Romeo Crennel: Step-up as a third-down defense
The Texans’ defense cannot stay off the field. In fact, they are the worst in the NFL in doing so.
Through 13 weeks of play, Houston measures up as the league’s worst third-down defense. According to Pro Football Reference, they are allowing a league-high 48.5% conversion rate.
“We’re not making plays. There have been several opportunities to make plays and get off the field and we haven’t been doing it. That’s one of the reasons,” said defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel on Thursday. “If you don’t make plays and get off the field — because we’ve been in position sometimes to make a play that will get us off the field, but we don’t make it.”
The Titans aren’t a particularly potent third-down offense. They are 19th in the NFL in third-down conversion rate (36.8%). However, Houston’s woes on the all-important down must stop against a red hot defense. How is that going to happen?
“We’re a step short or a step slow, they catch and fall forward or run for the first,” Crennel said. “So, we have to try to emphasize being tighter, concentrating on the man when we’re in man coverage, do a good job in the zones when we’re in zone coverage.”