Tag: Texans red zone

Texans QB Davis Mills cites quicker throws for red zone efficiency against the Chiefs

Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills says that the red zone efficiency picked up against the Kansas City Chiefs due to quicker throws.

The Houston Texans have been as incompatible with red zone efficiency Oklahoma roads are to smooth asphalt.

Houston’s 46.2% red zone efficiency is the third-lowest in the NFL. The Texans’ struggle in the red zone have been a key contributor to their 1-12-1 record.

However, Houston was able to play above their average against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 15. Despite taking another loss, the Texans gave the AFC West champions a scare as they took the Chiefs into overtime before losing 30-24. What helped Houston stay competitive with Kansas City was their red zone efficiency of 3-4 (75%).

What helped Houston improve their red zone efficiency was their quarterback play.

“I try to pride myself on situational football, third-downs and red zone,” quarterback Davis Mills said. “Any opportunity we get in the red zone we want to finish with a touchdown.”

Indeed Mills was a big factor in the red zone for Houston as he contributed with two red zone passing touchdowns. The former 2021 third-rounder also got it done on the ground as he rushed for a 17-yard score.

Ultimately there was a formula the Texans followed that provided for success, and it can be a legitimate strategy over the final three games.

Said Mills: “As long as I can get the ball out on time and our guys are creating separation, the concepts allow us to score a lot of points. We want to get down there as often as possible and hopefully have multiple opportunities down there.”

The Texans take on the Tennessee Titans Dec. 24 at 12:00 p.m. Central Time from Nissan Stadium. The Titans defense has the 14th-highest red zone efficiency with 56.4% of opponent red zone trips converted to touchdowns. If the Texans are able to return to their 75% conversion rate from a week ago, it should help them avoid getting swept.

WATCH: Texans WR Nico Collins proves red zone worth against the Rams

Houston Texans receiver Nico Collins demonstrated against the Los Angeles Rams why he will be a big red zone weapon in 2022.

One of the mysteries of the 2022 offseason has been how receiver Nico Collins would look in the red zone.

The former 2021 third-round pick from Michigan showed some of his potential against the Los Angeles Rams in the second preseason game Friday night at SoFi Stadium.

With seven seconds to go in the first half, quarterback Davis Mills threw a jump ball for the 6-4, 215-pound wideout along the right boundary in the end zone. Collins corralled the ball and got both feet down to score the touchdown.

Collins caught 33 passes for 446 yards and a touchdown through 14 games in his rookie season, eight of which he started.

 

Why the Texans may convert more red zone trips in 2022

The Houston Texans could be better in the red zone in 2022. If so, Davis Mills will be the reason.

The Houston Texans were ineffective in the red zone in 2021. The third-place AFC South club posted a 51.4% conversion rate, the sixth-lowest in the NFL.

However, the Texans may have a chance to improve upon those numbers, which should aid the club in its campaign to post anything above four wins for the first time since 2019.

According to Doug Farrar from the Touchdown Wire, Davis Mills was the best quarterback last season going against “Red-2” goal line coverage. The Texans’ Week 18 finale against the Tennessee Titans was where the 2021 third-rounder from Stanford displayed his best attributes.

In certain goal-line situations, defenses will play “Red-2” coverage, in which a five-across look is presented to the quarterback. In Red-2, the cornerbacks squat and cover instead of playing press, the safeties run reads in which they drop down for any pass in their areas, the inside linebacker will play to the passing strength, and the seam/hook defenders read the quarterback and give the safeties support underneath. Matt Bowen has a great explanation here.

Who was the best quarterback against Red-2 coverage in 2021? Rookie Davis Mills of the Texans has an excellent case — he completed four of five passes for 34 yards, 28 air yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions, a passer rating of 134.6, and an ANY/A of 14.2.

This seven-yard touchdown pass to Danny Amendola against the Titans in Week 18 is pretty nifty. Mills gets knocked off his spot, rolls left, sees nothing there, and has the presence of mind to hit Amendola to the other side of the end zone. Not bad for a rookie, and that acumen is one reason I had Mills as the NFL’s most underrated quarterback in 2021.

Six of Mills’ 16 touchdown passes last season came inside the 10-yard line. If the Texans are converting more in the red zone, it will be thanks to Mills and his ability to beat certain goal line coverages.

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Texans’ red zone woes cost them in 35-20 loss to the Packers

The Houston Texans were 50% in the red zone against the Green Bay Packers Sunday afternoon, and it contributed to their 35-20 loss.

The Houston Texans had trouble getting in the red zone, and it contributed to their 35-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers Sunday afternoon at NRG Stadium.

Houston scored a touchdown on two of their four red zone trips, and converted two of their three goal-to-go situations. As a result, they lost the game by two touchdowns, one of which would have had to have included a successful two-point conversion.

According to quarterback Deshaun Watson, the Texans’ struggles running the football in such a condensed space were part of the problem.

“They’re just trying to stop the run, and then whenever we run past, it’s a lot of extra defenders, so you got to find space and buy yourself some time to find guys and get open,” Watson said. “It’s tough to score down in the red zone. It’s not easy to do that. That’s one of the toughest spots, percentage-wise, once you get down there, it’s tough. So, a lot of times teams want to score backed off from the red zone, from the goal line. That’s it. You got to be able to run the ball in.”

Houston was successful in getting the ball in running back David Johnson’s hands near the goal line on pass plays. On a second-and-goal from the 3-yard line with 9:02 to go in the third quarter, Watson threw a scoring pass to Johnson to help Houston chip into the Packers’ lead, 21-7.

However, facing a third-and-3 from Green Bay’s 8-yard line with 14:16 left in the game, Watson took a sack that forced Houston to send kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn out for a 38-yard field goal.

With 9:59 left in the game, Fairbairn hit a 29-yard field goal after running back Duke Johnson was unable to convert a third-and-goal pass from the 8-yard line.

Having touchdowns instead of field goals could have helped the Texans, who enter the bye week 1-6 and searching for answers.