(SportsRadio 610) - Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans is starting to see the "swarm mentality" take effect in his locker room.
Changing the feel, vibe, culture and overall outlook for the organization was going to be an extraordinary tall task regardless of who assumed the role of head coach.
But Ryans has a lot of help and it's coming from various figures in the locker room, half of which wasn't here last season.
That's one of the biggest factors of it all.
Veterans like Jimmie Ward, who's in his 10th year in the league and first with the Texans, spent five of his first eight seasons with San Francisco without knowing what the playoffs were like, much less a winning season.
While the Texans have plenty of work to do before they can even think about either one of those things, it is the goal.
For some, it takes learning some hard lessons before understanding the kind of work it takes to become a winner.
Ward, 32, was brought in as a key figure to help a Ryans led defense make the transition smoother, even for those that hung around from the leanest years in franchise history.
"Just gotta lead by example," Ward said. "They're watching. That's what the young guys do. So, everything that I do in year 10, they're watching. They could be looking at me tying my shoe and I look up, see a young guy look and look away. They're watching me. So, all I've got to do is go out there and be myself and lead by example."
While there is much to learn from a vet like Ward, some of the newest Texans came in with their own vision and it seems to be fitting like a glove so far.
It's something that rookies C.J. Stroud, Will Anderson Jr. and Tank Dell talk about a lot.
"Come in here and try to be a change to the program and to the organization," Dell said. "We're just trying to get the whole team. I feel like we're on that level with the whole team so, it's been special."
Since day one of OTAs, it has become more and more evident that all three of those aforementioned rookies could be on the precipice of something special and Sunday's 37-17 victory over the Jaguars was just another brick in the wall of what could be built by Ryans and his team.
"Guys are going to S.W.A.R.M, that's what I want on the field," Ryans said. "I don't care where you were drafted, how we acquired you, it's like 'Are you playing football the right way, the Texans brand of football?' If you play that, then you'll play for us."
The brand of football the Texans played Sunday in Jacksonville was easily the most complete game the organization and its fans have seen in nearly four years.
It was complimentary football at its best.
The Texans capitalized on every misstep by their opponent and along the way, got further confirmation that they indeed have themselves a quarterback of the now and the future.
"We've still got a lot of things to clean up, but we're heading in the right direction," Ryans said. "We took a step as to what I want our team to look like and what I believe winning football looks like. We took a step in the right direction this week."
