What is the coverage that flusters Texans QB Davis Mills?
Davis Mills may be the Houston Texans’ solution at quarterback for 2022, but he isn’t perfect.
According to Doug Farrar from the Touchdown Wire, the one coverage that Mills struggles against is the Cover 2.
Mills did a lot more for the Texans in his rookie season than most expected; it’s why he showed up as our most underrated NFL quarterback. And he certainly wasn’t the only quarterback to struggle against zone coverage with two deep safeties last season. But Mills was the most impacted, completing 34 of 51 passes for 385 yards, 239 air yards, no touchdowns, three interceptions, an ANY/A of 3.8, and a passer rating of 64.6. The nadir of Mills’ time against Cover-2 came against the Colts in Week 6, when he completed 29 of 43 passes for 243 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions, Both picks happened against Cover-2, which Indianapolis played very well in 2021.
The first interception happened with 12:44 left in the third quarter. Mills thought he had receiver Nico Collins over the middle, but linebacker Darius Leonard baited him with a late break to take the ball away.
And with 3:29 left in the game, Mills tried to get the ball to Brandin Cooks on a deep route down the boundary, but cornerback Isaiah Rogers had the right position through the route, and he had the ball on what looked like a Mills underthrow.
Mills threw two touchdowns to eight interceptions against all manner of two-deep coverage, and seven touchdowns to two interceptions versus single-high stuff. Something for him to watch in his second season.
The fascinating aspect of Mills’ struggles with the Cover 2 is that the defense the Texans predominantly run. It is also worth noting that Farrar’s examples came during Mills’ six-game losing streak to inaugurate the third-rounder’s entry into the NFL. Mills would be benched after the next two games when a healthy Tyrod Taylor was ready to insert back into the lineup.
The Texans’ defense has been sharpening Mills throughout the offseason, as general manager Nick Caserio says the defense is doing well with its disguises. If Mills is able to recognize them, it should improve his ability against the Cover 2.
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