DeMeco Ryans knows something about linebackers in the NFL.
The Houston Texans coach earned two Pro Bowls at the position for the franchise during his tenure from 2006-11. Ryans also was an inside linebackers coach for three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers during that budding portion of his coaching career from 2017-22.
Ryans was working with second-year linebacker Christian Harris off to the side during the third day of training camp at Houston Methodist Training Center. The 38-year-old revealed to reporters Friday what he was discussing with the fellow Alabama alumnus off to the side.
“With Christian, for me and him, just continuing to talk to him about — it’s all about eye progression,” Ryans said. “When you’re playing a linebacker position, if your eyes are in the right place, you’re probably going to be right 99% of the time, so it’s just continuing to harp on those things, the fine details of what we have to do to be successful.”
Harris, 22, brings insightful inquiries when working with coaches either on the field or in the classroom.
“Christian has been tuned in, asks great questions when it comes to what he should be doing, so it’s fun to coach a guy who’s very inquisitive and wants to know everything about what’s going on around him,” said Ryans.
Harris had a promising rookie season with 74 combined tackles, six tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, 1.0 sack, a forced fumble, five pass breakups, and an interception through 12 games, 11 of which he started. If Harris was able to accomplish that much in his first season, the second season sets up expectations to produce even more.
However, Ryans knows that players develop at their own pace.
Said Ryans: “Each person is different. It takes some guys two, three years to do it. Some guys are faster, so it just takes time, each guy is different. Christian will be just fine.”
Harris has had first-team work on defense alongside linebackers Christian Kirksey and Denzel Perryman.