Tag: Pep Hamilton

Pep Hamilton reportedly denies Panthers’ interview request for OC job

Pep Hamilton probably doesn’t want any part of the hot mess that is the Carolina Panthers offense. And can you blame him?

The Carolina Panthers are an unmitigated disaster on offense. They don’t have an identity, their best player is hardly on the field, their line is a hot mess and they don’t know who their quarterback will be—all while having to pay Sam Darnold almost $19 million in the process.

So maybe you can’t blame Pep Hamilton for not wanting any part of it.

According to Aaron Wilson of Houston’s Sports Talk 790, Hamilton will not be interviewing for the Panthers’ open offensive coordinator position. Carolina had sought to speak with the Charlotte, N.C. native about the vacancy as far back as last week.

Not only is this a discouraging blow to head coach Matt Rhule’s search from an obvious standpoint, as Hamilton’s work and reputation around the league comes highly acclaimed, but it’s also an indictment on the current state of the team itself. As Wilson notes, the 47-year-old will have “other options,” presumably ones more desirable to the Texans’ passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Well, that’s one down. Rock on, Rhule.

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Panthers 2021 offensive coordinator search tracker

Keep track of all the potential candidates that have been linked to the Panthers’ offensive coordinator opening.

This search for a “rockstar” could get pretty exhaustive for the Carolina Panthers and head coach Matt Rhule and maybe even exhausting for you!

So, let’s keep track of every potential candidate that has popped up for the team’s offensive coordinator opening.

Is Texans rookie QB Davis Mills going to save David Culley as coach?

Houston Texans rookie quarterback Davis Mills has taken steps in his development. Will Mills develop fast enough to keep David Culley as coach?

It felt like an unspoken certainty the Houston Texans were going to be searching for a new coaching staff come January.]

Just two weeks ago, Houston was 2-11 and coming off of consecutive embarrassing losses to the New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, and Seattle Seahawks. The defense was hemorrhaging to just about any offensive scheme and the offense was floundering in space.

Then the tide began to turn.

Last week Houston had a huge victory over the Urban Meyer-less Jacksonville Jaguars 30-16 and essentially guaranteed they wouldn’t finish last in the NFL. A small moral victory, but never the less an important one for a team that constantly preaches the importance of culture and building both momentum and structure.

If the Jacksonville game represented a turning of the tide in general Houston sentiment, then Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers represented a tidal wave.

The Texans’ were a 13-point underdog to the playoff hungry Chargers and missing 20 players due to COVID-19 related testing. Chargers fans, Houston fans, fantasy footballers, and the national media were all ready for what was expected to be one of the biggest blowouts of the season.

Instead, Houston turned in their best game of the season. The defense forced 3-turnovers including an impressive Pick-6 from Tavierre Thomas and Rex Burkhead had a career day on the ground with over 100 yards and two touchdowns. Despite several standouts, however, there was really only one guy for everyone to talk about: Davis Mills.

The often criticized third-round draft pick from Stanford, who had seemingly been doomed to fail from the start, played the best game of his young career against Los Angeles. He finished 21-of-27 for 254 yards and two touchdowns while engineering an offense that turned the ball over zero times. It brought his season total up to 2,200 yards, 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions despite playing with a cast that nobody recognized because of COVID.

This was the kind of performance that has Houston wondering if their “mistake” of a draft selection had stumbled into becoming their next franchise quarterback. Many pundits in the national media are pointing out that Mills has realistically outplayed his rookie contemporaries in Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, and Mac Jones despite their significantly higher draft capital.

The emergence of “Money Mills” couldn’t be coming at a better time. Houston has a top-5 draft pick and will certainly have decisions to make as to what selection can best improve their roster. These kinds of performances will allow general manager Nick Caserio to sleep much easier at night should he choose to pass on what is considered a weaker quarterback draft and opt for one of the elite defensive talents at the top.

They also raise another question: Does Davis Mills’ development lend credit to Coach David Culley?

A staff that was totally written off deserves their fair credit for getting a rookie quarterback to this point and there’s no question how important continuity is for a young player.

It’s possible that Mills has earned Culley another year. Offensive coordinator Tim Kelly’s offense feels the most likely to take the blame should Culley be retained and it isn’t difficult to imagine a scenario where quarterbacks coach Pep Hamilton is elevated into that role after his excellent work with Mills. Additionally, Culley could sell the front office on recruiting any of the bright young offensive talent around the league to come in and take a position that will hold little to no expectations on a rebuilding Houston team.

The win against the Tennessee Titans earlier this year and the two wins against Jacksonville can be written off as a wash generally. The Jaguars are the most talent deficient roster in the league and the Titans turned the ball over five times to lose. However, there’s no denying the positive momentum and energy that was present in the victory over Los Angeles and Mills’ progression as a passer.

Win or lose, two more games like this from Mills to end 2022 will create a compelling argument for Caserio and the front office to give Culley and his staff a second year. It would be up to Culley what that staff would look like but the opportunity suddenly appears that it may be there.

This could be an incredible development if the staff has helped Houston find their next franchise quarterback. It could totally burn Houston if they end up wasting 2022 on Culley because of a few fluky games from their third-round quarterback. Regardless, there’s no denying that future appears to be in Mills’ hands now.

The following fortnight will reveal how the rookie responds to the first positive press of his young career. Houston plays at San Francisco next Sunday in yet another contest they project to be heavy underdogs.

Where can Davis Mills improve as the Texans’ starting quarterback?

The Houston Texans may have their starting quarterback for the near term in Davis Mills. Where can the rookie improve to be the guy for the future?

The Houston Texans may have found their man for the near term in rookie quarterback Davis Mills.

The third-rounder from Stanford has led Houston their first winning streak since Weeks 12-13 of 2020. He is also the first rookie quarterback since T.J. Yates in Weeks 13-14 of 2011 to post a winning streak.

As the Texans wind down their infertile 4-11 campaign, so far as postseason qualification is concerned, Mills can excel as the starting quarterback.

However, the Texans were 24-0 on the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional playoffs at Arrowhead Stadium two years ago. They aren’t that removed from threatening to go on a deep playoff run. That particular fact has not been memory-holed despite the interminable sports sadness that has beleaguered Houston sports fans since.

If Mills is to be the Texans’ quarterback of the future, to truly get Houston back to playoff contention, he has a long ways to go in his game.

Mark Schofield from the Touchdown Wire wrote a comprehensive breakdown of where Mills is after nine starts and where he can improve.

Layering throws is another area where Mills could stand to improve. Thinking back to his game against UCLA, he seemed to struggle to find the right touch and trajectory on seam routes and throws attacking between the numbers. On this interception against the Indianapolis Colts, he tries to throw a dig route on the backside, but puts the ball right between the 5 and the 3 on Darius Leonard’s jersey:

Now, Mills also tries to be too cute with his eyes. The Colts are in Cover 2 on this play, and the Texans basically run a two-receiver concept with a corner route on the right, and the dig route coming from the left. Mills opens to the right side of the field, wondering if he can hit the corner route working towards the hole along the right sideline. But he comes off that and immediately throws the dig, without fully confirming the throwing lane. While the dig is open, he needs to layer the throw over the second-level defenders and in front of the safeties. Instead, he puts the ball on a line, and Leonard is the recipient of the gift.

Mills has also shown a penchant to take care of the football as he has thrown two interceptions in his last five starts.

Houston takes on the San Francisco 49ers Sunday in Week 17 at Levi’s Stadium. Mills will get a chance to take more steps in his development as he returns to the Bay Area.

How is Texans QB coach Pep Hamilton helping Davis Mills adjust as a starter?

Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills reveals how much help QB coach Pep Hamilton has given as the rookie adjusts as a starter.

The Houston Texans brought in Pep Hamilton as their quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator. The pairing up with free agent quarterback Tyrod Taylor was expected to benefit Houston, as Hamilton was the quarterbacks coach for the Los Angeles Chargers last season, Taylor’s last stop.

In the 2021 NFL draft, the Texans selected quarterback Davis Mills in Round 3. If there ever was a situation where Hamilton could do his best work, it would be here, as he would be working with someone who played for Stanford’s David Shaw, who was an assistant coach from 2007-10 before taking the head football coaching job in 2011.

“I think it tells a story that he was one of the guys who studied me and helped Coach Shaw recruit me when I was recruited to Stanford,” Mills said. “So, he’s had eyes on me going back pretty far. He’s familiar with the system I had in college and how it translates into this one. So, he’s been helping me a lot with that.”

The Texans are hoping Hamilton can ignite Mills the way he was able to unlock Justin Herbert with the Chargers last season. The No. 6 overall pick from Oregon threw for 4,336 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions en route to picking up NFL rookie of the year honors.

“I know Justin got thrown in early on in their season last year,” said Mills. “I think something that Pep emphasized when talking about Justin is just being able to get through your reads efficiently, not having to force anything in there. Obviously, protecting the football and getting down to the check downs is never a bad option.”

Mills says that the verbiage Hamilton uses is similar to what was used at Stanford, giving the rookie an easier adjustment.

“Some of that stuff just ties together and allows me to understand it a little easier,” Mills said.

What is the No. 1 thing Pep Hamilton tells Texans quarterbacks?

Houston Texans QBs coach Pep Hamilton tells the QBs one thing, and Davis Mills revealed what it was after the 20-14 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

Houston Texans quarterbacks coach Pep Hamilton is very involved with the quarterbacks throughout the 60 minutes of game time.

The 20-14 win over the Dallas Cowboys Saturday night at AT&T Stadium was no different. Hamilton was coaching up quarterbacks Tyrod Taylor, rookie Davis Mills, and Jeff Driskel.

Hamilton was involved throughout the game, the Mills revealed to reporters after the win what it is Hamilton constantly talks about.

“A big thing we have worked on is just staying loaded at all times in the pocket, so whenever something pops, we are able to get the ball out in a split second,” said Mills, who completed 10-of-16 for 115 yards in the win. “And then, a lot of the stuff he does on game days is just making sure we are prepared for everything the defense is showing us.”

In addition to preaching his message, Hamilton is also prepping the quarterback for the next drive.

Said Mills: “We are coming back to the sidelines and talking through looks, and he is just getting us for the next drive and making sure we are on top of everything.”

Mills has played two preseason games, both of them wins, and he has followed Taylor, who has started every game at quarterback. The bulk of the snaps have gone to Mills.

While Mills can’t reveal where his progression is in terms of a percentage or a ranking, he can reveal his mindset.

“I still feel like my whole mindset going forward is getting better each day,” said Mills. It’s something Coach [David] Culley talks about a lot. Just putting your head down, execute your job and get one percent better each day.”

Mills didn’t throw an interception as he did in the first preseason win at the Green Bay Packers. Given the rookie protected the football, that certainly counts as improvement.

Is Texans GM Nick Caserio too hands on at training camp?

Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio is a visible fixture at training camp, almost like a coach. Is the front office boss too hands on?

Nick Caserio is no stranger to the Houston Texans’ practice field.

During organized team activities this spring, Caserio was throwing passes to receivers.

As estranged quarterback Deshaun Watson returned this week from being injured all of last week, Caserio met him on the practice field just before practice and had a quick chat with him.

For a general manager, Caserio is quite visible. In fact, his visibility as a front office boss is more akin to what Dallas Cowboys fans may be accustomed to with owner Jerry Jones, or perhaps Raiders fans during the Al Davis era.

Caserio’s media appearances are also on par with that of Jones, who appears on Dallas radio twice a week during the season. During the first two weeks of training camp, Caserio appeared at least twice a week with Sports Radio 610, albeit KILT-AM is the official home of the Texans.

According to Brian T. Smith, the lead sports columnist at the Houston Chronicle, Caserio was very involved in practice on Wednesday. The first-year general manager was talking with offensive coordinator Tim Kelly and quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator Pep Hamilton. At least from Smith’s vantage, Caserio was more active than Culley.

This type of visibility and involvement is not common for general managers.

Part of it could be Caserio’s background as a coach in the New England Patriots organization. In 2002, he was a nebulous offensive assistant before going back to the personnel and scouting side. In 2007, he made his return as the receivers coach. Even after becoming the director of player personnel in 2008 through his 2020 exit, Caserio would appear on the practice field from time to time, throwing passes as he does in Houston. If it didn’t bother Bill Belichick, then certainly there couldn’t be any harm to it.

The reality is Caserio is having to rebuild the culture on Kirby Drive. The Texans have never really graduated from their expansion beginnings. The AFC South titles and wild-card playoff wins are nothing more than bi-decade stimulus victories to keep Houston sports fans pacified.

The McNairs brought in Bill O’Brien off the Belichick coaching tree to sprout the same success in Houston. However, he was merely passing through. Caserio was there for the whole dynasty from 2001-20. No one knows what transmuting a franchise from punching bag to world champ looks like more than Caserio.

It is Caserio’s style. If and when the Texans win again, it will be endearing. If the Texans lose with no promise in sight, it will be grating.

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Texans QB coach Pep Hamilton provided insights on Davis Mills prior to 2021 NFL draft

Houston Texans quarterbacks coach Pep Hamilton had insights as to how effective Stanford QB Davis Mills could be prior to the draft.

When the Houston Texans drafted Davis Mills with their 67th overall pick during the 2021 NFL Draft, the selection of the Stanford prodigy was puzzling. The Texans used their first pick in the draft on an unproven prospect who only played in 14 colleague games in a span of three years (2018-2020).

Mills’ lack of college experience on his resume may not be enough to validate the Texans’ decision of drafting the 22-year-old quarterback to the general public. But first-year head coach David Culley received his validation from Texans quarterbacks coach, Pep Hamilton.

“We had some insight on him because of Pep,” Culley said during a Zoom press conference on May 15. “There’s just a comfort level in knowing when you draft a guy like that and he’s had some things happen to him during his career because of the Pac-12 with the COVID situation.”

Despite spending the previous season as the quarterback coach with the Los Angeles Chargers, Hamilton became familiar with Mills through his relationship with Stanford’s head coach David Shaw. Hamilton served as Shaw’s offensive coordinator and quarterback coach for two seasons at Stanford (2011 & 2012) before transitioning to the NFL with the Colts in 2013.

Culley said the insights Hamilton shared with the Texans during the draft process was “exactly what Houston was looking for” in a project quarterback.

During the first few days of rookie training camp, Culley has been impressed by Mills’ throwing accuracy — which was a tremendous selling point from Hamilton. Culley described Mills as smart, and someone who excels in play-action.

If not for the PAC-12’s fall cancelation due to COVID-19, perhaps Mills would have played his first full season of college football.

He appeared in five of the Cardinals’ six regular-season games last season, where he threw for 1,508 yards while completing 66 percent of his pass attempts. Mills’ career at Stanford got off to a slow start due to a knee injury that sidelined him for all but two games during his freshman year. 

Texans coach David Culley says Pep Hamilton historically makes his position group better

Houston Texans coach David Culley says that QB coach Pep Hamilton has made his position groups better wherever he has coached.

The Houston Texans added a new quarterbacks coach in the offseason when they hired Pep Hamilton, who had previously been with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Hamilton takes over a position group that was doubled-up by current offensive coordinator Tim Kelly. In addition, Hamilton takes on the role of passing game coordinator for the Texans.

Coach David Culley says that Hamilton has “been a good position coach” for multiple seasons, coaching predominantly quarterbacks at the NFL level.

“He knows what he’s doing,” Culley told reporters on Zoom during the Texans’ minicamp on May 15. “He knows about quarterback play. He’s been one himself, he’s done it his whole career. He’s coordinated. He’s been a quarterback coach. He knows the whole offense. He knows a variety of offenses. He’s a heck of a teacher.”

At the NFL level, Hamilton got his start as an offensive quality control coach for the New York Jets in 2003 under coach Herm Edwards. In 2004, he was the quarterbacks coach before going to receivers in 2005. Hamilton then went back to coaching quarterbacks under Mike Nolan with the San Francisco 49ers, and then went to the Chicago Bears coaching quarterbacks from 2007-09.

After spending 2010-12 coaching at Stanford, he joined the Indianapolis Colts as their offensive coordinator, given that he has worked with quarterback Andrew Luck in college. Hamilton was then the quarterbacks coach for the Cleveland Browns in 2016, went back to the college game with Michigan for the next two seasons, and then resurfaced as the coach of the XFL’s DC Defenders before the league folded. That fall, Hamilton took a job as the Chargers’ quarterbacks coach, and rookie quarterback Justin Herbert blossomed.

“If you go back and you look at all the guys he’s coached through his coaching career, you can see the one thing that we loved about having Pep here is all of those guys he coached whether they were young guys or guys that have been in the league, they all got better and that’s all you want out of your coaches is for them to get better and he’s done that and we’re hoping for the same thing,” Culley said.

Hamilton also has the benefit of working with a former quarterback of his in Tyrod Taylor, who was with the Chargers last season.

Texans QB coach Pep Hamilton to participate in leadership and networking program for minority coaches

Houston Texans quarterbacks coach Pep Hamilton will take part in the National Coalition for Minority Football Coaches’ leadership program.

Houston Texans quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator Pep Hamilton will be part of a leadership and networking program for minority coaches through the National Coalition for Minority Football Coaches.

The NCMFC announced the first class of the Coalition Academy on Thursday according to Deephi Sidhu of HoustonTexans.com. The opportunity will be year-long and will help pair athletic directors with minority assistant coaches.

“As part of our efforts to provide comprehensive educational opportunities and networking to minority coaches, the Academy allows our participants to build upon their on-field experiences with the off-field information necessary as they advance,” NCMFC Board Member Desiree Reed-Francois said. “In the end, as in many professions, relationships and advocacy matter. The Academy will hopefully foster lifelong relationships between coaches and decision-makers. The Academy will provide minority coaches with one more tool in their belt as they seek to advance their careers and we are grateful to the mentors and to the coaches for their willingness to move college athletics forward.”

The Coalition Academy will help minority coaches with individual mentoring as well as learn the “Xs and Os of hiring.” Coaches will gain insight into the hiring process and intangible skills as they are paired with athletic directors.

The Coalition will also track the progress of participants with a set of metrics and data to help improve the program for future participants.

The only other NFL coach to be a part of the 12-member inaugural class is Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson.