Tag: Romeo Crennel

Texans’ Romeo Crennel expects to face a fired up Bengals team in Week 16

Houston Texans interim coach Romeo Crennel expects the Cincinnati Bengals to bring energy when they arrive at NRG Stadium in Week 16.

The Houston Texans are coming off another disappointing goal-line loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Their Week 16 opponents, the Cincinnati Bengals, are flying high after vanquishing the 11-2 Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football at Paul Brown Stadium.

Texans interim coach Romeo Crennel knows the energy the Bengals are bringing into NRG Stadium Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CT will be a challenge.

“The biggest challenge initially is that the energy and the way they played against the Steelers,” Crennel said. “They were extremely fired up for the game Monday night and they played really good.”

The Bengals held forth beat the Steelers 27-17, even leading as much as 24-10 over Pittsburgh with 6:00 to go in the fourth quarter.

“They played good defense,” said Crennel. “Offensively, they moved the ball. They were able to run it. They were able to throw it. The quarterback was able to make plays with his feet as well as with his arm. They’ve got a couple receivers with speed and size. Offensive line held them out a little bit. The defense was aggressive. They had a good game plan.”

Second-year quarterback Ryan Finley went 7-of-13 for 89 yards and a touchdown while also rushing 10 times for 47 yards and a touchdown. Running back Giovani Bernard provided 25 carries for 83 yards and a touchdown.

Said Crennel: “They took away the things that Pittsburgh liked to do in the passing game. Overall, it was a really good game for them. I think that coming out of that game, they will be on a high and they will be excited about coming in here to play.”

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Will the Texans shutdown RT Tytus Howard for the last two games?

The Houston Texans, with two meaningless games to go, may have to make a decision on whether to keep playing RT Tytus Howard or shut him down.

Houston Texans right tackle Tytus Howard sustained a concussion in the second quarter of the club’s 27-20 loss to the Indianapolis Colts Sunday afternoon at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Swing tackle Roderick Johnson filled in for Howard, who is now in concussion protocol, and spent Sunday evening in an Indianapolis hospital for observation due to severe symptoms the former 2019 first-round pick was showing from the concussion.

According to interim coach Romeo Crennel on Monday, the Texans haven’t made a decision on whether to allow Howard to play the final two games or to end his season early.

“After the doctors take a good look at him and he goes into the protocol, there’s a protocol that we have to follow,” Crennel said. “They have to pass I think five different stages before they’re eligible to play. It just depends on whether he can pass those stages or not.”

The length of concussion protocol is such that players typically don’t get out of it by the time the next game rolls around. It is not out of the question that Howard could miss the Week 16 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals at NRG Stadium.

Even if Howard were to miss that game, Crennel gave the impression in his Monday presser with the Houston media that the club would play Howard in Week 17 against the Tennessee Titans.

Said Crennel: “Well, if he passes the protocol then they say that he’s OK. If we need him then we could probably play him. If he doesn’t pass the protocol then we can’t even put him on the field.”

Howard has started in all 14 games to this point, almost double what he played in his rookie season, which was cut short on Nov. 30, 2019, when he was placed on injured reserve due to an MCL injury. If Howard’s season ends with two games to go, it gives him a head start on the offseason.

Texans were encouraging, consoling of Keke Coutee after game-losing fumble against the Colts

Keke Coutee’s Houston Texans teammates were encouraging and supportive of him after his game-losing fumble agains the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15.

Houston Texans receiver Keke Coutee fumbled two yards away from the end zone, which would have given the team a chance to tie the game with the Indianapolis Colts Sunday afternoon at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Instead, the Colts fell on the fumble in the end zone and sealed the Texans’ fate at 4-10 and also ensured they would endure their first sweep at the hands of the Colts since 2017.

After the game-losing fumble, Coutee’s teammates came over and gave him words of encouragement and support. Here is what some of the Texans players on record told the former 2018 fourth-round pick from Texas Tech.

Texans’ Romeo Crennel details what makes a good general manager

Houston Texans interim coach Romeo Crennel has been around successful organizations, and he knows what comprises a good general manager.

Houston Texans interim coach Romeo Crennel has been around his fair share of great organizations and terrible ones.

The three-time Super Bowl-winning defensive coordinator with the New England Patriots and two-time Super Bowl-winning position coach with the New York Giants provided insight as to what makes for a successful general manager.

“I think a general manager is that,” Crennel said. “He has to be a good manager. He has to be well organized. Have to have a thought process about what he wants the team to be and how he wants the team to operate. If he has that, and then particularly along with that if he’s had some experience. Some experience along the way. Maybe he was an assistant GM somewhere or he was a former head coach somewhere with that management experience.”

The Texans currently have a general manager vacancy due to the firing of coach Bill O’Brien on Oct. 5. The third full-time coach in Texans history also doubled up as the general manager starting in January 2020. Currently, executive vice president of football operations Jack Easterby is the interim general manager.

Crennel doesn’t believe coaching is a prerequisite to being a good general manager.

Said Crennel: “You have to be a good manager. If you can deal with people, manage people and then your vision for what the program is going to be, I think that those things are critical. Now, this is not to say that a former player can’t be a good general manager, or a former coach cannot be a good general manager, all right? But all of those skills that you need to run a program, if you have those skills or have the exposure to those skills, then I think that increases your chances.”

The Texans interviewed a former NFL player in Louis Riddick on Friday. Riddick, who is currently a color commentator for ESPN Monday Night Football, also worked in NFL front offices for Washington and the Philadelphia Eagles.

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Texans to use RB Dontrell Hilliard in third down role, as returner

Houston Texans interim coach Romeo Crennel gave a brief scouting report on what RB Dontrell Hilliard can bring to the team.

The Houston Texans claimed running back Dontrell Hiillard off waivers from the Cleveland Browns on Tuesday.

The 2018 undrafted free agent from Tulane played 30 games for the Browns, catching 22 passes for 199 yards and carrying 22 times for 97 yards and two touchdowns.

Where Hilliard also had utility for Cleveland was as a kickoff returner, where he returned 30 kicks for a 23.5 yards per return after. Hilliard also returned 15 punts for 7.1 yards.

Interim coach Romeo Crennel gave a brief scouting report on Hilliard and what he can bring to the Texans’ offense and special teams.

“Basically, a third-down back who’s been a returner,” Crennel said. “Has some quickness, change of direction. Has an opportunity to be more productive maybe in the kickoff return area and then in the third down area as a third-down back out of the backfield.”

The Texans waived DeAndre Carter, their primary returner, on Nov. 17. Receiver Keke Coutee had been fulfilling that role since Carter’s departure.

Starting running back David Johnson missed Week 14’s 36-7 loss to the Chicago Bears due to being placed on the COVID-19 reserve after being in close contact with a positive case. Duke Johnson and Buddy Howell replaced Johnson in the loss.

Texans’ Romeo Crennel has advice for Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy on not landing a HC gig yet

Houston Texans interim coach Romeo Crennel says Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy should stay upbeat about his HC prospects.

Who wouldn’t want to hire the hottest offensive coordinator in the NFL, who was part of leading the Kansas City Chiefs to their first Super Bowl win since they were members of the AFL?

Five teams, that’s who.

Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy had some interest, but he didn’t get a job offer after the 2019 season with the Chiefs beating the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV.

Houston Texans interim coach Romeo Crennel has been there before, and his advice for Bieniemy is to keep grinding.

“I think he has to continue to keep working because he has done a good job,” Crennel said. “He’s with a good organization and I can tell even though Andy (Reid) calls the plays, he relies on Eric quite a bit because they talk a lot during the offensive sequence.”

Crennel would know considerably about the Chiefs’ organization given that he was defensive coordinator under coach Todd Haley from 2010-11 before taking over as interim with three games to go in 2011, and then parlaying that into the full-time job in 2012.

The Chiefs’ gig was Crennel’s second opportunity. His first came with the Cleveland Browns from 2005-08. Prior to that, Crennel was the defensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, who won three Super Bowls in four years starting with Crennel’s first season with the AFC East club in 2001.

Crennel has been there before.

Said Crennel: “When you talk about not having gotten a chance yet, the fact that you’re getting chances and getting interviews means that people are talking about you. Eventually, it’s going to happen for you. I think it’ll happen for him as well because, I mean, I had eight interviews before I got a head job, so just keep working, keep doing what you’re doing, winning Super Bowls and go on.”

The ironic part would be if Bieniemy ended up replacing Crennel as the Texans’ man on the sidelines. If so, it would be the result of Bieniemy taking Crennel’s advice and staying after it.

Texans’ Romeo Crennel has no intention to put a lid on 2020 with three games to go

Houston Texans interim coach Romeo Crennel says the team is not going to pack it in just because they are eliminated from the playoffs.

The Houston Texans have nothing to play for in 2020.

At 4-9, they are eliminated from the playoffs as the Indianapolis Colts, their Week 15 opponent, and the Tennessee Titans are running away with the division at 9-4. The wild-card race has also outpaced Houston with the Cleveland Browns (9-4), Miami Dolphins (8-5), Baltimore Ravens (8-5), and Las Vegas Raiders (7-6) clearly ahead in the standings.

However, interim coach Romeo Crennel isn’t going to pack it in with three games to go in the regular season.

“My deal is we’re in this game, we play this game to win, and there’s a season to be played,” Crennel said.

Part of the reason why fans and media are curious about whether the Texans will shut things down is to protect the health of quarterback Deshaun Watson. It would be better to have Watson healthy and ready to work with a new coaching staff in 2021 rather than working through rehab on an injury sustained in any one of the three meaningless games.

For Crennel, shutting down Watson creates a Pandora’s Box.

“Then if you shutdown Watson, should you shutdown the team and everyone go home with three games left?” said Crennel. “And we’re in the NFL, and there are certain rules about playing. I think probably if you shutdown your team and didn’t play the games there would be tremendous fine involved. So, we’re going to play the games and try to play as many as we can.”

Crennel’s real concern is how well the players will respond against the Colts after taking a 36-7 beatdown at the hands of the Chicago Bears in Week 14.

“I think the thing is you point out to the players where they are, what they need to do, show them what they have not been doing, show them what they have done in the past, and try to build on the things that are good things, and try to eliminate the negative aspect of their game,” Crennel said.

Houston completes their season series against the Colts Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CT at Lucas Oil Field.

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Romeo Crennel worried about Texans’ response to Colts in Week 15 rematch

Houston Texans interim coach Romeo Crennel is worried about how the team will respond to the Indianapolis Colts after their Week 13 letdown.

The Houston Texans’ fumbled snap on second-and-goal from the 2-yard line with 1:22 go in Week 13 against the Indianapolis Colts was a huge letdown.

The loss of possession ensured a 26-20 win for Indianapolis, and it made Houston’s path to the playoffs that much harrier.

The Texans don’t have to worry about how the Week 15 rematch with the Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium will impact their playoff hopes as the 36-7 loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 14 eliminated that. However, interim coach Romeo Crennel is concerned about how his team will respond to the Colts two weeks after a tremendous disappointment.

“I hope we will respond like we did two weeks ago and play a tremendous game,” Crennel said. “But after you flop, there is some consternation on my part on how we’re going to do and what we’re going to do. And, so, the big deal is the kind of week of practice we have and then the attitude on Sunday as we go into the game.”

The Colts won’t take the Texans lightly, even with their 4-9 record and injury battered roster that will be without defensive tackle Brandon Dunn, safety Justin Reid, and running back David Johnson and receiver Brandin Cooks working their way back from a week off.

Crennel was impressed with the way Indianapolis crushed the Las Vegas Raiders 44-27 at Allegiant Stadium in Week 14.

Said Crennel: “I thought they did a good job versus the Raiders. They did a tremendous job of taking advantage of what the Raiders gave them, because the Raiders made a couple of mistakes early on in that game. But the game was close, I guess, for a half, within a touchdown, and then Indy pulled ahead afterwards.”

The Colts are tied for first place in the AFC South with the Tennessee Titans, each possessing a 9-4 record and having split the season series to enable a multiple of tiebreakers. Indianapolis just needs wins.

“They realize they’re tied for the lead, and they’re playing for the division lead,” said Crennel. “And, so, they’ll bring all of their guns into this game and they’ll be ready to go.”

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Texans’ Romeo Crennel provides insight to OLB Whitney Mercilus’ recent play

Houston Texans OLB Whitney Mercilus has not had many splashy performances in 2020, and interim coach Romeo Crennel provided an explanation.

Houston Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus completed his second straight game without a tackle in the 36-7 loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 14 at Soldier Field.

Although Mercilus did register a quarterback hit, the performance was another 60 minutes of a once near-Pro Bowl pass rusher not making an impact in areas that have defined his career.

However, interim coach Romeo Crennel isn’t down on Mercilus.

“I told you that he is playing a position where he’s not always in the rush,” Crennel said. “He’s in coverage some and he’s been flipping from side to side. That impacts a player. I think that what I would have to do is I would have to look at point of attack. How many times is he at the point of attack, how many times has he been rushing, and then come up with what I think is a good answer for you on that.”

On the season, Mercilus has provided 20 tackles, 4.0 sacks, five tackles for loss, seven quarterback hits, a pass breakup, and a fumble recovery.

“Just outwardly looking, we know what he used to be and what he used to be was he was rushing all the time, which allowed him the opportunity to become more familiar with the guy that he was going against because he was going against the same guy all the time and be able to know what moves he needed to make to impact the quarterback,” said Crennel. “So now, flipping him, he’s engaging different guys, he’s engaging different responsibilities. All of that adds up. That would be my initial answer right now.”

The Texans take on the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15 at Lucas Oil Stadium. To avoid being swept by the Colts for the first time since 2017, the Texans will need Mercilus to play at a high level, regardless of what his obligations are on defense.

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