When the Houston Texans visit FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday, their head coach will be a familiar and welcome presence. Romeo Crennel is running the Texans as the team’s interim coach since taking over for the fired Bill O’Brien earlier this season.
Crennel, of course, coached the Browns from 2005-2008. His 10-6 record in 2007 was the team’s last winning season. The grandfatherly Crennel has always been popular with players and fans in all his various stops covering decades in the NFL.
His ample experience afforded Crennel the ability to artfully dodge any sentimentality for returning to Cleveland for the matchup. Crennel was asked in his press conference on Monday what it would mean to beat the Browns.
“I tell you what, I think it would mean that we are making strides as a team,” focusing solely on his 2-6 team.” I think in this reign, we’re 2-2. If we can go 3-2 and get our heads above water and see where we can go from there because we’ve still got eight games left in the season.”
Crennel was respectful of his old team.
“We’re going to have to play at our best, no doubt, to go on the road and try to win that game,” Crennel said.
When asked about Baker Mayfield, the longtime Texans defensive coach talked up the improvement he’s seen in both the Browns quarterback and his supporting cast since the last time the two teams squared off in 2018.
“I really don’t remember much about it, other than (Mayfield) was a young quarterback,” Crennel said. “Young quarterbacks, sometimes they make young mistakes. Now he’s got much more experience. It looks like he’s got a better surrounding cast, and so as a result of it, their record is better.”
The Texans won the last meeting, 29-13, with Mayfield throwing three interceptions to sully a 397-yard performance.
