Romeo Crennel – Page 15 – Syndication Server

Behind Enemy Lines: Previewing the Texans’ Week 14 game with Broncos Wire

The Houston Texans and Denver Broncos square off at NRG Stadium Sunday. Jon Heath from Broncos Wire provides a preview in “Behind Enemy Lines.”

The Houston Texans and Denver Broncos get ready for a Week 14 showdown at NRG Stadium, and Jon Heath, managing editor for the Broncos Wire, gets Texans fans ready for the game with a look behind enemy lines.

Texans Wire: Did Broncos fans expect the season to go this way?

Jon Heath: Every team has its overly optimistic fans and overly pessimistic fans. If you asked the average (generally realistic) fan for a win-loss record in August, they probably would have guessed 8-8 or 9-7. A .500 season is still possible, but very unlikely. Vic Fangio is a defensive guru and he has delivered there. Denver’s biggest weakness at the beginning of the year was QB play and fans are hoping Drew Lock will solve that problem.

TW: How has Kareem Jackson worked out for Denver? He was a fan favorite in Houston.

Denver wasn’t quite sure where he was going to line up at the beginning of the year but after Jackson settled in at safety, he has been brilliant. He has teamed up with Justin Simmons to give the Broncos their best safety duo since T.J. Ward and Darian Stewart helped the team win Super Bowl 50 in 2015. With Simmons, Chris Harris and Will Parks all set to become free agents in 2020, Jackson looks like a player who will be a crucial member of the secondary even beyond this season.

TW: How has Phillip Lindsay performed in light of his season-ending injury a year ago?

JH: Lindsay seems to have fully recovered from his wrist injury and is on pace for a 1,021-yard, seven-touchdown season. Lindsay earned a Pro Bowl nod last year after rushing for 1,037 yards and nine touchdowns. So. his production is pretty similar to last year despite the fact that Royce Freeman is stealing more touches. In 2018, Freeman got 144 touches in 14 games. This year, Freeman has 142 touches through 12 games.

TW: Does John Elway have too much ego as a HOF quarterback to truly figure out the club’s QB situation?

JH: I’m not sure if his ego is getting in the way but Elway has swung and missed on Brock Osweiler and Paxton Lynch as draft picks and on Case Keenum and Joe Flacco as free agent signings. If Lock doesn’t help turn things around in 2020, Elway might just strike out as GM in Denver.

TW: What’s the one thing the Broncos are doing really well right now? Even teams out of contention by December develop really solid, dominating aspects of their game that can beat playoff-bound teams if they’re not careful.

JH: Denver has had three different starting quarterbacks this season and all of them have done one thing right: throw the ball to Courtland Sutton. The second-year receiver has 54 catches for 906 yards and six touchdowns so far and seemingly no cornerback has been able to cover him one-on-one this season. If defenses double-team Sutton, it creates opportunities for other players. If defenses leave Sutton one-on-one, it’s usually a mismatch.

TW: do you have a prediction and a bold prediction?

JH: The Broncos have had a lot of close games this year and might be a better team than their record suggests. Even with that being the case, though, Lock will have some growing pains as a rookie QB and it’s never easy to win on the road.

Bold prediction: Von Miller recovers from his knee injury and sacks Deshaun Watson three times. Unfortunately for Denver, that won’t be enough to get a win. Texans, 24-17.

Johnathan Joseph acting as a coach for young Texans cornerbacks

Houston Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph doesn’t just play for the team, he also coaches up the younger players on the roster.

Officially, the Houston Texans have three coaches teaching the cornerbacks — defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, secondary coach Anthony Midget and assistant secondary coach D’Anton Lynn. Unofficially, there are four.

Cornerback Johnathan Joseph, 35, acts as a pseudo coach for the Texans’ young cornerback group, which includes Gareon Conley, 24, Vernon Hargreaves, 24, and Lonnie Johnson, 22.

“It’s good,” said Crennel on having Joseph in the room for young cornerbacks. It’s like having a coach in the locker room that when I’m upstairs watching videotape, he’s downstairs talking to them about technique and about his study habits and the things he looks for and looks at, and that helps those guys because you have a peer who’s done it a long time and knows what he’s talking about.”

Though not a household name outside of Houston, Joseph is one of the game’s most respected cornerbacks. In year 14 of his historically great career, he remains a starter in the Texans’ secondary.

On Sunday, in a 28-22 win over the New England Patriots, Joseph became the NFL’s all-time leader in career games with multiple pass deflections (50), surpassing Ronde Barber and Champ Bailey.

When Joseph talks, his teammates listen.

“He’s trying to help you and so they pay attention — sometimes more than they pay attention to me,” said Crennel.

At 35 years old, Joseph’s career could be coming to an end soon. His contract expires at the end of the 2019 campaign. However, his impact on the Texans goes further than on the playing field. Those younger cornerbacks will have learned something by the time he calls it quits.

Perhaps, when Joseph does decide to hang up his cleats, he will find himself on a coaching staff. The Texans are not opposed to hiring some of their former roster members, including Joseph’s former teammates Andre Johnson, T.J. Yates, Brian Cushing and Akeem Dent.

Texans DC Romeo Crennel says Patriots offense lacks a top receiving threat

Houston Texans defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel says the New England Patriots offense lacks a top receiving threat for QB Tom Brady.

The New England Patriots are 10-1, best in the NFL. However, despite a gaudy record, they are far from perfect, especially on the offensive side of the ball.

Houston Texans defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel recognizes that.

Crennel, who was the Patriots’ defensive coordinator from 2001-04 during the club’s first of three Super Bowl wins in four years, sees talent in Tom Brady’s wide receiver unit — Julian Edelman, Phillip Dorsett, Mohamed Sanu, N’Keal Harry and Jakobi Meyers.

“Well, Edelman, he’s himself, he’s kind of special. Dorsett has speed, Sanu has some size and can make catches. So, he’s (Tom Brady) got guys,” said Crennel on Wednesday.

Yet, Crennel won’t mince words discussing the unit. Brady lacks the go-to pass catcher he once had, such as Deion Branch, Randy Moss, or Rob Gronkowski.

“I don’t think that’s — when you look at it overall, he doesn’t have the guy — he doesn’t have Randy Moss,” said Crennel. “I think that that’s what he would like to have, if he could get that ability, that playmaking style, because that’s kind of what he’s used to.”

Edelman leads the Patriots in receiving, with 76 receptions for 809 yards and four touchdowns. Dorsett trails with 26 receptions for 332 yards and five scores. Meyers, an undrafted rookie out of N.C. State, has amassed 19 catches for 253 yards.

Dorsett was limited in Wednesday’s practice with a concussion.

The Patriots spent their first-round selection on Harry. He missed the first 10 games of the season due to his placement on the injured reserve (ankle). In his two games since, the 6-4 Arizona State product has four receptions for 28 yards and a touchdown.

New England, before the trade deadline, sent a second-round pick to the Atlanta Falcons for Sanu. He did not play in Week 12 due to an ankle injury and was limited in Wednesday’s practice. In three games in Foxborough, he has 14 receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown.

Sanu previously scored a touchdown on the Texans while wearing a Falcons uniform in Week 5.

On Sunday, the Patriots will roll with their patchwork group of wide receivers and an unproductive Gronkowski-less tight end group. One can assume that they will run their offense through tailbacks Sony Michel, James White and Rex Burkhead — with White and Burkhead acting as receiving threats.

In their own words: 4 keys for the Texans to beat the Colts

The Houston Texans will host the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday Night Football for a Week 12 divisional tilt. Here is how to beat them, as they said.

The Indianapolis Colts, also known as the Texans adversaries, will visit Houston for a Thursday night divisional tilt with playoff implications on the line.

The Colts, under coach Frank Reich, have had the best of the Texans since the start of 2018, winning three of the last four rivalry matchups, including playoffs. How will Houston stop the efforts of the Colts and regain the crown of the AFC South? The Texans’ own explain.

Play sound football, tackling well, and winning at the line of scrimmage – Romeo Crennel

The best way to shut-down a good offense? Play good, sound defense.

“We’ve got to tackle, we’ve got to win at the line of scrimmage, we’ve got to run to the football,” said defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel on Tuesday. “All of those kind of things.”

Whereas Crennel stresses basic defensive competence from the Texans, they haven’t quite done that in 2019. Houston is 28th in the NFL in missed tackles (85), per Pro Football Reference, last in pressure-rate (17.8%) and 31st in yards after the catch allowed (1,336).

The Texans will need to see improvement in all areas. Though not a necessarily high-powered offense, the Colts, led by offensive mastermind Frank Reich, will exploit basic deficiencies in the Texans offense, such as tackling.

Pages: 1234

Texans not counting on Colts WR T.Y. Hilton to miss Thursday night

The Houston Texans expect Indianapolis Colts receiver T.Y. Hilton to play on Thursday night despite being questionable with a calf injury.

While it would seem the Houston Texans are going to get a break Thursday night with Indianapolis Colts receiver T.Y. Hilton questionable with a calf injury, defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel isn’t falling for it.

Even before Hilton was given the questionable designation, which came after a full practice on Wednesday, Crennel told reporters Tuesday that he expected the four-time Pro Bowler to play.

“Yes, he’s going to play,” Crennel said. “He’s probably counting on it, and I’m — well not necessarily counting on it or looking forward to it, but you’ve got to prepare for him to play because he’ll show up.”

Hilton has a reputation for being a Texans killer. The former 2012 third-round pick from Florida International was anything but that the Week 7 encounter as he produced just six catches for 74 yards and a touchdown in the 30-23 win at Lucas Oil Stadium. Hilton failed to stack his third consecutive game against Houston with at least 100 yards receiving, which he chalked up to a bad game and not the Texans defense doing anything to stop him.

“He’s a tremendous playmaker and we’ve played him several years, and he’s made plays,” Crennel said. “So, if he is not able to play, some of those big plays that get made, maybe they’re not there to be made. So, that would be the benefit.”

The Texans will get some help with wideout Parris Campbell declared out for the game with a hand injury. Houston will have to make their pass defense more formidable against Indianapolis as they allowed quarterback Jacoby Brissett to throw four touchdown passes against them and take one sack. That with defensive end J.J. Watt in the lineup, now done for the year with a torn pectoral.

Hilton or not, the Texans have to find a way to impact the Colts’ passing game.

Texans expect to get Colts RB Jonathan Williams’ best effort on Thursday night

The Houston Texans will have a challenge on their hands with Indianapolis Colts RB Jonathan Williams Thursday night and expect his best effort.

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Williams was a big part of the club’s 33-13 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday afternoon at Lucas Oil Stadium, and the Houston Texans expect Williams to be a big contributor Thursday night.

Williams posted 116 yards on 13 carries and caught a 31-yard pass as part of his big day against the Jaguars. The Texans know they have to find a way to stop Williams, especially since he will the Colts’ lead back now that Marlon Mack is out with a hand injury.

“He did a great job last week,” defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel told reporters Tuesday. “I mean, he really did. He runs hard. I think he’ll be energized and he’ll run hard Thursday night. So, we’re going to have to tackle him and if we tackle him, then that’ll give us the best chance.”

The Texans run defense gives up 4.7 yards per carry, tied with the Miami Dolphins and the San Francisco 49ers for the seventh-most in the NFL. While they have given up just 1,021 yards, the 12th-fewest overall, and 50 first downs, tied with Seattle for eighth-fewest, the Colts run game has been a challenge for everyone through 10 games. Indianapolis produces 141.1 rushing yards per game, the fourth-best in the NFL, and is tied with Minnesota and Dallas for the seventh-best yards per carry at 4.7.

“Mack is a pretty good runner and has good numbers,” Crennel said. “Now, he’s banged up so the next man up, and Williams is the next man up.”

In Week 7’s matchup between the Colts and Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium, Mack had 18 carries for 44 yards. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett was the driving force behind the Colts’ offense with four touchdown passes and 326 yards passing. A good run game could only help Brissett’s ability to pick apart the Texans’ defense if Williams has a big game.

3 people who deserve blame for the Texans’ 41-7 loss to the Ravens

The Houston Texans dropped a key matchup with the Baltimore Ravens 41-7. Here are three people worthy of the blame.

The Houston Texans dropped a big game 41-7 to the Baltimore Ravens Sunday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium. In what could have been a consequential win over one of the top teams in the AFC, the Texans came out and played like the worst team in their division, not the cream of the AFC South. Here are three people who are at fault for the Texans’ loss.

1. bill o’brien

It is easy to blame O’Brien because he is the coach and the buck stops with him relative to game day operations. However, the Texans were coming off of a bye week. The only offensive starter that was scratched was receiver Will Fuller, who had been out since Week 8 anyway. Mustering seven points, the fewest ever with Deshaun Watson as the starter, shows the game plan and the execution wasn’t top notch.

Pages: 123

Texans quantify Ravens’ Lamar Jackson as an advanced Michael Vick

Houston Texans defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel sees Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson as a Michael Vick type.

The Houston Texans have never seen anything like Lamar Jackson. A quarterback with sprinters speed, quick feet, improved accuracy and decisive decision-making, the Baltimore Raven is a problem.

Jackson, 22, is an MVP candidate in his second year in the NFL. He has the Ravens at 7-2, in the process recording 2,036 passing yards, 702 rushing yards, 21 total touchdowns and five interceptions.

If there was anybody comparable to Jackson, it would be Michael Vick, according to defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel. However, even then, that comparison doesn’t do him justice. Baltimore runs a bigger playbook with Jackson than Vick (in Atlanta).

“Probably the closest would be Michael Vick because of his speed, but Lamar is a different guy because of what they’re doing with him,” said Crennel on Thursday. “So, that makes it much more complicated because they’re running options, they’re running zone reads, they’re toss cracking. There’s a lot of things they’re doing that are problems for the defense.”

Like Vick, Jackson has the speed and tools to beat defenses on the ground or over the air. Unlike Vick (pre-Philadelphia), he is a film room warrior with a playbook designed to fit his specified needs. Reading a defense, and then exploiting it, is what he does best.

Crennel and Co. must get creative in their play-calling to contain Jackson. From nickel defense to quarterback spies on-top of quarterback spies, there is no such thing as playing him like another quarterback. He’s not any other quarterback.