Texans WR Brandin Cooks Wants to 'Clean Up' Passing Link with QB Davis Mills

Houston Texans receiver Brandin Cooks might have said it best Wednesday when he said that the team needs its best players to step up in order to secure the first win of the season against the Los Angeles Chargers at NRG Stadium on Sunday. 

He didn't exclude himself from blame, even citing an honest need to have an improved passing connection with quarterback Davis Mills. 

"Personally just for myself and with us pass-catching with Davis, we got some things to clean up," Cooks said. "We can be better. Absolutely."

Cooks is clearly Houston's No. 1 receiving option, as the veteran gives Mills a trusted safety net in the passing game. But this could be a weakness of the offense as well, as it becomes more obvious for defenses to predict who Mills would like to target down the field. 

There seems to be a plan in place to change that on Sunday. 

"Anytime Brandin and Nico (Collins) can get the ball, we know it's gonna be a big play," Mills said. "We gotta continue to find ways to move them around and get them specific matchups ... we're gonna keep attacking and keep trying to emphasize getting those guys the ball so they can make plays for us."

However, the numbers through three games show that the Mills-Cooks connection that Houston fans saw last year is on the verge of breaking through, but the production just hasn't been there. 

When counting players who are tied in total targets as one, Cooks has the ninth-most targets in the league at 29. However, he only has 158 receiving yards, which ranks as 40th-best amongst pass-catchers. Should he add one more incomplete target to his total, Cooks would rank last in receiving yards amongst pass-catchers with 30 targets or more. 

He's continued to make sure he's staying accountable when it comes to a lack of success.

"I look in the mirror and (at) myself, I can be better," he said.

But the blame also falls on the second-year man Mills, who has struggled to find any sort of rhythm. On the bright side, his interception (two) and sack (seven) are on the lower side, but the efficiency remains an issue. 

Of 33 qualified quarterbacks, Mills has the fourth-worst completion percentage (57.9). 

And of all quarterbacks with 100 or more pass attempts this season, Mills (107 attempts) ranks second-worst in passing yardage (662). Only Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky has less yards on more than 100 attempts. 

The offense is more than a two-man show. And with continued messages of accountability echoing through the locker room, change be on the horizon to help bring home a win on Sunday when the Texans and Chargers kickoff at 12 p.m. C.T. at NRG.

"If every person can do that and then bring that collectively I think that'll help us get  on the same page with all of us," Cooks said. 

You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7

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