Here’s everything Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said following the first media availability of voluntary OTA workouts, including his thoughts on the newcomers, the growth of C.J. Stroud and what to take away from the squad’s first set of drills in a live setting.
Question: On what he thinks of the team at this stage of the offseason
DeMeco Ryans: “For where we are in our offseason program, I think we started off to a really good start. We’re having some really great practices. It’s Day 2, but it’s good to just be out there, have everybody on the field, practicing, going through some team drills, doing actual football, because I believe you get better at football by doing football. So, we have an opportunity to do that. Our guys are taking advantage of it. Both sides are being very competitive, offense and defense. Both sides are making plays, which is good to see from my perspective and we’re in a much better place than we were a year ago at this time. I’m excited about the growth, where our team is and I’m excited about the depth that we have in all of our young guys.”
On QB C.J. Stroud
Ryans: “C.J. is doing a great job all offseason. It’s probably the first time he’s had a full offseason. He’s been dedicated to the work. He’s done a really great job of, first and foremost, just being here, being accountable, owning the reps, doing a great job of communicating with the staff, with the players. He’s doing a great job of just taking more ownership of the offense. I am just excited to see what this season entails for him, because he’s having a really great start to it being here in the offseason.”
Q: On why the team is off to a better start this year than last year
Ryans: “For us as a team, I feel like we’re much further along with our installs and what we’re able to install in Year Two of the offense and now going into Year Four of the defense, we’re just able to speed things up when it comes to an installation process. Our guys are able to absorb a lot more mentally. When you can do a lot of the things that we’re doing now on the first day, it’s just we’re light years ahead of where we were last year.”
Q: On the main thing he hopes to accomplish in OTAs
Ryans: “The main thing I’m looking for at our OTAs is really offensively improving our pre-snap process. We have to speed up the way in which we operate, speed up the communication, the loudness of our communication. These things, all things that we control, our guys are doing a much better job of that. So, we’re already improving in that area. Defensively, just being consistent, not letting up of the intensity at which we operate. Guys just being intense, bringing our young guys along, making sure they understand schematically what we’re asking them to do and seeing if they can do it. Overall, OTAs is really focusing on the fundamentals of what we do as a team.”
Q: On RB David Montgomery
Ryans: “David Montgomery has been an outstanding addition for us when it comes to just his approach to the game. A veteran guy who’s come in and he’s dialed in mentally, physically. He’s in really great shape and takes care of himself. I think he’s really a great addition for Woody [Marks], Jawhar [Jordan], British [Brooks], all the young guys in the room. You see a guy of his caliber and what he’s been able to accomplish in the league, there’s a lot to learn from, a lot for him to share with those guys. I see that room has improved drastically by adding David to our team.”
Q: On the center position
Ryans: “With the center position, we have a lot of guys who can play the center position. So, being able to move different guys around, move different guys in in that position to see who’s going to come out on top. We have a lot of good competition. We added a lot of good depth to our offensive line. They’ve done a great job this offseason. Coach ‘Pop’ [Cole Popovich] has done a great job with them and it’s shaping up to be really nice. You can’t tell much until you put pads on when it comes from an offensive line, defensive line perspective. But, we’ve taken strides, tremendously, when it comes to the communication up front. I’m proud of what I’ve seen so far and I’m excited to see where it’s going to go for us.”
Q: On how important production from the tight end position is for this offense
Ryans: “For us, it’s an emphasis on every position. Every position on our team has to improve. Our tight end room, we added Foster [Moreau]. Foster’s brought a great veteran presence and leadership. He’s done a great job. He’s just a football guy. You talk about a guy who knows how to have fun at practice, lighten up. You talk about a guy who brings joy to the room, that’s Foster. He’s done a great job of working with Marlin [Klein] as well. Adding Marlin, getting Brevin [Jordan] back. We got some young guys who are truly young at their position and still have a lot of room to grow. So, I’m excited about the growth potential of the room from the tight end position.”
Q: On the competitive nature of the team
Ryans: “Being on Day 2, and from where I stand, it’s very impressive to see that’s the back-and-forth nature of our team. You see guys barking at each other and see the competitiveness of our team. I told our team in our team meetings, ‘I know everybody in our room is competitive. You wouldn’t be here if you’re not a competitor.’ We have a great competitive spirit, great competitive fire on all sides of the ball, all three phases. That’s what it takes to build a really good team. You got to come out here and you got to compete in a smart, controlled manner in OTAs, but you can still compete. That’s what the guys are doing today. A lot of back and forth, not just one side dominating the other side. A lot of competitive plays going on and that makes me proud as a coach.”
Q: On what he’s seen from DE Will Anderson Jr. this offseason
Ryans: “Will continues to wreck practice. I’m probably going to have to sit him out here soon because we have to be able to actually practice (laughs). He just keeps wrecking practice. Let’s just keep doing that, keep causing havoc, that’s what he does. I was showing guys, that’s what he does on Sundays as well. So, it’s no surprise that Will is the guy for everyone to watch the intensity at which we operate. That’s how Will Anderson plays. That’s how I want everybody to be.”
Q: On if there are still ways DE Will Anderson Jr. can improve
Ryans: “There’s definitely more for Will. On the field, he’s always fine-tuning his craft. He’s working extra, as always, with Rod [Wright] and with Frank [Okam] before practice. He’s working on the small intricacies of hand placement and those things as a pass rusher. But where I’ve seen him take another step this year is just his leadership of being vocal as a leader for our team. Being that guy, he has no issue bringing the team up, letting everybody know, ‘Hey, this wasn’t a good day. Let’s pick it up.’ He does a great job as well of encouraging guys when he sees it done the right way. So, his taking that step as a vocal leader is where I’ve seen his growth already happen this year.”
Q: On how the World Cup is affecting staff and players
Ryans: “I would say the World Cup has done a great job of working with us. I know it’s going to be an awesome event here in Houston and everybody can’t wait for it to happen. But they’ve been gracious. They’ve been working well with us. I’m thankful for their partnership and how they work with us through this transition. There was a lot going on here around the stadium, a lot of spaces and things have to be moved around. But they’ve been outstanding to work with.”
Q: On the younger players on the team and how they are adapting to the Houston Texans
Ryans: “I feel like all of our young guys are really up to speed and what we’ve been able to do. Our coaches are doing a great job of taking advantage of the additional time that we have with the rookies to teach them what we do, how we do it. The rookies have picked it up really well. We got a really smart group of rookies who stepped in and at times you don’t even know they’re rookies because they’re not making the normal rookie mistakes. They’re fitting in just fine. There’s always some technique and small things to clean up, but they’re fitting in to what we do, especially culturally. We got the right guys with the mindset. We got the right guys. They’re going be physical. They’re smart. They’re tough guys. It’s just a matter of them continuing to get reps. The more reps they get, the better they’ll get this year.”
Q: On the growth of WR Jayden Higgins and WR Jaylin Noel
Ryans: “When I look at these guys in the offseason, our [wide] receiver position, [WR Jayden] Higgins has done a really great job of taking advantage of the offseason, really coming back in shape. He’s looking bigger, stronger, faster, which is what you expect for a second-year player of his caliber. He’s definitely taking advantage of it. I’m really excited to see what it’s going to look like this season. I know he’s going to have a really good year based on how he looks right now. He’s in shape. He’s ready to roll. ‘J-Noel’ has done a really great job as well improving at his craft and how we’re able to move him around different areas. He’s doing a great job as a kick returner, punt returner, we’re emphasizing him on working on getting vertical. He’s doing a really great job of working on those things as well. So, both guys are taking the necessary steps to improve.”
Q: On Jordan Hicks participating in the 2026 Bill Walsh NFL Diversity Coaching Fellowship with the Texans
Ryans: “Having Jordan in with our Bill Walsh Diversity Fellowship Program, I’m fired up to have him in. I know, just from being around him as a player, he’s capable, very capable of coaching or doing whatever he wants to do. But I just wanted Jordan to come in and just get a taste of coaching to see how he would like it. He’s already done a great job. I see coaching in his future. He’s always been a very smart player. I knew when I saw Jordan, when we drafted him there in Philadelphia and first day he suited up and started doing drills, ‘He looks way better than me. So, I’m probably out of here (laughs).’ I’m happy to be able to have a guy in who’s played a long career. He’s taken the little that I was able to do in mentoring him, teaching him about some leadership. He’s taken that to the new heights. He’s helped a lot of guys there in Philadelphia, also in Arizona, Cleveland, everywhere he’s been. He’s been a stand-up guy, a tremendous young man, great family man. I’m happy to be able to have him. Happy to also have former teammate Darren Sproles who’s here with us for the program. You talk about an outstanding player, but so humble. A 15-year career who’s done it at the highest level. I could never cover this guy ever in practice. He’s an outstanding talent, but he’s here working with our running backs, our returners and he’s already had an impact on those guys.”
Q: On TE Brevin Jordan and WR Tank Dell
Ryans: “Brevin is out here, he’s rolling. He’s doing a great job back to where he’s been. Always here, big smile on his face, excited to practice. We’re easing him back in. He had a really big play yesterday on a choice route. He got to the proper depth, broke one of our safeties off and had a really nice play. It was exciting to see him just back on the field. We know how devastating it was for him to go down. To see him back working is very encouraging. I’m proud of the work that he’s put in. Tank is still working off on the side. When that time is set for him to be back, he’ll be back out there.”
Q: On LB Marte Mapu
Ryans: “Marte, what I like about him, he’s a very smart linebacker. Smart, he’s long, fast guy. But Marte does a really good job of being where he’s supposed to be in position. He’s communicating. We’re moving him around. He’s taking some reps at the MIKE linebacker spot. He does a really good job of communicating. He’s also taking some spots at the, some reps at the WILL linebacker. He’s a smart guy who you’re able to move around at multiple spots. He’s done a really good job on special teams as well. He’s a very versatile athletic linebacker. Still a young player. Young player who’s, I think, played in three or four different schemes already to be so young in his career. Hoping he just settles in to what we’re being able to teach him. Coach Bill Davis done an outstanding job of working with him this offseason. Marte is the type of guy, he’s always in the building. We have to kick him out. He’s always doing the extras, the film, the recovery, body maintenance. He’s a true worker. I’m proud to see how he transitions and how he looks during training camp.”
Q: On LB E.J. Speed and the competition at the linebacker position
Ryans: “The competition is high at every position. Unfortunately, we won’t have E.J. [Speed] for some time, but we’ll see how that recovery process goes. I’m hopeful that we’ll get E.J. back at some point this year.”
Q: On if he’s planning on attending World Cup games
Ryans: “I’ve not planned on going to any World Cup games at this time. I’ve got a few family vacations planned, so excited about that. But, I know it’ll be an outstanding time. If I get the opportunity to go to a match, I definitely would like to.”
Q: On how he and his process has changed going into his fourth year as Head Coach
Ryans: “The unique thing about being year four, I look at every year, I just start over. I start over, I always analyze everything from the standpoint of, ‘Hey, why are we doing what we’re doing?’ From a practice schedule standpoint, from a rep count, what are we doing? I always just look at it with a fresh set of eyes, not just kind of rinse and repeat. Just because we did something in 2023 doesn’t mean that we’re doing that right now. Our team has definitely changed a lot, coaching staff has changed. As a coach, I think I’m always growing and evolving because that’s what the game does. The game evolves, so I’m constantly looking at different schemes, looking at different things we can add and tweak to our offense, to our defense, to make us as successful as possible.”
Q: On if he’d change anything in his process
Ryans: “For me, I think everything is- I couldn’t have asked for a better three-year start. Everything is going way better than I could have ever hoped for. I’m thankful, I’m blessed with the people that I get to work with. I’m blessed, thankful for this opportunity and looking to continue to grow it, to make Houston a very special place, which it is already, but we’re trying to do something very special here and we got the people to do that.”
Q: On how he approaches this season with opposing offenses putting extra emphasis on figuring out the Texans defense
Ryans: “For me, it’s no different this year just because we had success last year. Every year, offenses are going to study the top defensive in the league. We’ve been that for the past however many years. We’ve been a top defense, so a lot of offenses are going to study us. They’re going to try different schemes, different type of plays to try to beat our defense. But, for me, I’m looking at the same thing as well. So schematically, I don’t believe you ever just stay the same. You have to tweak, you have to adjust, you have to adapt your scheme, because offenses are doing the same thing. We’re not just sitting back and resting on what we did last year. I don’t believe in that. Last year is over. We got a lot of new guys here who have to get up to speed with what we’re doing. But we have to kind of fit and tailor our scheme to what those guys do best and that’s what we’ll do this year.”
Q: On how he’s seen the other wide receivers outside of WR Nico Collins develop this offseason
Ryans: “Every player is different, so I don’t look at a position that someone needs to complement Nico. My message to our guys is, ‘How are you executing exactly what our coaches are asking you to do?’ It’s never about complementing one guy or another. Let’s execute the right way, let’s coach it up the right way. Everybody, if you excel the proper way, we’re running the offense in a manner which we should and our quarterback can go through, progress, whoever is open should get the football. But you got to be doing the right thing, even if you’re on the backside of a concept. Are you doing those things that you’re supposed to do?”
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Everything Texans HC DeMeco Ryans said at the start of OTA practices
Reporting by Cole Thompson, Texans Wire / Texans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
