INDIANAPOLIS — The Houston Texans' defensive line has been a strong suit since DeMeco Ryans took over in 2023. Yet in his third offseason as head coach, the interior of Ryans’ formidable front is again in flux.

“It’s being able to sit down across from the player face to face and be able to hear their story, hear their background, their upbringing, but also getting to feel their energy,” Ryans said. “Feel their passion and love for the game of football. It comes off in those 15-minute interviews and I can feel that energy very instantly.”

Despite totaling a franchise record in sacks last season, the Houston Texans plan to shore up their defensive line this upcoming offseason.

DeMeco Ryans talked to the media this week about the biggest value he gets from being at the NFL combine. He said, "It's being able to sit down across from the player face to face and be able to ...

The NFL draft is nearly two months away, but the Houston Texans now have a baseline on which players fit their culture after spending a week in Indianapolis for the NFL Combine. It'll serve as a foundation for general manager Nick Caserio to finalize his draft board in late April when on the clock.

The NFL Combine is a rite of passage that every top player in the league has to go through. Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans, who is now tasked with evaluating young stars during the five-day event, also took part in it in 2006 when he was an outside linebacker prospect from Alabama, hoping to impress a team and get drafted.

“Getting better protection for C.J. is definitely a main point of emphasis for us,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Tuesday at the NFL Combine. “We know when C.J. is protected (and) he has a clean pocket, he’s a pretty good quarterback.”

New offensive coordinator Nick Caley has been joined by a new offensive line coach in Cole Popovich and Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said from the Scouting Combine on Tuesday that he thinks the new voices will result in more effective play.

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- DeMeco Ryans is not hiding from the ... a long look at offensive line prospects ahead of April's NFL Draft. Ryans was also asked what kinds of linemen he wants to identify ...

The NFL world is down in Indianapolis for the Scouting Combine. This gives teams a glimpse at the top prospects coming into the league and allows them to speak

Head Coach DeMeco Ryans checked in with the Texans Radio Crew from the Combine in Indianapolis, and shared a bit more about the pre-Draft process and the team will go through this week...and beyond. DeMeco Ryans spoke to the media from Indianapolis.

Aaron Wilson is an award-winning Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and www.click2houston.com. He has covered the NFL since 1997, including previous stints for The Houston Chronicle and The Baltimore Sun. This marks his 10th year covering the Texans after previously covering a Super Bowl winning team in Baltimore.