Everything DeMeco Ryans said ahead of Wild Card Round game vs Steelers

4 days ago 2

Here's everything Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said ahead of the wild-card round matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, including playing on the road, the veteranship of Aaron Rodgers and an overall offensive outlook.

Question: On the matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers

DeMeco Ryans: “We're excited for the matchup versus the Steelers. Really great team. Nothing but a ton of respect for Coach [Mike] Tomlin and the success that he's had in the league, how he's done it for such a long time. He's a guy who I've definitely always looked up to, always respected. He always has his team ready to go, well-coached, physical outfit. They're going to play tough. It was cool to see how they won that game last night. Pure will, determination, found a way to win. Had things gone their way. Aaron [Rodgers] done a good job there at the quarterback position. Defense has always played tough. So, we're excited about the opportunity.”

Q: On the defense’s performance during the regular season

Ryans: “Our defense did a really nice job throughout the entire year. Limiting points, specifically, that's what makes you a good defense. Also, playing well in the passing game. We didn't end the year well defensively. When it comes to giving up explosive plays, it really wasn’t good enough defensively. So, we got to do a much better job if we want to advance and play longer in the playoffs got to play much better defense. So, it didn't end how it should have.”

Q: On what he has learned about his team this season

Ryans: “Our team has been through a lot. What I would say about our team is it really doesn't matter which way the game shapes up. Whatever we need to do to win the game, we find a way to win the game. So, it's the resiliency with our team. That's what sticks out to me the most about our guys. It's the close-knit group that we have. Guys are close, guys are tight, guys play for each other. That's all you can ask for.”

Q: On the difficulties of playing against Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers

Ryans: “He's done it at a high level for a long time because he's probably one of the smartest quarterbacks to play the game. [He] does a really good job, understands defense really well. But, for us, that doesn't change. We've got to go out. It's about the guys who are playing. It's about our guys playing together collectively, going against a really good opponent.”

Q: On if he has a relationship with Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin

Ryans: “I've always kept in touch with Mike. We get together throughout the owner’s meetings and everything. He's always very complimentary of what we're doing here, always positive. That's the thing I say, always positive, always great encouragement from a guy who's done it at a level that everybody would seek to do it. You've had over 20 years of winning seasons. Not many people can do that. He's done it. He's stuck around at one place, probably the longest tenure head coach right now in the NFL for a reason, because he knows how to win.”

Q: On Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith and his style of attacking defenses

Ryans: “I haven't dived into their offense that much, to be honest with you, so we'll see how that goes throughout the week.”

Q: On what led to the explosive plays given up on defense in Week 18

Ryans: “From our last game, it was too many busts, guys not being where they're supposed to be, doing what they're supposed to do and when you bust plays and coverages, you give up big plays.”

Q: On the biggest difference between the regular season and the playoffs

Ryans: “The biggest difference is those details and those fine techniques that we talk about all the time. If you're not on it, you get exposed. You can end up in a pretty tough situation that's harder to climb out of. We know these games. They're going to be tight, they're going to be tough. Everybody's in the playoffs for a reason. Everybody's earned that opportunity to get into the playoffs. For me, everybody has to tighten up on what we're doing, offensively, defensively, special teams-wise. We all have to tighten up, starting with us as coaches. We've got to tighten up to make sure we're all on the same page and make sure that our players, everybody knows exactly what they should be doing and how to get it done.”

Q: On his faith in K Ka’imi Fairbairn to kick well in the winter elements

Ryans: “I have all the faith in the world in Ka’imi. No matter where we are, it's tough anywhere to kick the football. If anybody's tried kicking a field goal, let me see you make one. It's tough anywhere, no matter if you're inside or outside. If you're on ESPN trying to kick it on College Gameday, it's tough to kick a field goal. We'll see how it shapes out when we get there.”

Q: On how RB Woody Marks has improved his patience as a runner this season

Ryans: “I think Woody has, throughout the year, I feel like he's gotten better with the more reps that he's getting in. In-game, I feel like Woody; he does a better job the more times he touches the football. He's always going forward, always gaining positive yards and that patience comes with setting up your blocks. You have to do a good job setting up your blocks to put you in position to make guys miss at certain times, and Woody has done a good job of that.”

Q: On facing the Pittsburgh Steelers pass rush

Ryans: “Can't wait. Great pass rush, both guys. T.J. Watt is one of the all-time sack leaders in the NFL for a reason. Great bloodline. He had a guy who can teach him how to do it and his brother, J.J. He's a really good player, a good pass rusher. Also, [Alex] Highsmith, he doesn't get enough credit, I think, for the production and how disruptive he is as a pass rusher as well. So, you want to play good defense, you have to have two good pass rushers and they have that.”

Q: On how important the pass rush will be against the Pittsburgh Steelers

Ryans: “For us and how we play defense all year, it's really predicated on how we get after the passer, that's starting with Will [Anderson Jr.] and Danielle [Hunter] and what they do off of the edge and always our interior guys on how they're collapsing the pocket. That'll be really important this week as well. How can we disrupt the passer as much as possible to make it difficult for [Aaron Rodgers] to put us in advantageous positions to go and take the football away.”

Q: On if previous playoff experience helps a team prepare for a playoff game

“I think when you have the experience that our group has, and we have a lot of guys who've been there, a lot of guys know what to expect, so it's not our first rodeo for a lot of guys. I would lean in on that experience from our guys just having conversations on the side, nothing formal that we need, but guys talking as we're walking and passing, guys letting each other know what it's going to be like. You know the intensity is going to pick up. You know the importance of every single play is going to pick up and as long as our guys are sharing that information to each other and everybody's prepping the right way and how we go out and practice the right way. We know it's win or go home, everything is on the line, everybody understands that. For me, when you get in these games, you don't start trying to do something that you haven't done before. You just lean in on what you've been training for from training camp. You lean in on that and you do that the right way, that puts you in position to win the game.”

On if the playing field surface will be something the team accounts for in the Wild Card Round

Ryans: “For sure, our equipment staff is very vital, especially when you're playing on the road, on different surfaces. You have to make sure the footing is… You have to make sure our footing is really good and that comes with those guys, making sure we have everything we need. Our guys, our equipment staff does an outstanding job making sure our guys have everything they need and more. We pack a lot of stuff, so we'll be prepared for that. But, specifically, the footing is the main thing. You want to make sure you have the proper cleats so you can have sure footing.”

Q: On if he delivers a message to the rookies ahead of the playoffs or if he defers to veteran players

Ryans: “I'll deliver the message to everyone and make sure we're set, ready to go, specifically for our rookies, making sure they understand the moment. The main thing for our rookies is understanding that you have to take advantage of this moment. You don't know when they come around. It's not just because you suit up you're going to make it. You've got to go earn your right to get in there. We earned it, now what do you do with that? For our rookies, they just have to go and keep getting better. I think a lot of our rookies have done a good job all year of steadily improving, and that's what we want to see throughout the playoffs as well.”

Q: On if he preaches the ultimate goal or one game at a time in the playoffs

Ryans: “It's all about one game. That's all we can handle and that doesn't change for me. It's all about one game. So, we go and handle the one game we have right now. You go and handle it the right way, then you earn the opportunity to get one more game and you keep going. That's the message.”

Q: On if he feels that his team is still the underdog heading into the playoffs

Ryans: “I don't know. I don't have time to listen to it all. If we're the underdogs, if we're not, all those things, that's for everyone else to talk about, to decide, to debate throughout the week, have some spirited arguments about it. For us as a team, it doesn't drive anything I do when it comes to messaging. It doesn't drive anything for me when it comes to actually executing football. When the ball is snapped, nobody cares if you were the underdog or you were the favorite. It doesn't matter. It's about how you execute it in the moment.”

On if playing in close games in the regular season will impact wins in the playoffs

Ryans: “Our guys know how to win football games. That doesn't change because we're in the playoffs. We've been in that mode for a while now. Every game has been important for us. Everything has been about all the marble. That's what it's been. That's our season. That's what it's been for us to fight back, to get into a spot, to even have this opportunity to play in the playoffs. Our mindset is not changing now that we're in.”

Q: On if he feels the team is better prepared for this moment than previously

Ryans: “I feel like I've always been prepared for every moment. It's not that I'm better prepared because we've been through it before. I've been here for the past several years. I've been in the playoffs before I got here. I've been prepared for this moment and ready for it.”

Q: On the growth of C Jake Andrews

Ryans: “Jake has done a good job of setting the table when it comes to the protections, the MIKE points, IDing up front. He's done a good job of communicating, which is what we need. We need a guy up front who is loud, can communicate, make sure everybody's on the same page and Jake has done that for us.”

Q: On the difference between playing a playing a road playoff game versus a home playoff game

Ryans: “When you're in the playoffs, to me, you always would love to be in front of your home crowd. That's why they call it home-field advantage. When your home crowd can be rowdy and loud on those significant plays, third down, red zone, you can have that crowd noise really cranking and really disrupting the flow of the opponent's communication. That's important when you're at home. We don't have the luxury of having that this year. But you go on the road in the playoffs, what's different? It's you against everybody else in their stadium. We went on the road this year. I feel like our guys have handled ourselves. Our team has handled itself pretty well on the road this year, understanding that, again, it goes back to us being in the moment, executing, playing together. We won't have that crowd support, but that's okay. You still have to find a way to figure it out, find a way to win football games. We've done that on the road. Big challenge. Big challenge on Monday night versus the Steelers. We're excited about it versus a really tough crowd, who we know are going to be loud. It's going to be a really great environment, cool environment for our guys. We haven't seen that before. It's going to be a really great environment for them to witness.”

This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Everything DeMeco Ryans said ahead of Wild Card Round game vs Steelers

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