Here is everything Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said following Houston’s preseason loss to the Detroit Lions, including his reaction to the Texans signing wide receivers Sterling Shepard and Zay Jones, linebacker Wade Woodaz having a broken thumb and his timeline for a return and well as how tackle Trent Brown has grown this training camp.
Question: On signing WR Sterling Shepard and WR Zay Jones
DeMeco Ryans: “We signed two veteran guys, and we’ll see what they can provide. When it comes to adding depth in our receiver room, it’s no secret that we lost a very significant piece in our receiver room, in Jayden Higgins. We’re still trying to find a way to help out in our receiver room and that’s what those two guys provide. Veteran experience, guys who have done it before, done it at a high level, played in a lot of different systems and we will see what they can bring to us.”
Q: On the competitive nature of the offensive line
Ryans: “The competitive nature of our offensive line has definitely picked up from where it has been. I love the way our first group played in the game on Thursday. The way we had clean pockets to throw the football and the way we cleaned up the pocket when we were free. There were a lot of good positive things to build on from the offensive line.”
Q: On LB Wade Woodaz
Ryans: “Wade is dealing with a broken thumb, we’ll see how he progresses and when he will be able to get back.”
Q: On what he believes the team needs to improve on based on film
Ryans: “From the second half, it’s just being disciplined. We have a lot of young guys in there. Some guys have only been here for a few days. It’s really just being disciplined, being where you’re supposed to be, being able to make a play. When I look at the game, watching the first half and what I saw our guys do, I saw our guys take a step in what I asked them to do and that’s rep our style of play and our guys did that. They repped our style really well and I thought we had a really great first half. The other guys who were getting those opportunities in the second half, you just have to find a way to be where you’re supposed to be and make a play when it’s your time to make a play.”
Q: On CB Jaylin Smith
Ryans: “Jaylin Smith is continuing to improve. He made a few plays in the game. What I love about Jaylin Smith is…the play of the game to me is, a run breaks out on us on the left side there and Jaylin is the right corner stuck at the line of scrimmage, but he plays with elite effort, runs the guy down, gets him down and the next play, that’s when Wade picks it off and takes it to the house. It just really reinforces what I teach and that’s playing with elite effort. No matter how a play breaks down, you play with great effort, you can make plays. This is what Jaylin has done and he continues to progress. He’s done a really good job on special teams as our gunner. He’s in his second year, lost a lot of time his first year with injury, but he’s stepping back in in a really good way, positive way, showing up for us.”
Q: On the growth of OT Trent Brown
Ryans: “It’s been valuable to us to have Trent at this time. We didn’t have Trent, he wasn’t able to go through Training Camp. I know for anybody who’s able to go through camp and get those reps, it’s only going to be beneficial for you to come to the season and Trent has done a good job. We see if you look at the runs and when we’re out there, if you’re running behind Trent, there’s going to be a lane and that’s what he does. He moves people with ease. It’s hard to get around him. In pass rush, it’s hard to go through him. He’s one of the better guys with his size and his ability. I think the quarterback likes him and also the running backs like running behind him because he provides that kind of lane for us.”
Q: On undrafted rookies trying to make the team
Ryans: “I have a special place in my heart for the undrafted players because a lot of people would say just based on where you are, you shouldn’t make it. But guys come here and they just put their head down. They work the right way, do what we’re asking them to do. If you’re one of the top 53 guys on our team, we’re not turning away great players who can help us go win football games. It never matters to me, when we signed a guy, where we signed him, how much a guy is getting paid. It doesn’t matter. Once we have 90 guys on our team, it’s our job to decipher who are the best 53 for us and we’re going to go with the best 53 in our opinion that allows us to go win football games. Undrafted guys have made a name for themselves. I’ll start with [LB] Azeez [Al-Shaair]. Azeez was an undrafted free agent in 2019 and look at the career that he’s had. He’s done an outstanding job just working the right way, being accountable, being a great teammate, a great leader and he’s had himself a tremendous career thus far. Our undrafted guys can look to Azeez and you want to see what it takes to become a pro and what it takes to stick around. It’s about that consistency, being a professional, that’s what Azeez represents and that’s what those guys can look to, to see what it takes to make it.”
Q: On WR Lewis Bond
Ryans: “Bond has done a fantastic job all camp. When we look at that touchdown that Woody ran, we’ll talk about Trent and how he blocked, but as I told our guys, the touchdown-saving block was Bond and the effort at which he stayed with this man, he finished it. That’s great for any receiver and when you can block the way Bond blocked on that play, it was outstanding for us and broke the play home. Bond has done a great job. The scouting report on him was smart, tough, dependable guy. Ever since he’s stepped foot here in Houston, that’s what he’s been. He’s been smart, he’s been tough, he’s been dependable, a guy we can trust and he’s made a ton of plays for us.”
Q: On the top priorities of facing the Carolina Panthers this week
Ryans: “The top priorities for us this week, first and foremost, we’ll get an opportunity to go in joint practice versus the Panthers. We’re excited about our starters going out and competing in that joint practice versus those guys and then we’ll see how the game shapes up and who will be out there for the game, but the main priority for this week is getting our guys good valuable reps versus a really good Carolina team.”
Q: On LB Jake Hummel
Ryans: “Jake Hummel has picked up the defense really well. He has been a signal caller for us, the ‘MIKE’ linebacker; he’s wearing a green dot when he’s on the field. He’s done a great job of communicating, showing up and making a few plays. He made a nice play on special teams there on the kickoff in the game on this past Thursday, just beating his guy, playing with speed, playing physical, making a nice tackle there. He’s a guy who’s showing that he can add some value when it comes to position flex, special teams and a four-core player, he can do that for us and he can go play on defense as well. I’m pleased with his camp, pleased with what he’s done since he’s been here.”
Q: On his thoughts on CB Brandon Codrington last game
Ryans: “Codrington, he tackles well. He flies around. He plays with that S.W.A.R.M. mindset. I love that about him. He’s a smart player, small, undersized player, but he’s going to bring everything he has. That’s what I love about him. He brings it every single day, whether he’s covering, he’s tackling, he’s going to bring it. That’s all you ask and he’s done that. He’s done a really good job as well all camp.”
Q: On the growth of RB Woody Marks
Ryans: “Woody’s done an outstanding job. I see the growth from, starting with the pass protection. I thought he had a really great rep in the game. They sent the corner pressure from a double A-gap look. Woody did an outstanding job of picking up the corner blitz. He’s just being stout in his protection. Then when he’s touching the football, I’m seeing a more dynamic, faster, more physical runner. He’s running behind his pass. He broke a few tackles on his touchdown run. He just looks faster, looks more decisive. He’s looking really special, looking like he’s going to have a special year. We’ll also see what he can do from that kick returner spot as well. He’s added value to our team. He’s grown a ton, much more, I feel like, relaxed and confident in his style of play and what he can bring for us. I’m excited about Woody this year.”
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans: Everything HC DeMeco Ryans said after Houston’s preseason loss versus Raiders
Reporting by Ariana Pensy, Texans Wire / Texans Wire
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By Ariana Pensy, Texans Wire | USA TODAY Network
