Building Coach DeMeco Ryans' Texans in 5 (Not So) Easy Steps

"I've always had the Texans deep in my heart,'' said DeMeco Ryans this week upon his hire ... proof that he gets it. Now, what five steps does the new coach need to take to fix this thing?

We have made and re-made the point that the DeMeco Ryans hire by the Houston Texans isn't just about roster-building and coaching - it's about franchise-building and community.

"I've always had the Texans deep in my heart,'' said Ryans this week upon his hire ... proof that he gets it.

To that end ... here are our "Five (Not So) Easy Steps to Building the Texans'' ...

1 - Hire J.J. Watt and Andre Johnson. No, not as coaches or as scouts. "Consultants,'' maybe? Or maybe it's all just symbolic. But if the Texans really want to recapture the imagination of the audience, not to mention their pocketbooks?

Recapture J.J. Watt and Andre Johnson.

2 - Get QB Exactly Right. Oh, if only this was an easy one.

Unfortunately, finding a truly great QB may be the toughest task in the NFL. After all, how many of them are there? Not 32. Maybe 10? Maybe five? And sometimes, even once you find greatness ...

Greatness proves to be fleeting. Right, Deshaun Watson?

We've seen a lot of "experts'' insist that the Texans must solve this desperate need in the NFL Draft, citing Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s CJ Stroud as obvious answers.

We'll be frank here: We find the "absolute declarations'' of what the Texans should do to be pretentious. Except for the fact that they own the No. 2 pick instead of the No. 1 pick (still a mind-blowing goof ... there are no "facts'' here yet.

Draft one? Draft neither? Sign a vet? Jimmy G? Wait until pick No. 12? It's too early to know. But we know this: If Houston gets it right, one time? It's a franchise-changer.

3- Value Brandin Cooks. Receiver Brandin Cooks has expressed a desire to escape Houston. We get it. But "just trade him'' is a foolish concept.

Rather, "value'' him. Has Cooks met with Ryans yet? Is a team offering a second-rounder? Might Cooks' talent and leadership be an important puzzle piece to a fix?

Let's slow this down. There is time. Figure out the "value'' here.

4 - Tackle! One noticeable trait of Ryans' Niners defense? Man, do they tackle! Top to bottom, DB to D-line, star to scrub. There are ways to make up for a lack of talent, and "lack of talent'' is presently a Houston problem. One of those ways: The fundamental effort of tackling.

Wanna stop Derrick Henry and Jonathan Taylor from (seemingly) rushing for 200 yards per game four times a year?

Tackle.

5 - Set the Goal - Raise the Bar. Ryans talked of "no egos allowed'' and no "energy vampires allowed.'' We wonder if he was talking generally about how to build a front office and a locker room ... or if he has a sense that Houston has an issue with such things.

Let's say this, to be sure: The Texans in the last three seasons are 11-38-1. If there is anybody working at NRG Stadium who has an "ego'' as a result of being 11-38-1, he shouldn't be working at NRG Stadium.

And maybe, now that DeMeco is here "deep in the heart''? That person will be gone.

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