After producing the NFL's No.1 ranked defense in 2016, Romeo Crennel will take on a new role in 2017. Crennel, promoted from defensive coordinator to assistant head coach this offseason, expands his responsibilities to assist Bill O'Brien in a number of areas.
"I think it was important to keep our staff together," O'Brien said Wednesday at the NFL Combine. "I think it was really important to make sure that Romeo knew what I wanted him to do as the assistant head coach – do a lot of things that relates to helping me, especially with me being a little more involved with the offense this year."
With the exit of George Godsey, the Texans will not name a new offensive coordinator heading into 2017. As a result, O'Brien will take on a bigger role in the Texans offense. Mike Vrabel, who served three seasons as the linebackers coach, will be the new defensive coordinator. Crennel will serve as "a second set of eyes," according to O'Brien, especially during the offseason.
"He's going to do a lot of different things," O'Brien said "He's going to help me with – let's just start with the offseason. He's looking at different opponents for me in different ways. He's helping me with my end of the draft. Let's move to OTAs. He's going to really help me from kind of a global perspective with the team like, 'Hey, what does the team need? How did this red area day go today? How did this third-down area go? I think you need more of this, more of that.'"
During games, Crennel's role is yet to be defined. O'Brien and Crennel have not yet determined if Crennel will continue to assist from the sideline or from the coaches' booth upstairs. Either way, Crennel will make that decision as his role continues to evolve.
"He's going to be wherever he wants to be, wherever he can help us the most," O'Brien said. "That's the thing. During the season, we haven't really gotten that far yet, but during this time of the year, he's doing a lot."
With Crennel as defensive coordinator, the Texans defense allowed an NFL-best 301.3 total net yards and 17.0 first downs per game in 2016. Houston finished with the best defense in the NFL for the first time in franchise history and did so without three-time Defensive Player of the Year, J.J. Watt. Crennel utilized 15 different starting lineup combinations, tied for second-most in the league last season.
The Houston Texans roster in photos. (Updated 2/24/2021)
ILB, Tyrell Adams #50
TE, Jordan Akins, 88
DT, Auzoyah Alufohai, #98
P, Bryan Anger, 9
CB, Cornell Armstrong, 30
C/G, Beau Benzschawel #62
DT, Ross Blacklock #90
ILB, Curtis Bolton #47
DT, Andrew Brown, #97
TE Pharaoh Brown #85
C, Cohl Cabral #72
WR, Randall Cobb #18
ILB, Dylan Cole, 51
CB, Gareon Conley, 22
WR, Brandin Cooks #13
WR, Isaiah Coulter #82
WR, Keke Coutee, 16
CB, Keion Crossen, 35
ILB, Zach Cunningham, 41
DE, Brandon Dunn, 92
OLB, Duke Ejiofor, 53
ILB, Kyle Emanuel, 56
K, Ka'imi Fairbairn, 7
TE, Darren Fells, 87
CB, Mark Fields II #39
G, Hjalte Froholdt #77
OL, Zach Fulton, 73
CB, Phillip Gaines #29
FB, Cullen Gillaspia, 44
OLB, Jonathan Greenard #52
ILB, Nate Hall, 48
NT, P.J. Hall #96
WR, Chad Hansen, #17
CB, Vernon Hargreaves III #26
T, Charlie Heck #67
RB, Dontrell Hilliard, #22
OL, Tytus Howard, 71
RB, Buddy Howell, 38
RB, David Johnson #31
RB, Duke Johnson, 25
CB, Lonnie Johnson, Jr., 32
T, Roderick Johnson #63
LS, Anthony Kukwa #45
LB, Jacob Martin, 54
C, Nick Martin, 66
QB, AJ McCarron #2
QB, Josh McCown, 3
LB, Benardrick McKinney, 55
OLB, Whitney Mercilus, 59
WR, Steven Mitchell, Jr., 11
S, A.J. Moore, 33
S Eric Murray #23
DE, Charles Omenihu, 94
S, Jonathan Owens, 36
RB, Scottie Phillips, #40
G/T Brent Qvale #76
WR, Damion Ratley, #19
CB, John Reid #34
S, Justin Reid, 20
OLB, Brennan Scarlett, 57
OL, Max Scharping, 74
S, Michael Thomas #28
TE, Kahale Warring, 81
DL, Carlos Watkins, 91
QB, Deshaun Watson, 4
LS, Jon Weeks #46
