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Should Mills be given the reins next season?

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
People always bring up Brees and for good reason. Brees was a 2nd rd pick who did struggle until year 3. By that time, they were in position to draft #1. We have to remember this was before the rookie wage scale also. Happenstance and circumstance and gets with a coach who accented his strengths. Who knows how he would've turned out if he would've went to Miami under Saban. That was also a different nfl with roster turnover. I guess we will see,but just like Chargers didn't pass a franchise caliber qb in Rivers even though they had Brees, I hope if given the opportunity the Texans don't pass either.
Well Brees did hurt his shoulder playing in the pro bowl before signing with the Saints.
 

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
Unless you want to ruin that QB, yes.

Troy Aikman to Dallas
Peyton Manning to Indy

Who else has put a rookie QB on a bad team & won?


Russell Wilson to Seattlle ?

Josh Allen to Buffalo
Joe Burrow to Cincinnati

so far so good. But their QBs get so beat up, have they really built anything? We’ll see where they’re at in 2022.
So you believe Mills is ruined?
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
So, what's your alternative to Mills in your scenario?
A veteran who has already proven to not be a franchise QB?
They did that with Taylor.
I definitely wouldn’t be looking for a franchise QB if I haven’t been able to start the same 5 OL more than 4 weeks in a row. When was the last time we started the same 4 of 5 for 4 weeks in a row?
 

Dejaview

All Pro
I definitely wouldn’t be looking for a franchise QB if I haven’t been able to start the same 5 OL more than 4 weeks in a row. When was the last time we started the same 4 of 5 for 4 weeks in a row?
First off you choose a franchise QB anytime you get that chance. Second, I guess to make your argument, you are equating choosing DM in the third round was the Texan’s plan to get their franchise QB. No it wasn’t. They felt that he was the best value pick for them in that round. That is all. Third, they needed to add a QB to the room and they already had one retread, why add another. Fourth, DM showed enough upside to be considered the starter this year. That is all. Nobody has put a franchise tag on him but paradoxically by his work this kick the tires QB prospect has actually freed up the Texans to begin building the team from the ground up, as you want it, in a year when they had REAL draft picks to do so and in a year with no obvious franchise QB to tempt them to consider. So what a gift he had become to help make this draft more efficient. Nothing has changed in your plan. Why the butt hurt unless you think instead some 2021 third round guard or tackle was going to be our future possible cornerstone. I’d like to ask who you would have in mind but that would be after the fact. IMO whether not DM becomes our franchise QB he has already moved this team forward in the rebuild far more than any other possible third rounder would have done so.
 
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Texansphan

Football connoisseur
When fans start looking at their schedule & say, “They got Davis Mills, we’ll probably lose that one.”
So you are suggesting a top 5 type QB? Like a Rothlisberger, Brees, Rogers, Manning, Brady, etc?
Gotta get lucky to have one of those.
Easier to build a good team to help out a lesser type guy or build your team around a reasonable QB to help him out and play to his strengths until a top tier guy comes along. Even Flacco won a ring (among others) and he was not top tier - just had a top tier D and decent O to help him out.
2012 Texans were competitive with Schaub because we had an elite D and decent O.
 

DocBar

Hall of Fame
Contributor's Club
I'm telling you exactly why I don't like it. I wouldn't start my rebuild with a QB. It's simple. & has nothing to do with Mills. His name could be Aaron Rodgers for all I care.
Probably PTSD from the Carr years. I kind of agree with you. I'm a believer in BPA over need.
 

Texansphan

Football connoisseur
I'm telling you exactly why I don't like it. I wouldn't start my rebuild with a QB. It's simple. & has nothing to do with Mills. His name could be Aaron Rodgers for all I care.
I think there is a big difference between bringing in a vet whose ceiling is known verses developing a promising rookie/sophomore - who btw, just might turn into a top ten guy and that would be sufficient. Top 5 QBs are rare and those who pin their hopes on possibly getting one in every draft are on a fool's errand.
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
Probably PTSD from the Carr years.
It's not just Carr. It's all the other teams that have stayed at the bottom of the NFL for 10 plus years.

The Texans didn't start moving up out the mire until they got a QB who knew what he was doing. Then we weren't spinning our wheels trying to find OL that can protect. I said before, that was a big issue with our OL. Especially in the "EP system" DeShuan Watson, imo, was obviously telling the OL to do one thing to counter what he saw at the LOS. But he was reading it wrong. & it showed in our protection & run game.

When you see guys coming through the LOS untouched, imo, it's more than likely the QB got it wrong.

Same thing with the option routes. The QB & the WR have to see the same thing. With a veteran QB it's more likely the receiver is the one who has to learn. With a rookie, they're probably both wrong. Makes the problem harder to fix.

& all these pieces change year after year. It's been at least four years now that four of the 5 OL positions will be won in training camp.

I'm not saying it can't been done. But it's rare. & this is where we are.
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
First off you choose a franchise QB anytime you get that chance. Second, I guess to make your argument, you are equating choosing DM in the third round was the Texan’s plan to get their franchise QB. No it wasn’t. They felt that he was the best value pick for them in that round. That is all. Third, they needed to add a QB to the room and they already had one retread, why add another.
First, it's ok if I don't agree with everything the Texans do.

Second... I don't think selecting Mills in the third is the reason I think they thought he was a "franchise" QB. It was that they selected him in the third & made him the 2nd QB practically from day 1. Which is something else I argued against. If it were up to me, he wouldn't have suited up in 2021.

this kick the tires QB prospect has actually freed up the Texans to begin building the team from the ground up, as you want it,
You're not getting my point at all. I'm thinking the Texans didn't see the problem with the OL as much a dire need as many fans here, wanting to draft the top tackles & replacing everyone but Tunsil on the OL. I think they understood that the OL problem was not talent. Things like scheme, things like the QB learning to do his job, made the OL look worse than it was. Remember the QB calls the protection & sets up the run plays in the EP system. Think about how Matt Schaub would get us in the right play by making adjustments at the LOS. & he was in a WCO which doesn't put as much on the QB.

All I'm saying is a rookie QB... regardless of who he is, is going to make mistakes. & it's rare that you have a FO that recognizes that & act accordingly. So far, imo, the Texans seem to be handling it correctly.

Why the butt hurt
I'm not the one btching & complaining. I've been positive about what Mills has done & optimistic about what he will do.

I said I would have done things differently..... & y'all got butt hurt.
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
I think there is a big difference between bringing in a vet whose ceiling is known verses developing a promising rookie/sophomore
Again, I'm thinking about finding a Matt Schaub or an Alex Smith. Build the team around him. So that everybody knows what's right & what's not. Then your rookie QB, whether a third rounder or a 6th rounder, would have a better chance of becoming a top 10 QB. We put Davis Mills on a team that couldn't run the ball & couldn't protect the QB. I am very impressed with what he was able to do, as far as his own personal development.

Maybe Nick was planning on doing it "my way." Tyrod Taylor & Ryan Finley. Then they came across Mills in the draft. Had it not been for having to carry Watson on the roster, maybe Mills wouldn't have suited up. They chose to cut Finley & go with Mills & it seems to be working out for them so far.
 

Texansballer74

The Marine
The Texans addressed the offensive line through the draft and free agency. That’s probably the reason why they draft Mills in the third round with their first overall pick that year. They probably thought it was scheming and coaching. We’ve talked about that crap Bill O’Brien had them doing. Drafting freaking Offensive Tackles to play guard. Then he had them thinking too much, thus the reason why we so many blown blocking assignments. Kelly kept running that crap because that was all he knew.
The last five games Mills barely got touched. Old broken down Burkhead had a few 100 yards gains during that time.
Hopefully those few positives will carry over to this season coming up here shortly.
 

Dejaview

All Pro
First, it's ok if I don't agree with everything the Texans do.

Second... I don't think selecting Mills in the third is the reason I think they thought he was a "franchise" QB. It was that they selected him in the third & made him the 2nd QB practically from day 1. Which is something else I argued against. If it were up to me, he wouldn't have suited up in 2021.


You're not getting my point at all. I'm thinking the Texans didn't see the problem with the OL as much a dire need as many fans here, wanting to draft the top tackles & replacing everyone but Tunsil on the OL. I think they understood that the OL problem was not talent. Things like scheme, things like the QB learning to do his job, made the OL look worse than it was. Remember the QB calls the protection & sets up the run plays in the EP system. Think about how Matt Schaub would get us in the right play by making adjustments at the LOS. & he was in a WCO which doesn't put as much on the QB.

All I'm saying is a rookie QB... regardless of who he is, is going to make mistakes. & it's rare that you have a FO that recognizes that & act accordingly. So far, imo, the Texans seem to be handling it correctly.


I'm not the one btching & complaining. I've been positive about what Mills has done & optimistic about what he will do.

I said I would have done things differently..... & y'all got butt hurt.
Lol, call me stupid but I am totally confused by what you are saying or trying to say so I’m done here.
 

OptimisticTexan

2024 / Rebuilding Block 4 After Playoffs / Texans
The Texans moved up and drafted Watson, then did nothing over his first 4 seasons to put a competitive team around him. This ended in failure without taking any off-field shite into consideration…..failure.

The Texans took a chance on Mills who would’ve probably been a 2022 RD1 QB in RD3 of the 2021 NFL Draft. The difference this go round…..a new FO and coaching staff with what looks like a better approach to helping Mills take the next step in this rebuild.
 

Texansphan

Football connoisseur
The Texans moved up and drafted Watson, then did nothing over his first 4 seasons to put a competitive team around him. This ended in failure without taking any off-field shite into consideration…..failure.

The Texans took a chance on Mills who would’ve probably been a 2022 RD1 QB in RD3 of the 2021 NFL Draft. The difference this go round…..a new FO and coaching staff with what looks like a better approach to helping Mills take the next step in this rebuild.
This team under O'Brien was at a severe disadvantage - he did the exact opposite of what a good GM would do by getting rid of his best players instead of adding more.
He set us back at least 5 years.
 

Texansballer74

The Marine
The Texans moved up and drafted Watson, then did nothing over his first 4 seasons to put a competitive team around him. This ended in failure without taking any off-field shite into consideration…..failure.

The Texans took a chance on Mills who would’ve probably been a 2022 RD1 QB in RD3 of the 2021 NFL Draft. The difference this go round…..a new FO and coaching staff with what looks like a better approach to helping Mills take the next step in this rebuild.
They did have a competitive team around Watson. They were just poorly coached. You don’t win Divisions and make the playoffs without talent.
 

OptimisticTexan

2024 / Rebuilding Block 4 After Playoffs / Texans
They did have a competitive team around Watson. They were just poorly coached. You don’t win Divisions and make the playoffs without talent.
Coaching and FO was the biggest issue. Second, the team had no offensive line, no real running game, TE’s and SWR’s that were never incorporated into the offense, and finally….a defense that never really existed. They won a very weak division, which kept OB around far longer than he ever should’ve been kept. The playoffs always exposed the Texans entire organization.
 

Texansballer74

The Marine
Coaching and FO was the biggest issue. Second, the team had no offensive line, no real running game, TE’s and SWR’s that were never incorporated into the offense, and finally….a defense that never really existed. They won a very weak division, which kept OB around far longer than he ever should’ve been kept. The playoffs always exposed the Texans entire organization.
The line imo was bad because they had players playing out of position. And the complexity of the scheme had them blowing assignments on a regular. Add in the fact that they never fielded the same starting five more than 2 years.
 

OptimisticTexan

2024 / Rebuilding Block 4 After Playoffs / Texans
The line imo was bad because they had players playing out of position. And the complexity of the scheme had them blowing assignments on a regular. Add in the fact that they never fielded the same starting five more than 2 years.
You’re 100% correct. I never understood the Texans penchant for drafting players and then playing them at different positions.
 

beerlover

Hall of Fame
Owen Daniels - system fit, cap casualty
Darren Fells - immense size, catch radius
Brevin Jordan - more recent, only flashes so far….
CJ Fiedorowicz - best but career shutdown from injuries
Garrett Graham- following Daniels, never lived up to the hype
James Casey - more of a FB/lead blocker
Joel Dreessen - productive, underwhelming
Ryan Griffin - late round tweener
Billy Miller - caught the first Texans TD

rest best forgotten as misses
 

Jack Burton

Veteran
Owen Daniels - system fit, cap casualty
Darren Fells - immense size, catch radius
Brevin Jordan - more recent, only flashes so far….
CJ Fiedorowicz - best but career shutdown from injuries
Garrett Graham- following Daniels, never lived up to the hype
James Casey - more of a FB/lead blocker
Joel Dreessen - productive, underwhelming
Ryan Griffin - late round tweener
Billy Miller - caught the first Texans TD

rest best forgotten as misses

HOU should finally be in a position next year to get this guy with their 1st pick and take the offense up a notch or two…
8FCBDBD2-F4F0-4835-981C-8618C2A091A4.jpeg
 

Thorn

Dirty Old Man
Early favorite position group to be addressed next season is TE imo
They used their top 2 picks on a CB and OL this year, next year one of them should be a DL. Of course if they end up needing a QB, then all bets are off because they might have to spend their two picks trading up.
 

badboy

Hall of Fame
I definitely wouldn’t be looking for a franchise QB if I haven’t been able to start the same 5 OL more than 4 weeks in a row. When was the last time we started the same 4 of 5 for 4 weeks in a row?
Sounds like you're talking about A New Concept for the offense of line!
 

badboy

Hall of Fame
They used their top 2 picks on a CB and OL this year, next year one of them should be a DL. Of course if they end up needing a QB, then all bets are off because they might have to spend their two picks trading up.
That's pretty optimistic thinking that we will be able to trade up to get a quarterback. If season goes as I think we can trade down and get QB. I expect improvement but again top 3 pick.
 

Thorn

Dirty Old Man
That's pretty optimistic thinking that we will be able to trade up to get a quarterback. If season goes as I think we can trade down and get QB. I expect improvement but again top 3 pick.
I expect the Texans picks next year to be in the top five or so. What Cleveland's pick will be I have no idea, but I do wish them the worst of luck this season. :)
 

Texansballer74

The Marine
What if the Texans end up with a 10-7 record. Will you gents be upset about not having a top 5-10 pick? Or will you look at it in the ramifications of building upon their success with those two first round draft picks in 2023.
 

badboy

Hall of Fame
Not exactly. If Mills doesn’t work out Brevin Jordan won’t. We’ll probably go through 6 more linemen. Can’t pass pro, can’t run block. QBs telling them to run right when the defense is telling him to run left.

The QB affects so much. You’re not developing the players around him if he’s not developing correctly.

Probably get a new coach with a new system & he’s going to want to turn over the roster over 2/3 years.

it’s a never ending cycle. You get the Jets, Lions, Bears, Browns.

Seattle was able to do it. But they built a true #1 defense to go with their rookie QB
Maybe it's just the optimism in me but if Green is the left guard that we think he can be and David Pierce is the running back we think he can be, I say Mills just has to be better. He shown us too much in the last five games for him to be a total disaster.
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
What if the Texans end up with a 10-7 record. Will you gents be upset about not having a top 5-10 pick? Or will you look at it in the ramifications of building upon their success with those two first round draft picks in 2023.
Get in the playoffs or don't, doesn't matter to me. But if they get there I prefer they act like they belong.
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
Maybe it's just the optimism in me but if Green is the left guard that we think he can be and David Pierce is the running back we think he can be, I say Mills just has to be better. He shown us too much in the last five games for him to be a total disaster.
Agree. Mills appears to be the exception to the rule. My point is it's hard to build a team when "everybody" on offense is trying to learn how to be in the NFL.

Tunsil, Howard, Cann, Britt should be enough experience to alleviate that problem on the OL.
 

badboy

Hall of Fame
What if the Texans end up with a 10-7 record. Will you gents be upset about not having a top 5-10 pick? Or will you look at it in the ramifications of building upon their success with those two first round draft picks in 2023.
While I am not focusing on the Ws this season, 10 and 7 would pretty much show me we have done something right with several players stepping up more than I think. 10-7 will be good for fans, team and ownership regardless how we get there. What it says about the future I'm not so clear on as I keep thinking about the Dolphins 2020 season. Having said that we will still have two round ones the next two years. If we have the GM and head coach we think we do we should be in the playoff hunt with that 10 and 7 record going forward.

As you know the win-loss record does not always indicate how the players did
 

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
While I am not focusing on the Ws this season, 10 and 7 would pretty much show me we have done something right with several players stepping up more than I think. 10-7 will be good for fans, team and ownership regardless how we get there. What it says about the future I'm not so clear on as I keep thinking about the Dolphins 2020 season. Having said that we will still have two round ones the next two years. If we have the GM and head coach we think we do we should be in the playoff hunt with that 10 and 7 record going forward.

As you know the win-loss record does not always indicate how the players did
10 wins

LMAO

Have you seen their schedule?
 

badboy

Hall of Fame
Agree. Mills appears to be the exception to the rule. My point is it's hard to build a team when "everybody" on offense is trying to learn how to be in the NFL.

Tunsil, Howard, Cann, Britt should be enough experience to alleviate that problem on the OL.
Yep! Add Brandin Cooks for the wide receivers and perhaps Marlon Mack at running back. I am more concerned about experienced vets on the defensive side of the ball. But we are where we are and there's no reason to keep on complaining about easterby or O'Brien.

I am very concerned that fans are going to be quick to turn the TV off if the team doesn't do well in the first three games. Be realistic is what we both seem to be saying.
 
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