How Houston Texans draft strategy may borrow page from DeMeco's glory days
SPORTSMAP ROUNDTABLE
09 February 2023
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans garnered a lot of attention this week when asked about the team's approach to the Draft on The Rich Eisen Show. What was surprising about his answer is that he didn't mention any of the QBs in this year's draft.
Ryans said the Texans have a QB on the roster, and they need to add to that position, but his comments got us wondering.
DeMeco was a big part of the most impressive Texans rebuild to date. In 2006, the Texans drafted Mario Williams, DeMeco Ryans, Eric Winston, and Owen Daniels among others, changing the trajectory of the team.
The Texans waited until 2007 to trade for Matt Schaub, after David Carr flamed out in 2006. With that in mind, could Ryans be looking at this rebuild as a blueprint he can use over the next two years?
Plus, would ownership be okay with passing on QB with no face of the franchise to speak of?
Be sure to check out the video above as we lay it all out.
If you enjoy the videos, subscribe on YouTube so you don't miss our latest content!
Listen to The Bench with John Granato and Lance Zierlein weekdays from 7-10AM on ESPN 97.5 and 92.5.
Astros bats stay hot as pitching silences Blue Jays again
Apr 22, 2025, 10:39 pm
Jeremy Peña and Christian Walker each had three hits and an RBI, and the Houston Astros cruised to a 5-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night.
The Blue Jays were held to two hits for the second straight game.
Houston took a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Peña scored José Altuve on an infield single and Walker followed with a hit to score Yordan Alvarez. Peña scored on a sacrifice fly by Brendan Rodgers.
Walker cashes in! pic.twitter.com/ZvlkpdQqQo
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 23, 2025
Toronto ace Chris Bassitt (2-1) settled in after the first, allowing four runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. Bassitt entered with the second-best ERA in the majors at 0.77, which was the second lowest for a Toronto pitcher’s first four starts of a season.
Nathan Lukes homered in the third for Toronto, which has lost four straight games.
Astros starter Ronel Blanco (2-2) allowed two hits and one run in 6 2/3 innings. Last year, Blanco threw a no-hitter against Toronto in his first start of the season on April 1.
A smooth start.#BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/vAji7tnxlT
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 23, 2025
Isaac Paredes homered for Houston in the seventh to cap the scoring.
CRUSHED TO THE CRAWFORD BOXES!#BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/4LV8LSoBMh
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 23, 2025
Houston has won four of its last five.
Key moment
Houston’s first two hits were infield singles, but Walker’s RBI single to center field scored a run and put Alvarez in position for a sacrifice fly to follow.
Key stat
Walker went 3 for 3 following a rest day on Monday. The Astros newcomer entered Tuesday hitting .156 and was mired in a 3-for-26 slump in his previous eight games.
Up next
Blue Jays RHP Bowden Francis (2-2, 3.13 ERA) will face Astros RHP Ryan Gusto (2-1, 3.18 ERA) in the series finale on Wednesday night.
