Everything Texans HC DeMeco Ryans said ahead of Week 4 vs Cowboys

Here is everything Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said ahead of Houston’s Week 4 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, including his reaction to wide receiver Nico Collins returning to practice, facing Dallas’ elite wide receiver duo and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair’s groin injury.

Question: On WR Nico Collins‘ impact

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DeMeco Ryans: “We’re excited to have Nico back out at practice. Everyone understands and knows the type of player Nico is. He’s an explosive playmaker anytime he’s touching the ball, anytime he’s on the field, he’s a threat. Defenses have to prepare for him and they have to do different things to adjust for him, so we’re happy to have Nico back out practicing this week.”

Q: On facing Dallas Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb and WR George Pickens

Ryans: “They’re two really good players. CeeDee and George are both explosive players. CeeDee does a great job of being able to stretch the field vertically, but also having the ability to line up in the slot, get a match up and make a play. George does a good job, whether it’s a slant, a short pass, his run after catch is really great. He also has the ability to go up and go get contested catches. Two big time playmakers at the wide receiver position, you have to make sure we can handle them. We love the corners that we have. We know it’s going to be a big challenge for our guys, but they’re up for it.”

Q: On LB Azeez Al-Shaair

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Ryans: “Azeez has a groin injury, he’ll be week-to-week.”

Q: On how facing WR Nico Collins in practice helps the corners prepare for the Dallas Cowboys

Ryans: “Our guys get the best when they line up versus Nico, every Training Camp, every practice. It’s great for our guys. We talk about iron sharpening iron all the time. It’s good on good. Kamari [Lassiter] and ‘Sting’ [Derek Stingley Jr.] being able to work against Nico, I think it’s been beneficial to both sides, for Nico and also for our corners. It’s a cool matchup. We’re excited about it. They’re [WRs CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens] two talented players. I have a ton of respect for them and how their offense functions, with Dak [Prescott] being able to get those guys to the ball and get them opportunities to make those plays.”

Q: On the success of pre-snap motions in the offense

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Ryans: “Motions have been beneficial across the NFL. Just offenses utilizing more motion and the tempo of the motion, the snap point of the motion. It really puts defenses in a bind. You have to communicate the proper way. You have to make sure your eyes are in the proper place. Any type of motion, you want to get guys out of position just a hair so you can have a better angle in the run game or get guys looking at the wrong thing in the passing game and you have free access. When you utilize motion the right way and keep mixing it up, it can be beneficial for your offense.”

Q: On the dynamic of the run game

Ryans: “For our running game, there are a few factors that have kind of limited some of our runs. Sometimes the blocking, sometimes the running. It’s just everybody being coordinated and working together. I think there are more yards out there for us to get. We just reset. We just make sure we’re dialed in on our aiming points, our hat placement, our running back tracks, make sure everybody’s on the same page and that we’re in unison as we’re running the football. When we run it and we’re in unison, we’re able to block it really well, run it well and really gain a lot of explosive yards. We’re just reset in the run game and excited to see how that looks this week.”

Q: On QB C.J. Stroud’s comments about wanting to be more aggressive

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Ryans: “We all work together offensively for whatever that looks like when it comes to aggressive. If C.J. says that, you have to ask him what he truly means by that. Everybody’s working together on offense. For me, it’s just to move the football efficiently up and down the field. However that looks, you can get explosive runs. If we block it the right way, run it the right way, you can get explosive passes. When we hold up in protection, give C.J. time, the routes are on time. Everybody’s in the right position they need to be in. There are multiple ways to move the football. There’s not just one way you have to do it. For us, we just have to be efficient on offense, sustain drives better. Be able to stay out of third down by winning first and second down, but also when we get in those third down situations, finding a way to move the ball, find a way to get past the sticks.”

Q: On how WR Nico Collins can prepare for returning to the game action

Ryans: “Nico just does what he’s always done. Just being attentive in our meetings, being attentive in our walkthrough sessions. Also, when he gets reps in practice, just practicing the right way, being where he needs to be. He’ll prepare the right way. He’s a true pro.”

Q: On WR Nico Collins’ game status

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Ryans: “Nico is back practicing today. We’ll see how the week goes.”

Q: On G Ed Ingram being back in practice

Ryans: “Getting Ed back should be helpful for us. Ed did a really nice job in our first game. He did a good job. Ed plays physical, plays with low pads. He can really displace the line of scrimmage really well when he does it the right way. I’m excited to get him back and just the physical and the physical nature that he brings to the game, his ability to move people would be beneficial for us.”

Q: On the starting offensive line group

Ryans: “For us right now, Ed will be in and we’ll keep everything how we’ve been.”

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Q: On the process of tightening the middle of the defense

Ryans: “I think we’ve been pretty solid from our defensive tackle position. If speaking in the run game, our guys are doing it well. In the passing game, in the middle of our defense, where some plays have gotten out on us is it comes down to tackling. I think that’s the main thing. A couple times the ball got checked down, specifically last week, the ball gets checked down over the middle of the defense. We have to do a better job of having our cleats in the ground set, ball out breaking and making sure we’re wrapping up. We missed a lot of tackles that led to some positive plays happening on us in the middle of the defense. I don’t think it’s just an issue with the middle of the defense. It comes down to tackling.”

Q: On the injury of DT Mario Edwards Jr.

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Ryans: “Really tough news hearing Mario will be missing the rest of the season. Mario, he brought a different intensity to our defense. Outstanding energy on the field, just seeing his efforts, seeing his tenacity every single snap. We’re going to miss him a lot. Miss him being in the building, we’re going to miss him on the field. Guys have to step up in the area where he was. He was really dynamic as a pass rusher as well. We’re going to miss him a lot.”

Q: On linebackers stepping in for LB Azeez Al-Shaair if he misses time

Ryans: “With Azeez possibly missing some time and other linebackers, we have young linebackers, we have to step up and play. Those guys, we’re preparing them the right way. We’re training them hard to make sure they’re on the details. As I’m telling those guys and coaching them up, it’s just about your eyes got to be right. We just got to go play fast. Don’t overthink it, it’s still football. Like you’ve played linebacker before, just be where you’re supposed to be. Communicate the proper way. Go play fast, physical, have some fun.”

Q: On the improvement of S Reed Blankenship

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Ryans: “Reed has progressed from Week 1 to Week 3. He’s definitely gotten better. He did a great job of just being in the proper position and attacking the football the right way. Getting us the football there later in the drive last week, it was big for us. He’ll continue to improve.”

Q: On missing LB Azeez Al-Shaair and LB Henry To’oTo’o

Ryans: “The biggest thing for me when you have new guys step in, it’s not trying to overdo it when you step in. You don’t need to fill anyone else’s shoes. You just have to be the best that you can possibly be. That’s all I ask of those guys. Give me all the effort you have, all the communication you have pre-snap, making sure we’re all working together. They’re not out there by themselves. The game isn’t just on those guys. They are just a piece of the puzzle in my mind. You have to do your piece the proper way for the puzzle to work.”

Q: On LB Kenneth Murray

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Ryans: “Kenneth has done a great job in the classroom being attentive to what we do, what we’re asking him to do. It’s not a lot different. Kenneth has played a lot of football and watched him play his entire career. It’s not new to him. He’s catching up to speed on our, our verbiage and what we’re asking of him. We’ll see how he can fit in and help us as well.”

Q: On how fans will view a win vs. the Dallas Cowboys

Ryans: “You would have to tell me. I’m pretty sure our fans are fired up. We know how big this game is and how much it means to our fans here in the city of Houston. It’s a special game for us and it is our 25th anniversary of the Texans and the first game for the Texans versus the Cowboys and the Texans got a big win versus the Cowboys that first game. I understand what it means, understand the dynamics of it, understand the places we live. There are a lot of Cowboy fans in Houston, a lot of passionate fans, a lot of passionate Texans fans. I expect it to be a rowdy crowd. I expect it to be an unbelievable atmosphere for this game on Sunday. We have to be ready to go. We just have to come out. We have to play well to give our fans what they’ve been searching for and that’s that first win and I’m excited. Our guys are excited. We’re putting in the work, the proper way to go out and be in position to play our best football and see what happens.”

This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Everything Texans HC DeMeco Ryans said ahead of Week 4 vs Cowboys