The Houston Texans’ passing game has been abysmal since starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor went down with a hamstring injury in Week 2.
Davis Mills appears to be the captain checkdown of a limited offense that is trepidatious about letting their rookie quarterback sling it downfield. The third-rounder from Stanford has a yards per pass attempt for 6.18.
According to coach David Culley, the reason why the Texans have not opened up the passing game entirely for Mills — save for the New England Patriots game in Week 5 — is because the offense has been behind schedule.
“We’re trying to get those explosive plays,” said Culley. “We just haven’t done that. And, again, being behind the chains have also had an effect on how we get the ball down the field. If we’d stayed above the chains in first and second down a lot more than what we have been, we’d be getting the ball down the field. But we’re trying to get back to manageable situations, and more so than get the ball down the field.”
The Texans’ run game offers nothing to help their rookie quarterback, generating 3.3 yards per carry, the lowest in the NFL. Houston is also tied with the Las Vegas Raiders for the second-most holding penalties in the NFL with 14.
