I’m going to go ahead and address the elephant in the room – yes, my name is Stoney Keeley and I cover the Tennessee Titans here on SoBros Network. So, if you found this piece because you have a Google News alert set for ‘Houston Texans‘ or something, welcome – I don’t usually write about the Texans, but felt like I’d throw my two cents onto the internet after watching them play the Titans competitively twice this season, even winning one of those games. And no, this isn’t going to be a long-winded setup for a joke about Mike Vrabel playing chess, not checkers, in making David Culley and Davis Mills look good enough to stick around for a few more years so that he can keep beating them. I actually mean it when I say this, but I think Culley and Mills have both done enough to warrant another look at how they can progress with this franchise. At the very least, if I’m the Texans, I’m really kicking the tires on the idea.
I would ask everyone to remember the expectations for this franchise heading into 2021. Everything that the Jacksonville Jaguars ended up being…that’s what we thought the Texans would be. They hired a guy who coached wide receivers in an offense that never passed the ball to be the head coach. The whole Deshaun Watson saga happened. Culley made headlines for just cancelling practices just ’cause. Everything about the Texans’ offseason screamed “dumpster fire.” They were the laughingstock of the league back in August. And, sure – they ended up being a pretty bad football team. But, even at 4-13, the Texans were way better than anyone thought they’d be. They lost four one-possession games, three of those coming against playoff caliber teams. They played the Patriots, the Dolphins, and the Titans tight before eventually losing. And, they dropped a 21-14 game to the Jets – which…as a Titans fan, I can’t say shit because the Jets beat the Titans, too. Nonetheless, my point is that they were competitive against good teams. Most importantly was the progress they made down the stretch – they finished the 2021 campaign at 2-2 in their last four games, with a +7 scoring differential, including a wild 41-29 win over the Chargers.
I dare say if you look at the way this team came together and played after they were eliminated from postseason contention that they overachieved. That’s why I was surprised to see a report that the Texans could move on from Culley scroll across my Twitter feed as I was watching yesterday’s Texans-Titans game.
John McClain of the Houston Chronicle tweeted that “it won’t surprise me if coach David Culley gets fired by Nick Caserio and Jack Easterby” after the season ends. McClain adds that “it would be terribly unfair based on what they’ve stuck him with not to give him a second season.” And McClain is absolutely right. From crap talent to apparent micromangement (Culley has admitted that Caserio talks to Culley on the headset during games regarding strategy, etc.), Culley was never really given a chance to show what he can do.
I was floored. Here I am watching this Texans team play tough, physical football…they’re playing hard for their coach…they’re playing with pride. I’m thinking about how wrong Jacksonville got it and thinking that maybe Houston was right after all and then BOOM – “one and done.” There’s a rumor out there that Culley was basically hired for his steadying presence to navigate a lost season amidst a PR challenge. That’s reckless to do for an esteemed journalism institution, but we can mention that shit because we’re just a shitty little blog on the internet. Anyway, isn’t that a good thing? Like, don’t you want a guy that is just generally steady and calm? That players want to play for? That’s hilarious – it actually worked…guys want to play for Culley, and signing all these retreads to one and two year deals actually provided some veteran leadership on the team. They actually drafted some talent…and now there’s an idea percolating that he may be fired?!
This team played incredibly hard yesterday – they were physical, they were intense, and you could tell that there was a lot of pride within that organization. And, you have guys like Danny Amendola and Rex Burkhead in the building who can teach your young core how to win. I know the blue print in this day and age is to hire some hot shot coordinator, preferably one that has breathed the same air in the same room as Sean McVay at one point, but there’s still something to the ‘leader of men’ type that deserves some consideration – your Mike Vrabel types, your Mike Tomlin types. I’m not saying Culley is anywhere near as good as those guys, but I think he’s in that mold, and that should at least warrant putting all your chips in the middle of the table and giving the guy every chance to succeed that you can if you’re the Texans (still have to do something about the Cult of Easterby, though).
Then, there’s Davis Mills. No one is talking about this kid in the group of first round quarterback picks this year, but if you add him in, he’s had just as good of a season as any rookie quarterback not named Mac Jones. 2021 was a crowded quarterback class, and the result was Mills sliding to the Texans in the third round. But, he’s put some good football on tape this season, and I don’t know who the alternative would be in 2022 at this point. He finished the game yesterday at 23/33 for 301 yards and three touchdowns. Specifically, in the 4th quarter, he was 7/7 for 99 yards and two touchdowns. I think there are some valid concerns with Mills – his ability to recognize the defense, speed up his internal play clock and release the ball quicker both need improvement. But, I like his athleticism being able to extend plays, and I think his arm talent is better than people initially thought. When he was decisive and accurate, the Texans really aired it out on offense.
With a 30-yard completion to WR Nico Collins early in the fourth quarter, Davis Mills passes David Carr (2,592 passing yards in 2002) for the most single-season passing yards by #Texans rookie quarterback. pic.twitter.com/ToKkMBaFhR
— Houston Texans PR (@TexansPR) January 9, 2022
When you look at the options, and you look at how Mills progressed throughout his rookie season, I just don’t see how you don’t conclude that it’s worth running it back in 2022. Not to mention, they’ve drafted some talented young players to go around him in Nico Collins and Brevin Jordan.
2021 was supposed to be a lost season, but somehow, I think the Texans did well to establish a foundation to build upon with a coach who instilled a tough, physical identity, some veteran leadership to teach the young ‘uns how to win, and a core of young talent. If I’m the Texans, I’m not disappointed by that…I’m surprised. And, instead of firing Culley, I want to get to work building around him. *shrugs* That’s just my two cents, though. Maybe I was just deployed by Mike Vrabel to write this post….
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Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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