Here's everything Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said after Day 12 of training camp, including an update on the quarterback room, the growth of several rookies and his early thoughts on the Las Vegas Raiders.
Question: On QB Graham Mertz’s injury and the addition of QB Brett Rypien
DeMeco Ryans: “Really unfortunate news for Graham, for him to have torn his ACL. He's battled. He's done a good job all camp, the past two years he's done a really good job of handling his role the proper way. He's encouraged. He's taking it the right way. I'm just excited to see him on his road to recovery. He'll do a great job with that. We signed [Brett] Rypien today. Get him in. A guy who's bounced around a few different teams has some experience has played in game. You can see he's a very sharp guy. He's picked up on the offense ready to take some reps. We’re thankful to be able to get him in at this time to help us out during camp.”
Q: On whether he saw an increase in intensity in practice
Ryans: “A lot of good intensity today at practice. Guys were flying around, guys were just having fun playing football. You can sense and feel the energy from our guys all across the field. I thought the guys had a really good day today. Today was primarily our first group getting most of the reps because they didn't play in the game. There was really good energy at practice, good start to the week. We'll see how we continue to progress throughout.”
Q: On DE Jadeveon Clowney
Ryans: “Jadeveon has done a really good job. He's still picking up the scheme and how we do things, but he's done a really good job with the rest that he's getting.”
Q: On the growth from S Kamari Ramsey
Ryans: “With Kamari’s growth what I've seen is a guy who's very smart. We're starting to throw a couple more things at him. To see if he can handle dual position roles. We'll try to mix it up. Try to get him down a nickel a little bit, then move him back to safety. He's handled both well in the classroom in a meeting setting. He just has to come out and do the physical reps, but he's a guy you can put a lot on mentally. He's absorbed it really well. He had one pick in the game, which is great, should have had another one there on the sideline. On that particular play, you talk about excellent technique from him. Being exactly where he's supposed to be reading the quarterback the proper way pushing through as a buzz defender, really great job by him.”
Q: On the ramp up as they prepare for joint practice with the Las Vegas Raiders
“Today and this week for us will be typical to our in-season week. That's why we're here a little later in the afternoon. We want all our guys to get used to our in-season schedule and how we operate. We'll go through a normal in-season week up until Tuesday, our joint practice. Then we'll have a really good competitive practice against the Raiders. They're going to give us a lot of good looks, good competition, really good talent, especially at the running back position is talented. They’re talented at tight ends, their offensive line is fast. They have a defensive end as well, Maxx Crosby. For our guys to be able to go against a really talented team it’s going to be very beneficial to us and really help us progress and get better as camp is going on.”
Q: On his message to the young players on the team after the first preseason game
Ryans: “My message to most of our guys was that we have to pick it up. From a play style standpoint of how we're swarming to the football and how we're finishing on the football. I thought the Chargers ran the ball efficiently against us. They were very effective of knocking us off the ball. We didn't finish the right way and I feel like we left a lot out there, especially on the defensive side and offense in the second half. There were too many three-and-outs. We didn't sustain any drive. For all of our guys who played, it was not good enough and we have a lot to improve upon. I told them that this is the starting point. You can only go up from what we displayed on Thursday night. We can only get better and grow from it and our guys have already shown that by taking those steps today.”
Q: On the decision of who will play against the Raiders in the second preseason game
Ryans: “As I stand here today versus the Raiders, I'm anticipating everyone who's healthy to go out and play.”
Q: On the experience the offensive line receives in practice
Ryans: “Our tackles are getting a lot of good work, and it should help them versus anyone they go against. It's difficult on our tackles. Of course, you have Will [Anderson Jr.], Danielle [Hunter] and now Jadeveon coming off the edge. They get a ton of good work, and those guys are prepared and ready to go against a talented guy like Maxx Crosby as well.”
Q: On what determines a player receiving more roles in the system
Ryans: “When I see that a player can take more, it all starts in the meeting room and in the classroom. It’s like how sharp that player is on his job. Is he picking up things at the other positions as well? That's why Kamari has been worthy of being able to do that. We're moving a lot of guys around in our secondary and because when you're in that back end of the roster, guys have to be able to do multiple things. That's what would allow a guy to make our team and really help our team. That's how you have depth when guys can do multiple things and Kamari is one of those guys.”
Q: On T Aireontae Ersery
Ryans: “Ersery's doing a good job this camp. He's steadily improving. He did a good job the other night with the few reps that he got. He's doing a really good job, he just keeps getting better.”
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Everything Texans HC DeMeco Ryans said after Day 12 on training camp