January 15, 2024 • 22 mins
Coach Ryans talks about the lopsided win over the Browns and gets us ready for the Divisional round.
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Well, here he is in a Hundai Texans radio studio
with his voice in full reagion on his way to
the divisional round. Coach Tamiko Ryan's coach, congratulations on the
enormous win over Cleveland and getting into the next round.
Your thoughts on where you sit right now?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Thank you, Mark.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
It's an exciting moment for Houston Texas football, all right,
to have such a huge win versus a tough opponent
in Cleveland Browns.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
They're very proud of our guys.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
For them, I talked about it last week, but hopefully
our guys come with that same focus.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
I can feel. I felt the last Tuesday.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
How locked in our guys were, how honing they would
be throughout the they.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Were throughout the entire week.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
And Uh, when you feel your team, you feel like
that laser focus, you feel them being locked in. It
gives you that sense of confidence as a coach. It's like,
all right, no matter no matter what we call right,
they're gonna they're ready for it, They're up for the moment,
they're up for the talents, and we need the same
thing again this week.
Speaker 4 (00:58):
Coach.
Speaker 5 (00:58):
I don't mean this the way of, oh, you guys
want to revenge or anything like that. But how much
of the focus do you think was there because of
how Christmas eve Day went against them the first time?
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Yeah, I know that played a huge part in being
locked in right anytime you feel like not that they
embarrassed us. I told the guys, it's almost like like
we embarrass ourselves in a sense because and I feel
like we didn't show up. I've told the guys felt
like we were more so too focused on Christmas as
opposed to being ready for the game and prepare for
(01:33):
the opportunity. We had to kind of kind of steal
our fade and get that playoff spot locked up a
lot sooner, right than the last game of the season.
So that does play a part in like being a
little focused. Sometimes it takes that failure. Sometimes it takes
right getting punched in the mouth to kind of wake
up for a second and see like, oh, I have
to make sure I'm one with p's and q's so
(01:56):
the embarrassment doesn't happen again.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Coach, it seemed like for a time to see and
you weren't stringing together the games the way you really
wanted to. Maybe you had to win and then maybe
a game you didn't like and then another way, so
it was a little bit inconsistent. But now you've won
three in a row head into the divisional round.
Speaker 6 (02:13):
What's the difference here?
Speaker 1 (02:14):
What are you seeing out of your team overall week
to week prep and then execution throughout the game.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
For sure, it starts with the prep. And what I'm
seeing is consistent prep. Right, It's consistent prep. It's not
a we're not a team that's surprised that we're that
we're kind of here, it's or happy that we're it's
it's consistent. Everybody's working the same way, with the same intent,
the same detail each week. And that's what I've seen
these past couple of weeks. And you know that way,
(02:41):
nobody's getting too high, like oh, we're here, Like no, everybody,
we've been talking about this for a while. It's like
we're not just here just alone for the ride and
just happy that the Texans are in the playoffs, and
now we're just supposed to be happy that we won our
first game.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Like no.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
The ultimate goal is everybody who's so up in the
NFL is to accomplish it'll win it, all right, And
our guys understand that focus, and you don't get there
just by talking about it. You get there by working
at it Dylon July throughout the week, being being on
it in the games, like when you line up in
the games, just executing, not making a moment bigger than
(03:19):
what it is, but just.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Playing good football, and just I think.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
I always try to pull our guys focus back to that,
like no matter how many TV crews are around, no
matter how many interviews you're doing, like what happens when
the ball is snapped, It comes back to just playing
fundamentals technique, playing really clean football, and if you do
that consistently for four quarters, we'll be where we want
to be.
Speaker 5 (03:43):
Cause there was a point in that game, first by
mid first quarter through the twelve minute mark of the
second quarter, and I made a note of that because
after that they don't score but kick the field goal,
they go down a score, you come back, Nico scores,
they go down when they score with cream Hunt, then
Brevet gets his touchdown to put you up seventeen to fourteen.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
What stop the shootout?
Speaker 2 (04:05):
I e.
Speaker 5 (04:06):
What was the key at that point for you guys
defensively to not give up another point the rest of
the game.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
What I've told our guys at halftime is and we
cannot give up the explosive pass.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
We knew that again going in.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
It was almost like, oh man, it's just a repeat
of the Christmas Eve battle. It's like, we cannot allow
them to throw the explosive passes. Whatever you do, just
make sure we stay back, right, make sure we stay back,
make sure we're on top other receivers, and make sure
we force the ball to the checkdowns as much as possible.
I don't care if they I wanted to throw it
(04:40):
to the checkdown every single time. And I think when
we were able to stay back and they forced that,
and guys were able to see like, okay, right, can
they methodically just drive down the field on is?
Speaker 1 (04:50):
No.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
The only way they can get down the field is
if they create some type of chunk play. And when
we stop the chunk plays, and guys were dialed in
on eliminating the chunk right now, we were able to
really get after them. And the biggest thing were the
third down stops right getting off on third down, getting
the pressure on Flacco, making him fluster, making him throw
some you know, some bad passes at times. I think
(05:14):
that was the key.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
How much do you practice blocking during an interception return,
Because coach, that was a parade going down the sideline
when Steven Nelson got that first one, everybody seemed really
enthusiastic about being able to execute what they had learned.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
Yes, for sure, it's something we've been teaching since training camp.
We teach sideline return and we do it and our
turnover drills and we'll do sideline return drills and we
kind of teach the guys like, first thing, first, everybody
wants to go when the ball this return, everybody wants
to just take off and run. Well, the first key
(05:49):
is you have to block the guy who they were
throwing the ball to. So we say you block the
intended receiver first. I think Desmond was able to get
the intended receiver right. And then if you got the ball,
make sure you get to the nearest side line and
get down the numbers, and we call the sideline near
side line return. Everybody blocks. Make sure you block high
(06:09):
end in front. So we had we had the guys
running down the sideline and Cashman stars with the big
block on the offensive line. He takes him out and
then Stingley finishes with a great block I think it
was on a running back who showed up and Stingle
was able to get a block on him, and that
was the That was the cleanings I was selling the coaches.
That's the tea tape right there. That's the tees tape
(06:30):
for how you get a sideline return that was perfect.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
And coach along those lines.
Speaker 5 (06:35):
I know, from from our angle you're not able to
see this, but on the TV copy that showed from
I don't know, kind of from this angle over here
where they were shooting kind of down our sideline, there's
a mad man in the red shirt running with Nelson.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
I mean he's flying, but besides him, which is you.
Speaker 5 (06:54):
I saw the offensive guys jumping off the bench like
Nico's running just outside to you to go like meet Nelson,
And it felt like it was that perfect moment of
this team of what it's been about. Offense, happy for defense, defense,
happy for special teams, everybody kind of happy for each
other's success. I don't know if you had a chance
to see that, but did you kind of sense that
(07:14):
when that play happened, all the everybody just running on
the field and getting excited about what has happened.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
Yeah, I didn't see it until after, because as you said,
the mad Man was running as well.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
You're focused.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
I was almost in the end zone myself.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
But yeah, after after seeing them, now I realize it,
like I'm trying to get guys off because the clocket started,
so now I'm trying to get guys off the field
so we can kick the field go.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
And I look up and it's Nico, it is.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Brevin, it's all of the offensive guys, a right reserve
guys out on. Everybody's just celebrating that moment with Nielsen,
and that's cool.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
That's the team.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
That's the enthusiasm that I love to see from our team,
and that's that defining moment of everybody is truly happy
for the success of their teammate.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Unselfish. Unself is played by.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Everyone, but we're truly thrilled excited for our guys when
they make plays.
Speaker 5 (08:05):
You're not a mad man, but in that moment, but
you run it like you were chasing running back back
in the day.
Speaker 4 (08:11):
That's for sure.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Coach Christian gets the next one, the next pick six,
and I know you've answered some questions about him. I
get the feeling the winning is the best thing, but
you really enjoy the individuals having their game improve the
individuals involved and seeing them improve the level of their performance.
Speaker 6 (08:30):
As a teacher, that must mean a lot to you.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
It's everything.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
It's what I truly believe in my philosophy of coaching.
It's all about, you know, it's all about developing young
man and to see you know, it's not gonna be perfect,
it's not gonna be all pretty from the start, but
you to see a guy like Christian grow throughout the
entire year, to see him have that same play a
(08:54):
couple of weeks ago versus the Titans, right, and we're
able to kind of correct it, and hey, this time,
just make sure you step in front. And to see
that moment just happening as a teacher, as a coach,
there's no prouder moment when you see a young man
step in and make that play, take the coaching point
to heart and actually execute it the proper way. And
(09:15):
for him to make the biggest play of his career.
And I'm so excited for Christian, so proud of him
all right for just making a big play. And this,
I tell guys, is not when you try to chase
big plays like they don't happen. But when you're just
focused on your individual job and you're just focused on
your technique and you do that the right way, like
(09:37):
the big plays will come and none speaks better than
that one that Christian made coach.
Speaker 5 (09:42):
Just kind of along those lines, I've always felt like
at some point a coach stays in it because the
coaching bug strikes them at some point. Did you have
a moment as a younger coach when something like that
happened where you taught a guy a technique and you
see him have success and you're like, yo.
Speaker 4 (09:59):
I love seeing that happen.
Speaker 5 (10:02):
Is that is that kind of the way it maybe
happened for you. Did the coaching bug strike when you
had kind of a teaching lesson you gave to a
player and he was successful because of it?
Speaker 3 (10:10):
I mean it started really, I mean for me in
high school, I was helping out with the high school
kids during the during the lockout year. It was just
seeing these kids just get better and better each week.
And to see it all come to like we had
one spring game and to see the kids go out
and play fast and execute and make plays, and to
(10:31):
see their faces when they one was like, oh wow,
that really sparked a bug is just seeing from where
we started and seeing the growth and development of those
young kids just within a three week span, and to
see them finished with the win and how excited they
were to win. I was like, Wow, this is pretty cool.
And that was the That was the moment that coaching
got me.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
As far as where we are right now, and you
talked about it, you have to do what you do
and not let the moment get too big. How much
do you rely on your experience maybe the forty nine
ers advancing or other members of the staff who have
been on teams that have advanced, and you yourself as
a player, how much do you rely on that stuff
and draw from it as you address the players getting
(11:12):
into this next round.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
Right, Being with the Niners past couple of years and
having that experience of going, you know, a couple of
NFC Championships games, Super Bowl, and I remember I just
think back to the preparation, right and how we prepare
throughout the weeks for those games, and the one thing
that always stuck with me is nothing changed.
Speaker 4 (11:31):
Yeah, Okay.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
It was like at that moment, like, you don't nobody
hyped it up as this big game and it's like
it was, it's the next game, right, and we kept
that focus, and I think that's what allowed me to
have that Having that experience now it helps me to
speak to our team and to keep them right steady.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Yeah, even though we have.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
A lot of young guys, I don't want our guys
getting too amped up for a game just because oh
the weight of this, this game means this, or like no, like,
just stay focused on your execution, because I know that's
what wins. And I know when it didn't happen when
I lost games in the playoffs. I know what happened
in those games. It wasn't guy's thinking about that moment
(12:15):
too or trying to make plays in that moment, but
it just didn't execute when we should have. Or man,
we worked on this particular play and we're not where
we're supposed to be, Or the receiver didn't run a
particular route that he should have rant it was just
that was That's what happened in those games.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
And that's what causes you to lose those games.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
Is when guys lose focus, guys lose sight of executing
the job the proper way.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
That's what loses those games.
Speaker 5 (12:41):
We've kind of gone through this a little bit coach,
the fact that after we beat Indy on Saturday, we
had to sit on Sunday and wait, but we got
an answer pretty clearly, like, Okay, game is over three thirty.
We know we're playing the Browns. Know what's going to
happen As of the time of this recording, we don't know.
It could be one team, it could be the other.
How is that kind of changing preparation or impacting preparation
(13:03):
for this week?
Speaker 3 (13:04):
Yeah, it's it's impacting preparation pretty pretty big time. This
is a new space for me because right now, in
this moment, we would be already on our opponent. We
know we're playing, we're preparing, and now we kind of
sit in limbo because we have the Ravens and Kansas City.
So you're kind of trying to prepare for both. Right,
try to spend most of our time yesterday focusing on
(13:26):
the Ravens and now we'll trying to pivot today to
get a look at the Kansas City Chiefs. And so
we still won't know until later later this after this afternoon.
But I told guys, we'll still we'll still have time, right,
I think offensively, defense, special teams. We're all the staffs
are all dialed in to both teams as best as
(13:46):
we can to have a first look, I would say,
and then we'll get deeper into preparations later this later
this evening. So it's been a late night for coaches,
but they don't mind it.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Well, the quarterbacks are different, but they're both awesome. Lamar
Jackson and Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes does run more than a
lot of people think because he will make plays with
his legs. He was doing it last year in a
bad ankle. Lamar Jackson, we all know that he can
do it. But they both throw the ball extremely well
as well. But that mobility aspect, Joe Flacco, you didn't
(14:18):
really face it with him, but you face it with
these guys.
Speaker 6 (14:20):
Either one you face.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
For sure, no matter right which opponent we faced. Both
two dynamic quarterbacks were very similar in that regard mark
that they find a way to keep plays alive and
all of the off schedule plays is where both quarterbacks
have kind of, you know, made the name for themselves
in their career. Right, they're scrambling around and they chunk
(14:42):
a deep one over you. It's like man already see
in both guys. It's like, I know what my message
is too, Like, guys, make sure we're on it and coverage.
You're gonna have to cover them twice plaster plaster plaster,
stick to your coverage. And then the rush factor like
d line, we need some extra. Guys may need you
(15:02):
as well, but we're gonna have to get as much
pressure on both guys as possible to kind of speed
up their process.
Speaker 5 (15:07):
And one of the things I love coach as a
sideline reporter is the fact that the last four games
my math is correct, maybe the last five have been inside.
That's very nice for a solid reporter with all the
equipment everything, I don't get wet. But now you gotta
go outside no matter what Baltimore, Kansas City. You got
to go outside, as does the team. And it looks
like it's gonna be a little bit chillier than it
(15:28):
is in Houston.
Speaker 4 (15:29):
But we've got some chilly weather here.
Speaker 5 (15:31):
How does that help kind of preparation for the weather
aspect of things.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
Yeah, I think with our weather here in Houston this
week being cold, I think it helps a lot. Now
we can I guess you can get used to it.
A little bit having to prepare throughout the week. So man,
we're fortunate that we do have, you know, unseasonably cold
weather here in Houston, and we can go out and
prepare and our guys can see, you know, a glimpse
of what it will feel like. You know, it'll be
much colder, whether we're in Baltimore, Kansas City, it'll be
(15:56):
much colder. But for those three and a half hours
tail guy, lock in, it doesn't matter. You got to
lock in right, what's ahead of us, what's on the
other side, right of winning this game, like that's all
that matters. If your focus is on that, then you
can minimize you know, how cold you'll be in that moment.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
Yep, well, last week was no picnic either for Houston. Anyway,
you were practicing outside, getting ready for an indoor game,
and the wind. Coach, I think the wind has got
to be a big factor. When the Texans with you
played at Green Bay at eight really cold, single digits,
but Shop and the guys talked about, hey, it wasn't windy.
Speaker 6 (16:32):
They threw for over four hundred yards of that guy,
that's it.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
The win is a huge factor.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
It's one thing of being cold, but the wind and
when you can't really throw the football like that's that's
where it will struggle and that's where it can cause
some issues. So hopefully the win wins isn't up too
high so we can allow CJ to spend it a
little bit.
Speaker 5 (16:51):
Coach, I know it's hard when you're in the moment
and your coaching your cam ball plays and you're you know,
scoring touchdowns and you're trying to get guys. You're here
in the coaching moment no matter what. Was there any
point on Saturday where you were able to kind of say,
dang man, that's pretty cool. I mean, the crowd showed up,
was loud. Was there any kind of moment when you
looked around like, dang it's cool.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
At the moment for me was when the lights were
off in the stadium and everybody was holding the cell
phone over the lights house. I was just I mean
on the headset at that moment, I was like, oh, wow,
this is such a cool moment. I haven't seen this
before here in Houston all year, Like what.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
A cool moment.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
I was just telling guy, hey, make sure you take
this in, take this moment in because this is a
really cool atmosphere. Our fans showed up big time for us.
They were loud and to see that moment in the
stadium where I think it was a timeout or we
were in between quarters. So that was the moment that
I always remember in that Browns game there of just
(17:51):
the lights off, the cell phone lights out, all right,
how many fans showed up.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
That was a really cool moment for us.
Speaker 6 (17:58):
Absolutely great moment, and a moment later you were like,
all right, back to the intestiny, let's go, let's go.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
But I noticed that in the locker room afterwards there
was such joy after you beat the Colts. So there
was joy after beating the Browns. But nobody is ready
to say this is it. Nobody is ready to say
what an accomplishment this season is?
Speaker 6 (18:20):
They really want more. You feel that you can sense
it in all the players.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
You definitely sense it. I think there was a yeah,
the moment versus the Colts, it was that was.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
A great moment. We knew we were in and that's.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
Someone that we had been talking about all just give
us an opportunity to get in and get it in,
and we we earned that.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
Right to get in.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
Think how that game, how we won that game too,
like that was an exciting moment for us.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
That was a special moment.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
Oh, you come into this Browns game and everybody kind
of it felt like they knew it going into the.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
Week and they know we want more.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
So that moment in locker room probably wasn't It wasn't
as crazy because guys expected it. Confidence and that's what
you want to your team playing better at the end
of the year. Confident going into games, expecting to win games,
expecting to play well.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
That's what you need in the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
I answer my question about confidence, that was exactly it.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
All right.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
One thing I want to ask you about though, since
Devin Signaltary has really taken off Week nine, you're running game.
Speaker 6 (19:21):
I know you want to run for even more yards.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
But we've talked about this from time to time, but
this is something you can really rely on now, this
is something you can take with you.
Speaker 6 (19:30):
You know who you are.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
As opposed to Week one, where it's sort of feeling
things out, we're thinking back to that sieg had only
played a handful of snaps in preseason games. That's his
first real NFL games, So you guys have a lot
of experience compared to that outing if it is Baltimore.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
Yeah, for sure, a lot more experience than you know.
I always say, you want to run the ball, right,
you want you run the ball to win games, but
you know the score, you got to throw the ball. Yeah, right,
And so it's, uh, we know who we are, right.
We don't have to force it. It's there and we
can pop some runs. We will pop some but you know,
we have a quarterback who can throw it and we
(20:06):
can get yards in the air even on the checkdown
plays like to play the Brevin like CJ can throw
the ball five yards and get credited with us six.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
Seventy six yard past.
Speaker 3 (20:18):
So it's you know, however, we have to get it
done at this point, it really doesn't matter.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
Just get it done.
Speaker 5 (20:25):
Come from week one to week whatever we are. Now,
what's probably the thing you're most proud of about your team?
Speaker 2 (20:32):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (20:34):
I almost I would say, Man, I'm proud of the growth,
and I'm proud of just at this moment right now,
it's like, I'm proud of just the confidence that we've earned.
And I always talk about confidence is earned, it's not given.
And I'm proud of that confidence that we've earned as
a team. And sitting here at this moment, right now
(20:54):
when we need it most, when nobody else is gonna
have your bag, nobody else is gonna pick you to like,
we're confident in ourselves, We're confident in each other.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
And that's what I'm most proud of.
Speaker 1 (21:08):
AMG Bank asked coach question of the week. All right,
coach parenting advice here because we need some.
Speaker 5 (21:13):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
The listeners are a lot of the listeners out there
are parents, and your kids have been in the interview
room after wins and I guess after all situations. Greg
Bailey had them on Inside the Game on ABC thirteen.
Speaker 6 (21:25):
Johnny said, they were there the other night.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
So well behaved, incredibly well behaved.
Speaker 6 (21:30):
So what's the secret?
Speaker 1 (21:31):
Give us a secret or two and having the kids
be so well behaved?
Speaker 3 (21:34):
Oh thank you. No, My wife doesn't now stand a
job with them with our kids. They're precious, man. They're
they're so kind. They take care of each other, They
look out for each other's brothers, sisters, and it's it's
all about just just pure.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
Love for each other.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
And they have fun playing with each other, but it's
just loving on them. Giving your kids as much love
as possible. Man, and and our kids we're thankful to have.
We're blessed to have really great kids. And just to
see their precious smiles, that was a great moment for me.
I didn't I didn't expect to see them and I
was coming up the tunnel after the game, so to
see them and that was like wow, that was That
(22:18):
was a special one for me as well.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
That I that I always remember.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
But man, we got great kids, and I'm thankful for
my wife holding it down for me.
Speaker 6 (22:26):
All Right, Coach, thanks a lot, good luck this week.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
Thank you guys. M
Well, here he is in a Hundai Texans radio studio
with his voice in full reagion on his way to
the divisional round. Coach Tamiko Ryan's coach, congratulations on the
enormous win over Cleveland and getting into the next round.
Your thoughts on where you sit right now?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Thank you, Mark.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
It's an exciting moment for Houston Texas football, all right,
to have such a huge win versus a tough opponent
in Cleveland Browns.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
They're very proud of our guys.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
For them, I talked about it last week, but hopefully
our guys come with that same focus.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
I can feel. I felt the last Tuesday.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
How locked in our guys were, how honing they would
be throughout the they.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Were throughout the entire week.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
And Uh, when you feel your team, you feel like
that laser focus, you feel them being locked in. It
gives you that sense of confidence as a coach. It's like,
all right, no matter no matter what we call right,
they're gonna they're ready for it, They're up for the moment,
they're up for the talents, and we need the same
thing again this week.
Speaker 4 (00:58):
Coach.
Speaker 5 (00:58):
I don't mean this the way of, oh, you guys
want to revenge or anything like that. But how much
of the focus do you think was there because of
how Christmas eve Day went against them the first time?
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Yeah, I know that played a huge part in being
locked in right anytime you feel like not that they
embarrassed us. I told the guys, it's almost like like
we embarrass ourselves in a sense because and I feel
like we didn't show up. I've told the guys felt
like we were more so too focused on Christmas as
opposed to being ready for the game and prepare for
(01:33):
the opportunity. We had to kind of kind of steal
our fade and get that playoff spot locked up a
lot sooner, right than the last game of the season.
So that does play a part in like being a
little focused. Sometimes it takes that failure. Sometimes it takes
right getting punched in the mouth to kind of wake
up for a second and see like, oh, I have
to make sure I'm one with p's and q's so
(01:56):
the embarrassment doesn't happen again.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Coach, it seemed like for a time to see and
you weren't stringing together the games the way you really
wanted to. Maybe you had to win and then maybe
a game you didn't like and then another way, so
it was a little bit inconsistent. But now you've won
three in a row head into the divisional round.
Speaker 6 (02:13):
What's the difference here?
Speaker 1 (02:14):
What are you seeing out of your team overall week
to week prep and then execution throughout the game.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
For sure, it starts with the prep. And what I'm
seeing is consistent prep. Right, It's consistent prep. It's not
a we're not a team that's surprised that we're that
we're kind of here, it's or happy that we're it's
it's consistent. Everybody's working the same way, with the same intent,
the same detail each week. And that's what I've seen
these past couple of weeks. And you know that way,
(02:41):
nobody's getting too high, like oh, we're here, Like no, everybody,
we've been talking about this for a while. It's like
we're not just here just alone for the ride and
just happy that the Texans are in the playoffs, and
now we're just supposed to be happy that we won our
first game.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Like no.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
The ultimate goal is everybody who's so up in the
NFL is to accomplish it'll win it, all right, And
our guys understand that focus, and you don't get there
just by talking about it. You get there by working
at it Dylon July throughout the week, being being on
it in the games, like when you line up in
the games, just executing, not making a moment bigger than
(03:19):
what it is, but just.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Playing good football, and just I think.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
I always try to pull our guys focus back to that,
like no matter how many TV crews are around, no
matter how many interviews you're doing, like what happens when
the ball is snapped, It comes back to just playing
fundamentals technique, playing really clean football, and if you do
that consistently for four quarters, we'll be where we want
to be.
Speaker 5 (03:43):
Cause there was a point in that game, first by
mid first quarter through the twelve minute mark of the
second quarter, and I made a note of that because
after that they don't score but kick the field goal,
they go down a score, you come back, Nico scores,
they go down when they score with cream Hunt, then
Brevet gets his touchdown to put you up seventeen to fourteen.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
What stop the shootout?
Speaker 2 (04:05):
I e.
Speaker 5 (04:06):
What was the key at that point for you guys
defensively to not give up another point the rest of
the game.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
What I've told our guys at halftime is and we
cannot give up the explosive pass.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
We knew that again going in.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
It was almost like, oh man, it's just a repeat
of the Christmas Eve battle. It's like, we cannot allow
them to throw the explosive passes. Whatever you do, just
make sure we stay back, right, make sure we stay back,
make sure we're on top other receivers, and make sure
we force the ball to the checkdowns as much as possible.
I don't care if they I wanted to throw it
(04:40):
to the checkdown every single time. And I think when
we were able to stay back and they forced that,
and guys were able to see like, okay, right, can
they methodically just drive down the field on is?
Speaker 1 (04:50):
No.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
The only way they can get down the field is
if they create some type of chunk play. And when
we stop the chunk plays, and guys were dialed in
on eliminating the chunk right now, we were able to
really get after them. And the biggest thing were the
third down stops right getting off on third down, getting
the pressure on Flacco, making him fluster, making him throw
some you know, some bad passes at times. I think
(05:14):
that was the key.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
How much do you practice blocking during an interception return,
Because coach, that was a parade going down the sideline
when Steven Nelson got that first one, everybody seemed really
enthusiastic about being able to execute what they had learned.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
Yes, for sure, it's something we've been teaching since training camp.
We teach sideline return and we do it and our
turnover drills and we'll do sideline return drills and we
kind of teach the guys like, first thing, first, everybody
wants to go when the ball this return, everybody wants
to just take off and run. Well, the first key
(05:49):
is you have to block the guy who they were
throwing the ball to. So we say you block the
intended receiver first. I think Desmond was able to get
the intended receiver right. And then if you got the ball,
make sure you get to the nearest side line and
get down the numbers, and we call the sideline near
side line return. Everybody blocks. Make sure you block high
(06:09):
end in front. So we had we had the guys
running down the sideline and Cashman stars with the big
block on the offensive line. He takes him out and
then Stingley finishes with a great block I think it
was on a running back who showed up and Stingle
was able to get a block on him, and that
was the That was the cleanings I was selling the coaches.
That's the tea tape right there. That's the tees tape
(06:30):
for how you get a sideline return that was perfect.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
And coach along those lines.
Speaker 5 (06:35):
I know, from from our angle you're not able to
see this, but on the TV copy that showed from
I don't know, kind of from this angle over here
where they were shooting kind of down our sideline, there's
a mad man in the red shirt running with Nelson.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
I mean he's flying, but besides him, which is you.
Speaker 5 (06:54):
I saw the offensive guys jumping off the bench like
Nico's running just outside to you to go like meet Nelson,
And it felt like it was that perfect moment of
this team of what it's been about. Offense, happy for defense, defense,
happy for special teams, everybody kind of happy for each
other's success. I don't know if you had a chance
to see that, but did you kind of sense that
(07:14):
when that play happened, all the everybody just running on
the field and getting excited about what has happened.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
Yeah, I didn't see it until after, because as you said,
the mad Man was running as well.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
You're focused.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
I was almost in the end zone myself.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
But yeah, after after seeing them, now I realize it,
like I'm trying to get guys off because the clocket started,
so now I'm trying to get guys off the field
so we can kick the field go.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
And I look up and it's Nico, it is.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Brevin, it's all of the offensive guys, a right reserve
guys out on. Everybody's just celebrating that moment with Nielsen,
and that's cool.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
That's the team.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
That's the enthusiasm that I love to see from our team,
and that's that defining moment of everybody is truly happy
for the success of their teammate.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Unselfish. Unself is played by.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Everyone, but we're truly thrilled excited for our guys when
they make plays.
Speaker 5 (08:05):
You're not a mad man, but in that moment, but
you run it like you were chasing running back back
in the day.
Speaker 4 (08:11):
That's for sure.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Coach Christian gets the next one, the next pick six,
and I know you've answered some questions about him. I
get the feeling the winning is the best thing, but
you really enjoy the individuals having their game improve the
individuals involved and seeing them improve the level of their performance.
Speaker 6 (08:30):
As a teacher, that must mean a lot to you.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
It's everything.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
It's what I truly believe in my philosophy of coaching.
It's all about, you know, it's all about developing young
man and to see you know, it's not gonna be perfect,
it's not gonna be all pretty from the start, but
you to see a guy like Christian grow throughout the
entire year, to see him have that same play a
(08:54):
couple of weeks ago versus the Titans, right, and we're
able to kind of correct it, and hey, this time,
just make sure you step in front. And to see
that moment just happening as a teacher, as a coach,
there's no prouder moment when you see a young man
step in and make that play, take the coaching point
to heart and actually execute it the proper way. And
(09:15):
for him to make the biggest play of his career.
And I'm so excited for Christian, so proud of him
all right for just making a big play. And this,
I tell guys, is not when you try to chase
big plays like they don't happen. But when you're just
focused on your individual job and you're just focused on
your technique and you do that the right way, like
(09:37):
the big plays will come and none speaks better than
that one that Christian made coach.
Speaker 5 (09:42):
Just kind of along those lines, I've always felt like
at some point a coach stays in it because the
coaching bug strikes them at some point. Did you have
a moment as a younger coach when something like that
happened where you taught a guy a technique and you
see him have success and you're like, yo.
Speaker 4 (09:59):
I love seeing that happen.
Speaker 5 (10:02):
Is that is that kind of the way it maybe
happened for you. Did the coaching bug strike when you
had kind of a teaching lesson you gave to a
player and he was successful because of it?
Speaker 3 (10:10):
I mean it started really, I mean for me in
high school, I was helping out with the high school
kids during the during the lockout year. It was just
seeing these kids just get better and better each week.
And to see it all come to like we had
one spring game and to see the kids go out
and play fast and execute and make plays, and to
(10:31):
see their faces when they one was like, oh wow,
that really sparked a bug is just seeing from where
we started and seeing the growth and development of those
young kids just within a three week span, and to
see them finished with the win and how excited they
were to win. I was like, Wow, this is pretty cool.
And that was the That was the moment that coaching
got me.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
As far as where we are right now, and you
talked about it, you have to do what you do
and not let the moment get too big. How much
do you rely on your experience maybe the forty nine
ers advancing or other members of the staff who have
been on teams that have advanced, and you yourself as
a player, how much do you rely on that stuff
and draw from it as you address the players getting
(11:12):
into this next round.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
Right, Being with the Niners past couple of years and
having that experience of going, you know, a couple of
NFC Championships games, Super Bowl, and I remember I just
think back to the preparation, right and how we prepare
throughout the weeks for those games, and the one thing
that always stuck with me is nothing changed.
Speaker 4 (11:31):
Yeah, Okay.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
It was like at that moment, like, you don't nobody
hyped it up as this big game and it's like
it was, it's the next game, right, and we kept
that focus, and I think that's what allowed me to
have that Having that experience now it helps me to
speak to our team and to keep them right steady.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Yeah, even though we have.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
A lot of young guys, I don't want our guys
getting too amped up for a game just because oh
the weight of this, this game means this, or like no, like,
just stay focused on your execution, because I know that's
what wins. And I know when it didn't happen when
I lost games in the playoffs. I know what happened
in those games. It wasn't guy's thinking about that moment
(12:15):
too or trying to make plays in that moment, but
it just didn't execute when we should have. Or man,
we worked on this particular play and we're not where
we're supposed to be, Or the receiver didn't run a
particular route that he should have rant it was just
that was That's what happened in those games.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
And that's what causes you to lose those games.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
Is when guys lose focus, guys lose sight of executing
the job the proper way.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
That's what loses those games.
Speaker 5 (12:41):
We've kind of gone through this a little bit coach,
the fact that after we beat Indy on Saturday, we
had to sit on Sunday and wait, but we got
an answer pretty clearly, like, Okay, game is over three thirty.
We know we're playing the Browns. Know what's going to
happen As of the time of this recording, we don't know.
It could be one team, it could be the other.
How is that kind of changing preparation or impacting preparation
(13:03):
for this week?
Speaker 3 (13:04):
Yeah, it's it's impacting preparation pretty pretty big time. This
is a new space for me because right now, in
this moment, we would be already on our opponent. We
know we're playing, we're preparing, and now we kind of
sit in limbo because we have the Ravens and Kansas City.
So you're kind of trying to prepare for both. Right,
try to spend most of our time yesterday focusing on
(13:26):
the Ravens and now we'll trying to pivot today to
get a look at the Kansas City Chiefs. And so
we still won't know until later later this after this afternoon.
But I told guys, we'll still we'll still have time, right,
I think offensively, defense, special teams. We're all the staffs
are all dialed in to both teams as best as
(13:46):
we can to have a first look, I would say,
and then we'll get deeper into preparations later this later
this evening. So it's been a late night for coaches,
but they don't mind it.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Well, the quarterbacks are different, but they're both awesome. Lamar
Jackson and Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes does run more than a
lot of people think because he will make plays with
his legs. He was doing it last year in a
bad ankle. Lamar Jackson, we all know that he can
do it. But they both throw the ball extremely well
as well. But that mobility aspect, Joe Flacco, you didn't
(14:18):
really face it with him, but you face it with
these guys.
Speaker 6 (14:20):
Either one you face.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
For sure, no matter right which opponent we faced. Both
two dynamic quarterbacks were very similar in that regard mark
that they find a way to keep plays alive and
all of the off schedule plays is where both quarterbacks
have kind of, you know, made the name for themselves
in their career. Right, they're scrambling around and they chunk
(14:42):
a deep one over you. It's like man already see
in both guys. It's like, I know what my message
is too, Like, guys, make sure we're on it and coverage.
You're gonna have to cover them twice plaster plaster plaster,
stick to your coverage. And then the rush factor like
d line, we need some extra. Guys may need you
(15:02):
as well, but we're gonna have to get as much
pressure on both guys as possible to kind of speed
up their process.
Speaker 5 (15:07):
And one of the things I love coach as a
sideline reporter is the fact that the last four games
my math is correct, maybe the last five have been inside.
That's very nice for a solid reporter with all the
equipment everything, I don't get wet. But now you gotta
go outside no matter what Baltimore, Kansas City. You got
to go outside, as does the team. And it looks
like it's gonna be a little bit chillier than it
(15:28):
is in Houston.
Speaker 4 (15:29):
But we've got some chilly weather here.
Speaker 5 (15:31):
How does that help kind of preparation for the weather
aspect of things.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
Yeah, I think with our weather here in Houston this
week being cold, I think it helps a lot. Now
we can I guess you can get used to it.
A little bit having to prepare throughout the week. So man,
we're fortunate that we do have, you know, unseasonably cold
weather here in Houston, and we can go out and
prepare and our guys can see, you know, a glimpse
of what it will feel like. You know, it'll be
much colder, whether we're in Baltimore, Kansas City, it'll be
(15:56):
much colder. But for those three and a half hours
tail guy, lock in, it doesn't matter. You got to
lock in right, what's ahead of us, what's on the
other side, right of winning this game, like that's all
that matters. If your focus is on that, then you
can minimize you know, how cold you'll be in that moment.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
Yep, well, last week was no picnic either for Houston. Anyway,
you were practicing outside, getting ready for an indoor game,
and the wind. Coach, I think the wind has got
to be a big factor. When the Texans with you
played at Green Bay at eight really cold, single digits,
but Shop and the guys talked about, hey, it wasn't windy.
Speaker 6 (16:32):
They threw for over four hundred yards of that guy,
that's it.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
The win is a huge factor.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
It's one thing of being cold, but the wind and
when you can't really throw the football like that's that's
where it will struggle and that's where it can cause
some issues. So hopefully the win wins isn't up too
high so we can allow CJ to spend it a
little bit.
Speaker 5 (16:51):
Coach, I know it's hard when you're in the moment
and your coaching your cam ball plays and you're you know,
scoring touchdowns and you're trying to get guys. You're here
in the coaching moment no matter what. Was there any
point on Saturday where you were able to kind of say,
dang man, that's pretty cool. I mean, the crowd showed up,
was loud. Was there any kind of moment when you
looked around like, dang it's cool.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
At the moment for me was when the lights were
off in the stadium and everybody was holding the cell
phone over the lights house. I was just I mean
on the headset at that moment, I was like, oh, wow,
this is such a cool moment. I haven't seen this
before here in Houston all year, Like what.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
A cool moment.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
I was just telling guy, hey, make sure you take
this in, take this moment in because this is a
really cool atmosphere. Our fans showed up big time for us.
They were loud and to see that moment in the
stadium where I think it was a timeout or we
were in between quarters. So that was the moment that
I always remember in that Browns game there of just
(17:51):
the lights off, the cell phone lights out, all right,
how many fans showed up.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
That was a really cool moment for us.
Speaker 6 (17:58):
Absolutely great moment, and a moment later you were like,
all right, back to the intestiny, let's go, let's go.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
But I noticed that in the locker room afterwards there
was such joy after you beat the Colts. So there
was joy after beating the Browns. But nobody is ready
to say this is it. Nobody is ready to say
what an accomplishment this season is?
Speaker 6 (18:20):
They really want more. You feel that you can sense
it in all the players.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
You definitely sense it. I think there was a yeah,
the moment versus the Colts, it was that was.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
A great moment. We knew we were in and that's.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
Someone that we had been talking about all just give
us an opportunity to get in and get it in,
and we we earned that.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
Right to get in.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
Think how that game, how we won that game too,
like that was an exciting moment for us.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
That was a special moment.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
Oh, you come into this Browns game and everybody kind
of it felt like they knew it going into the.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
Week and they know we want more.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
So that moment in locker room probably wasn't It wasn't
as crazy because guys expected it. Confidence and that's what
you want to your team playing better at the end
of the year. Confident going into games, expecting to win games,
expecting to play well.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
That's what you need in the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
I answer my question about confidence, that was exactly it.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
All right.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
One thing I want to ask you about though, since
Devin Signaltary has really taken off Week nine, you're running game.
Speaker 6 (19:21):
I know you want to run for even more yards.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
But we've talked about this from time to time, but
this is something you can really rely on now, this
is something you can take with you.
Speaker 6 (19:30):
You know who you are.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
As opposed to Week one, where it's sort of feeling
things out, we're thinking back to that sieg had only
played a handful of snaps in preseason games. That's his
first real NFL games, So you guys have a lot
of experience compared to that outing if it is Baltimore.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
Yeah, for sure, a lot more experience than you know.
I always say, you want to run the ball, right,
you want you run the ball to win games, but
you know the score, you got to throw the ball. Yeah, right,
And so it's, uh, we know who we are, right.
We don't have to force it. It's there and we
can pop some runs. We will pop some but you know,
we have a quarterback who can throw it and we
(20:06):
can get yards in the air even on the checkdown
plays like to play the Brevin like CJ can throw
the ball five yards and get credited with us six.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
Seventy six yard past.
Speaker 3 (20:18):
So it's you know, however, we have to get it
done at this point, it really doesn't matter.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
Just get it done.
Speaker 5 (20:25):
Come from week one to week whatever we are. Now,
what's probably the thing you're most proud of about your team?
Speaker 2 (20:32):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (20:34):
I almost I would say, Man, I'm proud of the growth,
and I'm proud of just at this moment right now,
it's like, I'm proud of just the confidence that we've earned.
And I always talk about confidence is earned, it's not given.
And I'm proud of that confidence that we've earned as
a team. And sitting here at this moment, right now
(20:54):
when we need it most, when nobody else is gonna
have your bag, nobody else is gonna pick you to like,
we're confident in ourselves, We're confident in each other.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
And that's what I'm most proud of.
Speaker 1 (21:08):
AMG Bank asked coach question of the week. All right,
coach parenting advice here because we need some.
Speaker 5 (21:13):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
The listeners are a lot of the listeners out there
are parents, and your kids have been in the interview
room after wins and I guess after all situations. Greg
Bailey had them on Inside the Game on ABC thirteen.
Speaker 6 (21:25):
Johnny said, they were there the other night.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
So well behaved, incredibly well behaved.
Speaker 6 (21:30):
So what's the secret?
Speaker 1 (21:31):
Give us a secret or two and having the kids
be so well behaved?
Speaker 3 (21:34):
Oh thank you. No, My wife doesn't now stand a
job with them with our kids. They're precious, man. They're
they're so kind. They take care of each other, They
look out for each other's brothers, sisters, and it's it's
all about just just pure.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
Love for each other.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
And they have fun playing with each other, but it's
just loving on them. Giving your kids as much love
as possible. Man, and and our kids we're thankful to have.
We're blessed to have really great kids. And just to
see their precious smiles, that was a great moment for me.
I didn't I didn't expect to see them and I
was coming up the tunnel after the game, so to
see them and that was like wow, that was That
(22:18):
was a special one for me as well.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
That I that I always remember.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
But man, we got great kids, and I'm thankful for
my wife holding it down for me.
Speaker 6 (22:26):
All Right, Coach, thanks a lot, good luck this week.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
Thank you guys. M
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