Q. You guys had Stroud in. You got Bryce Young coming. What do you all think about the 30 visits, especially those two?
DEMECO RYANS: With our 30 visits, it's part of our process where we're trying to do as thorough a evaluation as possible with all these guys. So from the combine interviews to, you know, pro days to 30 visits, it's just one more chance for us to just get more detailed on guys to figure out as much information as we can to make sure we're adding the right guys to our team.
So with the 30 visits, not only with the quarterbacks but with every position, guys we may have a few more questions on, it's time for us to get them in our building, a chance for our coaches to interact with these guys, meet with them, install offenses or defenses to see how sharp they are.
So just part of the entire process. Been happy with the 30 visits. We had a lot of really good guys in it, a lot of really great men, great young men in our building, so it's been fun getting to know these guys throughout the process.
Q. At the start of the off-season program, what was your message to the team? What was it like standing in front of the room?
DEMECO RYANS: Our first day of off-season started and it was encouraging. Great participation from a lot of our guys. For me, the message to our guys was really just how are we showing up? Showing up on purpose, being detail oriented in how we work, and just continue to have a growth mindset in everything we do.
Our guys understand that we want to be the best, we have to continue to strive to be better each day in everything that we do. So we're excited as coaches, excited to have the opportunity to meet with our guys for the first time. Have the opportunity to in a couple weeks go on the field with our guys and work with them.
So it's an exciting time. We feel the energy, the excitement from around the city, from our players, our entire building. We're all fired up and we're excited to get going.
Q. How do you want to organize this off-season first year as a head coach, and what kind of ideas did you have to bring in?
DEMECO RYANS: How we organize the off-season, it just with first and foremost one-on-one meetings with our players and coaches just so establish a relationship with our coaches and players. We want the players to understand we're there for them and we want the best for them and we're here help them be better.
We'll continue to be player focused. It's individualized for each player, how can we help them get better, and that's where our focus will be this off-season.
Q. What have the last couple months been like for you? I'm sure it's been a bit of a whirlwind getting involved and taking over, but could you describe that and how excited are you to be a part of this draft process to help build the team you're in charge of?
DEMECO RYANS: This entire process has been great. First coming in, being named head coach, awesome, but I know right after that was over it's time to get to work.
We had a lot of the work to do, and when it comes to adding free agents to our team and the draft process, evaluating all the prospects within the draft, it's a lot of work, and it's great having a lot of really good people to help you out with the work.
So working with Nick has been great. Working with or coaches. That's been outstanding, everybody having their input. Everybody's input has been valuable to me to make sure that we're having a thorough process in everything we're doing.
So it's a lot of work, but it's a lot of fun work when you're doing it with really good people.
Q. Is there a scenario where you guys could pass on a quarterback at the top of the draft? (Indiscernible.)
DEMECO RYANS: I won't talk specifically about what we're doing with our plans for the draft. We'll evaluate, when it's our time to pick, we'll have to be ready to pick.
Q. Coach, you have some foundational pieces that you can build on, but could you speak to some of the needs that you may be able to address in the draft?
DEMECO RYANS: With the free agency process, that was very important to me to add veteran guys to our team, right? So feel like we've done a really good job adding guys at multiple positions that have NFL experience.
So we're not going into a draft where there is this huge need. We have guys with experience. Now with the draft process we can take our time and add young guys who can come in and add depth to our roster and guys that we can take the time to develop and give those guys time to develop and grow and become starters eventually.
Q. Understanding that you say you all won't pay too much attention to what other teams are doing, but if your preferred guy is off the draft, have you all had discussions about trading up or have you talked with the Panthers about trading up at all?
DEMECO RYANS: Again, I won't get into draft strategy and trades and all of those things.
Q. What do you expect out of Case Keenum?
DEMECO RYANS: With Case, true professional, right? He's going to be that coach on the field for us. Case has a ton of experience. He's been in a lot of different schemes, has a depth of knowledge.
I feel like as a player, sometimes another player in that room can say things in a different light that may hit you a little different than coaches can. With Case and all the experience he has, just see him as a guy that can come in and help the younger guys in the room.
Q. What are some of the things that you're doing to develop chemistry and synergy within your coaching staff?
DEMECO RYANS: With our coaches, our coaches, it's a fun group of guys. We really enjoy being around each other. We spent a lot of time over the month or so being around them. It's been cool to see how all the guys have gelled well together and work well together.
So our guys do a good job not only being here, but connecting outside of the building, spending time, families, our wives, being able to interact, and just that's the type of atmosphere I want to create here is that family atmosphere.
I'm seeing it first and foremost with our coaching staff and their families.
Q. How is John Metchie doing, and what is his status? Where do you guys feel like he is at medically and from a football standpoint?
DEMECO RYANS: Yeah, John is doing fine. We'll see John get involved with our off-season program. And with John, as with every other player, we're going to take it one day at a time and see where he can grow and where he can be when the time comes. At the right time, when the season comes, we'll see where he is.
Q. What's been the biggest difference in the draft process from when you were a coordinator to now being the lead man in charge?
DEMECO RYANS: The cool part about this process with the draft for the past three years, I've -- when I was in San Fran I've sat through draft meetings for every position, so this is not a new year for me. It's the same as the past three years. Sat in and heard evaluations from all the offensive and defensive prospects so for me, again, it's very important to have the coach's input, have the scout's input, have everybody's input on a player to make sure that we are adding the right guys to our team.
So it's not a new process for me. Been through it a couple years. It's the same. Pretty interesting to see when you go through it a few times, it's easy to kind of comp players to different players from the past. It's been an interesting process.
Q. I know you haven't had the chance to be on the field, but have you learned anything that you didn't know about the people that are already here in just a short time that stands out to you?
DEMECO RYANS: Nothing I didn't know already. Nothing I haven't learned that I already knew about most of the guys. When you talk about a guy like John Metchie, meeting him in person, hearing his story and meeting him in person, it marries up. Outstanding young man off the field. Great energy. Always around. Every time I seen him in the building he was smiling. No matter what adversity he's faced, he's attacking it with a smile, with the right attitude.
It just solidifies the type of person that he is and the type of people and the type of players that we want to add to our team, is guys with at that type of attitude.
Q. Coach, you talk about veteran free agents that you brought in. You brought them in, and a lot of them have short-term deals. As a former player, were you able to evaluate what you were bringing into your team and what they will be able to add even in that short amount of time that they're signed for?
DEMECO RYANS: You know, the guys that we added, I feel like they bring a style of play that I want them to play with. Even though it's a short-term deal, guys are hungry. That's the most exciting thing about it. Guys that have short deals, most of the guys are betting on themselves, and I love that about the players. Guy is betting on himself to come out and showcase and prove the type of player he is. A lot of guys are looking for the bigger deal.
So it says a lot about the mindset of the guys we're bringing in that they truly believe in themselves. They have that belief. They have that motivation. They have the right mindset to prove it.
I'm all about having those players.
Q. Stroud and Young, are they both visiting this week?
DEMECO RYANS: We visited with Stroud last week and Bryce will be coming in.
Q. (Regarding quarterbacks.) You go in with the same set of questions? How do you go in with these guys to understand them and what's...
DEMECO RYANS: To me, meeting with players, it's organic. It's not a set list of questions that we go down. It's organic because each individual is different. I don't treat guys the same or I don't have the same set of questions for everybody.
It's just an organic meeting truly trying to understand and get to know the person, understand their why and what motivates them.
Q. You've been around quarterbacks before, coordinators, too, what qualities do you find most impressive?
DEMECO RYANS: With any position, right, I think the quality I'm looking for is guys who are dedicated to work, guys who are dedicated to be the best at what they're doing. I feel like you get guys with that right mindset, that they're truly coachable, they're accountable to their teammates, right, you get guys with the right mindset, guys who want to be better, no matter what the position is, quarterback, linebacker, D-lineman, we want guys willing to be coachable, willing to work, guys who want to be the best at what they're doing.
Q. The opportunity to add depth in addition to the veterans you added in free agency, how do you view this opportunity having a No. 2 overall pick to add a leader to the team, be the face of the franchise?
DEMECO RYANS: Having a No. 2 pick, it's exciting for us to have the No. 2 pick, but also, at the same time, there is no pressure where a young man is picked. I think it's unfair to ask a guy just because you're picked No. 2 overall, you have to come in and you're the face of our franchise and the leader. That's unfair to the guy. I'm not going to put that type of weight on the shoulders of whoever we pick.
That's not what we're anticipating and expecting them to do. We're expecting them to come in, be a great teammate, work hard, be deliberate in what you're doing, and have a mindset to get better each and every day. That's the mindset no matter if it's pick two or the last pick of the draft. Really doesn't matter when you get picked.
Leaders, those guys will grow based on our team. Each team is different. We have leaders in our locker room already, so I'm not asking a guy to come in and be this savior for our team. We're asking him to come in and put his head down and just work.
Q. Do you think being a former player, how do you think that shapes how you go through the evaluating process when you're looking at young guys coming into the league?
DEMECO RYANS: Seen a lot of different players being a player in this league. Seen a lot of different players, a lot of different talent. For me, in the evaluation process I just know it can be done multiple ways, many different people, different sizes, shapes, talents. It can be done multiple ways, so I don't get handcuffed into a guy has to be a certain measurable, size, this, that.
It's just what is that guy's character makeup and how -- what type of play style does he have on the field.
Q. When you were with San Francisco you had multiple first round picks on the defensive line, a lot of day three players. When you look at day three players who are potential roster cuts, what are intangibles that you are required to have for them as people, not players?
DEMECO RYANS: As people, day three guys have to be very intrinsically motivated. That's the makeup of day three guys, have this desire that can be unmatched. That allows them to unseat guys that are in front of them. That allows them to go on and be very quality players in the NFL.
It has to be a little different because there may be some type of measurable, something that didn't match up to make that you day one guy. What's your drive? What's going to give that you edge? Most of those day three guys have a certain chip on their shoulder that allows guys who may be touted as the best all the time, right, and they get relaxed, day three guys, sometimes they have that chip on their shoulder that just drives them over the top.
I love guys coming in who have a chip on their shoulder, something to prove. They just work different.
Q. A lot of excitement from the fan base with your hiring. Do you feel any pressure behind that?
DEMECO RYANS: No pressure for me at all. This is an outstanding organization, an outstanding job. I love the excitement being around the city, just everybody stopping, fans are excited, they want to take pictures, autographs. It's an exciting time.
I don't feel any pressure because I know I'm surrounding myself with the right people and I know we can get the job done. I know Houston is hungry for a winner. Trust me, I'm just as hungry to create a winner for this organization, for this city. It means a lot to me, and I want to be able to bring that to Houston.
So it's no pressure. It just reminds me just continue to put your head down and go to work with the right purpose and to be detailed and just make sure we're adding really great players to our team so when we line up on that field on Sundays, like I want to just put a team out there that our city is proud of.
Q. (Regarding Rocky game.)
DEMECO RYANS: Hopefully that helps.
Q. What are your thoughts on rookie quarterbacks starting right away? I know Purdy had a few games before he got in. Trey Lance sat a year. What are your thoughts on that, and do you feel like you've done enough to put enough pieces around for that person to be successful if that happens?
DEMECO RYANS: The quarterback position, it's all about the guy. We talk about rookie quarterback, veteran quarterback, it doesn't matter. What's the makeup of the guy? Is he worthy to start for your team?
That's all that matters. It doesn't matter where the guy is in his career, rookie, third year, fourth year. Who is the best guy, the right guy for our team? We don't know that right now. We haven't lined up and gone out and practiced football at all.
We'll figure that out when the time comes.
Q. You were talking about the No. 2 pick or whoever -- not going to savior, not going to put the weight on their shoulders like that. How do you remove that for a player?
DEMECO RYANS: I let them know from the start there is no pressure. That's it. You know, I'm not putting pressure on a guy to come in and just because where you're picked in the draft, it's unfair to say that a guy is the leader of an organization and he hasn't played one snap for our team.
Q. From other outside ways, too, I'm just curious if there were other ways...
DEMECO RYANS: You just don't put too much pressure on them. (Smiling.)
Q. Obviously you remember when you were coaching for the first time. You have some guys on the staff that are first time... What's the developmental process as head coach teaching them how to become better in these roles?
DEMECO RYANS: With first-time coaches it's a matter of just letting a guy grow, giving him space to grow. For me, with coaches, it's helping them just as much as I want to help players, right, be successful. It's giving them pointers, tips of where I see they may need them.
It's also giving them the space to grow, make mistakes, and figure it out. Feel like experience is the best teacher, so to become a better teacher, better coach, you have to get out there, you have to do it, you have to mess it up a few times, and then you start to figure it out.
Q. Earlier you mentioned this time of year an individualized approach for each guy. As head coach with the roster right now, how involved are you with that? Are you able to pinpoint guys? How much do you delegate?
DEMECO RYANS: Yeah, it's a lot of delegation. It starts with our coordinators, with me communicating with our coordinators and the coordinators to the position coaches of setting individualized time for each player. First and foremost, get to know each coach and connect with them on a personal level, and then I will as well try to get a few meetings with some players for myself just to make sure I have that connection with the guys.
I think that the connection is very important from a coaching staff and player, like just understanding that we're all on the same page and we're all striving for the same goal. We're all here to make the Houston Texans organization as a winner, and we only do that if we're connected and we're together.
So it's a very important part of the process for me to make sure that the players understand and I'm genuinely here and I have their best interest at heart.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports