sandman
Brexit Advisor
Kurt Warner. NFL Champion. 2-Time NFL MVP. Super Bowl MVP. Hall of Famer. Not a franchise QB...
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Davis Mills getting no respect
- Thread starter SnakeEyes
- Start date
Kurt Warner. NFL Champion. 2-Time NFL MVP. Super Bowl MVP. Hall of Famer. Not a franchise QB...
Great endorsement for Mills. 
https://sports.yahoo.com/laremy-tunsil-invites-lamar-jackson-103058871.html
https://sports.yahoo.com/laremy-tunsil-invites-lamar-jackson-103058871.html
Texansballer74
The Marine
This basically means Mills is not the guy. Lol
SeriousShizzle
Rookie
Mr. Floppy arms just needs to go! I dont care he needs to go? Somewhere............
that win to cost us the bears haul........ F'u
that win to cost us the bears haul........ F'u
Texas Jake
Rookie
I was impressed with Mills the second half of 2021. He threw a nice deep ball and was getting rid of the ball quickly. I would have liked to see what he could have done last year with good coaching (and a good offensive scheme). Unfortunately, he was stuck with Pep Hamilton and his joke of an offense. I couldn't believe an NFL coach would rotate QBs during the game and expect Mills to come in, cold off the bench, on third down to save the day after wasting 1st and 2nd down running gimmicky plays with the other QB. I lost all respect for Lovie, that he would allow his OC to pull such stupid crap. Under Hamilton, Mills looked like a different QB than the one who made so much progress the year before and he no longer had that nice deep ball that hit the receiver in stride. I think it would be hard for any QB to be successful in Pep's joke of an offense.
As far as drafting a QB this year, I wouldn't be upset to them them go defense at 2 and picking a QB later or waiting until next year. I don't see any of the QBs this year as top of the draft talent--they all have issues.
dream_team
Hall of Fame
Davis Mills being on this roster next season doesn't make any sense. Is there any trade value for him? I think he could be developed to be a decent backup. Wondering if we can get a 6th for him?
TexansBull
Hall of Fame
Why doesn’t it make sense?
dream_team
Hall of Fame
We signed Case to a 2 year deal. He's going to play that veteran backup role.
So do we then keep Mills around to be that 3rd stringer that's inactive on game days? I think that would be a waste. Trade him and see if we can get something.
dream_team
Hall of Fame
So... you think we're just going to cut Case? To me, doesn't make sense to have both Case & Mills on the roster.
If the Texans are going to cut a QB, it would be Mills.
Keenum's dead cap is going to be 4M, while Mills' less than 600K.
Sandman is just one who's on Mills' side hoping that he will improve.
DR and the Texans aren't going to cut Keenum after giving all that guaranteed money.
It makes zero sense.
Mills migh stick and stay on the inactive list in case of an injury or some unlikey event.
dream_team
Hall of Fame
That's what I'm thinking, Case is the backup.
With that being said, I don't see any reason to keep Mills around if we could get anything back in a trade right now.
We can trade Mills for a pick and sign Bennet as an undrafted FA. Everyone is happy.
With the new rules, we may even see Mills on the PS.
Everything you need to know about the NFL practice squad in 2022
The Denver Broncos will begin filling out their practice squad today. Here is what you need to know.
www.google.com
I think it's better than trying to trade him for peanuts.
SeriousShizzle
Rookie
Mills cant complete a dump off pass without a big hullabaloo! F this guy!!!!!
My Ass cheeks cringes when he does a short pass... now i got buns of steel.
My Ass cheeks cringes when he does a short pass... now i got buns of steel.
thetexanator
Veteran
mills is the kind of qb you play on special teams defense.
sandman
Brexit Advisor
And you've been a Keenum fanboy from his UDFA/practice squad days. Your point?
My point was already made in the post that you quoted.
All you have to do is to read it.
sandman
Brexit Advisor
Let me come back to this since @76Texan likes putting words in my mouth.
I never said to cut Keenum. I didn't even intimate that. I said that the alleged system the Texans are wanting to implement suit Mills' skillset better than Keenum's. That Mills has a similar style of play to Stroud, that suits the new system much better than the old system, if there was ever actually a system in place the last two years.
Considering what the 49ers just went through this last season using 4 different QB's, I highly doubt either will be cut.
Unlike @76Texan who never misses an opportunity to vomit statistics about how great Keenum could have been, I've never been a Mills fanboy. I simply see a situation where he would be a competent backup and wondered aloud what exactly the undrafted journeyman backup that has had almost no playing time in the last three years was going to mentor a 1.2 pick about.
But I also know that Coog alumns will come at you like the Ronbots protecting Ron Paul back in the day if you dare say anything negative about Keenum.
I did not say anything about you wanting to cut Case Keenum.
It was a question from dreamteam.
As for skillset, look how Mills did last year in a WCO specifically tailored for him (after the system he ran at Stanford).
Not so hot.
On the other hand, Keenum had had experience in the WCO under Kubiak 2012 and 2013.
Then under Pat Shumur (Vikings 2017); his best year.
2018 in Denver while Kubiak was there as an advisor.
2019 with Washington
2020-2021 with Cleveland.
Stefanski came from the Vikings.
I'm not sure what the Bills ran last year, but at least Keenum had had 7 years in the WCO.
Also, let me clear thing up, just as you were trying to do.
Back then, in 2012, I had wanted for the Texans to draft Russell Wilson early in the second round or even moving to the first round.
I said I'm not sure which one of the three (Luck, RG IIi, and Wilson) would have a better career.
Then I slated Cousins in the fourth round and Keenum in the fifth.
I wasn't wrong and I wasn't just a homeboy.
Loved me some Ron Paul.
He was quite the softball player in the congressional softball games.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
4 reasons why Texans fans should appreciate QB Davis Mills
May 2, 2023 2:02 pm CT
The Houston Texans selected former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft.
Space City’s nightmare is over. A field general with talent will usher in a new era for the Texans.
While the praise for Stroud is understandable, a little appreciation for one of the other Texans’ quarterbacks needs to be shown before turning the page entirely.
For the past two moribund seasons, Davis Mills has started 26 of Houston’s 34 games. While Mills has the most wins in that span (five), it is simply due to having more chances, not any elevation over the likes of Tyrod Taylor and Kyle Allen.
Here are four reasons why Texans fans should thank Mills before flying away to the Stroud era.
1. Saw the Texans as an opportunity
When Mills, the first pick of the Nick Caserio era at No. 67 overall in Round 3 of the 2021 NFL draft, first spoke with the Houston media, the Stanford product saw Houston as an opportunity.
“I think first thing, obviously, I can’t do it from the start, but I think my leadership ability is up there,” Mills said on April 30, 2021. “Obviously, you’ve got to get in front of some of my teammates to start building their respect by putting in hard work and then the next thing, just that winning mentality and that ability on the field. It all comes together as a team and can’t wait to get out there with the other guys on the team.”
The Texans were rolling into the 2021 campaign with David Culley as coach and rostering a monumental off-field distraction — in more ways than one. Smart money would have said Kellen Mond would have lasted longer than Mills.
Never dissed his predecessor
Heck, Mills was asked about the quarterback in question on his introductory Zoom with the Houston media.
“Obviously, the only thing I can control is how I handle myself,” said Mills. “Like I said, just can’t wait to get out there and start meeting the people already in Houston.”
It wasn’t just playerspeak either. During training camp, which featured the bizarre ritual of filming a three-time Pro Bowler doing nothing, Mills had conversations and used the former 2020 NFL passing champion as a resource.
“He’s helped out a lot with what he’s done with me,” said Mills. “Any questions I have, like the other guys too, he’s an open book, and he’s taught me a lot.”
Never got down
Each time Mills was benched in 2021 and 2022, he took the opportunity to reflect on his play and see where he could have done better.
“These past two weeks allowed me to sit back and continue to learn,” Mills said on Dec. 9, 2022, after he returned from being benched for two weeks. “Early on in the season and as the season progresses there’s a whirlwind of everything, as you play a game, watch the film immediately after the game and then you’re quickly on to the next opponent. There’s not really a time to sit there and evaluate what you’re doing. You’re just trying to progress as the season goes, but these last two weeks really allowed me to sit back and start piecing some more things together in my mind of what it takes to be successful out there.”
Rather than pouting, Mills sought ways where he could have done better.
Will help, not hinder, C.J. Stroud
Even though the Texans were deploying a quirky offense with Mills and backup quarterback Jeff Driskel alternating series and sometimes even plays in the final five games of the season, Mills used Driskel as someone he could collaborate with.
“There’s a lot of back-and-forth on the sideline, making sure we were seeing things the same, kind of bouncing ideas off each other,” Mills said on Dec. 14, 2022. “Obviously, our play calls weren’t the exact same, so we’re not seeing the exact looks. From the mind of the quarterback, a lot of times you can only relate to what other quarterbacks are thinking. When you have somebody to talk to who’s also getting live reps, live bullets flying at them in the game, it helps.”
The Texans won’t return to the two-quarterback system ever with Stroud, but he may have a mind on the sidelines he can work with in Mills.
May 2, 2023 2:02 pm CT
The Houston Texans selected former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft.
Space City’s nightmare is over. A field general with talent will usher in a new era for the Texans.
While the praise for Stroud is understandable, a little appreciation for one of the other Texans’ quarterbacks needs to be shown before turning the page entirely.
For the past two moribund seasons, Davis Mills has started 26 of Houston’s 34 games. While Mills has the most wins in that span (five), it is simply due to having more chances, not any elevation over the likes of Tyrod Taylor and Kyle Allen.
Here are four reasons why Texans fans should thank Mills before flying away to the Stroud era.
1. Saw the Texans as an opportunity
When Mills, the first pick of the Nick Caserio era at No. 67 overall in Round 3 of the 2021 NFL draft, first spoke with the Houston media, the Stanford product saw Houston as an opportunity.
“I think first thing, obviously, I can’t do it from the start, but I think my leadership ability is up there,” Mills said on April 30, 2021. “Obviously, you’ve got to get in front of some of my teammates to start building their respect by putting in hard work and then the next thing, just that winning mentality and that ability on the field. It all comes together as a team and can’t wait to get out there with the other guys on the team.”
The Texans were rolling into the 2021 campaign with David Culley as coach and rostering a monumental off-field distraction — in more ways than one. Smart money would have said Kellen Mond would have lasted longer than Mills.
Never dissed his predecessor
Heck, Mills was asked about the quarterback in question on his introductory Zoom with the Houston media.
“Obviously, the only thing I can control is how I handle myself,” said Mills. “Like I said, just can’t wait to get out there and start meeting the people already in Houston.”
It wasn’t just playerspeak either. During training camp, which featured the bizarre ritual of filming a three-time Pro Bowler doing nothing, Mills had conversations and used the former 2020 NFL passing champion as a resource.
“He’s helped out a lot with what he’s done with me,” said Mills. “Any questions I have, like the other guys too, he’s an open book, and he’s taught me a lot.”
Never got down
Each time Mills was benched in 2021 and 2022, he took the opportunity to reflect on his play and see where he could have done better.
“These past two weeks allowed me to sit back and continue to learn,” Mills said on Dec. 9, 2022, after he returned from being benched for two weeks. “Early on in the season and as the season progresses there’s a whirlwind of everything, as you play a game, watch the film immediately after the game and then you’re quickly on to the next opponent. There’s not really a time to sit there and evaluate what you’re doing. You’re just trying to progress as the season goes, but these last two weeks really allowed me to sit back and start piecing some more things together in my mind of what it takes to be successful out there.”
Rather than pouting, Mills sought ways where he could have done better.
Will help, not hinder, C.J. Stroud
Even though the Texans were deploying a quirky offense with Mills and backup quarterback Jeff Driskel alternating series and sometimes even plays in the final five games of the season, Mills used Driskel as someone he could collaborate with.
“There’s a lot of back-and-forth on the sideline, making sure we were seeing things the same, kind of bouncing ideas off each other,” Mills said on Dec. 14, 2022. “Obviously, our play calls weren’t the exact same, so we’re not seeing the exact looks. From the mind of the quarterback, a lot of times you can only relate to what other quarterbacks are thinking. When you have somebody to talk to who’s also getting live reps, live bullets flying at them in the game, it helps.”
The Texans won’t return to the two-quarterback system ever with Stroud, but he may have a mind on the sidelines he can work with in Mills.
I know nothing about Mills. Losing Metchie before he ever took the field was obviously a HUGE blow to the receiving corp. It goes without saying that, hopefully, Metchie is cured of leukemia, regardless of football. I know Mills threw a lot of interceptions but maybe he didn't have a lot of receiving options let alone time in the pocket.
It sort of sucks for him that the talent on the team has been significantly upgraded but now he's likely the #2 QB.
So, what are your thoughts on Mills?
It sort of sucks for him that the talent on the team has been significantly upgraded but now he's likely the #2 QB.
So, what are your thoughts on Mills?
The Pencil Neck
Hall of Fame
He was drafted in the 3rd round. The hope is that he can be a good backup QB who can come in from time to time and not mess everything up, but also be a good influence in the QB room, helping Stroud with tape work and whatnot.
He showed flashes, but he was in a bad situation. He regressed a little last year.
I expect him to progress and develop and become a career backup.
OptimisticTexan
2024 / Rebuilding Block 4 After Playoffs / Texans
Metchie was one situation….and I’m happy to see he’s healthy and ready to start his NFL career.
Cooks was expected to carry the load as WR1, until he quit on the team. Looked nothing like his 2021 self before quitting.
Nico Collins spent the entire off-season with Mills in Houston to build better timing with his QB1. Nico went down with an injury and now Mills was missing his big #2 target.
As for the TE’s….Lovie and Pep figured out how to make them very inconsistent pieces in the offensive game plan. TE’s were, when targeted, one of the offenses best weapons.
Pierce was really special but lame and predictable play calling made him work for each and every yard. He eventually got injured towards the end of the season and barely missed out on a 1,000+ yard season. Unfortunately, when Pierce went down, so did the running game and any respect DC’s might’ve had for it.
In regards to the PFF grade for OL….very misleading!!! If you watch he games, “Q” was shoved into the pocket as fast as Mills could get back there. My description of the blocking scheme, “Venus Fly Trap”. Mills was never comfortable behind that line and it showed by how many balls sailed. He wasn’t stepping into throws or getting that lead foot planted. When he did plant and throw….the ball had plenty of zip and spin…attested by the 17 TD throws. This can be seen on videos.
I believe Stroud’s arrival will be a plus along with the new talent and coaching staff…..it should take the pressure off Mills and give him a real season to finally develop. This could’ve a big plus for all involved.
Last edited:
Speedy
Former Yeller Dweller
Texans bought the BS that he would have been a 1st rounder had he stayed in college another year. Dude had 11 college starts and didn't have good numbers in those. It really makes me question how professionals can get it so wrong with their evaluations. Measurables are one thing, but talent has to matter too.
I don't think Mills was ever drafted to be a starter. He just got forced to do so because of injuries to Taylor. Mills is an average backup at best, which plenty of QBs have made a very nice and long living doing so. Nothing wrong with that. He's just not starter material and I will die on the hill that it was a wasted draft pick.
TexansBull
Hall of Fame
Speedy
Former Yeller Dweller
Agree with Culley, but you don't need to burn a draft pick on a bridge QB. You can get those anywhere. In fact the Texans did get one when they signed Taylor.
Caserio took a home run swing and missed like Martin Maldonado
He didn't get a fair chance to succeed
A reasonable post.
Spot on
With an improved OL and a weaker schedule, plus Stroud being a better QB 8-10 wins shouldn't be out of the question. Particularly with better coaching and an offense everybody around these parts is orgasming over.
This doesn't even take into account what should be a much improved defense with the quality talent that's been added and that Ryans is a defensive genius.
Decim8
Veteran
A quality back up
But to be fair to mills, he came into a crappy situation but I could never see anything in him that suggested he be a franchise qb for us. He was “meh” to me.
Thorn
Dirty Old Man
Obviously someone has hijacked SteelB's account. The mods should look into this.
This really will come down to QB play. IMHO
sandman
Brexit Advisor
Mills was a value pick in the 3rd as an opportunity to find a diamond in the rough. I don't think the last two years were kind or fair to him, but I also never saw anything beyond a flash here or there that a better system would have him thriving as a legit starter.
I expect that what we are calling the version of this new offense that is being installed will play to his strengths and minimize his weaknesses. He will probably come out of this situation as a long term capable backup, hopefully with the Texans as they have already and will continue to invest in his development through the length of his rookie contract.
Number19
Hall of Fame
I seriously doubt Mills reups with the Texans. He'll be looking for an opportunity to start.
sandman
Brexit Advisor
Wherever he goes it will be as a backup. The only variance will be the quality or health of the starter. But no one is going to give him the opportunity for the starting job. He will be the starter out of necessity.
No shame in a Kubiak career.
Mills has got all the tools to be a quality fill-in starter/bridge type QB. Kirk Cousins... better than Case Keenum. I don't know what happened to him last year, but his was always more of a mental game than the spectacular play maker thing.
Best case scenario Mills gets an opportunity to play 5 or 6 games, does a Brock Purdy thing & we trade him for a mid 2nd, early 3rd round pick.
sandman
Brexit Advisor
Fair. If Mills gets a chance to play this year is the qualifier. And I do agree he has all the tools. The challenge is he also has a lot of tape, and without any new tape that shows he has put it together, he isn't getting the opportunities.
Also, am I the only one to think that Caserio signing Keenum isn't really only about mentoring, but also to have trade bait when someone goes down? Gotta collect those draft picks to use in trading up.
Number19
Hall of Fame
If he signs with the right team, he may have an opportunity to compete for the starting position during training camp.
powda
The bridge between stupid and useless is short.
Even with an established qb, I think it's a sound practice to draft a 3-5th round qb every 2-3 years. Injuries, hold outs, etc are always possible, and there's always a trade market for a qb.
I remember the Drew Henson deal and wonder why we don't try that more often? Worst case scenario, we have the best backup qb possible.