Bill O'Brien began duties as Houston Texans coach this weekend by remaking the team's coaching staff. Apparently, he will return to his roots to make his adjustments.
O'Brien was offensive coordinator of Bill Belichick's New England Patriots before going to Penn State. On Saturday, reports indicated he tapped another former Pats aide for his defensive coordinator.
Romeo Crennel gets the call, according to FoxSports.com's Alex Marvez. Crennel, who ran Belichick's defense, was Kansas City Chiefs coach for three seasons before being replaced by Andy Reid for 2013. He previously coached the Cleveland Browns.
Crennel is 66 and a member of five Super Bowl champion staffs with the Patriots and New York Giants.
O'Brien met with Texans staffers on Saturday and immediately began culling the herd. Out went Wade Phillips, who was defensive coordinator and interim coach after Gary Kubiak's firing.
Offensive coordinator Rick Dennison and six assistant coaches also were sacked, the Houston Chronicle reported.
Members of O'Brien's Penn State staff are expected to join the Texans. The Chronicle identified them as receivers coach Stan Hixon, special assistant Jim Berhardt, Charles London and John Butler.
Also mentioned: Ben McDaniels, fired last week in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers purge. McDaniels could also join his brother, Josh McDaniels, a candidate for Cleveland Browns coach.
Other staff possibilities, according to Marvez, are Patriots tight ends coach George Godsey as offensive coordinator; and the University of Iowa's Brian Ferentz as offensive line coach.
MORE: Can O'Brien succeed where other Belichick aides failed? (via New York Daily News)