Texans DB Jimmie Ward Reveals Why DeMeco Ryans Can Be Successful Coach
HOUSTON — DeMeco Ryans is two and a half months into his tenure as coach of the Houston Texans and has already impacted the franchise. Ryans' hiring helped the Texans sign a handful of productive players during free agency, which included veteran safety, Jimmie Ward.
Ward said the relationship he developed with Ryans played a role in his decision to sign with the Texans in March. They began to establish a relationship when Ryans served as a defensive quality coach in 2017 with the San Francisco 49ers.
Ward was in his fourth season, watching Ryans grow in San Francisco before taking the helm as Houston's sixth coach in franchise history.
"For him to become a coach, he was coachable," Ward said. "You could criticize him. He would take it and learn from it. I watched his relationship with coach Kyle [Shanahan]. When he got the defensive coordinator job, he stepped right in. This is his first time being a head coach. And I feel he is going to do an amazing job."
Ryans became the defensive coordinator for the 49ers in 2021. He replaced Robert Saleh, who departed to New York to become the head coach of the Jets.
Ward said Ryans had big shoes to fill as Saleh's replacement. But after two seasons of playing under Ryans, Ward felt that the 49ers' defense did not lose a beat. And in some cases, he felt San Francisco's defense got even better.
During his time as the 49ers' defensive coordinator, Ryans elevated San Francisco's defense into one of the league's best. During the 2022 season, the 49ers recorded the second-most takeaways (30) while giving up an average of 16.3 points.
Ward explained Ryans' teaching as a coach who can get the best out of his players by using his experience as a 10-year veteran who became an All-Pro linebacker in 2007 with the Texans.
"He will call you out," Ward said. "He is a guy who played this game for a long time and already knows what you've been through. A lot of guys look up to coach DeMeco, which makes it easy to listen and push us."
Play-calling was the most significant growth Ward saw from Ryans during his two-year stint as the 49ers' defensive coordinator. Ward said there was a bit of hesitation in his first season. But in his final year, Ward saw Ryans become more confident and aggressive with his play-calling.
Ward described Ryans' defensive scheme as "easy" for defensive backs and linebackers. He said Ryans' defense relies upon the defensive front and their ability to get after the opposing team's quarterback.
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