Houston Texans Coach DeMeco Ryans Shows Love, Thanks New York Jets Coach Robert Saleh Before Week 14 Matchup
Sitting at 7-5 just 12 games into a new administration has Houston Texans fans giddy at what the future holds. While they thank general manager Nick Caserio for hiring head coach DeMeco Ryans, fans should also hold some gratitude for New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh.
Saleh was the defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers before leaving for the Big Apple, and when he left, his understudy, Ryans, took over. With San Francisco’s continued success came head coaching interviews, and the rest is (very recent) history.
Before the two face off on Sunday—when Houston will visit New York in a Week 14 clash—Ryans got to speak about Saleh and the impact he had on his coaching career.
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans (left) and Jets head coach Robert Saleh.
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“Ton of respect for Saleh and what he’s done,” Ryans said. “I learned how to coach from being under Saleh. He taught me a lot when it comes to scheme, when it came to just handling players, game planning. So I learned a lot from Saleh and owe a lot to him and that’s probably the reason why I’m standing here before you because of him just taking me under his wing and teaching me the ropes.”
Saleh is the conductor of one of the league’s best defenses, ranking second in success rate, but it hasn’t amounted to much in the form of wins. Offensive injuries and pungent quarterback play have destined the Jets to mediocrity. At 4-8, they offer little more than a trap game for the Texans.
With that said, they’ve got a knack for keeping games close and making great quarterbacks look fickle, at least in comparison to their normal selves. It’s an extra meaningful game for Ryans, too, as he squares off against his mentor.
He continued to speak about Saleh’s (and former linebackers coach Jonny Holland’s) presence.
“They’re making sure I was all in on coaching because they know the dedication and the time it takes,” Ryans recalled. “And Saleh, he was all on board with it, and Johnny Holland was also on board with it. They gave me great advice and I learned a lot under both of those guys.
“I’m thankful for them for kind of speaking on my behalf to Kyle [Shanahan] – them twisting Kyle’s arm a little bit to get me an opportunity.”
As thankful as Ryans may be, he can’t afford to let Sunday’s contest slip. The Jets present a very winnable game on the schedule, and in a jam-packed AFC Wild Card race, any stumble can prove costly.
New York should give Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud one of his toughest tests of the season, forcing him to make plays out of structure even more frequently than he’s used to. If the offense stalls out, it’ll be the turnover battle and field position advantages that best position Houston to escape with a victory.
Don’t bank on many fireworks on Sunday, but fans can expect a hearty handshake at midfield once this one comes to a close. Win or lose, Ryans has proven himself and his former coach right.
