Everything Texans HC DeMeco Ryans said following 16-13 preseason loss to the Panthers
· Yahoo Sports
Here's everything Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said following the 16-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers in the third preseason game of the year, including his thoughts on the players set to get cut and the depth of the offensive line.
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Question: On if any of the players made one last impression tonight and helped themselves
DeMeco Ryans: "What I'm extremely proud of is the effort. A lot of guys are flying around, making plays. George [Odum] was one guy. Man, he had elite energy the entire game. He was talking the entire game, and he made a play on an interception and made some good tackles. So, a lot of guys can help themselves from the work that they put out there tonight.
Q: On linebacker Jamal Hill
Ryans: Jamal has continued to grow throughout this entire time that he's been here. Learning the linebacker position, I think he's picked it up really well. It was pads walk-through. I mean, we had a pads walk-through the other day, and just to hear how he's communicating – he was loud, he was on it, he was concise. I was proud of the growth that I've seen from him. Tonight he made some plays there in the end zone getting the ball out. So, he's made some plays, and he's flying around making plays on special teams as well, but I'm proud of Jamal's growth.
Q: On if roster decisions get tougher each year
Ryans: "Every year it's tough to make the team, as it should be. Our younger guys are getting better. They're improving. It's a hard team to make, and that's how you want it to be. So, we have some tough decisions to make, myself and [General Manager] Nick [Caserio], but we'll go through that process and make the best decisions that we can make for the Houston Texans.
Q: On if he’s figured out how to break the news to the players who do not make the team
Ryans: "I wish I could say the news gets easier the years I've been a head coach, but it's never easy. Every time we have to sit there and talk to a guy and give him the devastating news to him that he's not making the team. It's hard to give that news, and I know it's hard to receive that news as well. So, there is no pretty way of doing it. For us and how Nick and myself have handled it, we're always honest, truthful, up front with those guys and give them the reasons behind why and things that they can improve upon to help them truly be a better player so the next time around they can make it."
Q: On the wide receiver room and how wide receiver Tank Dell’s recovery affects those decisions
Ryans: "We've added to the receiver room, and we needed to add to the room with the loss of [Jayden] Higgins. We're still trying to find who will be those guys for us at the receiver. It won't be an easy decision at the receiver spot because we have probably more guys deserving than we have spots for.
Q: On conversations with reserves about taking the next step and judging players based off three preseason games
Ryans: "Well, I'll be honest and up front with the guys on what went right, what didn't go right for us, but it won'tbe based on just one play or one game that happened. It will be – we take a look at everything, all ourpractices that we've had, all of our meetings, all of our walk-throughs. We judge guys off of the full trainingcamp and not just one game."
Q: On wide receiver Zay Jones
Ryans: Zay has done a good job of picking up the scheme. Unfair to those guys coming in as late as they've comein, but him and Sterling [Shepard], they've come in and picked up the scheme as best as they could over the short period of time. They've been, I mean, true pros about how they approach their business, how they approach day-to-day. True pros. Couldn't be more proud of the way those guys have handled themselves.
Q: On his overall feelings about training camp
Ryans: "This was a successful training camp for us. Our guys got better. We grew as a team throughout training camp, and that's my main focus always. How are we growing? How are we gelling? How are we coming together as a team? These past few days here in Carolina were important as well. We had a lot of time, a lot of downtime, to spend as a team, to get to know each other a little bit better, build that bond. Again, you have to do it every year because you have new faces every year, new coaches, new players. So, I love where our team is headed as we step into the regular season.
Q: On if there was a video of him in a race car
Ryans: I was not in a race car. I put a tire on. That's about it (laughing).
Q: On if he was part of the pit crew
Ryans: I was pit crew. Hats off to the pit crew. You talk about elite performance, timing – talk about teamwork, how everybody has to be on top of their job, be detailed in what they do. Our guys took a lot from RFK Racing, and we appreciate them for having us over.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Everything Texans HC DeMeco Ryans said following 16-13 preseason loss to the Panthers