Everything Texans HC DeMeco Ryans said ahead of Week 2 game vs Bengals
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Here is everything Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said ahead of the Texans’ Week 2 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, including the challenges with facing the Bengals offense, his reaction to losing linebacker Henry To’o To’o and quarterback C.J. Stroud's balance in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills.
Question: On the Cincinnati Bengals offense
DeMeco Ryans: “The Bengals are really exceptional offense. Everything starts and goes through the quarterback. Talk about a guy has exceptional talent, Joe Burrow, he's one of the best quarterbacks I've watched and studied. From the standpoint of his accuracy, ball placement, their horizontal spacing as an offense and how he's able to really throw the ball around wherever he wants to. He can place the ball, on the sideline, on the numbers, wherever he wants to put it, he'll put it there. Then you add in the receiving threats that he has. Tee Higgins, Ja’Marr Chase, ultra-talented guys. They're both explosive guys. They can beat you down the field. They can beat you on any routes. You have to be tight on the coverage. You have to challenge the throws when it's there. It doesn't matter if you are playing tight coverage, Joe can still fit the ball in there. We’ll have our hands full this week, just as every week. But this is a fun offense to watch. These guys are very detailed in what they do. Zac Taylor's done a phenomenal job with these guys and their team looks great from the first week.”
Q: On losing LB Henry To’oTo’o
Ryans: “Losing Henry was a big one for us. He'll miss a few weeks here and that's a big loss for us. Henry's done a great job of just being a guy I always trusted, a guy I can count on to be in the right spots at the right time. Guys who are stepping into that role, we just ask guys to go do your job. Do it to the best of your ability and that's for everybody on our defense. That's all I ask of guys, just be where you're supposed to be, do what you're supposed to do and we'll be just fine.”
Q: On CB Kamari Lassiter
Ryans: “Kamari is bouncing around with normal with this same energy he's always had and he's back to work. I think just the competitor that Kamari is, when you see that, you see how much he cares and you see how much it means to him. Any type of player, I want that type of passion. I want that type of heart and desire to go out and finish for your teammates. That's what I saw from Kamari. That's who he's always been. I love the competitor that Kamari is and he's ready to work. He had a great day today.”
Q: On the Cincinnati Bengals pass protection
Ryans: “With the offensive line and the pass protection, I think it still goes back to the quarterback. When he wants to get the ball out, he can beat any pressure he can beat it with how he can speed up the ball and get it out. He also has the ability to also escape the pocket. He's athletic, doesn't get really noted for his athleticism. But Joe is an athletic quarterback, so he can also escape the pocket and still make throws while on the run. You have to stay after it with the rush. We will try our best to get there. We know they have big offensive linemen. Guys play really well together, so it's going to be a challenge up front.”
Q: On who expects to step in for LB Henry To’oTo’o
Ryans: “Whoever is up, we'll put him out there and we'll roll.”
Q: On whether he expects DE Jadeveon Clowney to practice this week
Ryans: “We'll see how he goes. He's just day-to-day. We'll see how he progresses tomorrow. He should be out there.”
Q: On Cincinnati Bengals RB Chase Brown
Ryans: "Chase Brown, that's the guy who doesn't get talked about enough Because he kind of gets overshadowed by these exceptional wide receivers and exceptional quarterback. But Chase Brown is one of the most explosive backs I've watched. He gets the football, he's going downhill. He can create explosives running the football, also in the passing game. When you do protect the explosive, you check the ball down to Chase and he's an exceptional player also with the ball in his hands. Just the speed, physicality, he's not shying away from contact. Chase is a really great player.”
Q: On QB C.J. Stroud completing passes to 11 different receivers in Week 1
Ryans: “It's very valuable for us when C.J. can spread the ball around. It just shows that trust that he has in everyone. He's just going through his progression and making the proper read, making a great decision and it doesn't matter what jersey number it is, what name is on the back of the jersey. He's just throwing the ball to where the defense dictates for him to throw the ball. That's great quarterback play by him. He's doing everything we're asking him to do. I think that right there is a great sign that's indicative of, it doesn't matter who it is, I'm going to spread the ball around. I'm not trying to spread it around, I'm just playing the offense on rhythm in the right proper timing, the proper cadence and I'm getting the ball to where it should go and on the particular play. So that's a credit to C.J. and to see his growth. He did a really great job again this past Sunday and we're looking to continue to build on that.”
Q: On the Cincinnati Bengals defense
Ryans: “Cincinnati's defense, when you put the tape on and you see an improved defense. These guys are flying around and it starts with the front. For them, adding Dexter Lawrence, adding Jonathan Allen, they are stout on the interior, their defensive linemen. It's going to be hard to move those guys, but everything is going to start with the front. We have to try to control their front. These guys make plays, they are relentless. They stay after it, even the edge players with [Myles] Murphy and [Boye] Mafe these guys stay after it as they're rushing. It's going to be a challenge for us up front. We have to try to outwork them. We have to try to finish them because these guys are aggressive. They are finishing through the whistle. Then the thing that jumps off the tape is how they've attacked the football. They had four takeaways against Tampa Bay, really giving the offense a short field to work with. The offense goes out and puts up points off of it. They play really good complementary football. The defense is well improved. The corners are good, safeties are good. The two inside backers, they are playing fast. They're playing physical downhill. Defensive coordinator Al Golden’s done a really good job with his defense.”
Q: On his thoughts on comments made by Texans Hall of Fame WR Andre Johnson
Ryans: “I don't know what comments you're talking about. I've been studying Cincinnati and going to sleep. Talk to Andre about it.”
Q: On T Blake Fisher
Ryans: “ Blake, he's definitely improved throughout Training Camp. He's done a really good job. I see a guy just staying at there, really straining to finish. That's what I see in Training Camp and I see that also in the games he had in the preseason. He's steadily improved and he's ready to go. We use him as our extra offensive lineman when we have an opportunity to do that. If opportunity presents itself and he has to go in as that next tackle in the game, I know Blake is going to go in there and do a really good job.”
Q: On defensive expectations this week
Ryans: “The expectation for us defensively is for everybody to improve. Last Sunday wasn't good enough, not from any one position. We play collectively as a defense and when we play together and everybody's doing their job, being where they're supposed to be, doing what they're supposed to do, we play really good defensive football. Not just edge rushers, linebackers, defensive tackles, corners, everybody has to pick their game up and we have to play better.”
Q: On the benefit of having LB Azeez Al-Shaair on the field
Ryans: “Azeez is the coach. When he's on the field, he's coaching them up, man. If there's anybody who knows what we're expecting and what those guys should do, anybody who steps into that role next to Azeez, they're going to have a guy they can lean on. Azeez is going to communicate really well to those guys who've been out there and that's who he is. He's going to help the man next to him and I don't expect anything different. It's a benefit for our young guys to have Azeez in their room and the knowledge that he's able to share with those guys. If something happens in a game, a formation, or anything, with their film study and everything that he does, Azeez will be able to get those guys up to speed, caught up on the set. They're on the same page, guys will communicate really well. It's a pleasure to have Azeez and we need it most now. We lost two of our starters now, E.J. [Speed] and Henry. It's going to be big shoes to fill for the next man that steps into that role.”
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Everything Texans HC DeMeco Ryans said ahead of Week 2 game vs Bengals
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