Ryans on Lamar: “That’s a Bad Man… We Don’t Even Try to Copy Him”
Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans couldn't help but laugh after a reporter asked him a question about Baltimore Ravens star Lamar Jackson.
The Houston Texans will try to notch back-to-back wins as they visit the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday. They gained momentum after beating the Tennessee Titans in Week 4 for their first victory of the season.
The Texans could capitalize on the injury-stricken roster of the Ravens, with quarterback Lamar Jackson questionable to play due to a hamstring injury. Baltimore is already without cornerback Marlon Humphrey (calf), defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike (neck), and linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring).
Even though Jackson is uncertain to suit up, the Texans are still preparing for him. During a media conference, a reporter asked coach DeMeco Ryans if they're trying to replicate the two-time MVP in practice. Ryans was candid in his response.
“We cannot replicate Lamar Jackson. I have no one here who can help me,” said the Texans coach with a laugh, as shown in the video posted by Houston Stressans on X.
“It's very difficult to replicate Lamar. You try sometimes. Try to put receivers or other skilled players at the quarterback position, but it's different.”
The 41-year-old Ryans, who's in his third year in Houston, also heaped praise on the 28-year-old Jackson, who has consistently been among the league's elite players with his dual-threat ability.
“When you see Lamar on a Sunday, you see that’s a bad man. Nobody can replicate him. He’s a special player, all in a league of his own. We don’t even try to replicate him,” stressed Ryans.
The Texans have been pretty solid on defense despite their record, and they will attack whoever the Ravens have under center in Week 5. If Jackson sits out, backup Cooper Rush will take charge.
On offense, Ryans will again rely on quarterback CJ Stroud. He, however, has yet to find consistency. He did have his best game of the season against the Titans, going 22-of-28 for a season-high 233 yards and two touchdowns.
Now that's something the Texans should replicate.
No place like Tampa, TV for former Lightning player Pat Maroon
Pat Maroon spent a lot of time in front of the camera as a player. A transition to broadcasting seems like a natural next move.
Few have a winning resume like Maroon, currently the only player to win three straight Stanley Cups — the last two with the Lightning — since the Islanders dynasty teams of the early 1980s. He’s been a leader on the ice and in the dressing room, and his fun-loving personality has made him a fan favorite everywhere he’s been, especially in Tampa Bay.
Maroon, 37, tested the broadcast waters with guest analyst work for ESPN, TNT and NHL Network while he was still a player. Since retiring at the end of last season — after 14 seasons in the NHL — Maroon and his family moved back to Tampa. This season, he is a Lightning alumni ambassador, already having participated in clinics and appearances.
But Maroon really wants to give TV a go, and he joins the Lightning’s expanded Scripps Sports broadcasts as a studio analyst, a job that will allow him to really sink his teeth into a second career.
We chatted with Maroon about returning to Tampa, the kind of voice he wants to have on game broadcasts and what he thinks of this Lightning team. (This interview was edited for length and clarity.)
Since joining the team as an alumni ambassador, you’ve talked about doing more to make Tampa a place where players can retire and stay connected to the organization and each other. After you hung up your skates, why call Tampa home again?
Like I tell everyone else, we’re going to make this place home until we figure something else out. Tampa is community to us, Tampa’s family to us, we love Tampa, and we don’t see ourselves leaving anytime soon. My daughter (Goldie) was born here. (Oldest son) Anthony absolutely loves it here. Now, my youngest daughter (Estelle) is going to grow up living here. We’re just really happy to be in Tampa and the community and people that surround us. So we’re really enjoying it.
What have you learned from the TV work you’ve done in the past that will help you in this new role with Scripps Sports?
The biggest thing that I’ve learned is be yourself, you know what I mean? Sometimes I tend to get away from being myself, and I think that’s the hardest part of just being you and having fun with it and breaking down the game because that’s what we’re naturally good at, right? Naturally, we see the game and we break it down, right?
But I think being funny, being active and having your own personality show. So I’ve learned that, like, ‘Hey, don’t be so stiff up there. Start talking hockey and crack a joke.’ I think that’s what we’re gonna bring to Tampa . We’re gonna bring that little fun that they need. I’m not gonna sit there and chirp on the panel, but we’re gonna try to be more light with it, have fun, and not just like X’s and O’s.
Is there any analyst you’d like to model yourself after?
I think (TNT’s) Paul Bissonnette is probably the best guy. He’s got that fun, bubbly personality. That’s why he’s been so successful at his job because he doesn’t (care) what people think about him, and I think that’s why he’s so good. And that’s why people love him, and that’s why people sometimes hate him.
Do I think he likes the Toronto Maple Leafs like he makes it look? Absolutely not. I think it’s all for the show. And that just goes with it, right? You have to do those stuff to build the following and build something people want to watch. But for me, I played for a long time, too, so I know how to win, too, and I know what it’s like. So I’m going to have to be knowledgeable and break down the game and not just be funny all the time.
Put your analyst hat on for a moment, and tell us what you think about this season’s Lightning team: What do you like about them and what might be a concern?
Their window’s still open to win. The biggest thing for me is they signed all their key core players. Now it’s just putting in the pieces that’s going to help them get over the hump. I like their D, I do. I like their top four. I think after that, it’s kind of hit or miss, right? (Ryan) McDonagh-(Erik) Cernak is probably one of the best defensive pairs in the league. I think they’re deep enough to go on a deep run. Are we going to get a healthy (Andrei) Vasilevskiy this year? I hope so. With a healthy Vasilevskiy, I think he takes them over the hump. We’ve all seen what he’s capable of doing.
But I think there’s holes to fill on the Lightning roster. Tampa was in that dead-cap era and, and now they’re trying to get back on their feet. Now, the cap’s up, and now (Florida) gets to sign all these guys. And guys are willing to take less money. If (Nikita) Kucherov and (Brayden) Point and (Brandon) Hagel and (Jake) Guentzel and (Anthony) Cirelli are still playing at this high level, now you just fill the gaps right and try to find guys that you know will help them, right, help us solidify a third line, have your fourth line be connected.
But after the two lines, I think it’s just fill in those third-, fourth-line roles. I think what they’re lacking is maybe that fifth, sixth, seventh D man. They have a lot of guys who log 24 minutes a night. And maybe if they have a good fifth, sixth, seventh guy who can go up and down and play more than 12 minutes a night, maybe give them 14-15, it will put a lot less pressure on the big guys.
