Houston LB Ryans wins AP Defensive Rookie of Year

HOUSTON (AP) -Gary Kubiak had gotten used to the Texans' penchant for tapping on the tables in the meeting room when they approved of or respected what he was saying.

But even he was blown away by their reaction when he talked recently about rookie linebacker DeMeco Ryans.

"They banged on the tables as hard as I've heard them bang since I've been here," he said. "So I think that day our team let us know what they think of that kid and I think he's a leader, if not the leader on this team."

And on Wednesday, those outside of the organization showed their respect for Ryans when he was voted The Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year, making him the first Texan to win the honor.

Ryans, the first pick in the second round, easily outshined top overall pick Mario Williams by leading the league in solo tackles with 126. His 156 total tackles were the most by a rookie in the last 20 years and he also had 3 1/2 sacks.

He received 36 of the 50 votes by a nationwide panel of sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL. Second was Chicago end Mark Anderson, who was Ryans' teammate at Alabama, with five votes. Green Bay linebacker A. J. Hawk was next with four, while Cleveland LB Kamerion Wimbley got two votes.

At 6-foot-1 and 239 pounds, Ryans was criticized for being too small in the weeks leading up to the draft, but quickly excelled with the Texans, making 13 tackles in his first game.

The always confident Ryans, who played all but a handful of snaps this season, said winning the award is the best moment in his football career, but that he wasn't caught off-guard by the recognition.

"I wouldn't say I was surprised because my motto coming into the league was being the best," he said, wearing the same chocolate-colored suit he donned his first day in Houston. "When you go out and you play so hard and you do things the right way, good things come your way. And that's what I did. I just stayed focused and just kept plugging, kept fighting to try and get the team better."

Texans linebackers coach Johnny Holland said Ryans is always studying film and his knowledge of the game is perhaps his greatest asset.

"We can give him so much in the meeting room and he can take it onto the field," Holland said. "I always tell him he must be a genius or have a photographic memory, because we give him tons of information and he gets on the field and knows everything. For a rookie to do that is really big."

Ryans had 10 or more tackles in nine games this season, but his performance in Houston's 23-14 win over Oakland impressed even those accustomed to his solid play. In that game, he became the first player this season to have double-digit tackles (15), plus a sack, interception, forced fumble and fumble recovery in one game.

Kubiak called Ryans' work against the Raiders "one of the best games I've ever seen any defensive player play."