Here’s everything Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said following Tuesday’s OTA practice, including an update on the offensive line, which players have stood out, the growth of C.J. Stroud and more.
Question: On the progress he has seen from CB Derek Stingley Jr. this offseason
DeMeco Ryans: “What I’ve seen from Stingley this year is he comes out and he’s as consistent as ever. He’s in mid-year form already here in May and June. He’s making big-time plays that we’ve all seen him make. He’s doing a great job in coverage of being sticky, being exactly where he’s supposed to be. One thing I’m most proud of, and this is our entire group, when you see a young guy make a play, one of our young corners, they make a play, bat a ball down, like to see the excitement from ‘Sting’, Kamari [Lassiter] on the sideline of them encouraging the young guys with the plays they’re making, that’s what I’m most excited to see.”
Q: On the most improvements he has seen since the start of OTAs
Ryans: “The most improvement I’ve seen from our team is the pre-snap communication offensively, our defensively communication has been lights out. We’re way ahead of, again, where we’ve been in the past because of that communication, us just playing smart, of being a smarter football team, and understanding situations better. I feel like we’re in a really good place right now.”
Q: On what he has seen from CB Jaylin Smith and S Jaylen Reed so far this offseason
Ryans: “Yeah, starting with Jaylin Smith, I feel like Jaylin has taken a really nice jump in his second year. He’s put in the work. Although he was down with injury, he’s come back stronger, looks faster. He’s making a lot of plays out here on the practice field, so I’m excited and encouraged by his development of what he’s been able to do. Also Jaylen Reed, you can put him in the same category. Young player, second year he was able to play more snaps for us towards the end of the year until he had an injury. But man, he’s been lights out when it comes to his communication, starting with the punt team communication, him being at PP [personal protector] for us, put a lot on their plate. He’s handled it really well, done a great job in the meetings and also making it translate to the field. So, I just love to see the growth. That’s what is expected for our year two players. I’m excited about that as a coach to see what they’re going to do this season.”
Q: On how he feels about the running backs catching the ball in the backfield and what can that skill do for an offense
Ryans: “The backs, they’re doing a great job all camp. We’ve been working more with our backs, with their routes, catching some passes out of the backfield, some option routes, some screen plays, and all the guys have handled it really well. Coach [Danny] Barrett has done a great job working with the guys on that, just landmarks, hands, all of the fine details that go into that. We have a good group of backs. All the guys have really good hands, can catch it well, and secure the ball well. That’ll be a really good position for us this year.”
Q: On what changes were made to improve presnap with the offense and what he has seem so far
Ryans: “When I go back and look at film from our last year OTA practices, we had trouble just snapping the football, getting plays started. Communication, the play clock going down in last year’s practice. Now when I look at it… When I say we’re ahead, we’re ahead. We’re doing a better job with our cadence from the quarterback position. All three guys are using voice inflection really well. They’re getting our defensive line to jump offsides several times. They’re using their snap points, the cadence, the rhythm and timing, they’re changing it up a lot, which does wonders for an offense when you talk about operating fast and you operate at your pace. You control the tempo and our offense is doing a better job at controlling the tempo this year. I’m excited to see how we keep going with it.”
Q: On what are the challenges the secondary needs to work on in OTAs to be ready for training camp
Ryans: “Yeah, there aren’t many challenges for our guys in the back end. Feel we have a very seasoned group, veteran group. They’ve played a lot of ball together. They communicate really well on the field. They have a lot of good celebrations together. They know each other really well, and they’re really tight, not only on the field but off the field and it shows. It translates on the field. You see the way everyone is in sync with our secondary. It’s going to be tough to throw the football, and it’s been tough for our offense during this camp to throw the football when our defense is exactly where they’re supposed to be.”
Q: On thoughts on being listed as a nominee for the College Football Hall of Fame
Ryans: “Wow, I wasn’t expecting to hear that one. You caught me off guard there. Man, I haven’t thought much about it. That’s humbling. A lot of great players play college football, so for my name to be even mentioned on there, wow, that says a lot. That’s humbling. I’m thankful for that. We’ll see what comes of it. Anytime you’re on a list, you want to win it, right? Now, wow, that’s credit to all the guys I played with, too, back at [University of] Alabama, taking me back there. Had a rough start to my career in college, playing for three different head coaches, but it taught me a lot about commitment, how you stick to your commitment no matter what. I was committed to the University of Alabama, although we had three coaches, I wanted to impact the university in a positive way and get them back on track. So I got them back on track, and then [Nick] Saban came in and just took it over and won all the championships. I’m a proud alumnus of Alabama, proud of the institution and everything they stand for, the program they have there now. Wishing them much success.”
Q: On how he has seen the bond between DE Will Anderson Jr. and QB C.J. Stroud grow despite being on opposite sides of the ball and if it has helped with the leadership of the team
Ryans: “Yeah, our leadership has grown tremendously. Will [Anderson Jr.] and C.J. now, they’re going into year four, so they are those veterans who when our young guys come in, those are the two guys that everyone is looking to for the leadership, for how we do things here in Houston. They do a great job of carrying that banner for us. They represent everything that I want as a coach, and I’m proud to have those guys as our two leaders. They’re close, of course, off the field. On the field, it’s a little touch-and-go. Will gets a little too close to C.J. too many times. But they make up afterwards and they’re friendly. But it’s cool to see both of those guys. Going back to 2023 when we picked them, to see the relationship that has blossomed over the past four years is pretty special.”
Q: On the bond he has with Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs Coach Danny Barrett
Ryans: “Danny Barrett has been invaluable to me. Danny was here in Houston before I got here, longtime coach, played for a long time. For me as a coaching staff as you’re building the staff out, you want wise people around you, and Coach Barrett is one of those guys, that wise counsel that I need. He’s been a rock for me. In the background he’s helped me with a lot of different things when it comes to scheduling, when it comes to, like, how to better serve players. Danny has been there. He’s done it. He’s seen a lot of things. He’s always cool, calm and collected. Nothing gets Danny rocked one way or the other. He’s always steady. As a head coach, that’s what you need. You need someone who can steady the ship, and Danny has been that guy for me for the past four years. That’s why he’s my assistant head coach, because he’s that special.”
Q: On the cerebral approach and improvements he has seen so far in OTA’s
Ryans: “When it comes to the cerebral part of the game, I feel like our coaches have done a really great job, a better job of teaching our younger guys to get them acclimated much faster than we have in the past. The teaching techniques and methods changed, and how we’re trying to utilize it to better serve these guys coming in, I see it come to light on the field. We have rookies who are stepping in and they’re playing and communicating just like the veterans almost in some instances. As a coach you stand back, like ‘I’m proud of not only the rookies, but I’m proud of the coaches because I know all the extra work that they put in with our young guys.’ Seeing it on the field, it’s special to see. We have smart rookies and that helps. You’ve got really smart players, tough football players. But the above-the-neck game is where you win in this league, and we’ve added a lot of young guys who are definitely mentally strong.”
Q: On updates on LB E.J. Speed and how he has seen WR Jayden Higgins and WR Jaylin Noel progress in year two
Ryans: “Higgins has done an outstanding job. From day one, from him coming back, when I seen him for the first time coming back, it’s like you see a physical difference. You see a stronger, more chiseled out receiver. Then we step on the field, he’s playing faster. He’s playing stronger. He’s making all of the tough catches. He’s playing extremely fast. He’s taken advantage of his off-season, and he’s really improved in a ton of areas. The first area for him is how can we play fast consistently and he’s doing that right now. He’s going to have a great year. Can’t wait to see it. E.J. Speed had surgery last year and we’ll see how that recovery process goes with him. But that’s the update so far.”
Q: On the relationship between QB C.J. Stroud and Offensive Coordinator Nick Caley and if there is anything they’ve done in particular to help with the presnap process
Ryans: “With C.J. and Nick, I’ve seen both guys communicating much better and it’s year two of a system. When it’s year two, you understand we’re not going through the install for the first time. So, there is some recall from what we’ve done in the past that allows us to speed up what we’re doing in year two. It’s to be expected. But the way they’re communicating, C.J. has ideas and thoughts on different plays and formations, different things that he likes. We try to do our best to implement those things, as well. It’s just the coach-player relationship is definitely headed in the right direction. They’re growing much closer. They’re communicating better. That’s what it takes for a good offensive coordinator, good quarterback. They have to work hand in hand, and those guys are doing that. It’s been outstanding. Also Jerry [Schuplinski] has done a great job, as well, with the communication with C.J., what he’s doing with Davis [Mills], Graham, all those guys. I’m pleased where we are right now with our quarterback position.”
Q: On improvements he has seen from T Aireontae Ersery
Ryans: “Yeah, one thing I’ve challenged ‘Tae’ on is just taking more of that vocal leadership approach. Although he’s a second-year player, he’s a rookie who came in, played a ton of snaps for us, starting at left tackle. He has leadership traits, leadership qualities. I try and empower him to allow those qualities to show a lot of guys around him to feel that leadership that he does have. He’s doing a great job so far. These OTAs he’s came back in shape. He’s ready to roll. He’s looking really good. He’ll be in a good spot for us this year. He just keeps leading by being vocal, not just by what you do on the field.”
Q: On growth from Offensive Coordinator Nick Caley
Ryans: “For Caley offensively we’ve been able to install more plays, more wrinkles to what we did last year, so it’s exciting to see a different look. You’ll see some different things from us offensively this year. He’s growing. As a coach, the communication, how he’s meeting, how he’s calling the plays out on the field, how he’s leading the guys, he’s doing a great job.”
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Everything Houston Texans HC DeMeco Ryans said following OTA practices
Reporting by Cole Thompson, Texans Wire / Texans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
