The Texans will have a new defensive coordinator (Matt Burke) and will almost definitely hire an offensive coordinator from outside the organization as well, but the team is again planning to retain its special teams boss.
DeMeco Ryans intends to follow Lovie Smith‘s lead and keep special teams coordinator Frank Ross on staff, Aaron Wilson of KPRC reports. Ross remains under contract and is in line to stay on for a third season in charge of Houston’s special teams. Smith had previously retained Ross, one of David Culley‘s hires in 2021.
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Veteran NFL reporter Rick Gosselin’s annual special teams rankings placed the Texans atop the list, despite their 3-13-1 record. Ka’imi Fairbairn was 29-for-31 on field goals, going 6-for-6 from beyond 50 yards, while the team recovered four fumbles on special teams. Punter Cameron Johnston also averaged a career-high 48.1 yards per boot and matched his 2021 percentage for punts inside the 20-yard line (42%); that number far surpasses his pre-Ross percentages.
Ross does not have a history with Ryans, but he does have a New England background and attended the same college (Ohio’s John Carroll University) as GM Nick Caserio. Ross was on the Patriots’ staff as a scout from 2015-17.
Houston will also bring over two more 49ers assistants along with Ryans. Stephen Adegoke, who worked as a quality control assistant in San Francisco, will become Houston’s safeties coach, Wilson adds. Adegoke, who will replace Joe Danna (the new Bills safeties coach), joined the 49ers during Ryans’ second year leading the defense. This will mark a quick transition for Adegoke, who was a Michigan graduate assistant as recently as 2021. Ryans also spent only one year on the quality control level, beginning as such for the 49ers in 2017, before moving up quickly.
Ryans will also bring over 49ers chief of staff Nick Kray to work in the same role, per Wilson. Kray had been in San Francisco throughout Kyle Shanahan‘s tenure. Ryans had 49ers D-line coach Kris Kocurek on the radar for the Texans’ DC gig, but the well-regarded position coach is staying with the 49ers. Cory Undlin, Shanahan’s defensive passing-game coordinator, remains on Ryans’ radar.
Wishing Ryans all the best, but he won’t need it, the man was born to be around football and to be a leader of men.
If there is any new coach that can turn around the Texans DeMeco Ryans is that man. My only question I have with Ryans is who is he going to choose to lead his offense. As a defensive minded coach, it is going to be paramount to Ryans’ success that he selects an experienced offensive play-caller.
If he can nail his OC hire, then I think slowly but surely Ryans will be able to turn the Texans around. Not only will Ryans help the Texans scheme up one of the toughest defenses, but he will also have a positive impact in free agency.
Just as recently as the last few seasons players avoided signing with the Texans, unless they overpaid or no one else was interested in signing them or assuring them of consistent playing time. I believe that changes immediately with Ryans becoming their head coach. Players are going to gravitate towards Ryans and want to play for him, so that should at least somewhat help their rebuild.
Also, DeMeco Ryans was excellent at identifying mid to late round players that fit his scheme, so he should be able to add talent through the draft and be able to get some excellent value in the latter rounds as well. So, I would look for Ryans to really lock onto some steals with their six picks in the 4th-6th Rounds. Not to mention, they should certainly add at least a handful of starters and contributors with Houston’s first 5 picks all coming within the top75 selections.
What once was a complete dumpster fire, and the laughing stock of the NFL, the Houston Texans INSTANTLY brought credibility to their franchise by hiring DeMeco Ryans, and I cannot wait to see how he rewards them in return.