Tag: Texans quarterback

Why Eric Bieniemy would be a perfect addition for Texans

John Crumpler states his case for Eric Bieniemy to replace former Texans senior offensive assistant in Shane Day.

The Kansas City Chiefs secured their second consecutive Super Bowl title and third championship in five seasons this past Sunday. Under the guidance of head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs have officially entered dynasty territory and will be discussed as one of the best NFL teams ever assembled.

Much focus goes towards the greatness of Mahomes and the inevitability that he brings where Kansas City will almost certainly have a chance to win the game regardless of what happens. It’s deserved praise for a player that will certainly compete with Tom Brady for the title of greatest quarterback of all time by the time this is over.

However, one storyline is grossly underscored in the Chiefs dynasty — defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

Spagnuolo was hired by Reid in 2019 and has turned the Chiefs defense from poor to serviceable and now elite under his stewardship. Kansas City had one of the youngest, yet best defenses in the NFL in 2023 and is showing no signs of slowing down entering 2024. A huge part of that is the assured presence of Spagnuolo. He signed a contract extension on Tuesday with the Chiefs and represents one of the biggest advantages in football for Reid.

The head coach never has to worry about losing his coordinator that specializes in the other side of the football. Reid can focus on working on the offense with Mahomes and whoever is serving as offensive coordinator, while Spagnuolo brings a wealth of experience and pedigree towards handling the defense.

It’s an advantage many franchises in the NFL would love to have and it begs the question of how the Houston Texans could find their own version of it.

That answer could potentially be available for head coach DeMeco Ryans if they were to look towards Kansas City.

Eric Bieniemy has had an interesting time in the NFL. He served as offensive coordinator for the Chiefs from 2018-22 before taking the Washington Commanders offensive coordinator job in 2023. Each of the last five coaching cycles have seen Bieniemy go through the head coach interview process after piloting highly successful offenses. Even after a down year in Washington, Bieniemy was still considered for the Commanders lead job.

Despite that, Bieniemy has been unable to land the top job. In fact, new Washington head coach Dan Quinn even declined to retain him on his new staff for their incoming rookie quarterback. The reasons for this are unclear, and likely very complex from team to team, but it appears the odds of a head coach career in the NFL for Bieniemy are unlikely at this stage.

In this way, Bieniemy suddenly appears as an offensive equivalent to Spagnuolo. Someone with ample success in the NFL, years of experience on their side of the football, and yet with little chance at ever being promoted beyond the coordinator role.

Recently, the Texans lost their senior offensive assistant in Shane Day to the Los Angeles Chargers. The opening begs the question of if Bieniemy could be brought in as a replacement, and potentially as a future Spagnuolo to Ryans’ Reid.

Bieniemy would bring diverse offensive concepts from a highly respected coaching tree under Reid. He showed off in Washington an offense that wants to lean on the quarterback, as evidenced by their volume of passing attempts despite shaky quarterback play throughout the season. His experience as a running backs coach from 2013-17 would also lend itself to helping the run game.

Marrying these concepts with the skeleton of offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik’s scheme that is based on principles taken from Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco could yield a new and innovative offense for quarterback C.J. Stroud to pilot.

Speaking of Stroud, Bieniemy has plenty of experience working with budding elite quarterbacks. He oversaw the launch of Mahomes’ career and helped guide the offense as it transitioned identities after the departure of elite receiver Tyreek Hill. He knows how to work with that caliber of talent and how to work with rosters that have varying strengths.

Finally, Bieniemy could stop the brain drain.

Slowik is assumed around the league to be a top candidate for head coaching jobs in the 2025 cycle. Quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson, his likely successor, could very well follow that path as well the following year based on the league’s propensity to hunt young, innovative offensive minds.

Bieniemy could help them shape the offense and, when inevitably both are lost to head coaching opportunities, takeover offensive play-calling with the full trust of both Ryans and Stroud by that point. He represents a commodity that is unlikely to be poached by opposing teams.

Altogether, from both his career path and experience, Bieniemy offers an enticing option for the Texans both in replacing Shane Day and working to find true continuity as the offensive coordinator spot for DeMeco Ryans in a league that is constantly turning over that position.

His talent is one Houston should consider if they could pry him away from returning to Kansas City to assist with a potential three-peat. How they plan to address that spot on the staff will have to wait.

Texans turn to Davis Mills at a crucial crossroads

Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills has a chance to truly be the hero for once in a meaningful way.

Davis Mills has been here before.

It was just one year ago that Mills was set to start Houston’s pivotal Week 18 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. The game carried a great deal of importance – the opportunity for the Texans to secure the first overall pick in the NFL draft. Rather than fold as a two-win team, Mills led the greatest scoring drive of his young career. His 298 yard, 3 touchdown and 2 interception performance fueled Houston to a thrilling Hail Mary finish and the subsequent two-point conversion to Jordan Akins gave Houston a 32-31 victory and a 3-13-1 record. In the process, they sacrificed the first selection to Chicago.

The series of events altered the course of Houston’s franchise. DeMeco Ryans was hired as coach of the Texans, quarterback C.J. Stroud was selected rather than league favorite Bryce Young, and the rest is history.

Texans’ Davis Mills says he has improved as a quarterback

Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills believes that he has shown improvement at the position over the past year.

Davis Mills hasn’t claimed a start for the Houston Texans since Jan. 8, but the third-year quarterback believes he has improved in that span.

Rookie C.J. Stroud has started all 13 games for Houston this season, but Mills may have to relieve the No. 2 overall pick, who remains in concussion protocol following the Texans’ 30-6 loss to the New York Jets in Week 14.

With the 7-6 Texans facing the Tennessee Titans on the road, Mills addressed the curiosity concerning how he has grown as a quarterback in nearly a year.

“I don’t know if you’re looking for specifics, but pretty much all around,” Mills said via Aaron Wilson of KPRC-TV. “Try to make myself a complete quarterback, go out there and make plays. That’s pretty much what it boils down to. It’s about efficiency and spreading the ball around to the offense and letting playmakers make plays.”

The last time Mills faced the Titans on the road was Week 16 last season and delivered a 19-14 win. The former third-rounder from Stanford went 17-of-28 for 178 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.

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How much ground are Texans losing with QB Davis Mills?

The Houston Texans are no doubt getting a downgrade at QB in Week 15, but how far is the chasm between C.J. Stroud and Davis Mills?

When an NFL team goes from their starting quarterback to second string, they have to adjust to a stepdown at the position.

Such is the case with the Houston Texans. As rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud is stuck in the concussion protocol, the Texans will rely on third-year Davis Mills to guide the offense against the Tennessee Titans in Week 15.

According to Cody Benjamin from CBS Sports, the Texans are going to put the 24th-best quarterback under center at Nissan Stadium for the 12:00 p.m. Central Time kickoff.

C.J. Stroud would represent the Texans in the top 10, but the standout rookie is in concussion protocol after exiting Week 14 against the Jets. Mills, meanwhile, has plenty of starting experience, but he’s been more prone to untimely giveaways.

From top-10 to No. 24 — such is the perception of talent lost between Stroud and Mills.

The former third-rounder from Stanford went 17-of-28 for 178 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in Houston’s 19-14 win over Tennessee last year in Week 16 at Nissan Stadium. Mills has shown the ability to beat the Titans on the road in December once before.

Across the rest of the AFC South, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence came in at No. 13 with the Tennessee Titans’ Will Levis following directly behind. The Indianapolis Colts’ Gardner Minshew was No. 22.

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DeMeco Ryans says QB Davis Mills has done ‘good job’ with what Texans have asked

Coach DeMeco Ryans says Houston Texans QB Davis Mills has met his requirements for what the team has asked him to do throughout 2023.

DeMeco Ryans’ new era Houston Texans may have to borrow from the frustrating past to get through Week 15.

Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud may be down with a concussion as the Texans face the Tennessee Titans Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time at Nissan Stadium. If so, Houston will start former 2021 third-rounder Davis Mills for the 27th time.

While much outside focus has been on Stroud, internal attention has been given to Mills, like every player, throughout the year.

Ryans knows what the Texans have.

“Davis has done a good job with everything that we’ve asked him to do,” Ryans told reporters Wednesday. “He’s done a really good job of just leading in his own right, just seeing him on our scout team, just seeing how he helps out — helps us out with the defensive looks. He’s done a really good job of what he’s been asked to do.”

Mills will be asked to lead Houston to a win over the Titans and keep the Texans’ playoff hopes alive. At 7-6, the Texans are part of the “in the hunt” category and are the provisional No. 8 seed — meaning they would miss the playoffs.

The former Stanford product led Houston to a 19-14 victory over Tennessee in Week 16 last season when the Titans were 7-7 and grasping on their evaporating lead in the AFC South. The loss helped Tennessee falter in Week 18 and lose their division lead and playoff spot entirely.

Experience can be the best teacher.

Said Ryans: “If you’ve been there, you’ve done it and you’re not making the moment bigger than it should be. Experience helps us all. So, you would like to think that experience would definitely help out.”

Mills went 17-of-28 for 178 yards, a touchdown, an interception, and posted a 72.6 passer rating in the win over Tennessee.

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Texans fans react to QB Davis Mills leading first team offense

Houston Texans fans weren’t too pleased to hear Davis Mills was leading the first team offense on Wednesday.

The Houston Texans had a great thing going with rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, and then a concussion hit when the No. 2 overall pick took a sack against the New York Jets in Week 14.

Stroud went from the MetLife Stadium surface to concussion protocol. Third-year Davis Mills, an emblem of the franchise’s on-field struggles the past two seasons, finished out the game. The former 2021 third-rounder may also start at the Tennessee Titans Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time if Stroud isn’t able to clear protocol.

Midweek indications are Stroud won’t. Mills was spotted taking the first team snaps.

Here are some of the best social media reactions to come from Texans fans, who are no doubt heartbroken at the possibility of not having Stroud under center in Week 15.

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Texans QB C.J. Stroud prides himself on teammates’ success

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud enjoys being the catalyst for his teammates’ success on the football field.

What spectators have noticed about C.J. Stroud is his penchant for ball distribution. What the Houston Texans rookie quarterback can’t tell anyone is when the talent specifically developed.

The No. 2 overall pick met with reporters Nov. 22 and reflected on when he discovered his trait for effective ball distribution.

“Probably, honestly, growing up and playing in the street, kind of whoever was open was going to get the ball,” said Stroud. “I don’t know, I like to feed my guys that put in work every week, and I see it, physically. I get to see them work their tail off from the morning all the way until we leave here, and on top of that, dudes are watching film at home. So, I take pride in getting guys paid and making them feel their worth on the field.”

Nico Collins is enjoying the benefits of Stroud with 43 catches for 696 yards and four touchdowns. Rookie receiver Tank Dell is not far behind with 42 catches for 659 yards and a team-high six touchdowns. Even free agent Noah Brown is on the verge of matching career highs from a year ago with 21 catches for 439 yards and a touchdown.

The furthest Stroud believes he developed the ball distribution knack was at Rancho Cucamonga High School in southern California.

Said Stroud: “I don’t know, I’ve probably been thinking like that since high school. Guys wanting to get scholarships and stuff like that, my friends. These are my best friends at the time, so it probably would have meant even more. And just like I cared then, I care about that now. So, it’s been really cool to see every week somebody doing really well.”

The Texans get back into action Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars with a 12:00 p.m. Central Time kickoff from NRG Stadium.

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Texans coach DeMeco Ryans wants C.J. Stroud to keep attacking

Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans would prefer QB C.J. Stroud continue driving the ball downfield so long as he learns from his mistakes.

C.J. Stroud threw three interceptions in the 21-16 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 11. The Houston Texans’ rookie even underscored that he would keep shooting — a la, Stephen Curry — and stay aggressive with his reads.

Coach DeMeco Ryans has no problem with Stroud staying aggressive, albeit with a significant caveat: learning from the mistakes.

“I love C.J.’s attitude about him continuing to shoot like Curry, and that’s the only way you continue to get better,” Ryans told reporters Nov. 20. “You learn from your mistakes, and you continue to attack it, and that’s how I want C.J. to approach the game. I want him to approach the game with an ‘attack first’ mindset, and we’re not going to hold back just because he made mistakes.”

While Stroud had three interceptions, his 27-for-37 for 336 yards and two touchdowns were effective enough to win Houston its third straight and setup a first-place division matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 12 at NRG Stadium.

“He also made a lot of big plays for us in that game,” said Ryans. “So, we won’t let three or four negative plays affect how he plays the game. We continue to trust him, continue to lean on him and his leadership and what he’s done for our offense. We’re in a position that we’re in because of his play, and we’ll continue to lean on him.”

Kickoff with the Jaguars is at 12:00 p.m. Central Time.

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WATCH: Texans QB C.J. Stroud throws TD pass to TE Dalton Schultz against the Cardinals

Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud threw a touchdown pass to TE Dalton Schultz in the first quarter of Week 11 against the Arizona Cardinals.

Sometimes Houston can be seen as a baseball town, what with the Houston Astros winning multiple World Series. If that’s the case, why not play to it?

Houston Texans tight end caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from quarterback C.J. Stroud with 5:53 to go in the first quarter of their Week 11 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at NRG Stadium. The way Schultz scored the six points was unique in the way the former Dallas Cowboy slide across the goal line — akin to a base runner sliding across home plate, as one would see in an Astros game.

The touchdown between Stroud and Schultz was their fifth of the season.

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Texans QB C.J. Stroud names biggest trait he hopes teammates sense

Quarterback C.J. Stroud expounded on how he would like his Houston Texans teammates to view him on initial impression.

C.J. Stroud doesn’t like to force things. The rookie quarterback has been successful allowing things to come to him.

That isn’t to say passivity has been Stroud’s calling card either. The No. 2 overall pick has shown initiative with his play and provided a definition of what opponents can expect when No. 7 is under center.

Similarly the rookie has emphasized in the locker room inside NRG Stadium traits that he hopes teammates pick up quickly when interacting with Stroud.

“The main thing I want to be is somebody they can trust, a trustworthy person, and somebody who they know they can trust through thick and thin,” Stroud told reporters Nov. 15. “I think that’s where it starts and ends for me, because you can put 50 categories in that word ‘trust’ on what they trust you for. So, for me, that’s probably the biggest thing.”

Stroud knows the quarterback position engenders leadership. However, the former Ohio State product doesn’t want his teammates to follow him because his position demands it.

Said Stroud: “I don’t want to ever force myself on anybody or make it feel like just because I’m the quarterback, you guys have got to follow my lead. I want it to be natural and thorough, and I feel like I’ve done that a little bit, but I’m still trying to keep that going. So, it’s been amazing just having them have my back through everything, and every time I address the team or have something to say, they always listen.”

Through nine games, Stroud believes he is, “building it” and that the results thus far have been, “been pretty cool to see.”

Houston gets back in action Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time at NRG Stadium for Week 11.

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