LIVE: Houston Texans Head Coach DeMeco Ryans & Players address the media

guys. And I say from standpoint of film prep, so PowerPoint prep, but a guys not just sitting in the meeting rooms, also getting guys up, walking guys through things. So, our coaches do a really good job of teaching guys. And I think that’s always the the beauty of coaching, trying to figure out how different guys learn and how you can connect and make that guy get it, make the information stick, so a guy can go out and and play fast. We don’t want guys lining up thinking about what they have to do. We want our guys playing fast and that’s what teaching is all about. That’s it. What do you hope he gains from that experience as he really works with coach Barrett and all these things that you’re talking Yeah. I asked Coach Barry did he need me to step in? All right. To be be a number two in that drill for him. But, uh, Coach Barry has done this for a long time and he has such a great way about him of connecting with players and and I know him and Woody already have that that great connection already. You can see it and work really really well together and I’m excited to see Woody just get in with the other guys. process. Yeah, the thing I saw with Tofuna is a really big strong guy that can he’s very versatile. I like him in the run game and in the pass game. I think he does does both. Young guy who can come in and add some depth to our interior defensive line. That’s what we’ve been looking to do is continue to upgrade that position, find younger guys who can help us out there. I think Tafuna is a guy who seeing college safety can help us. You got a chance to when you drafted these guys, you got a chance to meet those guys, talk to those guys, talk a little bit about them. What have you learned from some of these undrafted guys that are out here trying to make an impression? Our undrafted guys, man, they are they are dialed in. All these guys are dialed in. And the one thing that’s funny, like we go to a team meeting, all the other guys are sitting down in front. They have their notebooks out. They’re taking notes eyes wide. Like they’re very attentive. And I just remind all those guys like keep that same mindset. Like no matter how the process goes, how long you’re in the NFL, right? When you’re that attentive and you’re locked in on absorbing the information and getting better, right? I mean, that’s how you get better in this league. And that’s what being a real pro is all about. is about that progress from year to year. But if you attack the meetings the same way as you attack the field, you have you put yourself in the best position to succeed. So that’s what I’ve seen from our undrafted free agents and also, you know, the guys we drafted as well. Yeah, Urser is I mean he’s he moves well for his size. Big man, strong guy. Um, and he’s did a great job today in his drills. When everybody here lines up, all 90 guys, I hope every guy is competing for a starting job. That’s the only way I see it. If you’re a true competitor, like that’s the only way I see it. Like, what else would you be competing for? What else would you be lining up if you’re not competing for a starting job? What did you first? What did you want to see from him? Yeah, very encouraged with with Learius and just how he’s went the process uh just throughout the off season, throughout the entire season, just seeing Learius show up every day, smile on his face, having that joy like he he gives me energy, right? just seeing him in the building, how excited he is to just work, get better weight room on the field. Just we wanted to get him out here in the rookie mini camp because he didn’t have this time last year, right? Just get on the field. So trying to get him just the extra time to get out, get some coaching sessions with uh coach Papovic. And he’s he’s doing a great job so far. And I’m just excited to see, you know, how this how this journey continues to go for him because it’s definitely headed in the right direction. And he’s done everything the right way. Everything you could possibly do to put yourself in position to have a successful year, he’s done that. Seeing Jaden and Jaylen together is just I think it’s very comforting for those guys. Like being able to work together in college for the past couple years and being able to be drafted to the same team. I think it’s just it’s a unique situation for them, but I think both guys will benefit a lot from it just because they have someone to lean on. A lot of times you get drafted and you go to a new city in a situation where you’re trying to learn a lot of new things, learn new surroundings and you trying to learn new people as well. So, I think they benefit from having each other, right? Having that brother from college to be with you throughout this process is only going to help both of those guys, I think, speed up their transition to the NFL. story about came. I didn’t tell them a story about my rookie year, but you know, one thing I remember just from being a rookie and it’s just you just attack the process just like why were you drafted? I always had to remember like when you’re draft why were you drafted? Obviously, someone saw something good in you in college. So, continue to be who you’ve been. Like, don’t get to the NFL and try to, you know, just I always tell the guys, don’t try to make yourself just lower than the vets. So, I’m looking up to the vets. Come in and if you were the man in college, be the man here and do it in the right way, in a humble way. But we drafted these guys for a reason. Like, we’re not waiting on guys three years down the road. We drafted guys and my message to them, we drafted them for them to help us out right now. So, understand a sense of urgency. Congratulations, you’re here as a rookie, but now what? Like, you have to come in. You have to help us, right? Win games. That’s what it’s about. Again, we continue to add depth to the defensive defensive side of the ball, especially the defensive line position. And you know, we’ll see how it all shapes out for us. In the process with Nick, what’s it what’s it like that this whole dynamic as y’all start this? How much are y’all bouncing things off of each other? Yeah, Nick Kaylee has done a he’s done an outstanding job of it’s really connecting with the staff, connecting with the players. He’s done a really good job of, you know, making it making it his making the offense the Houston Texans, right? It’s been a very uh thorough process, a very detailed approach, which was the same throughout his interview process. You can the energy is on 100 every single day. So, I love love the positive energy that he brings, the smile, the joy that he brings to work every day and that rubs off on the players. So, he’s done a fantastic job of that. It’s been great working with him and I know he’s going to do a really great job of leading, you know, that side of the ball. Who Yeah. Yeah. We’re We’re going to be fine. So, how do you tell them what’s next? What’s next? Yeah. What’s next for these guys is really just to take a deep breath and relax. That’s the main thing I tell guys relax. And we over the next two over these two days, we’re just getting them acclimated to how we do things, right? And have to make sure they’re taking care of their bodies the right way and come in on Monday. Now, it’s going to be a lot more guys out there in the lines and now you’re going to be expected to get right in and catch up to speed with the other guys. So, it’s a matter of them just again speeding up that learning process so they can get in line and look like they know what they’re doing. Last one. Jaylen Smith. Yeah, I had to tell Jaylen Smith, I thought I heard him say the word hot out here. And as we all know in Houston, as of right now, you cannot say the word hot. This is this is winter for us right now. This is this is outstanding weather. So, just wanted him to understand like if you think this is hot and you’re you’re in for a long training camp, buddy. Now, fun moment though for to see the rookies and getting acclimated to Houston. It’s different in Southern California. So, you got to get some mental toughness. Sorry. We were checking earlier. Felt great. Uh definitely great to be out there with the team. Um, felt like a while since I got drafted. So, it was really good to be out there with all the rookies and just go out there and compete. Yeah, it feels great. Um, it’s all props to my agent, um, you know, Chris Kitt, you know, but at the end of the day, just just wanted to come out here and compete and, you know, uh, show that I belong here as well. Jaylen got Jaylen got Yeah. Um so I was actually I was at my house and then uh you know I had to do all the Zoom interviews and stuff like that after I got drafted and then um you know I go out out there look at the TV and I’m wondering if Jay’s still drafted and then I see it’s like probably like four picks until Houston’s up and they said Jaylen hadn’t got drafted yet. I was like, man, I feel like Houston is going to get him, you know, and uh you know, a couple teams didn’t get him and he he came to us and it’s amazing. So, yeah. Sure. Yeah. Yeah, it was awesome. It was a dream come true. Um but honestly, it feels just like, you know, the next level. You’re going to next level, come out here to compete, um get better and and perform. So, it was awesome for sure. Yep. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, football is football at the end of the day, but every system is different. Um, the way they want you to run the routes could be different at one place than another. Um, you know, just little little verbiage that they use and things like that. So, um, you just got to come in and learn the system as far as a whole, but football is football at the end of the day. CJ, uh, I haven’t talked to Nico. CJ. Um, he texted me after the draft, but just got here like two days ago. Had to do a bunch of medical stuff, so I haven’t got got to talk to him too much yet. What kind of fuels your belief that you always Yeah, I think uh the biggest thing with me is I’m just a person that I’m trying to get better each and every day. Um, no matter where I was at at Eastern Kentucky, at Westminster Christian, my high school, um, it’s going to be the same thing here at the Texans. So, I’m just trying to be the best version of myself. Uh, I mean, I love Kenan Allen. Um, the way he his releases are and things like that. Devonte Adams. Um, there’s so many great guys in the league. You I’d like to watch everyone honestly, but uh, yeah, some of those guys. Yeah. Yeah. I would say we were really close. Um, you know, we always hang out, go fishing together, do things like that. We were roommates when we would travel and stuff like that. So, uh, but yeah, Jaylen’s just a great guy. Hang out with him all the time. So, yeah, I would say really close. Uh, yeah, we haven’t we haven’t posted on the fishing channel in a long time, so I don’t know if it’s still active. I got to go back and look. It was J&J fishing though, but it was on TikTok. like I looked I looked at it uh probably like a couple weeks ago and I didn’t see it. So, we’ll see if I can find it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think uh the biggest thing with me is I take it day by day. Um really just trying to be the best version of myself like I said. But the biggest thing for this weekend is to come out here and compete, be with the guys, meet everyone and um you know, just have a good time, play football. Yeah, I would say my expectations are to compete. Um, you know, take it day by day. Um, whatever that leads me, that’s going to lead me, but I’m always going to put my best foot forward. What was it about that allowed you to connect with? Yeah. Uh, I would just say the type of person that he is and the type of program that we had at Iowa State, you know, everyone’s very welcoming. Um, you know, people just want to see you succeed there. So, it’s all props to the culture that they built there. And then really on the football field, you know, Jaylen’s a smaller receiver. I’m a bigger receiver. We’re kind of like the best of both worlds as far as what we do. So about that program to say about Matt Campbell, what was Matt Campbell’s role in preparing for this? Yeah. Um, you know, I would say coach Campbell, he’s a he’s a big motivator. Um, you know, a big guy that the biggest thing with him is about team, you know, uh, being selfless, you know, doing what’s best for the team and ultimately just just winning at the end of the day. That’s what we did at Iowa State. You know, we won 11 games, the most in program history. So, um, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Uh I would definitely say me. I would definitely say me. Me and Jaylen, we have rivalries every day. We have rivalries going out there competing against each other. Just two guys that want to see each other get better. So we’re always competing, going at each other. But uh I’m definitely better at basketball and fishing. So Yeah. Uh it’s definitely crazy. Um, you know, like I said, I just got here two days ago, so I haven’t really, you know, been able to transition too much, but, uh, definitely having a familiar face, someone that I could talk to, what whatever. And then, uh, just knowing someone that knows, you know, how to push my buttons, but go out there and compete. And same thing with with him as well. Yeah, Nick Kaylee, he’s awesome. Uh, you know, sending a lot of motivation, really just showing how excited he is for the, you know, the the season and really just getting in here and learning all the the new things that they have to install. And then, you know, coach Ben has been great as well. Um, you know, really just, uh, a lot of install we’ve been going over, just diving into the playbook. Um, but he’s been great as well, for sure. Uh, yeah, he reached out. Yep. Yep. I didn’t I actually didn’t go to Iowa State with Xavier because I was at Eastern Kentucky my first two years, but I do know him and he uh, text me. Yes, sir. All set. All right. Thank you. The roster has Kante Hamilton listed as number 94 and he is number Yeah, I felt like the emotions were good um from the little group that we had out there um just going out there just attacking the game, attacking, you know, uh the fundamentals and uh what coaches implemented out there on the field. What’s been the biggest surprise? biggest surprise I mean being in Houston Texan honestly I couldn’t walk into a better situation you know we were a big cultural school at Minnesota so you know Texan is the same as well so we talked about swarm mentality at Minnesota we talked about neck time mentality always attacking and you know never fooling obviously very talented valuable quarterback yeah myself I take pride in protecting my quarterback and opening holes for my running back tackle tackle. But could you see yourself sliding in the interior playing if they need you to? I’m going whatever they u they asked me to do. That’s the type of guy I am, you know. Um I’m just here to be a vessel and just keep getting better each and every day. Um we’re going to look up and see where the sun is at uh when that time come. Yeah. Landon, Missouri. Um, I think the biggest thing it was super hot that it was way hotter than it was today. Um, the biggest thing was just they was going to see who’s going to tap out like who was going to quit uh who was going to fake like they were injured or you know they were looking for any type of tendencies to tell you no. So uh I think I didn’t do that at all. Um I just whatever they asked me they go asked me to go over here over here over here I was bouncing around um and I attacked it. So, um, I think that’s why I stuck out and, uh, the offensive coordinator when we had a conversation, that was some of the things that he mentioned. How would you describe your attitude? Uh, it’s a switch definitely when we, you know, when we getting after like we getting after. So, uh, I just, you know, when we off the field, it’s all good, but we on the field I’m trying to get better. So, uh, just keeping that mentality. I know you’re eager to start to get out on the field with your team, but How are you to get back into the community and maybe help some of the people who went through? Uh yeah, man. Uh that’s that’s big, man. We uh preach that at Minnesota serving. Um serving and giving equals joy, you know. So, um it definitely fulfills me. Giving back. Um and if I have the opportunity to get back here, uh whether that’s here or Minnesota or in my community, um I’m going to try to do so. What were the first two days of the draft like for you? um being kind of a firstrounder Kansas City hometown. What was that whole process like? Uh it’s just a lot of anticipation, a lot of waiting around. Um really don’t know where you’ll go. Um but you know, I just look at it as a blessing the whole process. Um and I feel like I’m meant to be a Houston Texan, so I’m going to give the organization all I got. Did you finally get some sleep? I finally got some sleep. Yeah, I finally got some sleep, man. Um them first two days was rough. When you first arrived there was maybe the biggest culture shock most interesting. I think it was an easy transition. Honestly, I think it was more so just getting around the coaches, you know, getting uh to learn their personalities. Um but I think it was an easy transition because a lot of things they preach here, we preach at Minnesota. So which day did you arrive? Uh I got here like two days ago. today. Um, uh, that we’re teammates and at the end of the day, even though we trying to get each other better, we ain’t trying to go out there and like hurt each other or anything like that. So, but talk about iron sharper than iron. Um, that’s the biggest thing. Uh, just going out there competing at the highest level. Uh, making your brother better. That’s what it that’s what we talked about this morning. And also, what does it mean to you to know that the owner McNair says he can’t wait to see you on the field? I mean, it feels good, man. I can’t wait, you know, to break talk to him, too. So, uh, I’m excited, man. Like I said, it’s a blessing that I’m here. Um, and today was the first day and just went out there, attacked that. Um, and I can’t wait to get to some recovery now and get better with that. your first impression of Nick Kay. Uh, two two unique guys, two funny guys, two guys that got personality, um, that know a lot about ball. Um, and they’re human, you know, they’re not robots. They’re not out there trying to teach you like a robot. They’re going, if there’s something, a mistake or something, they’re going to try to stop, slow down, fix it, uh, and work from there. The personality coach Fleck obviously has personality. What role did he have in getting you ready for this? Yeah, Coach Fleck, man, super hyper. Uh he preached, man, he’s not for everybody, you know. A lot of guys came and went, you know. Um and the guys who stay are champions. That’s what he preached. So, um getting to Minnesota, bringing in guys that uh to get Minnesota to that championship culture, always winning games. Um and I’m just glad I left a little bit legacy there when I was at Minnesota. Yeah, man. I wear that stuff on my sleeve, man. That’s my story. Um, that’s that’s that’s my fuel to my fire. Um, you know, that’s the gumbo to the pot. Um, and you know, my family, man, that’s my motivation, man. We’ve been through a lot. And, uh, being able to over overcome that and being in this position right now is just nothing but a blessing. And my family’s happy. you know, everybody’s around me happy back at home. So, I can’t thank him enough for that. What can you tell us about Daniel? Oh, man. Daniel Jackson, you gonna see him. I’m pretty sure you saw him out there today. Twitchy can catch the ball. Um, I never really seen him drop anything ever. Um, especially in practice, man. He’s a leader. He’s going to get after guys. So, um, I can’t wait to, you know, till he till we get going more and more and more. you know, who kind of just uh shaking their shoulders off right now, but when we get going, man, you gonna hear probably DJack name a lot. Thanks, guys. Appreciate you guys. Good. Good. We were talking to Jaden. How did you all friendship kind of develop at Iowa State? How did y’all find that love? Different things like Yeah. Yeah. We really similar people in how we approach the game. Um we both love the game, curious within our games, trying to find ways to get better and it just really grow grew to having a connection off the field, finding out we like to fish together, just having those conversations. So um the more and more we were able to talk and um work together, then we we found those loves that we had in common outside the game and really just grew our relationship. Uh it it was surreal honestly. Um the pick was in my name got called and immediately I thought about Jaden. Um that’s my guy. We’ve been playing together for the last two two years and he called me and we were just excited be able to work with each other again and get to it. Yeah, it holds uh each other accountable. We push each other. Um want to see the best come out of each other and um it just keeps us going every day. I’m excited to see what we can uh compete with each other in each day and it’s just fun. Yeah, it’s really a blessing. Not many people get to do this. So, um, me being in this position and getting to fulfill a dream of mine, um, it’s really a blessing and excited to continue to get to work so I can stay in this position. Um, they’re getting a competitor. Um, getting a guy that is willing to lead, getting a guy

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