Romeo Crennel: Somehow, shut down A.J. Brown
A.J. Brown is a difference-maker. Bill O’Brien calls the Tennessee Titan the NFL’s best rookie receiver for a reason. He’s strong, fast, precise with his route-running and has the hands to make for a big catch radius. That has culminated in an outstanding Offensive Rookie of the Year-type season.
“Well, he’s pretty good,” defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel said on Thursday. “He’s got some size, got some speed and he can run for a touchdown. If you don’t cover him, you give him opportunities to make big plays. Some of his big plays come on play-action passes where the linebackers get sucked up and then boom, there’s an opening, and he hits that opening and then he kicks it into that extra gear that he has and it turns into a really big play.”
Crennel stresses that Houston must try to find a way to limit his playmaking abilities to keep the Titans out of the postseason.
“We have to do a good job of trying to get back in coverage and then rally to the ball and not let him run for touchdowns and big plays,” Crennel said.
On the season, the 22-year-old has 48 receptions for 927 yards and seven touchdowns.