Romeo Crennel explains why the Texans do not use more up-tempo/hurry-up on offense. Cody Stoots writes the DeAndre Carter roster obituary, also putting forth the theory that Carter’s departure might indicate an improvement for Coutee’s chances at a slot WR position and possibly special teams returner role, as well.

Why don’t the Texans go up-tempo all the time since it seems to work?
By Mark Lane, TexansWire

Excerpt: Given that the hurry-up offense on that drive helped Houston pick up chunk plays, why not run the offense at that pace more often?

“Sometimes it does [spark the offense], but if you go up-tempo all the time, the defense kind of gets used to it, gets into a rhythm and gets into an up-tempo rhythm,” interim coach Romeo Crennel explained. “Sometimes, I think we want to know what the defense is going to line up in and kind of have an idea about what they are going to do. Sometimes when you go up-tempo, you don’t have that idea of what they are going to do because they are mulling around and doing stuff that maybe you don’t expect them to do.”

The problem for Houston was they had no run game to balance out their passing attack, or provide another effective gear to their hurry-up offense. The lack of a credible rushing threat has been a problem for the entire season and has been an ingredient to their 2-7 record.

“We slow it down so that everybody can be on the same page about how we want to operate a particular play call,” Crennel said.

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Will Returns Improve with the Texans Recent Roster Move?
By Cody Stoots, SI.com

Excerpt: Against the Browns running back C.J. Prosise returned kickoffs and wide receiver Will Fuller returned one of the Cleveland punts. Fuller could assume the role full time or options such as Keke Coutee and Randall Cobb could be available to the Texans on punts. 

Despite often being pointed out by former head coach Bill O’Brien as tough, smart, and dependable Carter usually disappointed in his returns. He made curious decisions on kickoffs costing the Texans yards. He misjudged when to catch and not catch punts pinning the Texans deep in their own territory. 

His fumble played a hand in the playoff blunder in Kansas City.

Carter was far from average and often a net negative. O’Brien never challenged him with other players since his arrival in the middle of the 2018 season, even extending the returner this past offseason.

The improvement from Prosise on kickoffs and Fuller on punts was immediate, as both possessed more “juice” at the position and each represents an actual threat to acquire yards. 

This also paves the way for Keke Coutee to be active as the potential punt returner and backup slot wide receiver.

 

Jason La Canfora says we don’t have to worry about Romeo Crennel becoming the 2021 Texans HC. Is this one of the most epic jinxes of all time, or will No Confirma be right on this one?

NFL insider notes: Eagles’ crushing loss will haunt them, big Texans changes on the way and more from Week 10
By Jason La Canfora, CBS Sports

Excerpt: Romeo Crennel is not going to be the next head coach of the Texans. Jack Easterby is not going to be their general manager. That’s not why they shelled out big bucks to a search firm and that’s not even what either of those individuals would really be focused on at this stage of their career.

Not happening, Not being considered. 

Crennel has been there, done that with taking over tear-downs and he is doing the organization a great service, again, by leading them through the remainder of this lost season, long ago doomed by outgoing coach/GM Bill O’Brien. But this is going to be a rebuild, there is an ongoing GM search, and that GM, along with ownership, will pick a coach. Anything else is pablum.

This isn’t an inside job and this won’t be an inside job. Easterby’s role remains to be seen. 

Crennel is one of the most beloved people in this game. Universally liked and respected. But that is a massive chore ahead for this floundering franchise and new ideas and fresh perspectives are badly in need. The defensive line needs a total overhaul, they are short of linebackers and the secondary is pretty bad, too. And they need a few starting offensive linemen and a running back and, by 2021, new receivers. Otherwise, yeah, just roll out the same team and keep the staff around and try to go 0-16 next year.

The Browns outmuscled them as most opponents do, churning them up on the ground. Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt both went over 100 yards and on a day when the wind negated anything sustained downfield, the Texans were overmatched. Don’t let the final score fool you. This is a 2-7 team that was down 3-0 late in the first half and had a fourth-and-3 from the Cleveland 30 and opted to punt (long field goals were a non-starter in these conditions). Let that sink in. According to @SurrenderIndex, that was in the 99.9th percentile of all “cowardly punts” in the league this season and in the 99.8th percentile of all cowardly NFL punts since 2006.

Don’t kid yourself. Big, big changes remain ahead. Promise.