Texans' DeMeco Ryans Describes Challenges of Preparing for Ravens Offense

How has Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans prepared to stop the Baltimore Ravens' new-look offense?

It cannot be understated how difficult it is to be an NFL head coach for the first time. Demanding the respect of a locker room, newfound media encounters, and, oftentimes, a talent disadvantage have all curtailed coaching careers before they’ve gotten off the ground. Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans will face an extra challenge in his first year in control.

The Texans will visit the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 10 to begin the 2023 season. Sunday, they’ll face quarterback Lamar Jackson—a challenge in itself. Now, they have to prepare for Jackson in new offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s offense.

With additions at receiver like Odell Beckham Jr. and Zay Flowers, the Ravens project to air it out in a modern passing offense; something we haven’t seen from them. This version of Jackson raises the level of variance surrounding Baltimore, but it also makes them an uncertainty for other teams.

Ryans spoke on Monday about the challenges that come with an opponent with an offense that is still more concept than concrete.

“It’s a challenge because you don’t know what you’re gonna get,” said Ryans. “It’s a lot of unknown and that’s every first game. There’s a lot of unknown … in the NFL every year.”

Ryans spent much of this summer emphasizing the importance of fundamentals and playing together. When a team doesn’t know what’s coming, that becomes even more important.

“You trust your technique, trust your fundamentals, trust our preparation of what we’ve been working on all throughout training camp,” Ryans added. “Guys just have to be where they’re supposed to be and play as 11.”

The Texans are dealing with injuries along the offensive line and at linebacker. They have the young talent to conjure up some optimism, but it is easy for a high-level opponent to knock an inexperienced team out of sorts. Too much concern on the opponent, Ryans feels, can distract from the focus of simply doing one’s job.

“The first game is really truly about us; offensively, defensively, it’s about us,” he said. “If we do our job, everybody is playing together and it’ll take care of itself.”

Houston is currently 9.5-point underdogs to Baltimore. Following Ryans’ advice is the first step in making a dent in that spread.