DeMeco Ryans finds the Texans answer up the middle by adding a familiar face

WELCOME TO HOUSTON

DeMeco Ryans finds the Texans answer up the middle by adding a familiar face
The Texans' new linebacker played for DeMeco Ryans in San Francisco. Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images.

The Houston Texans still have spots to fill, as we're only three days into free agency. But they have addressed linebacker with the signing of former Titan and 49er, Azeez Al-Shaair.

Al-Shaair played for DeMeco in San Francisco, and was a target of the Texans in free agency last season. Al-Shaair opted to sign a 1-year deal with the Titans instead of coming to Houston.

This year, DeMeco got his man signing Al-Shaair to a 3-year, $34 million deal, per KPRC 2's Aaron Wilson.

Just two years ago, Al-Shaair was a member of the best linebacker trio in the NFL. Playing alongside 49ers' Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw. But with his contract expiring with the 49ers after the 2022 season, it was time for Al-Shaair to go be the main guy on a new team. And after one season with Tennessee, it's time for him to do it in Houston.

With Denzel Perryman and Blake Cashman leaving in free agency, Houston needed to add to the position group. Al-Shaair will join Christian Harris in the Texans' linebacker room. Who will fill the third role is yet to be determined. But that's a great duo at linebacker, and the Texans play a ton of nickel coverage, with only 2 linebackers on the field.

What does Al-Shaair bring to the table?

Al-Shaair isn't quite as good in coverage as Cashman or Harris, per PFF. But he's great against the run, recording over 150 tackles last season.

The 26-year-old Al-Shaair should be an immediate upgrade at linebacker, or DeMeco wouldn't have given him a bigger contract than Cashman received. And don't be surprised if we see Christian Harris taking over some coverage duties left behind by Cashman.

In the video above, Craig from Sports Talk Extra uses some numbers from PFF to illustrate how DeMeco Ryans could deploy his new handpicked linebacker.

Most Popular

The Angels beat the Astros, 3-0. Composite Getty Image.

José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.

Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.

There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.

Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.

Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.

He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.

Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.

Key moment

The home run by Peraza.

Key stat

It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.

Up next

LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Most Popular

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome

Listen Live

ESPN Houston 97.5 FM