3 assistant coaches the Texans cannot keep in 2021
The Houston Texans went from 10-6, AFC South champions, and a divisional playoff appearance, to a 4-12 train wreck that fired its coach and general manager and is a soft rebuild.
In the NFL, the easiest place to make a change is at the top and Houston is planning to do just that as new general manager Nick Caserio pursues a new coach to lead the club in 2021. Here are three assistant coaches from the Bill O’Brien era that need not be retained as the Texans seek to turn over a new leaf.
1. Romeo Crennel
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While Crennel finishes as the interim coach, technically, he was the associate head coach before O'Brien was fired. Crennel has had a great run with the Texans. Brought in during 2014 as O’Brien’s defensive coordinator, Crennel has since served a number of roles including assistant head coach and eventually interim coach after the firing of O’Brien in September of 2020. His run included some phenomenal defenses including a stint as the No. 1 unit in the league during the 2016 campaign. However, the Texans have reached a point as an organization where it is in the best interest of both parties for them to part ways. Houston clearly needs new faces to lead the team following an abysmal 4-12 campaign that frequently featured some of the least-inspired play in the NFL. Additionally, at 73 years old, it may be time for Crennel to transition into a different football role than coaching. With a lifetime record of 32-63 and below average outputs from the Houston defense in both 2019 and 2020, it will be interesting to see where Crennel lands next.
2. Anthony Weaver
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It isn’t Weaver’s fault that he inherited a hell-storm during his first year as Houston’s defensive coordinator. However, the 2020 season speaks for itself. The team finished No. 24 in pass defense and dead last in rush defense. At times it looked like the unit didn’t even care, highlighted in an absolute drubbing by Cincinnati Bengals backup QB Brandon Allen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCk93nGuUWc There are already rumors than Weaver is a leading candidate to potentially join Urban Meyer’s new staff in Jacksonville. He is a young guy who will very likely land on his feet. That doesn’t mean it needs to be in Houston.
3. Mike Devlin
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This is the most obvious name on the list. 2020 was Devlin's sixth season as the Texans’ offensive line coach and Devlin continued to show his inability to seemingly develop anybody to protect Deshaun Watson. The only bright spot of Houston’s offensive line the past three seasons has been Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil, who was developed in Miami and took two first-round picks to acquire, the last of which that is now crippling Houston’s ability to improve as a team. Tytus Howard and Roderick Johnson have been marginal successes and the interior is a relative disaster. This unit has consistently underperformed during Devlin’s tenure as offensive line coach and there is simply no reason he should be retained with any new coaching staff. Texans fans should be optimistic that this position group has the chance to take the biggest leap with a new coach running things behind the scene.
