Tao of Crennel
The players like the DC’s way of doing things.
Growing up as the son of an Army master sergeant who served two tours of duty in Vietnam, toughness and a resourceful nature were bred into Texans defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel from a young age by his father, Joseph Crennel. Not heavily recruited out of Fort Knox High School in Kentucky, Crennel walked on at Western Kentucky and earned a scholarship as an undersized, productive defensive lineman.
Needed to step in on the offensive line for his senior year of college, Crennel did it without complaint and emerged as the Hilltoppers’ Most Valuable Player.
Crennel originally intended to follow his father, who was known affectionately as “Sarge,” by Crennel and his siblings, into the military before instead launching a coaching career. Crennel learned to adjust to different surroundings as he and his family moved around a lot, including stops in Virginia and Kentucky.
Five Super Bowl rings
Crennel was an all-conference football player at Fort Knox High School. He also threw the shot put. At Western Kentucky after earning a scholarship, Crennel had 74 tackles and 77 tackles during the 1966 and 1967 seasons.
Working for legendary coaches Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick, Crennel has earned five Super Bowl rings and is in his fifth decade as a coach.
Crennel, 69, has a fun-loving, infectious personality. The veteran defensive coach arrives for work each day at the Texans’ training facility filled with enthusiasm and eager to teach.
NFL colleagues say Crennel, married to Rosemary for five decades, the father of three daughters and the grandfather of several children, has forgotten more about defense than they’ve known. Players, young and old, appreciate his aggressive, adaptable approach to football and his wisdom about life.
“He always emphasizes bringing the juice,” Texans defensive end Christian Covington said. “To have a man like him coaching us, his raw passion for the game is basically displayed every game. His love for the game is unmatched.”
In many ways, this season has tested Crennel’s coaching acumen and resolve.
He’s had to deal with the devastating loss of three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year defensive end J.J. Watt due to a season-ending back injury that required surgery.
Not having Watt’s dominant presence in the Texans’ front seven dramatically altered the defense because blockers no longer had to account for his impact and have devoted resources toward trying to contain outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus and defensive end Jadeveon Clowney.
Despite the loss of Watt, Crennel’s unit ranks fifth in the NFL overall, fourth against the pass and 21st against the run.
Defensive guru
“The big plays that J.J. brings to the table, sometimes you try to manufacture those kind of plays and you’re not able to always do that,” Crennel said. “But basically our system is the system. We try to operate the system and what that depends on is what we can do, what we know how to do and then what our opponent is going to try to do. If we have J.J., we would still do the same thing as far as game-planning goes.
“But the thing that he did provide for us is he provided some of those real big plays, which are game-changers and momentum-changers. So, we don’t always get that. But of late, we’ve been able to get a couple of turnovers and so I think that helps us because it helps in the field-position battle and it helps in the momentum battle.”
Crennel’s knowledge of the game has been instrumental for the Texans. Heading into Sunday’s game against the San Diego Chargers at NRGStadium, the Texans are 6-4 and in first place in the AFC South Division.
Crennel provides tough love when he feels it’s needed, blending stern words with encouragement
“I think it’s a combination,” Crennel said. “I mean, sometimes you have to try to give them a little rah-rah speech. Other times, you have to yell at them. But basically, you have to present them a good plan that you think will work. Then, they have to buy into that plan and execute it on game day.”
It’s a strategy that has served Crennel well since launching his career as a defensive line coach at his alma mater. He was the first black coach at Western Kentucky.
Many stops along the way
During his stops along the way as an assistant coach at Texas Tech, Mississippi, Georgia Tech, a New York Giants defense headlined by Hall of Fame pass rusher Lawrence Taylor, New England Patriots and New York Jets and being a head coach for the Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs, Crennel has built a strong reputation for innovation and trusting his players.
“He’s a guru,” Covington said. “He’s able to switch up different base packages to make it easier on the defense. He’s really looking at it from the outside in, that’s just the type of coach he is. Just like players face obstacles, coaches face obstacles. He’s the kind of man who knows how to get the most out of people.”
Known affectionately as RAC, Crennel enjoys himself on the field and has a good sense of humor and comedic timing.
Crennel’s confident personality is reflected in his players. He doesn’t coach scared. Crennel loves going after quarterbacks and is creative in his schemes.
“We’re all very fortunate to play for a guy like RAC,” inside linebacker Max Bullough said. “He’s fun to listen to and it’s a great learning experience playing for him. RAC is upbeat, always excited to come to work and watch film and teach and point out things that help us.
“He loves football and the little intricacies that make football great.”
Players know their roles
Crennel has helped younger players such as Clowney, inside linebacker and leading tackler Benardrick McKinney and cornerback A.J. Bouye develop into key contributors this season.
Clowney ranks second in the NFL with a dozen tackles for losses. McKinney has emerged as a stout run-stopper and productive pass rusher. Bouye leads the Texans with 10 passes defended and is the seventh-ranked cornerback this season, according to Pro Football Focus.
“It’s very fun playing for him,” Bouye said. “RAC mixes everything up. He’s a fun coaching. Having him with us, he keeps our juices going.”
How have the Texans continued to perform without Watt in the lineup?
It’s definitely been a challenge. But the Texans have managed to harass quarterbacks and cover elite wide receivers without Watt as Crennel has leaned on veteran players like cornerback Johnathan Joseph and middle linebacker Brian Cushing to provide leadership.
“Because the guys play good, they play good together,” Crennel said. “Like I told them, I said, ‘This is a team sport. Individuals all have different ability levels, but one guy can’t do it by himself. It takes the whole group. When we play together as a group and do what we’re supposed to do, then we’re halfway decent.’
“I think that you keep pounding that into their heads and keep pounding that into their heads and then eventually some of it will break through. Then when it does break through, they’re pretty decent.”
A model of success
Crennel earned three Super Bowl rings with the Patriots and two Super Bowl rings with the Giants. He’s one of the few NFL coaches who can wear a Super Bowl ring on every finger of one hand.
“Obviously he’s a coach that’s been in this league a long time and been around a lot of good defenses from his time in New England, his time in Kansas City,” Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers said. “It’s always just been a group that’s been very sound. They really don’t do a whole lot when you look at them in base downs, but then you get in third down, and that’s when they mix up quite a bit.
“They make it tough on you from a pass-protection standpoint with all their line stunts and things they do.
“Obviously, they’re an even better defense when they have Watt, but they’re still a pretty dang good group.”