in college football this year, with there not being that "generational" quarterback prospect, and the Texans having huge needs elsewhere, every Texans fan should (I would think) be happy that Mills has at least looked capable of growing into (if he hasn't already) an inexpensive stop-gap QB while the Texans target players at other positions.
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Well, no, he hasn’t really played well enough but the Texans do need to focus on other things before going after a QB. Especially this year if you believe how bad the class supposedly is.
 
banned1976 said:
I don't think the argument is about Mills anymore. As is often the case, it's about who is most right and who is most wrong about a player...subjectively, of course.

From all that I have read and heard about Mills, he has played well enough for the Texans to focus on other positions early in the draft. Because of what it looks like in college football this year, with there not being that "generational" quarterback prospect, and the Texans having huge needs elsewhere, every Texans fan should (I would think) be happy that Mills has at least looked capable of growing into (if he hasn't already) an inexpensive stop-gap QB while the Texans target players at other positions.
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I agree with this post
 
banned1976 said:
I don't think the argument is about Mills anymore. As is often the case, it's about who is most right and who is most wrong about a player...subjectively, of course.

From all that I have read and heard about Mills, he has played well enough for the Texans to focus on other positions early in the draft. Because of what it looks like in college football this year, with there not being that "generational" quarterback prospect, and the Texans having huge needs elsewhere, every Texans fan should (I would think) be happy that Mills has at least looked capable of growing into (if he hasn't already) an inexpensive stop-gap QB while the Texans target players at other positions.
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Not really, some have seen potential and want to see how Mills looks with better talent around him. They realize he's got areas to improve. Mr. Tex has been the most even keeled in his analysis of all posters. IMHO

Others have made up their minds and don't think that Mills can improve or that his ceiling isn't very high. I disagree with this line of thinking. But time will tell, there's been a lot of guys come through the NFL with talent that didn't reach their ceilings.
 
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