Texans Intend to Hire Romeo Crennel as Defensive Coordinator

[Warren]

Goal line TE coach for JJ

[WMH]

Originally Posted by popanot

Looks like Vrabel will be joining the staff in some capacity. Perhaps LB coach.

Bill Greene (@BillBankGreene)
1/9/14, 4:39 PM
I can confirm that Mike Vrabel is leaving Ohio State for the Houston Texans.

I find it interesting that he's filling out the staff without an OC/DC.

[chuck]

Originally Posted by WMH

I find it interesting that he's filling out the staff without an OC/DC.

I now have a mental image of a bunch of obsessive/compulsive musicians playing heavy Australian guitar rock. They sound fine but the guitar player's pick guard gleams like you would not believe. And the drums are arranged just so.

[Keith]

Update on Crennel:

Crennel is committed to coach the East-West Shrine college all-star game Jan. 18, but when that task is complete, he plans to accept an offer to become O'Brien's defensive coordinator with the Houston Texans, according to league sources.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10...ve-coordinator

[WMH]

@AdamSchefter: Now official: former Chiefs HC Romeo Crennel signed a three-year deal to become defensive coordinator of the Houston Texans.

[popanot]

Not excited about this hire at all. I thought Horton was a better option.

[nunusguy]

How is Crennel better that Wade ? Actually what's wrong with Wade ? How many DCs wouldn't have struggled mightily with the teams defensive performance this past year given the messes the Texans offense put their defense in time and time again ?

[WMH]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

How is Crennel better that Wade ? Actually what's wrong with Wade ? How many DCs wouldn't have struggled mightily with the teams defensive performance this past year given the messes the Texans offense put their defense in time and time again ?

TBD. Not necessarily better, but different. When you go 2-14, things get blown up. It happens.

BOB was going to bring "his" guys in come hell or high water. If you're a first timer you're going to surround yourself with what you know.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by WMH

BOB was going to bring "his" guys in come hell or high water. If you're a first timer you're going to surround yourself with what you know.

They have never worked together before, and from my understanding they had not even met in person until this week.

I ma not a fan of this hire, I would like to know RC plan for JJ Watt, RC 3-4 scheme has had the DEs read and react. That is not

[WMH]

Originally Posted by painekiller

They have never worked together before, and from my understanding they had not even met in person until this week.

Didn't say "who" you know, I said "what" you know. RC was a successful DC with Belicheat. BOB knows that, and I would assume had a conversation with him prior to going after him. Maybe it works, maybe it doesn't. Having Wade helped produce 2-14, so that didn't work either. Despite the local sentiment for the Phillips family, he was never going to be an option. Not to mention, Wade didn't get a sniff elsewhere. That speaks volumes in my eyes.

Regarding a plan for JJ, I'm of the opinion that will work itself out. Adaptability has been a coin phrase of BOB since he arrived. Playmakers make plays, regardless of system. JJ will be fine.

[HPF Bob]

Texans have also signed former Patriots LB Mike Vrabel to be the Linebackers Coach. Vrabel has worked with both Crennel and O'Brien.

[Warren]

O'Brien may also not have considered Wade to be a good fit from a philosophical standpoint. The Patriots have a reputation for being no-nonsense, riding their players hard and casting them aside when they've outlived their usefulness, putting a premium on smarts and versatility, etc. Wade, on the other hand, likes a looser atmosphere and strives to keep it simple for the players.

I do think Wade's age worked against him on the job market, especially since he had to miss time in 2012 for gall bladder surgery. There's definitely worse out there and it wouldn't surprise me at all to see him brought in again by some head coach on the hot seat who needs his defense turned around.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by Warren

O'Brien may also not have considered Wade to be a good fit from a philosophical standpoint.

I certainly get it about coachs wanting to hire assistant coachs they know or have had a relationship with, or atleast come recommended by others they know or have worked with. And there's a certain amount of the old "to the victor belong the spoils" thing present here.
Now practically speaking I don't think RC will do any better with the defense this year than Wade would have done, except perhaps if there's better communications between BOB and his DC because of familiarity, which certainly is important. As far as coaching styles go, I think we are gonna find that Crennel is basically pretty easygoing, a laid-back type much like Wade, and not the intense type at all. But with 2-14, it's certainly understandable that a totally clean slate would be one result of such a season.

[barrett]

Vic Fangio and Dom Capers were both playoff DCs this year. It is more about talent and players fitting the scheme than anything else. Wade did a great job here overall. When we were healthy and talented he looked great. When we were hurt and lacked talent he looked bad. I would bet the same is true of most guys.

Crenell may be a read and react guy, but he is also from the Patriots tree, and nobody is more multiple and flexible in their defensive fronts than the Patriots. My guess is there are 32 DCs in the NFL smart enough to turn loose JJ Watt, and none stupid enough to ask him to watch 2 gaps and eat blocks. Hopefully I am not proven wrong on that.

I am far more interested/concerned with what Romeo does to give us an edge rush. I have had enough of Brooks Reed running into the tackle 60 snaps every Sunday to set up the two snaps where he uses the league's worst spin move.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by barrett

Vic Fangio and Dom Capers were both playoff DCs this year. It is more about talent and players fitting the scheme than anything else. Wade did a great job here overall. When we were healthy and talented he looked great. When we were hurt and lacked talent he looked bad. I would bet the same is true of most guys.

Crenell may be a read and react guy, but he is also from the Patriots tree, and nobody is more multiple and flexible in their defensive fronts than the Patriots. My guess is there are 32 DCs in the NFL smart enough to turn loose JJ Watt, and none stupid enough to ask him to watch 2 gaps and eat blocks. Hopefully I am not proven wrong on that.

I am far more interested/concerned with what Romeo does to give us an edge rush. I have had enough of Brooks Reed running into the tackle 60 snaps every Sunday to set up the two snaps where he uses the league's worst spin move.

I would expect Vrable to be very helpful in that area.

[Warren]

Pepper Johnson has left the Patriots and the speculation is that he may be joining the Texans as ILB coach. If true, the team may have more quality LB depth on its coaching staff than on its roster.

[painekiller]

that would be a good hire.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by Warren

Pepper Johnson has left the Patriots and the speculation is that he may be joining the Texans as ILB coach. If true, the team may have more quality LB depth on its coaching staff than on its roster.

We've already got Vrable which seems like a great hire to me, so why do we need multiple LB coachs ? Too many chiefs maybe ?

[Warren]

Some 3-4 teams have an OLB coach and an ILB coach.

[Warren]

Looks like Doug Colman is the new assistant special teams coach, to work under Ligashesky, who has been retained (or is at least still listed on the official website).