Post by Guvmintcheeze on Sept 10, 2015 6:58:53 GMT
Romeo Crennel's footprints all over Sunday's pass-rush bonanza
Tania Ganguli, ESPN Staff Writer
HOUSTON -- The two fiercest pass-rushers in the NFL will be on the field Sunday when the Texans host the Chiefs, and they're both players heavily influenced by Romeo Crennel.
"I think the fans are going to have an opportunity to see some real good pass-rushers," said Crennel, the Texans' defensive coordinator. "Kansas City, they’ve got two or three that are pretty good. We’ve got a couple that are pretty good. If you like pass-rushing, people will like it. We’ll see what the game plan calls for and how it gets executed. Hopefully they won’t get to rush as much as we rush."
The Chiefs' pass-rushing leader is Justin Houston, the outside linebacker who led the NFL with 22 sacks last season. The Texans' leader is J.J. Watt, who trailed Houston by just a sack and a half, but led the league in disrupted dropbacks, a stat that combines sacks, interceptions, batted balls and passes defensed.
While Crennel coaches Watt now, Houston began his career under Crennel. Crennel was the head coach in Kansas City the year they drafted Houston in the third round. That was the same year Watt went 11th overall to the Texans.
"I had him as a rookie," Crennel said. "He’s like many other college pass-rushers that have to learn to be an outside linebacker. He was going through that transition when I had him. He showed that he had a good combination of quickness and strength and ability to rush the passer. … Twenty-two sacks in a year, that’s quite a few. Not many people can do that. He’s developed himself into an outstanding player."
They'll both have help, though both were responsible for most of their team's disruption in the passing game last year.
The Chiefs also have linebacker Tamba Hali, and nose guard Dontari Poe has dealt with an injury, but has a shot at playing Sunday.
The Texans' pass rush was heavily dependent on Watt last season -- he contributed 53.9 percent of the Texans' sacks and 26.3 percent of their disrupted dropbacks, which are both league-highs. (Houston was second in both categories.) This year, though, the addition of Vince Wilfork should help across the board and Jadeveon Clowney's explosiveness should also help the Texans.
Will Watt and Houston feel competitive with each other?
"Well, I hope not," Crennel said. "Not on J.J.’s part. I hope J.J.’s out here trying to do his job and he can do his job pretty good. As far as Justin. I hope Justin thinks about everything and he’s distracted and maybe he won’t get as many sacks."
Tania Ganguli, ESPN Staff Writer
HOUSTON -- The two fiercest pass-rushers in the NFL will be on the field Sunday when the Texans host the Chiefs, and they're both players heavily influenced by Romeo Crennel.
"I think the fans are going to have an opportunity to see some real good pass-rushers," said Crennel, the Texans' defensive coordinator. "Kansas City, they’ve got two or three that are pretty good. We’ve got a couple that are pretty good. If you like pass-rushing, people will like it. We’ll see what the game plan calls for and how it gets executed. Hopefully they won’t get to rush as much as we rush."
The Chiefs' pass-rushing leader is Justin Houston, the outside linebacker who led the NFL with 22 sacks last season. The Texans' leader is J.J. Watt, who trailed Houston by just a sack and a half, but led the league in disrupted dropbacks, a stat that combines sacks, interceptions, batted balls and passes defensed.
While Crennel coaches Watt now, Houston began his career under Crennel. Crennel was the head coach in Kansas City the year they drafted Houston in the third round. That was the same year Watt went 11th overall to the Texans.
"I had him as a rookie," Crennel said. "He’s like many other college pass-rushers that have to learn to be an outside linebacker. He was going through that transition when I had him. He showed that he had a good combination of quickness and strength and ability to rush the passer. … Twenty-two sacks in a year, that’s quite a few. Not many people can do that. He’s developed himself into an outstanding player."
They'll both have help, though both were responsible for most of their team's disruption in the passing game last year.
The Chiefs also have linebacker Tamba Hali, and nose guard Dontari Poe has dealt with an injury, but has a shot at playing Sunday.
The Texans' pass rush was heavily dependent on Watt last season -- he contributed 53.9 percent of the Texans' sacks and 26.3 percent of their disrupted dropbacks, which are both league-highs. (Houston was second in both categories.) This year, though, the addition of Vince Wilfork should help across the board and Jadeveon Clowney's explosiveness should also help the Texans.
Will Watt and Houston feel competitive with each other?
"Well, I hope not," Crennel said. "Not on J.J.’s part. I hope J.J.’s out here trying to do his job and he can do his job pretty good. As far as Justin. I hope Justin thinks about everything and he’s distracted and maybe he won’t get as many sacks."