(SportsRadio 610) - DeMeco Ryans returned from the scouting combine for his first time as a head coach, and nothing about the Texans’ plans to find a franchise quarterback has changed.
Ryans and general manager Nick Caserio know they need a quarterback in the worst way, and they don’t plan to be in position again to draft one with the second overall pick. Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud are the two-best prospects.
That’s not likely to change even though teams still have pro days and private workouts and can schedule multiple visits with prospects before the three-day draft begins April 27.
As the draft gets closer, Caserio and Ryans could rank Young first and Stroud second, or they could rank Stroud first and Young second. The Bears will do everything possible to get the Texans, Colts (fourth overall) and other teams into bidding wars to trade up to get the quarterback they covet most.
If he wants to swap positions with Chicago, Caserio can do it if he wants to pay what’s expected to be an exorbitant price. He has 11 picks this year, including two in the first round. He has 10 picks next year, including two more in the first round. The Bears will try to commit grand larceny, of course.
Young, who’s 5-10 1/8, 204, didn’t throw at the combine. He’s waiting until Alabama’s pro day on March 23. He impressed general managers, coaches and personnel people in his interviews with teams. He also impressed the media. Even though he lacks ideal size, it doesn’t seem to be a deterrent for him being the first quarterback drafted.
Stroud had a terrific combine. He made perfect throws all over the field. A lot of scouts, including the NFL Network’s respected Daniel Jeremiah, said Stroud threw the ball as well as any quarterback they’d watched at the combine.
Ryans and Caserio will do everything possible to mislead NFL people about their intentions – even going so far as hinting they might be interested in signing a veteran starter and using the second pick on a defensive player like edge rusher Will Anderson Jr., the Rotary Lombardi Award winner from Alabama.
While discussing quarterbacks at the combine, Ryans was asked about San Francisco’s Jimmy Garoppolo, who’ll become an unrestricted free agent on March 15, the start of the new league year. There’s a lot of speculation that Garoppolo could end up with one of his former coaches – the Raiders’ Josh McDaniels or the Jets’ Robert Saleh. McDaniels was the Patriots’ offensive coordinator when Garoppolo played for New England. Saleh was on Kyle Shanahan’s staff with the 49ers during Garoppolo’s first four years with San Francisco.
Caserio was New England’s personnel director when the Patriots selected Garoppolo in the second round in 2014. Ryans was in the 49ers’ quality control department in 2017 when Shanahan traded for Garoppolo.
“It was a rough year there,” Ryans said. “We started 0-9. We acquired Jimmy and won five straight games to end the season because we added a very talented guy at the quarterback position. It just teaches you that when you do have a bona-fide quarterback, it helps you win games, helps you be successful.”
And the Texans have needed a bona-fide quarterback since Deshaun Watson’s career in Houston unraveled after the 2020 season. They actually need two quarterbacks because Davis Mills is the only player on the roster at that position.
“We have to add at that position,” Ryans said. “We’ll do it through free agency and the draft. We have to add two guys to our roster, so we’re looking to find the best guys that we can have. There’s a good group of quarterbacks in free agency and in the draft.
“I think when you’re evaluating quarterbacks, different guys can do a lot of different things. I think the system is built around the quarterback as opposed to trying to fit a quarterback into a certain system. It’s all about the player that you have, not only a quarterback, but a receiver. What does that guy do well? Linebackers, what do they do well? As coaches, you put guys in positions to be successful. It’s not about a system per say. It’s about making sure a player has the right tools, and you’re putting him in a spot where he can thrive.”
Ryans, who said he hasn’t decided who’ll make the defensive calls – him or new coordinator Matt Burke – but new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik will replace Pep Hamilton as the play caller on offense. Jerrod Johnson is the new quarterbacks coach. Slowik, Johnson and new offensive line coach Chris Strausser will be under the most pressure of the new assistant coaches because the offense was so pathetic last season.
Ryans also said at the combine he could be in the process of hiring a former head coach for a yet-to-be-determined position like overseeing the offense and advising Slowik because he’s a first-time play-caller. Gary Kubiak would be ideal for that job, but he’s given no indication if he’s interested in returning to the NFL.
“I’m very excited about the coaches we were able to hire,” Ryans said. “Starting with Bobby Slowik as our offensive coordinator, Bobby is a tremendous coach. He’s one of the smartest coaches I’ve been around. He’s always looking to grow and looking to learn more. Bobby has helped me grow as a coach.
I’m very excited to see Bobby get with our players. Guys are going to be fired up. He brings great energy. He’s a great teacher. The guys he’s been around, they love him.
“On the defensive side, adding Matt Burke, another guy who’s a passionate coach and a really great teacher, energetic (and) very knowledgeable. I’m excited (about) what he can do, what he can bring to our team. I think the guys are going to love him.”
Because the Texans had the best special teams in the NFL last season, it was a no-brainer for Ryans to bring back coordinator Frank Ross, who’s done an outstanding job.
“The special teams did an awesome job,” Ryans said. “He’s teaching the same style that I want to play on offense and defense. It’s an aggressive, attacking style, and I’m fired up to have Frank as well.”
Now the Texans need to add more talent for Ryans and his assistants to coach, and a franchise quarterback has to be their top priority.
John McClain can be heard Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday on SportsRadio 610 and Thursday on Texans Radio. He writes three times a week and does two Houtopia Podcasts for SportsRadio610.com. He also can be read four times a week on GallerySports.com.