Texans Intend to Hire Romeo Crennel as Defensive Coordinator
 

It's now being reported that there won't be any holdovers on the coaching staff and Crennel will indeed be the DC.

Starting a new thread with this since Crennel's potential hire is a significant move.

This is being reported via tweet from Alex Marvez on FoxSports.
https://twitter.com/alexmarvez/statu...88879389835264

Crennel has favored a 2-gap 3-4 system, which is somewhat different from the more aggressive 1-gap 3-4 style Wade Phillips used. With a 2-gap 3-4, there is more read-and-react which is more like the Capers front than the Phillips one.

Hiring Crennel would cast the discussion of drafting Jadaveon Clowney in a bit different light... Clowney, like Mario Williams, can play and probably excel in any defensive scheme (as Bill O'Brien stated, the game is mostly played in nickel and dime now anyway), but I think Clowney is best suited for a 4-3.

I hope I never see Watt with 2 gap responsibility.

I like this hire. Romeo has the HC experience to help O'Brien though the rough spots and, like Wade, I think he's a more capable DC than a HC.

Going with the more traditional 2-gap 3-4 puts your best defensive player (JJ Watt) at a disadvantage and fails to exploit the opportunity of using him at his natural postion as strong-side 4-3 DE and also drafting the best DE coming out of colleg since atleast Julius Peppers as the weakside 4-3 DE. If this is true, then O'Briens first significant decision does not represent an auspicious start to his regime.

How do you figure Watt's natural position is a position he has never played in the NFL rather than the position he has been DPOY playing?

C'mon Barrett, you know as well as I do that whatever Wade's alignment was called, Watt was operating as a 1-gapper in the Phillip's defense which was probably much more like a 4-3 as we know it than what he would be doing in an old clunker 2-gap 3-4 that Crennel reportedly uses.

I know he was in a 1 gap system, that is why I posted above that I hope I never watch him with 2 gap responsibility. However, lining up at 34 DE in a 1 gap system is a long way off from playing 43 DE. Watt is way more dangerous inside and does most of his damage abusing guards. Very few of his sacks came from beating a Tackle to the outside. I think it is far more likely that he would be an upfield DT in the 43 (think Henry Melton) than a DE holding the edge against the run and trying to beat Tackles outside.

But the truth is I am guessing about his likely 43 position as much as you are. Any proclamation that a 43 position is his natural position is total make believe.

Not so, it's perceptive, perhaps even visionary.

Do you think Watt makes more plays inside or outside?

You don't want a 43 DE who is constantly jumping/crashing inside. It ruins contain against both pass and run. 43 DEs don't shoot gaps. JJ Watt does shoot gaps. I am sure he could be very effective as a 43 DE (he could probably play any postion, he's a freak), but he is at his best inside against the guard. You don't need to be a visionary to see that, just watch him play.

Today's defenses are harder to lump into 3-4 or 4-3. They become situational based on down and distance. I'm not sure Watt is as explosive off the edge as he is in the line but I wouldn't be surprised if he excelled. Texans might even become more 5-2 on early downs.

One of my all-time favorites was Karl Mecklenberg who just lined up all over the field and created mismatches - too quick for interior linemen, too strong for TEs and RBs to block, fast enough to stay with backs down the field or to play a zone coverage.

If we drafted Clowney, you could set up a defense where he and Watt just roam all over the defensive line and create mismatches then unleash some really good edge rushers and you'd overwhelm a lot of opposing offenses.

Crennel has never had a DL with more than eight sacks in a season. Of course, he's never had one like JJ. It's hard to believe he'd try to make JJ a read-and-react block eater, but who knows. To date the most dynamic DL he's worked with is Richard Seymour, who was an All-Pro under Romeo.

Not a big fan of Crennel. Seems like Wade II retread territory to me. I saw a tweet the other day that Crennel is still getting a hefty payout from his HC stint in KC and that there is no Offset, which means he'd lose the payout if he takes a job with another team regardless if it's HC, DC, or whatever.

Reports are that Kollar is one coach who hasn't been sent packing yet ? Wonder what that's about ?
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Per Tania Ganguli Tweet, looks like Kollar is the lone coach to be retained. Very Interesting ?
Texans retain DL coach, fire strength coaches: New Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien cleared out ... http://es.pn/1iaDnRD #Texans

Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt)
1/6/14, 2:58 PM
Have ben told Bill O'Brien will hire Brian Ferentz as his OL coach w #Texans. Son of Iowa HC Kirk Ferentz. Good choice.

Usually no offset means that the coach can double dip -- he can get paid by the new team with no impact on what he's getting from the old one. I don't know why KC would've wanted a provision like that in the contract since all it would do is encourage Crennel not to coach after they fired him.

Perhaps I used the wrong terminology. I just remember seeing someone on NFLN saying that KC is still paying him and if accepts another coaching position, regardless if it's HC/DC, the remainder of his KC contract is null and void. Not sure if that's true or not tho.

Got it, I’m just saying that usually when a team wants to avoid paying a coach that they’ve fired, they try to include an offset provision in the contract and encourage him to go find a new job so they’ll be relieved of at least part of what they’d have to pay. If the contract says that he loses the whole payout if he takes any new job, all that does is encourage him to sit on the couch and cash their check unless a really great offer comes along.

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.