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A series of tweets from Alex Marvez this fine morning regarding Bill O'Brien's plan for his coaching staff in Houston:
Source tells @FOXSports new #texans HC Bill O'Brien has fired all assistants from prior coaching staff & will name Romeo Crennel def coor
— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) January 4, 2014
O'Brien met briefly with assistants to fire them. Didn't ask for feedback on current players. Expect heavy @patriots feel to new staff
— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) January 4, 2014
On bright side, by firing everyone now, @HoustonTexans assistants have better chance to get jobs elsewhere while spots still open
— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) January 4, 2014
I'm hearing @HoustonTexans already have strong candidate for new o-line coach that may be done deal: Brian Ferentz from University of Iowa
— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) January 4, 2014
Brian Ferentz, son of Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, was @Patriots assistant from 2009 to 2011. Started as offensive assistant, left as TE coach
— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) January 4, 2014
As for offensive coordinator, keep an eye on @Patriots TE coach George Godsey (CONT)
— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) January 4, 2014
Like Brian Ferentz, Godsey was on same @Patriots coaching staff under O'Brien when he was OC there (CONT)
— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) January 4, 2014
One more Godsey-O'Brien tie: O'Brien was Georgia Tech's offensive coordinator when Godsey played QB there
— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) January 4, 2014
John McClain, however, reports that O'Brien hasn't even met with all of the current Houston assistants yet:
Bill O'Brien has meetings scheduled today and Monday with assistants. Four told me today they've yet to meet with O'Brien.
— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) January 4, 2014
I have no reason to doubt the accuracy of Marvez's reports, but I haven't seen anyone else confirming them yet.
Here's a complete roster of the Texans' assistant coaches from the 2013 season. Is there anyone that you wish O'Brien was retaining? And what's your reaction to the idea of Romeo Crennel replacing Wade Phillips as defensive coordinator?
UPDATE: We now are getting confirmation of the firings via Mark Berman.
OC Rick Dennison has been fired after meeting with new Texans head coach Bill O'Brien.
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) January 4, 2014
Quarterbacks coach Karl Dorrell has been fired after meeting with Texans head coach Bill O'Brien.
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) January 4, 2014
Texans defensive backs coach Vance Joseph has been fired by Bill O'Brien.
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) January 4, 2014
It is expected Romeo Crennel will replace Wade Phillips as the Texans defensive coordinator.
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) January 4, 2014
Linebackers coach Reggie Herring has been fired by Texans coach Bill O'Brien.
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) January 4, 2014
Running backs coach Chick Harris has also been fired by Texans head coach Bill O'Brien.
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) January 4, 2014