Here's everything Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said ahead of Thursday's joint practice with the Detroit Lions on Wednesday morning
Here's everything Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said ahead of Thursday's joint practice with the Detroit Lions on Wednesday morning, including the status of starters playing and the health of the roster heading into Saturday's preseason action.
Question: On what he hope to accomplish in Detroit
DeMeco Ryans: “We’re really excited to get to Detroit and go against the Lions. As we talked about all week, it’ll be a great opportunity for us to go and compete against a really good football team, competitive team. Looking to see where we stack up versus this team. So, very excited to get to work.”
Q: On how much you can take away from a joint practice
Ryans: “The main thing is we get different looks, different schemes and we go against different players. The main thing for us is for guys to see something different. We've been going through camp for a while now, seeing the same thing. We were able to get some different looks versus the [Carolina] Panthers last week. I thought it was very beneficial to our guys. It brings up multiple conversations about different concepts offensively and defensively. It sparks conversation. It helps us when it comes to further down the line, how we game plan and what adjustments we need to make. So, we gain a lot from that, internally, when we're able to joint practice.”
Q: On if he views it as a litmus test to see where the team is
Ryans: “It's a practice. It's nothing to test. It's a practice. We're going to suit up, be ready. Our test always comes in the games.”
Q: On his relationship with Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell
Ryans: “Campbell is going to be great to work with. I talked with him for a while, really like his style and how he operates. Intense coach, always has his team prepared. He changed their program around to make them relevant again. So, really look up to him and what he's done with that program and where he's led that team. He's doing a great job of leading, added a ton of great talent to his team. So, it's a competitive team. We know they'll be playing deep in the playoffs this year.”
Q: On where coaches, including Offensive Coordinator Nick Caley, will be during gameday
Ryans: “We've set where we'll be. Caley will be down, calling plays. He felt comfortable being down. Him and how he operated on the sidelines, just being able to talk and connect with the guys, which he does a really good job of. I think him being down there, the guys can feel his energy, feel his passion for the game and we can get things resolved very quickly there. So, really felt good about last week versus the Panthers when he was down. Felt the flow of communication from him, our staff and our players. Everybody was in sync. We were able to really be ahead of things before they popped up. So, I think it's a good move for him being down, calling the plays.”
Q: On cornerbacks, he’s seen in his career with as good hands as CB Derek Stingley Jr.
Ryans: “That's a great question. Derek definitely has some of the best hands that I've seen. From the corner perspective, you can throw in Coach Prime [Deion Sanders], some great hands as well. But, Derek, he's a unique player. He's very talented, very gifted. For me, what I'm most encouraged about is, from when I first got here, to see where Stingley has grown to and what he's become, it's very impressive to watch, to see the growth of a player, the development of him. For him to be at the top of his craft, top of the game as a cornerback position, like he's done an outstanding job.”
Q: On Cam Robinson catching up after missed time on the field
Ryans: “For the veteran guys, it doesn't take long to catch up. Cam has played a lot of football throughout his career. So, that road to getting back and playing football, it's easier for those guys because he's banked a lot of reps. So, I really trust a guy like Cam because of his veteran experience, exposure that he's had in games. So, really not concerned with him, the amount of time that he's missed, more so just thankful that it wasn't as severe as it first looked for Cam.”
Q: On where he feels the team is at currently
Ryans: “We're getting ready for the season. We've worked very hard in training camp. Our team has grinded through some really tough days. Now we've just got to put it all together and go play when the regular season hits. I'm excited for the regular season to get here. I know our team is excited for that moment, when it really counts. That's what we're looking forward to right now.”
Q: On how much of Offensive Coordinator Nick Caley’s energy factored in to calling plays on the field
Ryans: “For Caley and his personality and what he brings… When it comes to calling plays, it's just a matter of where the play caller feels that he can be most effective to help our team win games. Whether it's up or down, it's just about putting the players in the right spot, making the proper adjustments, putting us where we need to be in position to win games. Ultimately, that's what the decision comes down to.”
Q: On what it’s like preparing for the roster cutdown to 53-men
Ryans: “At this point in time of training camp, it's the most difficult time for me because you have 90 guys who've been here since OTAs. Some guys have been working out here since February, in the building nonstop, putting the work in to make the team. Sometimes you lose sight of how we're trying to build this camaraderie, we're trying to build this team. But, on the flip side of that, you do have to tell some guys, ‘No.’ For me, as a coach, the toughest part of my job, is having to tell a guy, ‘No, not at this time.’ But, the thing I love about our group is we've got 90 guys and I would love to keep all 90 guys in some way or fashion. We do get 16 practice squad players, so we're looking forward to being able to keep those extra 16 guys around. But, it's tough. It's tough when you're in the position of having to tell a guy who worked his entire life, it's been his dream since childhood to make an NFL roster and be an impact player, but to be able to tell him no is difficult for me, still. It never gets easy. But the players do a great job of handling that by wanting to know, ’Hey, what can I do to get better? What are the steps for me to make a team? Where do you see I need to improve?’ I have a lot of guys who ask that question and I'm happy to give them the advice that I think can help them out. In my role, my biggest aim for all of our guys is how do I help and assist players to make the NFL. It may not be our 53-man roster here with the Texans, but there are 31 other teams. Can I help those guys in any way make their dreams a reality? That's why I care deeply about the guys. I want to see them succeed wherever it is. It may not be here in Houston, but it could very well be somewhere else.”
Q: On where you look, as a play caller, on the field to assess how things are going
Ryans: “With a play caller, one thing you have to understand is it's never on one guy. That's why we have a coaching staff full of experienced coaches that are doing a lot of different things, a lot of people's eyes are in different places. So, it's how you deploy your assistant coaches and how you utilize the guys around you. We have a great staff on offense, defense and special teams who are all one. We all work together. It's never on one man. I can't do this, I can't stand up here and be the coach that I am without my assistant coaches helping me, assisting me, giving me information. It's everybody working together. Offensive coaches also help defensive coaches. We do everything we can possible to win games and it always comes down to the staff working as one.”
Q: On WR Nico Collins and CB Derek Stingley Jr. making each other better
Ryans: “With Nico and [Derek] Stingley, what I see is two guys that compete every day. It's easy, when you're some of the best players, to take downs off and go a little easy. These guys always, constantly they're going at it. When I talk about iron sharpening iron, it’s not just a cliche, but it's truly these guys want to be better and they train each other that way. They work hard when they're going against each other. There's no brother lawing. They go hard and that makes each guy better. That's why those guys have ascended in their careers because they've been able to work across from each other. Both of these guys are the top players at their position across the league. When you can work against someone of that caliber, it's only going to raise your level of game.”
Q: On what made him hire Offensive Line/Offensive Run Game Coordinator Cole Popovich
Ryans: “From building the staff… It seems so long ago, 2023. But, just meeting with Cole, just interviewing him and seeing how smart Cole was, that really impressed me. We had him up on the board. We were talking a lot of different schemes and he was very sharp on it when it came to adjusting and how he would call things. You can tell very quickly that he was a very bright coach and had a bright future in front of him. It stood out to me instantly. It wasn't hard to say that I wanted him on the staff.”
Q: On the health of the team as a whole
Ryans: “I'm very pleased with how we've handled camp thus far. We've done a great job working together, making sure our players are available. That's the main thing. You want to work as hard as possible, but we also work smart. I'm constantly watching, monitoring guys. I'm watching every rep, not just strategically from a schematic standpoint, but I'm also watching how guys are moving, what their movement patterns are and how tired guys may be at certain points of practice. I'm constantly watching all of that and I'm constantly adjusting practice. I have a plan, a script for practice, but that can change any day and that's based on just me, my experience, my eyes, just watching the guys and seeing where they are, making sure that we're here for the long haul and not overworking guys and not underworking guys as well. There's a fine balance there and making sure the guys get what they need. At training camp, it's a time to callous yourself for the season. So, there is hard work that has to go play. There are some times we have to push through and grind, but there also is a balance when you've got to pull it back to make sure guys are fresh and recovered and ready to go for the next day.”
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Everything Texans HC DeMeco Ryans says ahead of Lions' joint practice
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