(SportsRadio 610) - DeMeco Ryans’ final game as a linebacker for the Houston Texans was a road contest during a divisional round playoff game in Baltimore.
He remembers better than most, the challenging environment that M&T Bank Stadium poses for anyone, much less a rookie quarterback.
“It’s going to be tough playing in their place with that defense,” Ryans said. “Rookie quarterback, it’s going to be a tough challenge for us, but it’s nothing that we’re backing down from or we’re not up to. We’re up to the challenge, and we’ll face it. It’s one play at a time, and let’s see who comes out on top on Sunday.”
The Ravens have routinely been one of the best defenses in the NFL. In fact, they’ve finished ranked inside the top 10 in both points and yards allowed 14 times in the last 20 seasons.
Last year in defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald’s first season, the Ravens forced the eighth-most turnovers (25), including 14 interceptions, which ranked 13th in the league.
Two of the Ravens' most fierce defenders, Justin Houston and Patrick Queen, combined for 31 quarterback hits last season, including a combined 14.5 sacks.
Adding linebacker Roquan Smith to the equation in October last season helped take an already potent Ravens defense to an elite level.
“Their defense is very veteran, especially up front,” Stroud said. “Roquan [Smith] and Patrick Queen are two great linebackers. I think that’s what sets the defense and I know that they’re licking their chops, man. I’m a really, really big fan of what they do over there, but I’ve got to be on my ‘A-game,’ to try and get a Texans win.”
Meanwhile, Ryans’ message to Stroud and his team ahead of one of the most anticipated games in franchise history is simple but purposeful.
Play to the best of their abilities and within themselves.
Whether it’s at home or on the road, that mentality shouldn’t change as the first year head coach sees it.
“It doesn’t matter where we play, on the road, at home,” Ryans said. “No matter how it shapes out, wherever you play, you have to execute. And that’s what this game always comes down to is executing and just playing smart and situational football.”
Execution is something Stroud has certainly been used to over the course of the last two years of his collegiate career.
As a competitor, Stroud has risen to the occasion when on the road during his collegiate career, playing some of his best ball.
Most recently, while it was technically a neutral site game against Georgia at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, Stroud engineered five seven scoring drives, including throwing for four touchdowns in the Buckeyes loss.
The mentality he used when he had to hit the road for big games is still very fresh on his mind as he gets set to make his regular season debut in one of the most hostile environments in the NFL.
“We used to always say that we liked being the villains, put on your mask and just ride with the guys that you came in with,” Stroud said. “It’s only y’all in a city, in a town, in a stadium full of opposition. It feels kind of cool to be the villain and try to take over the trap – it’s kind of what we say – at least back at Ohio State.”
As the starting quarterback at Ohio State for the past two years, Stroud compiled an 8-1 record in the road, his only loss coming during his sophomore season to Michigan.
Stroud completed 34 of his 49 attempts that game for 394 yards and two touchdowns.
It’s hard to win on the road and for the Texans as an organization, it’s been impossible to do it in Baltimore.
It just hasn’t been in the cards.
The Texans are 0-5 at M&T Bank Stadium since their inception in 2002.
Stroud says he’s preparing as much as he possibly can and is very self aware that heel’s only expected to do what he’s been coached to do.
Nothing more, nothing less.
“Yeah, it’s going to take time. I think you only know until you know, and I think I’m doing everything, or at least I’m trying to do everything the right way to be able to be ready, and only time will tell,” Stroud said. “So, I can’t just be like, ‘Oh, yeah, I’m going to just go out there and kill it.’ I’ve got to go do it.”
Kickoff is set for noon on Sunday, Sept. 10 in Baltimore.