Romeo Crennel expected to be new defensive coordinator for the Texans

2-14... and historic mediocrity in forced turnovers and RZ scoring %.

Don't think that is downgradeable...

 

It's crazy because we need to address every position on defense this off season hopefully we will in free agency and the draft

 

That's a really simplistic way of looking at it. Completely discount all of the factors involved in the down season along with discounting the seasons that came before that and I could see how you could come to that conclusion, but I don't know why you'd do all of that just to try and justify a lesser DC.

Also, fun fact: The last time Romeo Crennel had a job, his team went 2-14

 

Explain Bobby...

Don't just say how you feel and walk out...lol.

 

There are always a lot of factors when a team goes 2-14... and I was on board with getting rid of Wade after week 3 of this season, seeing the stark regression of how this defense was playing (compared to how they played in 2011).

Crennel isn't being hired to be a head coach... also, he helped mold/acquire the defensive players that turned the KC defense into a monster (at times... they regressed as well with injuries). You think Andy Reid was responsible for that defense this year?

All I'm saying is that this team played pretty bad last year, has a talent issue on both sides of the ball, and the defense hasn't been anywhere close to elite since 2011 (despite what the artificial rankings say).

To that, I say there's really not a lot worse they can get... hence any change will be welcome. The fact that you're getting somebody who's had success before with multiple teams is a pretty good get.

 

I just feel like Wade Phillips is a better D Coordinator than Crennel. Crennel has only coached 2 top 5 scoring defenses and never coached a top 5 defense according to yards given up. The only 2 times Crennel had top 5 scoring defenses was when he was with Belichick and the rest of his career has been somewhat unremarkable.

 

I'm actually one of the few people on this board that would have been happy to keep Wade Phillips as DC. He's one of the best in the league. Romeo is too, but I don't think he's an upgrade on Wade.

 

The KC defense wasn't a monster until Crennel was gone. It just seems like you are giving Crennel a pass for the things you are hitting Phillips with. Wade Phillips has a long track record of success that speaks for it'self, Crennel has 2 years under Bellichick.

If you think that the defense can't get a lot worse than last year, you must not have been following the Texans long, either that or you have forgotten what the defense was like before Wade Phillips came along.

 

The problem with Wade's defense is it gives up to many big plays and not enough turnovers.. Also he sticks to the same game plan every game.. no adjustments...
Patriots were tearing up the Texans in the AFC playoof game, and he stuck with the same game plan. You need to be able and adjust to what other teams are throwing at you. Thats where i think Phillips was lacking

 

I heard O'Brien talk about the desire to play a hybrid scheme, stop the run as priority #1, focus on nickel & dime sets and change the gameplan based on the opponent and situation. He wants to create chaos and keep the opponent's offense on its toes because he feels those types of defenses are the hardest to beat.

With that said, from what I've seen and remember at NE, Crennel does stop consider stopping the run as priority #1 and has drawn up some crafty DB coverages to confuse QB's. I'm not sure he does any of those other things all that well. Alabama's defenses (a bunch of 18-22 year olds) have been more inventive that Crennel's defenses at KC.

 

What adjustments could have been made in the Patriots game? The Texans pass rush IS JJ Watt. Their options were either to blitz and leave an open man for Brady to find, or not blitz and give Brady a month to camp out in the pocket and wait for someone to come open. When we had Cushing, we had a chance to do some things on defense, when he was gone, we simply didn't have the talent. You can put a parking cone in front of Crick, Smith, and Mitchell and take them out of the play and throw everyone else at Watt in an attempt to stop him and that's just what teams did.

 

How good has Belichick's defenses been since Romeo has been gone and how good was Belichick's defenses before he had Romeo...? Unremarkable...

And also _ Wade has had alot more talent to work with than Romeo. Look at the San Diego team, Dallas, and J.J. Swatt... Romeo hasn't had any horses like that. I think those things should be taking under consideration and the reason I think Romeo is better...

 

I certainly hope that hasn't been his priority #1, because if it was, he failed. He's only coached 2 defenses in the top 10 against the run. He's coached 8 defense worst than 25th in the league against the run.

 

Patriots had running backs lining up at wide receiver positions and no one covered them. It wasn't just about adjustments _ they were unprepared.

 

Well Belichick has had 7 defenses in the top 10 when it comes to scoring, Crennel hasn't had ANY top 10 scoring defenses since he left Bellichick.

 

They had no one to cover them. If you remember, the Texans were relying on a LB from off the couch named Barrett Ruud because of injury. When you are stuck with garbage like that, what are you supposed to do?

 

Crennel gets knocked for his performance as a head coach, but people ignore what he did just before those moments that led to him earning the job. KC last year stunk; we know that. But two years ago their defense was stout. The players were really motivated to perform for him. He has a proven track record as a coordinator, if not a head coach. We don't need to overanalyze things here: he's not going to become our head coach, so give him credit for all the times he has done well as a DC, which has been...well, every time.

 

Romeo has been on garbage teams. And Bill ain't won a ring without him...

 

Okay but we aren't talking about winning rings, we're talking about how good the defense was. Romeo hasn't had any serious success outside of NE, he's never coached a top 10 scoring defense or a defense that was top 10 in yards outside of NE. I think it's fair to point out that failure.

A lot of people point to KC, but the KC defense gave up 120 fewer points once he was gone. Is that just coincidence?

 

Well you need to give Romeo that same leeway with the talent he had to coach when he left New England...

Rodgers came down here and was throwing TDs with his eyes closed. The Jags QB threw for darn near 500 yards against us... And his defense pretty much quiet this year... Freaking Sam Bradford > Joe Montana.