DeMeco Ryans

Speaking to reporters Monday, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said that starters will see snaps against the Steelers in preseason Week 1. “You just have to go through and play live reps of football before September. You’ll see our ones go out and get reps this week against Pittsburgh.” How long the starters will remain in the game remains to be seen, but it is now evident that we will see them on the field against the Steelers.

Ryans noted that the Texans only have one quarterback, Davis Mills, on the roster and will need to add two more. It's almost certain that the Texans will take a quarterback with their first-round pick, so the team's interest in drafting the position isn't exactly a surprise. To that point, Ryans noted that he thought Alabama QB Bryce Young was an "outstanding quarterback." He also stated that he thinks "the system is built around the quarterback as opposed to trying to fit a quarterback into a certain system." Ryans appear highly motivated to spend resources on the quarterback position, which will be a welcome change for a team that spentâ??some might say wastedâ??two seasons with Mills under center.

Ryans may not see every wish granted, but it's not uncommon to see coaches from one staff follow a newly minted head coach to his new gig. We already know that Ryans is interested in passing game coordinator Bobby Slowik, but according to Barrows, he is also interested in defensive quality control coaches Andrew Hayes-Stoker and Stephen Adegoke. Barrows also notes that safeties coach Daniel Bullocks has been "his [Ryans'] eyes in the coaches' booth on game days" and that he'd likely be interested in bringing him on staff as well.

Down Bad in a way that few franchises have been the last two years, the Texans over the last four months have shed chaplain Jack Easterby, fired Lovie Smith, and now hired one of the most-qualified coaching candidates in the NFL. Also, he just so happens to have played linebacker for them at one point. Assuming Ryans brings 49ers offensive components and staff with him, they should quickly start to function like a real NFL organization again. It's a big up arrow for Dameon Pierce and Nico Collins this offseason, as well as Brandin Cooks if he doesn't get traded. It is impossible to speak to how big this move is for a franchise that has not won more than four games since 2019 -- it signals a positive sea change that was needed in the worst way.