Here's everything Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said ahead of Week 1's matchup against the Buffalo Bills, including his thoughts on C.J. Stroud's play, the defense of Buffalo and how to defend Josh Allen in space.
Question: On the challenges of facing a team from last year that may look different this year
DeMeco Ryans: “With this being our first game, anything goes. Any looks, any type of schemes, anything can come up. For that reason, I don't put a lot of weight into the games that we played prior. Also, with this team, new head coach [Joe Brady], new defensive coordinator [Jim Leonhard], new special teams coordinator [Jeff Rodgers], there will be a ton of different looks that we've had in the past two years. Just to say, ‘Oh, what
we did the past two years was work, rinse and repeat’, that's not it. We have to be prepared and ready for anything. We have to trust our rules, trust what we've done during Training Camp, trust our training and put the ball down, let's go to work.”
Q: On what DL Ed Oliver provides to the Bills defense
Ryans: “Ed's a really disruptive player. He's done it for a while, very disruptive. He can wreck a game by playing violent in the backfield, making plays, sideline-to-sideline. Ed's a really good player. He's been a good player for a long time. He’s a guy we have to put a hat on every single time.”
Q: On how eager he is to see RB David Montgomery play
Ryans: “I'm very eager to see Montgomery get out there for the first time behind his offensive line. He's done a great job of leading, inspiring guys and just the way he works, the way he carries himself. It's been a pleasure to work with him. I'm excited to see him finally get in some real action with our guys. I know he'll be fun to watch.”
Q: On the difference in preparing to open the season at home compared to on the road
Ryans: “Preparation is preparation. Whether we're home or away, it's good to have a home game to start the season. First time for me being here starting the season at home. But, hey, we have to go play good football. We're excited to be in front of our home fans for the first time, open it up for our 2026 Texans to showcase what we're all about against a really good opponent. It's going to be a great matchup. You guys have to get ready for a really good football game. They're a really good team. They're coached well. They'll be prepared. Our team's a good team. We're prepared. You have to love it. NFL is back. We have a great matchup to start the year, let's get it.”
Q: On how he evaluate the margin for error in the first game of the season
Ryans: “With the first game, you just have to be dialed in on the fundamentals. Protecting the football, that's the main thing for me. We have to make sure we protect the football really well. Tackling is always an issue. Can't be an issue the first game. You have to make sure you're putting guys on the ground, finishing. Some of our guys haven't had live tackling reps. We just have to make sure we're secure in our tackling, make sure it's not just one guy trying to make it, but we're all running to the football. You have to make sure you play clean in that first game. The team that plays the cleanest, the team that doesn't make the most mistakes, you don't beat yourself, that’s when you have an opportunity to win this game.”
Q: On the growth of S Calen Bullock since he entered the NFL
Ryans: “Calen has really grown from a communication standpoint. He does a great job with talking, getting everybody on the same page in the back end. We ask a lot of those guys and Calen has taken that by the horn and done a really good job of making sure everybody's dialed in together. His confidence is at an all-time high and I'm excited to see him go play. Everybody knows his range has been great. He's improved every year, improved his tackling from year one to year two. We know the ball hawk that he is and I'm excited to see this kid go and have a great year.”
Q: On the importance of not overcomplicating the defense in order to play fast
Ryans: “It's football, baby. You don't overcomplicate it. You put the ball down, you make sure our guys are confident. Again, we tell our defensive guys, ‘We have a lot of film that we've watched, but they can do anything.’ We just trust each other, go out there, play fast. For us, we don't have to do a ton. We just have to do what we do and do it well and that's my philosophy. That's what I believe in and just making sure our guys are on the detail, eliminating the explosive plays. Buffalo, I think, top two in explosive plays last year. For them, adding [Bills WR] D.J. Moore, getting that explosive threat downfield, we know that's going to be an emphasis of theirs this year. We just have to make a play when the ball is up in the air. We have to find a way to make a play and we have to, as we all know, get after the quarterback as best we can. He's [Bills QB Josh Allen] a great player. We have great rushers. It's going to be a really good matchup.”
Q: On what he has seen from WR Jaylin Noel since returning to play
Ryans: “From Jaylin, I've seen that confidence start to continue to build, just him getting out there. He's missed some time, unfortunately, with injury, but just seeing him be out there, stay out there, that's allowed him to just gain some better confidence with the offense. He's looking good. He's looking good as a returner for us as well, expecting him to do big things for us as a returner. I'm just excited to see him out there, staying out there and that's what we have to try to keep him there all year.”
Q: On DE Jadeveon Clowney returning to practice
Ryans: “Jadeveon is back at practice. All of our guys are out there working, which is a great thing, to start the season with all the guys available and ready to go. Jadeveon’s done a good job. He's worked himself back. He'll be ready to go.”
Q: On the balance between forcing Bills QB Josh Allen out of the pocket and containing him
Ryans: “For us, the balance starts with we can't hang our hat on past success. Past success is not going to automatically guarantee you future success. We have to go out and we have to earn it. That's one thing that Josh and his offense is going to make you do. They're going to make you earn every play that you make. That's how we like it. That's how it should be. Our guys are up for that challenge. We know we have to cover longer than you do versus other quarterbacks. You have to rush a little bit longer, just knowing it's not going to happen as quick as other teams. It's just got to take time. Some guys have to be patient. You have to make sure you're plastering in coverage, being responsible, being where you're supposed to be. When you do that, you have opportunities to make plays. Josh is a good player. He's going to make some plays, but we have to just find a way to make more than he makes.”
Q: On the growth of QB C.J. Stroud
Ryans: “What I love about C.J.'s growth and his progress is he's been steady. He's been consistent. He's continued to grow. Just seeing him grow as a leader, seeing the way he's operating in the offense, I'm fired up to see him just go play. There's a lot being said about C.J. He's done a great job the past three years. We've made the playoffs every year because we've had a talented young quarterback who's led us to the playoffs. I'm thankful to have him as our quarterback. He's done a great job for us. He's taken a huge step this year in growth and now it's time to go show him.”
Q: On the learning curve of being young and starting on the offensive line for OL Keylan Rutledge and Aireontae Ersery
Ryans: “Don't overcomplicate it. Block the man in front of you, be sound in your assignments, communicate the right way and play physical and aggressive as those guys play. That's it. Those are two good young football players that we're thankful to have on our team. They've done a good job all Training Camp and I know that's what they'll do. The lights won't be too big for them. They're going to go out and do what they've done all Training Camp, be consistent, play physical and finish the right way.”
Q: On the physicality of OL Keylan Rutledge and Aireontae Ersery
Ryans: “I love it. That's one thing I hang my hat on. We're going to play with physicality. That's one thing I believe in and that's what football is about. You have to play physical. It's a physical game, tough game for tough people. If you're not tough than this is not the place for you.”
Q: On DT Kayden McDonald
Ryans: “Kayden's come along really good. He's improved each week. He's gotten better with what we've asked him to do. Still a young, ascending player, but he's done a good job with what we've asked him to do. He has more to him than just being a run player. I feel like we have a really good rotation with our defensive tackles. We have some depth there, probably the best depth that we've had since I've been here. I'm just excited with that group, with the different amount of guys we can mix in, have different combinations out there. I think it will be a really strong part of our defense this year.”
Q: On whether the season starting on a Wednesday is weird to him
Ryans: “No, man. Let's go. It's here. I can't wait to watch it and see what's happening. This is year 20 for me in the NFL, but man it never gets old. The excitement, the buildup of the season openers, it never gets old. I'm as fired up as all of our fans are, fired up about the season opening up on a Wednesday. Let's get rolling.”
Q: On filming the Manning cast
Ryans: “I'm a one-take guy. No, that was a fun opportunity for me to shoot the Manning cast. I'm thankful for those guys allowing me to be a part of that and the other coaches I was able to work with. They do a really great job on the Manning cast. I've known Peyton [Manning] for a long time. For the amount of touchdowns he scored on me, he should have let me get a little get back by getting in the Manning cast. That was a fun deal for me to do.”
Q: On using NASA as part of his messages to the team
Ryans: “For me, it started with the NASA buildup, with NASA being in our backyard here in Houston. I just really wanted to tie the two together. Houston is about community. Houston is about us being together. I thought it was a really good way to correlate us preparing for Training Camp, getting ready. Just like Artemis II, they prepared, they got ready. It took them time for that buildup and for that moment. Now, come Sunday, it's time for the takeoff. That's the next part of the message, ‘How are we taking off on Sunday?’”
Q: On Offensive Coordinator Nick Caley
Ryans: “For Caley, like for anyone, the second time doing it, he's much more comfortable with what he's doing. He knows what he wants. He knows how he wants it to look. Just him just having that command, him coaching up his coaches. Everybody's on the same page. He's doing a great job of communicating and leading the offensive group, coaches and players. He's fired up. At practice today, he's fired up, barking at guys. I'm excited to see this Caley. He's fired up, I'm fired up.”
Q: On having the players spend time with people outside their position group during Training Camp
Ryans: “The biggest thing for me in Training Camp is how do you force that interaction amongst the player. That was the main thing is getting different. It's easy for the linebackers to always eat together with linebackers; they meet together. You just kind of have to force that interaction. I'm happy our guys took it seriously. We had our breakout sessions of different groups, eating lunch together, meeting together, just getting to dive in and learn each other a little bit better. I think that was beneficial towards our growth as a team for 2026. I feel like our guys gained a lot of insight from that.”
Q: On what he expects from TE Brevin Jordan
Ryans: “I like to hear that from Brevin. Just go be free, be himself and just play football. Don't put any pressure on himself to achieve anything grand. It's just a matter of Brevin staying out there, being consistent. We know he's missed a lot of time. These past two years has been a rough go for him, but it's great to see him just on the practice field working. He just keeps working, doing what he has to do. We know he can help our team.”
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Everything Texans HC DeMeco Ryans said ahead of Houston’s season opener vs. Bills
