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Davis Mills is a poor man's...

Number19 said:
We no longer have a "drastic" need for an edge rusher.
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Yes and no. The Texans aren't winning anything in 2022. So if they can't find an elite pass rusher in this draft, there's always next year.

That the Texans already have elite pass rushers is not based on anything that has been seen. Greenard had a solid sophomore season, but has hardly flashed elite ability. As far as Okoronkwo goes, slow your roll. Dude has 4.5 sacks in 3 years.
 
steelbtexan said:
At this point drafting the best players is the way to go. Luckily the strength of the draft is the OL/DL. Get those fixed with the early picks. Then there are going to be some good skill position guys available at the TE, Wr and RB spots in the 3rd/4th Rds. You can add a guy like wr Pearce and Dulcich in the 3rd and RB Pierce in the 4th.

These guys all would all be big upgrades.
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If Pierce makes it to our pick in the 3rd, I'd grab him quick. Unfortunately, I don't think he makes it out of the 2nd, and wouldn't be too surprised if a team doesn't grab him late in the 1st. Fortunately, there are still good options later.
 
vtech9 said:
If Pierce makes it to our pick in the 3rd, I'd grab him quick. Unfortunately, I don't think he makes it out of the 2nd, and wouldn't be too surprised if a team doesn't grab him late in the 1st. Fortunately, there are still good options later.
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It's a deep draft for WR and RB. Some quality players are going to be around in the 3rd and probably the 4th. Not elite guys but quality starters.
 
Lucky said:
Yes and no. The Texans aren't winning anything in 2022. So if they can't find an elite pass rusher in this draft, there's always next year.

That the Texans already have elite pass rushers is not based on anything that has been seen. Greenard had a solid sophomore season, but has hardly flashed elite ability. As far as Okoronkwo goes, slow your roll. Dude has 4.5 sacks in 3 years.
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I didn't say they were elite; I said the opposite, "while not elite".

Okoronkwo has had a limited role with the Rams, playing a standup OLB. He'll play with his hand on the ground in Lovie's defense:

Okoronkwo is another high-efficiency, low-volume pass rusher getting an opportunity to show what he can do in an expanded role. Okoronkwo’s 314 defensive snaps in 2021 marked a career high, as did his 75.3 PFF pass-rushing grade. He’s a versatile edge defender who has graded well against both the run and pass whenever he has been on the field. The only issue is that we’ve only seen it in a part-time role.
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Okoronkwo is expected to convert from outside linebacker to defensive end
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texanswire.usatoday.com

Texans may have scored underrated free agent signing with DE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo

The Houston Texans may have added an under the radar free agent with defensive end Ogbonnia Okoronkwo.
texanswire.usatoday.com texanswire.usatoday.com
 
michaelm said:
The main positive quality that I thought Mills displayed at the end of the season was composure.
He looked composed like a veteran with years under his belt.
Yes, he had bad plays. But I never got the feeling that the game was too fast for him.
And I rarely thought he was rattled by pressure.
I think he's a mentally tough kid. And to me, assuming a QB has physical talent, mental toughness is more than half the battle
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I watched a replay yesterday of the Pats-Buffalo game.

From what I saw I wouldn't trade Mills straight up for the Pats rookie qb.

Deer in the headlights several times.

:coffee:
 
Texansphan said:
Wasn't that his first NFL start? Against a bona fide contender with a monster D?
What's the old saying - "You're only as good as your last game"?
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In the cold wind and rain with inferior talent around him.

But yes, Mills was really bad that day. Most rookies have bad days, it's just the number of bad days they're able to limit that makes the difference. Now as Mills gains experience and the talent is put around him, the Texans become a playoff team, that's when Mills cant afford to have an off day for 4 playoff games if he's able to lead the Calhoun's to a championship.
 
steelbtexan said:
In the cold wind and rain with inferior talent around him.

But yes, Mills was really bad that day. Most rookies have bad days, it's just the number of bad days they're able to limit that makes the difference. Now as Mills gains experience and the talent is put around him, the Texans become a playoff team, that's when Mills cant afford to have an off day for 4 playoff games if he's able to lead the Calhoun's to a championship.
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Yeah he got thrown in the deep end that day.
To his credit, it didn't effect him adversely - he came back and improved.
 
Well, I'm in the camp that says Mills should be the starter this season. They don't need a QB in this draft, they need linemen of any flavor and some defensive backfield help. In fact, they need help at every position except QB this year. If Mills isn't going to cut it, then we get a QB next year. But I think Mills at worst is going to be a very good backup, one worth keeping around. And all the better if he proves himself to be the starter, which I think he can. We shall see.
 
Thorn said:
Well, I'm in the camp that says Mills should be the starter this season. They don't need a QB in this draft, they need linemen of any flavor and some defensive backfield help. In fact, they need help at every position except QB this year. If Mills isn't going to cut it, then we get a QB next year. But I think Mills at worst is going to be a very good backup, one worth keeping around. And all the better if he proves himself to be the starter, which I think he can. We shall see.
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Agreed. Give Mills the opportunity to succeed or fail as the starter. Worst case scenario the Texans have two first round picks and an opportunity to pick from what is projected to be a much better QB class.

After the Culley buyout i’m sure Cal is not going to be quick to fire Lovie if this season is a bust anyway.
 
TheRealJoker said:
.......Worst case scenario the Texans have two first round picks and an opportunity to pick from what is projected to be a much better QB class.
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Exactly. I could see them take a QB in a later round this year, teams often take flyers on QBs in late rounds. But I just don't see them taking a QB in the first four rounds, I just think that would be a waste of a draft pick when we have so many other needs.
 
Thorn said:
Exactly. I could see them take a QB in a later round this year, teams often take flyers on QBs in late rounds. But I just don't see them taking a QB in the first four rounds, I just think that would be a waste of a draft pick when we have so many other needs.
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Agreed. If they use a draft pick on a QB this year I want a dual threat that can be used in sub packages like EJ Perry. I don’t want to draft a clip board holder that isn’t beating out Kyle Allen and will be replaced next season if Mills fails by a shiny new 1st round QB prospect.
 
Thorn said:
Exactly. I could see them take a QB in a later round this year, teams often take flyers on QBs in late rounds. But I just don't see them taking a QB in the first four rounds, I just think that would be a waste of a draft pick when we have so many other needs.
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Coan/Perry are guys I would look at drafting.
 
TheRealJoker said:
Agreed. If they use a draft pick on a QB this year I want a dual threat that can be used in sub packages like EJ Perry. I don’t want to draft a clip board holder that isn’t beating out Kyle Allen and will be replaced next season if Mills fails by a shiny new 1st round QB prospect.
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The Texans have two picks in both the 3rd and 4th rounds this year, all of them fairly decent as far as the picking order goes for their rounds. They should be able to get some talent out of that.
 
Thorn said:
Well, I'm in the camp that says Mills should be the starter this season. They don't need a QB in this draft, they need linemen of any flavor and some defensive backfield help. In fact, they need help at every position except QB this year. If Mills isn't going to cut it, then we get a QB next year. But I think Mills at worst is going to be a very good backup, one worth keeping around. And all the better if he proves himself to be the starter, which I think he can. We shall see.
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Agree.
No point in bringing another rookie into the same sub par offense - he would also struggle and you are going to improve the offense anyway so why not use that draft pick on another brick in the Oline wall or another weapon for the QB you already have?
 
Josh Allen is always the test case recently. Look at the rookie qb who had better 1st year stats and play. 2 years later, there isn't 3 qbs you would trade Allen for. 1st year doesn't mean alot, its about who can be a true franchise qb vs qb of a franchise. Anytime your're picking that high and you don't have a franchise qb, you better be right. I remember at the end of the McNair days and his injury history, I thought they should draft Rodgers, they selected Pacman Jones. They were terrible because McNair had the injury issues and was pretty much done. The next year, the choices were Young,Cutler,and the USC qb. Well,we know how that worked out. Few years later, they took the interception prone qb train wreck Jake Locker. Then Mariotta, then traded for Tanneyhill. Moral of the story, you need that dude when you can get that dude.
 
leebigeztx said:
Josh Allen is always the test case recently. Look at the rookie qb who had better 1st year stats and play. 2 years later, there isn't 3 qbs you would trade Allen for. 1st year doesn't mean alot, its about who can be a true franchise qb vs qb of a franchise. Anytime your're picking that high and you don't have a franchise qb, you better be right. I remember at the end of the McNair days and his injury history, I thought they should draft Rodgers, they selected Pacman Jones. They were terrible because McNair had the injury issues and was pretty much done. The next year, the choices were Young,Cutler,and the USC qb. Well,we know how that worked out. Few years later, they took the interception prone qb train wreck Jake Locker. Then Mariotta, then traded for Tanneyhill. Moral of the story, you need that dude when you can get that dude.
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You need that dude on his rookie deal or the 1st two or three yrs of his 2nd deal. History says from the time you draft a QB you've got a 7-8 yr window until he's taking up so much of the cap the rest of the team isn't good enough to win a championship. At least it's been this way since 1994.
 
leebigeztx said:
Josh Allen is always the test case recently. Look at the rookie qb who had better 1st year stats and play. 2 years later, there isn't 3 qbs you would trade Allen for. 1st year doesn't mean alot, its about who can be a true franchise qb vs qb of a franchise. Anytime your're picking that high and you don't have a franchise qb, you better be right. I remember at the end of the McNair days and his injury history, I thought they should draft Rodgers, they selected Pacman Jones. They were terrible because McNair had the injury issues and was pretty much done. The next year, the choices were Young,Cutler,and the USC qb. Well,we know how that worked out. Few years later, they took the interception prone qb train wreck Jake Locker. Then Mariotta, then traded for Tanneyhill. Moral of the story, you need that dude when you can get that dude.
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Another moral of the story is it's not always greener on the other side of the fence.
Mills was not bad coming down the stretch and showed there might be something there.
If you want to be sure, then like a car running rough, you tune it up. In Mills' case you can also fix up the potholes in the team around him.
 
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Texansphan said:
Another moral of the story is it's not always greener on the other side of the fence.
Mills was not bad coming down the stretch and showed there might be something there.
If you want to be sure, then like a car running rough, you tune it up. In Mills' case you can also fix up the potholes in the team around him.



Mills case, you continue to work on his weaknesses and
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……and continue to build the offense around him. If Mills doesn’t take the next step in his development, at least the pieces will be in place for the next QB1 drafted to have his best chance at success.
 
steelbtexan said:
You need that dude on his rookie deal or the 1st two or three yrs of his 2nd deal. History says from the time you draft a QB you've got a 7-8 yr window until he's taking up so much of the cap the rest of the team isn't good enough to win a championship. At least it's been this way since 1994.
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What does your recent history tell you when you don't have that guy? Cross that bridge when you get there. If you don't have a qb worthy of a extension, you're going to get fired because you're going to consistently miss the playoffs. You have to be in position to even make moves with an ascending qb. Look at the Colts as an example. They have everything except a qb because Luck retired. They have a championship team roster wise but have had 5 qb's in 5 years. Remember how bad Baltimore looked with sb mvp Flacco? Then they inserted Jackson and the team was totally different. Remember how bad Goff looked before McVeigh entered the equation? This is a qb driven league over the last 12-15 years minimum. Again, the afc is as brutal as the nfc is the 80s and 90s. You can't hide or compensate for a qb who can't be a force multiplier. Everything isn't going to be perfect because of cap restrictions and teams who don't know how to manipulate it to bring in high quality players. The Rams are still signing guys despite having 50m dead money and a 40m qb.
 
Texansphan said:
Imagine how good he could have been if he had the kind of protection Brady always had...
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Part OL and 80% Brady being smart enough to put the ball in a dump off route, scramble a bit, throw it away or have a guy break free deep. Brady has football IQ and then some. So we can't really say much about the OL without taking his ability to read and capitalize on the D in not even a second
 
SnakeEyes said:
Part OL and 80% Brady being smart enough to put the ball in a dump off route, scramble a bit, throw it away or have a guy break free deep. Brady has football IQ and then some. So we can't really say much about the OL without taking his ability to read and capitalize on the D in not even a second
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Granted, he had his timing/cadence down to a fine art but I remember about ten years ago his oline sucked big time and he let his coaches know all about it - often, and it was no secret. They missed the playoffs that year iirc.
 
Texansphan said:
Granted, he had his timing/cadence down to a fine art but I remember about ten years ago his oline sucked big time and he let his coaches know all about it - often, and it was no secret. They missed the playoffs that year iirc.
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Brady has missed the playoffs 3 times in his 22 year career.

2000 - Brady is a rookie that plays in 1 game mopping up for Bledsoe.
2002 - Pats go 9-7 after 2001 Super Bowl season. Jets win AFC East in 3 way tiebreak with Dolphins and Pats.
2008 - Brady has season ending injury in 1st half of 1st game of the season.

That is absolutely nuts.
 
Lucky said:
Brady has missed the playoffs 3 times in his 22 year career.

2000 - Brady is a rookie that plays in 1 game mopping up for Bledsoe.
2002 - Pats go 9-7 after 2001 Super Bowl season. Jets win AFC East in 3 way tiebreak with Dolphins and Pats.
2008 - Brady has season ending injury in 1st half of 1st game of the season.

That is absolutely nuts.
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Right.
My memory ain't what it used to be but I do remember he had a big gripe with the team sometime around 10 years ago and I thought it involved the line.
 
Texansphan said:
Right.
My memory ain't what it used to be but I do remember he had a big gripe with the team sometime around 10 years ago and I thought it involved the line.
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It may have. Brady has shown his petulant side during some seasons. And still gone on to win the Super Bowl.
 
Lucky said:
It may have. Brady has shown his petulant side during some seasons. And still gone on to win the Super Bowl.
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I have tried to find an article about it without success.
There is little doubt that Brady is the main cog in the Patriots dynasty, but the organization itself with Belichek and Kraft at it's helm was/is a strong environment for a winning team formula and their Oline philosophy was a key component for Brady - keeping him upright and healthy allowed him great continuity and familiarization with it.
No doubt the same applies for any QB.
 
leebigeztx said:
What does your recent history tell you when you don't have that guy? Cross that bridge when you get there. If you don't have a qb worthy of a extension, you're going to get fired because you're going to consistently miss the playoffs. You have to be in position to even make moves with an ascending qb. Look at the Colts as an example. They have everything except a qb because Luck retired. They have a championship team roster wise but have had 5 qb's in 5 years. Remember how bad Baltimore looked with sb mvp Flacco? Then they inserted Jackson and the team was totally different. Remember how bad Goff looked before McVeigh entered the equation? This is a qb driven league over the last 12-15 years minimum. Again, the afc is as brutal as the nfc is the 80s and 90s. You can't hide or compensate for a qb who can't be a force multiplier. Everything isn't going to be perfect because of cap restrictions and teams who don't know how to manipulate it to bring in high quality players. The Rams are still signing guys despite having 50m dead money and a 40m qb.
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History tells me there's a 7-8 yr window when you get a QB. Unless your QB is willing to take less money.

Sorry but that's just the way the system is setup.
 
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