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Here's everything Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said ahead of Week 14's matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football, including an update on Kamari Lassiter and Woody Marks, plus the atmosphere playing at Arrowhead Stadium.
Question: On how dangerous the Kansas City Chiefs are
DeMeco Ryans: “We know the Chiefs are a really good team. It's our next opponent, so we're fired up for the matchup. Excited to go play a really good team.”
Q: On the strategy of playing in the cold weather and how he kept warm when he played
Ryans: “The strategy for playing in the cold is not to focus on it too much. It's a mindset factor. You have three hours, no matter what the weather is, no matter what the temperature, you got to go out and play ball for three hours. So, it shouldn’t be a factor for our guys.”
Q: On CB Kamari Lassiter and RB Woody Marks
Ryans: "They'll all be fine. We'll see how the week goes.”
Q: On if the team feels there is a rivalry with Kansas City
Ryans: “No rivalry, no hard feelings. We lost a football game. New season, we have a new team. About this team this year, how do we go out? How do we prepare this week to put ourselves in position to go out and play as best as we possibly can.”
Q: On how much of a problem the speed of Kansas City’s wide receiver room can be
Ryans: “They have good players. They have good players at the perimeter. We have good players too. So, we play fast, play physical, that's not going to change for us.”
Q: On if he thinks the offensive line is playing more physically the last few games
Ryans: “Our offensive line is definitely playing physical. You see the clips, I know the clip with Ed [Ingram], it's a really nice clip, but you see that physicality show up. You see guys playing together, they're playing connected on the double teams. They're finishing well, so they're doing a really good job. It's the second week that we had that same offensive line in, so I’m excited to see them go back for another week and continue to grow, continue to get better. So, they're doing a great job, just got to keep it going.”
Q: On why this offensive line combination has clicked
Ryans: “The guys are playing well together. That's the most important thing.”
Q: On the challenge of facing Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes
Ryans: “Patrick is still Patrick. Let's call him Houdini. He finds a way to make plays all over the field. That's why this team has always been a threat. That's why their games are always close because of Patrick and his capabilities of extending plays, and not just to run plays, not to run the football, but the way he extends plays, the way he finds his guys down the field, it's unique. There's not many guys in the league that can do it how Patrick does it. That's why he's a special player. The guys he played with, they know where he's looking. They know what to look for, so they're connected. Although it may seem like they're scrambled plays, they're connected and coordinated in where they're finishing, and Patrick knows the spots. So, you just have to be aware, and now with that threat as well, he can run the football, gain third downs in those critical moments as well. So, it's going to be a challenge as always with the four guys rushing, got to do a great job of having awareness, knowing where he is. The guys in the back end, you got to cover them twice. Because he can extend plays, they can go on and on and on. You have to be aware of the guys in your zone, your area, and you have to stay on them.”
Q: On the value that WR Nico Collins brings to the team
Ryans: “Nico is such a valuable piece to our team. First off, with his mindset. He's humble; there's not an ego with Nico, even though he's one of the best receivers in the league. He doesn't walk around that way like somebody owes him something. He's a very humble guy, respectful guy. He brings it every single day that he's working. Just watch him work on a Wednesday, Thursday. He works extremely hard at his craft to see a young guy like Nico continue to get better and better as he's been in his league. That's what it's about, that growth. He's exhibited that, and he's a great teammate. He'll do whatever it takes for the team to win, knowing that it's not just about him, it's about the team. You couldn't ask for a better guy who should be this superstar a lot of people are talking about, but you don't hear much about him. He's quiet, he goes about his business the right way, and that's his approach, and that's just fine. I love the way Nico prepares each and every week. Love the man that he is, and I'm just excited to have him on our team and see him get the praise and accolades that he truly deserves.”
Q: On how much of an emphasis the coaching staff has given to receivers getting involved in the run game
Ryans: “With our wide receivers, it's very critical to our offense that they block. A lot of receivers want the football they can't get the football unless you're blocking. So, our guys have that unselfish mindset. Coach Ben [McDaniels] has done a great job with the group when they are blocking. All the guys are responsible to block at some point of the game. So, it's not just one particular player who has to do it. All the guys have to do it. All the guys are getting better, and they're excelling at it. Some of our touchdowns that we're able to get, it will be because of how our wide receivers are finishing their blocks downfield. They are the touchdown blocks, and they have to get it. They have to stay connected, move their feet, and they have to be physical in there. Our guys are willing to do that, and that's why we can make the plays we make because of those guys. In the run game, it's very critical for our wide receivers to block, and that's why our run game will excel because of them.”
Q: On if he has reevaluated some of his previous decisions in last year’s playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs
Ryans: “This is a new year. We're here to play Kansas City with this team this year.”
Q: On the challenges the Kansas City Chiefs defensive front presents
Ryans: “Their front is very good front. Starting with [Chris] Jones, you talk about a guy who is very disruptive in the run game and passing game. He finds a way to get into the opposing team's backfield time and time again. He's a guy that we have to have awareness for him at all times because he can wreck a play and wreck your series if you don't have eyes and awareness for him and you have the intensity you need to go out, go after him and block him consistently. Then you got [George] Karlaftis that's on the edge, really good player, good young player in this league. You talk about a workhorse, he's going to stay after it, relentless guy, finds a way to get after the quarterback leading their team in sacks. But he’s just a physical, relentless rusher and we're going to have to outwork him this week.”
Q: On the challenges that Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo brings
Ryans: “Coach ‘Spags’ has done a great job his entire career of having some of the best defenses in the league. What he does, he really stresses offenses with his blitz package. I think that everybody's aware of that. He does a good job of bringing the pressure, the guys do a great job of executing it. It could be anyone. Corner[backs], nickels, [line]backers, he does a good job of mixing it up. So, you can't just watch it and say, ‘I know who's blitzing all the time.’ You really have to trust your rules. You really have to be aware, and the receivers, tight ends, everybody have to be on the same page. Everybody has to see the game through the same set of eyes when it comes to their blitz package, because it's very lethal. He does a good job of calling it, not only on third down, but in some of those first down, second down, anytime. So, we have to be prepared for that. If we can execute that the right way, we feel like we can make some plays.”
Q: On if there are differences in finishing games at home versus on the road
Ryans: “There's no difference. Every game, I would say every game is a game of itself. If it's on the road or home, it really doesn't matter. Whatever that game calls for when it comes to making the plays necessary to win, it really… There's no difference, home or away.”
Q: On what it is like to match wits with Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid
Ryans: “I don't try to. That's my old coach. I don't try to let Andyhave that. So, we're preparing how we need to prepare, and he's a great coach. I had the pleasure of playing for him for one year. He's an outstanding coach, and he has a track record to prove that. So, it's always a challenge going on with Andy, because whatever you've seen on tape, he's going to have some type of wrinkle. There's going to be some type of new play design that we can't prepare for because we haven't seen it, because he's very still cutting edge. Just a really smart coach, [he] does a great job of positioning his players, making you have to adjust and think on the fly on defense as well. That's why he's one of the best to ever do it.”
Q: On CB Kamari Lassiter
Ryans: “Kamari is one of the, hands down, one of the best corners in his league when it comes to playing physical. When it comes to stepping up in the run game, you want to see a corner tackle? Go watch Kamari's tape. For any corners that want to learn how to tackle, young corners, go watch Kamari Lassiter. Go watch him tackle. Go watch him take on blocks. There isn't a better corner in the league when it comes to the physical presence that he provides to a defense. There is not a better guy than Kamari.”
Q: On what the common thread is in the team’s recent winning streak
Ryans: “The common thread for us winning is our players making the plays. That's what it's all about. Our guys done a great job of finding a way to make, whether that's special teams, offense, everybody stepping up, making a play when we need to make a play. That won't change this week as well. It's always going to be about the players, and that won't change.”
Q: On the connection between Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce
Ryans: “Both guys, of course, they played together for a long time. They know when the routes… Kelce can shut a route down, probably sooner than it needs to be shut down and Mahomes is feeling the same thing or seeing the same thing that he's seeing. That's why they're able to have that good connection. Kelce plays with… He has great hands, really good job, really great awareness of zone coverage of when to sit it down, when to break out, break in. It's just they're tied in together because they've seen football through the same set of eyes for such a long time, and you see that connection. It's still there on tape.”
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: What did Texans HC DeMeco Ryans say before Week 14's game vs. Chiefs?
Continue reading...
Question: On how dangerous the Kansas City Chiefs are
DeMeco Ryans: “We know the Chiefs are a really good team. It's our next opponent, so we're fired up for the matchup. Excited to go play a really good team.”
Q: On the strategy of playing in the cold weather and how he kept warm when he played
Ryans: “The strategy for playing in the cold is not to focus on it too much. It's a mindset factor. You have three hours, no matter what the weather is, no matter what the temperature, you got to go out and play ball for three hours. So, it shouldn’t be a factor for our guys.”
Q: On CB Kamari Lassiter and RB Woody Marks
Ryans: "They'll all be fine. We'll see how the week goes.”
Q: On if the team feels there is a rivalry with Kansas City
Ryans: “No rivalry, no hard feelings. We lost a football game. New season, we have a new team. About this team this year, how do we go out? How do we prepare this week to put ourselves in position to go out and play as best as we possibly can.”
Q: On how much of a problem the speed of Kansas City’s wide receiver room can be
Ryans: “They have good players. They have good players at the perimeter. We have good players too. So, we play fast, play physical, that's not going to change for us.”
Q: On if he thinks the offensive line is playing more physically the last few games
Ryans: “Our offensive line is definitely playing physical. You see the clips, I know the clip with Ed [Ingram], it's a really nice clip, but you see that physicality show up. You see guys playing together, they're playing connected on the double teams. They're finishing well, so they're doing a really good job. It's the second week that we had that same offensive line in, so I’m excited to see them go back for another week and continue to grow, continue to get better. So, they're doing a great job, just got to keep it going.”
Q: On why this offensive line combination has clicked
Ryans: “The guys are playing well together. That's the most important thing.”
Q: On the challenge of facing Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes
Ryans: “Patrick is still Patrick. Let's call him Houdini. He finds a way to make plays all over the field. That's why this team has always been a threat. That's why their games are always close because of Patrick and his capabilities of extending plays, and not just to run plays, not to run the football, but the way he extends plays, the way he finds his guys down the field, it's unique. There's not many guys in the league that can do it how Patrick does it. That's why he's a special player. The guys he played with, they know where he's looking. They know what to look for, so they're connected. Although it may seem like they're scrambled plays, they're connected and coordinated in where they're finishing, and Patrick knows the spots. So, you just have to be aware, and now with that threat as well, he can run the football, gain third downs in those critical moments as well. So, it's going to be a challenge as always with the four guys rushing, got to do a great job of having awareness, knowing where he is. The guys in the back end, you got to cover them twice. Because he can extend plays, they can go on and on and on. You have to be aware of the guys in your zone, your area, and you have to stay on them.”
Q: On the value that WR Nico Collins brings to the team
Ryans: “Nico is such a valuable piece to our team. First off, with his mindset. He's humble; there's not an ego with Nico, even though he's one of the best receivers in the league. He doesn't walk around that way like somebody owes him something. He's a very humble guy, respectful guy. He brings it every single day that he's working. Just watch him work on a Wednesday, Thursday. He works extremely hard at his craft to see a young guy like Nico continue to get better and better as he's been in his league. That's what it's about, that growth. He's exhibited that, and he's a great teammate. He'll do whatever it takes for the team to win, knowing that it's not just about him, it's about the team. You couldn't ask for a better guy who should be this superstar a lot of people are talking about, but you don't hear much about him. He's quiet, he goes about his business the right way, and that's his approach, and that's just fine. I love the way Nico prepares each and every week. Love the man that he is, and I'm just excited to have him on our team and see him get the praise and accolades that he truly deserves.”
Q: On how much of an emphasis the coaching staff has given to receivers getting involved in the run game
Ryans: “With our wide receivers, it's very critical to our offense that they block. A lot of receivers want the football they can't get the football unless you're blocking. So, our guys have that unselfish mindset. Coach Ben [McDaniels] has done a great job with the group when they are blocking. All the guys are responsible to block at some point of the game. So, it's not just one particular player who has to do it. All the guys have to do it. All the guys are getting better, and they're excelling at it. Some of our touchdowns that we're able to get, it will be because of how our wide receivers are finishing their blocks downfield. They are the touchdown blocks, and they have to get it. They have to stay connected, move their feet, and they have to be physical in there. Our guys are willing to do that, and that's why we can make the plays we make because of those guys. In the run game, it's very critical for our wide receivers to block, and that's why our run game will excel because of them.”
Q: On if he has reevaluated some of his previous decisions in last year’s playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs
Ryans: “This is a new year. We're here to play Kansas City with this team this year.”
Q: On the challenges the Kansas City Chiefs defensive front presents
Ryans: “Their front is very good front. Starting with [Chris] Jones, you talk about a guy who is very disruptive in the run game and passing game. He finds a way to get into the opposing team's backfield time and time again. He's a guy that we have to have awareness for him at all times because he can wreck a play and wreck your series if you don't have eyes and awareness for him and you have the intensity you need to go out, go after him and block him consistently. Then you got [George] Karlaftis that's on the edge, really good player, good young player in this league. You talk about a workhorse, he's going to stay after it, relentless guy, finds a way to get after the quarterback leading their team in sacks. But he’s just a physical, relentless rusher and we're going to have to outwork him this week.”
Q: On the challenges that Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo brings
Ryans: “Coach ‘Spags’ has done a great job his entire career of having some of the best defenses in the league. What he does, he really stresses offenses with his blitz package. I think that everybody's aware of that. He does a good job of bringing the pressure, the guys do a great job of executing it. It could be anyone. Corner[backs], nickels, [line]backers, he does a good job of mixing it up. So, you can't just watch it and say, ‘I know who's blitzing all the time.’ You really have to trust your rules. You really have to be aware, and the receivers, tight ends, everybody have to be on the same page. Everybody has to see the game through the same set of eyes when it comes to their blitz package, because it's very lethal. He does a good job of calling it, not only on third down, but in some of those first down, second down, anytime. So, we have to be prepared for that. If we can execute that the right way, we feel like we can make some plays.”
Q: On if there are differences in finishing games at home versus on the road
Ryans: “There's no difference. Every game, I would say every game is a game of itself. If it's on the road or home, it really doesn't matter. Whatever that game calls for when it comes to making the plays necessary to win, it really… There's no difference, home or away.”
Q: On what it is like to match wits with Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid
Ryans: “I don't try to. That's my old coach. I don't try to let Andyhave that. So, we're preparing how we need to prepare, and he's a great coach. I had the pleasure of playing for him for one year. He's an outstanding coach, and he has a track record to prove that. So, it's always a challenge going on with Andy, because whatever you've seen on tape, he's going to have some type of wrinkle. There's going to be some type of new play design that we can't prepare for because we haven't seen it, because he's very still cutting edge. Just a really smart coach, [he] does a great job of positioning his players, making you have to adjust and think on the fly on defense as well. That's why he's one of the best to ever do it.”
Q: On CB Kamari Lassiter
Ryans: “Kamari is one of the, hands down, one of the best corners in his league when it comes to playing physical. When it comes to stepping up in the run game, you want to see a corner tackle? Go watch Kamari's tape. For any corners that want to learn how to tackle, young corners, go watch Kamari Lassiter. Go watch him tackle. Go watch him take on blocks. There isn't a better corner in the league when it comes to the physical presence that he provides to a defense. There is not a better guy than Kamari.”
Q: On what the common thread is in the team’s recent winning streak
Ryans: “The common thread for us winning is our players making the plays. That's what it's all about. Our guys done a great job of finding a way to make, whether that's special teams, offense, everybody stepping up, making a play when we need to make a play. That won't change this week as well. It's always going to be about the players, and that won't change.”
Q: On the connection between Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce
Ryans: “Both guys, of course, they played together for a long time. They know when the routes… Kelce can shut a route down, probably sooner than it needs to be shut down and Mahomes is feeling the same thing or seeing the same thing that he's seeing. That's why they're able to have that good connection. Kelce plays with… He has great hands, really good job, really great awareness of zone coverage of when to sit it down, when to break out, break in. It's just they're tied in together because they've seen football through the same set of eyes for such a long time, and you see that connection. It's still there on tape.”
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: What did Texans HC DeMeco Ryans say before Week 14's game vs. Chiefs?
Continue reading...
