What’s more valuable than those once-in-a-blue-moon highlight reels like that of racking up 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and just five picks if consistency does not follow? Not even the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year trophy can make up for a second-year setback. It’s the fire and the culture in the locker room that fixes everything. At least the Texans have the rookie-talent whisperer, HC DeMeco Ryans, who had once polished the likes of Nico Collins. Maybe the only person strong enough to erase a setback before it becomes a spiral.
That’s what the Texans are banking on now as their rising star CJ Stroud heads into year three after having a relatively mild case of the sophomore slump in Year 2. And now, he’s chasing the foundation. The vibe check inside the Texans’ locker room has officially passed. Defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins, now in his second stint with Houston, made it clear that the culture under head coach DeMeco Ryans is no longer in flux.
When asked about the difference this time around, Rankins summed it up perfectly. “The coach is set now, obviously, new coach comes in, working overtime to try to get his identity imprinted within the framework of the team and getting the team to function without him having to say every little thing over and over again,” he said.
“So I think obviously coming back, same quarterback leading the team and then defence, a lot of continuity, his culture is set. So I think it was easy to kind of get back in here and honestly kind of feel my role like I did last time and then just get ready to play a ball.” Ryan’s imprint was all over the 2024 season. Houston cracked the top 10 in total defense, establishing itself as one of the grittiest units in the league. From the front seven to the secondary, the scheme clicked.
Sheldon Rankins talked about “how the culture is set now” in his 2nd stint here.
I used to think culture was overrated in the NFL because of how much talent matters, but the SWARM mindset and what DeMeco has built changed my view. It takes time, and each year Nick & DeMeco have… https://t.co/6H4aFN9lQ1
— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) July 29, 2025
Ryans has never been one to rest on rankings. Instead, he keeps things grounded in the locker room. Rankins continued, “I used to think culture was overrated in the NFL because of how much talent matters, but the SWARM mindset and what DeMeco has built changed my view. It takes time, and each year Nick & DeMeco have strengthened that culture to the point where the foundation now feels built for sustained success.” It sure helps that the locker room has Ryans back right from the beginning. In 2023, veteran linebacker Denzel Perryman didn’t need much convincing on the new HC. “He’s a players’ coach, I can say that,” Perryman said with confidence. That early trust set the tone and was proof of Ryans’ skill set.
Heading into the new season, Ryans has one goal in mind. “Getting better protection for C.J. is definitely a main point of emphasis for us,” he said at the NFL Combine. “We know when C.J. is protected (and) he has a clean pocket, he’s a pretty good quarterback.” Now with system buy-in and culture locked in, the blueprint is clear.
DeMeco Ryans is going back to the basics
For DeMeco Ryans, each season is a blank slate. No matter what happened before, it means nothing until the grind begins again. “To me, every year I start over,” Ryans said. “So the previous two years, whatever that looks like, it doesn’t matter to me, because every year we have to reinvent ourselves. We have to create and mold and grow to see what the 2025 Texans will look like. Just because the defense has been successful in the past — they’ve done a good job — that doesn’t just guarantee success today.”
This offseason, the Texans have gone back to the fundamentals. On offense, the changes have been sweeping. Houston moved on from Bobby Slowik and brought in Nick Caley as the new play-caller. But on defense, Ryans is banking on continuity. The only major shift came at safety, where C.J. Gardner-Johnson steps in for Eric Murray. The defense already proved its worth in 2024. But this camp is all about sharpening the mental edge. When asked how they plan to improve on last season’s strong showing, defensive end Will Anderson Jr. kept it simple. It’s “all mental.”
And Ryans has a clear standard for who makes the cut. He values physical play and leadership, especially in the trenches. “I’m looking at pass protection, how good is a guy in pass protection,” Ryans said. “For me, speaking offensive linemen, I want to see that grit. I want to see that toughness, that nastiness of how guys are finishing their blocks, what type of leaders these guys are, how passionate they are about football.” The bar has been set. Now it’s up to Houston to meet it.
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