Everything Texans HC DeMeco Ryans said after Day 6 of training camp

Here's everything Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said following Day 6 of training camp, including comments on Will Anderson Jr., the return of Sheldon Rankins and the tight end room entering a new year with new play-caller Nick Caley.

Question: On if S Jalen Pitre is easing back into practice after missing a couple days

DeMeco Ryans: “Pitre is good. He's back out at practice. He's good. Same guy he's been. So, nothing to report there.”

Q: On why he was interested in bringing back DT Sheldon Rankins

Ryans: “I was really interested in getting Sheldon back because knowing the type of player that he was when he was here, the leadership that he provided, him and Will [Anderson Jr.] had a really great connection their first year together and really wanted to keep Sheldon. So, it was really tough seeing him leave us, to go to Cincinnati. That was a tough one because we were really working hard to get him back. Unfortunately, it didn't work out, but it's all about the right timing. It worked out this year, so we're happy to have him back to our team.”

Q: On the improvements he is seeing from the offense after being in pads for two days

Ryans: “You see things evening out more when you put the pads on. Defense kind of had the advantage there early on. We weren't in pads. Defense was making a lot of plays. Now just see things balancing themselves out. Offense is making plays daily. Our quarterbacks are doing a really nice job placing the football in the right spot. Our receivers are making some really tough, contested catches. That's what we want to be. We want to be a tough, physical football team. You can't lose sight of that play on the outside from the receivers, the DBs, how those guys play. That's to make us a really physical team. So, Jayden Higgins, he stepped up, made some really nice catches. [Jaylin] Noel, [Xavier] Hutchinson has done a really good job this year playing physical, really doing a great job at the catch point as well. We got a lot of guys on the offensive side who are getting really better and it really jumps out in that receiver room to me.”

Q: On what G Laken Tomlinson brings to the team on and off the field in terms of improving the offensive line

Ryans: “What Laken brings to our team off the field, it starts with his work ethic. I just remember him, he first came in in our OTA program, just the way he worked. He did a great job establishing himself as a hard worker and for guys just to watch him. Laken, he didn't have to say much, but you just watched his actions, watched how he went about his work. I think a lot of our younger guys can gleam a lot from that. This guy is about his business. He's been in the league over ten years. Why does a guy like that stick around? It's going to start with the work ethic, especially at such a tough position that he plays up front in the interior offensive line. Those guys… It's a very physical game up there. They take a pounding. Laken does a great job of not only working hard but also recovering the right way, taking care of his body the right way. So, he can really help a lot of our guys when it comes to that area of the game off the field that no one sees to allow you to be your best when you step out on the field. Laken has excelled at that from the beginning of his career to now.”

Q: On the development of DE Will Anderson Jr. from Year 2 to Year 3

Ryans: “Will has done a really good job of taking his game to the next level when it comes to his pass rush. I haven't seen a person that's more dialed in when it comes to what moves he's trying to execute and not pre-determining moves but truly playing instinctive, playing off of what set the offensive line is giving him, whether he needs to play speed to power, whether he needs to be a little more finesse, working the edge, working the inside. He's just doing a really great job of really developing that pass rush repertoire. Him working with Coach Rod [Wright] and working with Danielle [Hunter], you see the growth, you see the improvement. I talk about Will all the time as that relentless player and what we represent as a Texan, but also, he represents that part of that growth factor, what I love to see from all of our guys. You can see this year, I know he's going to be a much better pass rusher than he was last year just because of the work that he's put in all throughout the offseason and now at training camp he's still growing each and every day. I have to keep him away from my quarterback because he's getting a little too close. But, he's doing a great job.”

Q: On what he’s seen from CB Derek Stingley Jr. throughout Training Camp

Ryans: “[Derek] Stingley, what I've seen from him throughout camp, Stingley is just consistent. He's quiet over there on the edge and that's what it takes to be a really great corner. There shouldn't be a lot happening your way because a lot of people don't want to go your way, but him and Nico [Collins], they go at it every single day. Those are two of our best guys, they match up against each other every rep and that's good-on-good every single time. Those guys, they sharpen each other every time they're out here, so ‘Sting’ has continued to be steady, picking up right where he left off.”

Q: On how beneficial it is to have reps available for RB Nick Chubb and younger running backs on the team

Ryans: “In training camp, you never know what's going to happen. So, as a player, my message is you always have to be ready. When you do have the opportunity to get more reps, you have to take advantage of those reps and you take advantage of them by knowing what to do in the meetings and coming out on the field and being able to execute the right way. Nick has done that. Woody [Marks] has done that. All the guys, Jawhar [Jordan], Dare [Ogunbowale], those guys have done a great job of just being ready to go and those guys are getting a lot of reps. Hopefully those reps pay off as those guys see more throughout training camp, but the backs are doing a great job. Coach Danny Barrett, as always, he's continuing to do an outstanding job as our running backs coach and I really love working with Danny, appreciate what he's done working with those guys.”

On what he remembers from the first time he assumed play-calling duties and how he prepared for it

“As a first-time play caller, we talk about players, rookies and their growth and development, it's the same with play callers. You have to get reps. The only way to get better at something is you actually have to go out and do it. For me, I try to do a really good job of putting guys in position, different situations, different scenarios all throughout practice, things that will come up in games. I try to make sure I'm putting those guys through those situations so when they see them, they can go back and they have a library of, ‘Hey, we were practicing on this day. I remember this situation. This is what I call.’ As you go in and look at practice, sometimes you look at it. Myself, you're always analyzing what you did, how can you be better. You're analyzing, ‘Hey, maybe I'll call something different here or that would have worked.’ It's always about self-evaluation as a play caller. Nobody else may say anything to you, but you have to constantly be a hard critic on yourself as a play caller, knowing what you want to do, when you want to do it, how you want to get it done. I'll continue to give the guys as many reps as possible to make sure they're ready to go come game time.”

Q: On how he feels the tight end group is developing under Offensive Coordinator Nick Caley

Ryans: “Our tight ends, they've been really solid all camp. Jake [Moreland] has done a great job of coaching those guys up, just putting the pads on. I see guys just being on it, playing with their pads, playing physical, playing with great hand placement. The tight end position is starting there in the running game and how we're blocking at that position. Then you see the route detail and the route growth, starting with Cade Stover. I've seen him develop a lot as a pass catcher running the routes. He's done a really great job at the top of his routes, executing the break points, getting open. Dalton's [Schultz] come back. He's done a great job of being the elite pass catcher that we expected him to be. Brevin [Jordan], his explosiveness, his play at the line of scrimmage and when he gets the ball in his hands. That entire group, they have a lot of different things that they do well. If you've got three, four tight ends who can operate in that manner, it's going to help us. Not only Caley, but also Jake. Coach Jake has done a great job with the tight end group.”

On how he coaches the defense to dial back their physicality in practice against the offense

“The Texans are going to be a physical football team. That's what I believe in. I don't like guys who don't play the game the right way and that's being physical. Not only defensively, but offensively. We're going to play backs running behind your pass, offensive line finishing at the second level. That's what I truly believe in. When we come out and practice, we are a team. We have to work together. When we practice, there's just no cheap shot. We still want to play physical. We're going to play between the whistles, but we don't want guys… We just always talk about protecting the team, not taking a cheap shot, not going to the ground. Guys are smart enough and aware enough that they know how to practice the right way, which allows us to practice hard, but also practice in a safe manner.”

Q: On the progression he’s seen from the offensive line

Ryans: “The offensive line, again, there's different guys that have been in there. I think those guys are continuing to get better, and you see it's real football. You get to block guys with pads on. I think that's just real, and that's what you see. Our guys are doing a solid job, and they're continuing to get better.”

Q: On what he’s seen from CB Damon Arnette at Training Camp

Ryans: “Arnette is taking his second chance and he's running with it. He's been dialed in since day one, very grateful for the opportunity to be back in the NFL and I'm happy to be in a position to give a guy a second chance. I think in life we all need more than second chances. It's just having another chance. If we all think back on our lives and things that have happened, you want the opportunity to have another chance at things and he's doing a great job with it so far.”

This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Everything Texans HC DeMeco Ryans said after Day 6 of training camp