The Denver Broncos made a move Wednesday, not for another quarterback as many have been waiting for, but for a solid starting defensive end. Jared Crick rejoined his Houston Texans head coach from 2012-13 Gary Kubiak and couldn’t be happier to join another talented defense.
“I’m excited to play with all these guys,” Crick said Wednesday of the vaunted Denver defense. “Wherever my fit is on this team, I’m excited to be here. I’m excited to play for the coaches, get to know my teammates and do whatever I can to help this team win.”
Ian Rapport of NFL.com was first to report the two-year deal for upwards of $4 million dollars. Crick has been a Texans mainstay opposite perennial All-Pro J.J. Watt, starting 31-of-32 games the last two seasons. He was drafted in 2012 by Kubiak and also has been coached by defensive coordinator Wade Phillips and defensive line coach Bill Kollar while in Houston.
“It was a huge part of it,” Crick said of the decision to sign with Denver. “Being with Kubes [Kubiak] for two years, Coach Wade for two years and Coach Kollar for three years, I know the schemes, what they expect of me and I know what to expect from them. To come back and play for them again was a huge part of the decision.”
Crick’s experience the past two seasons as a reliable and healthy run stopper, according to him, can be partially attributed to Kollar and his coaching style.
“He brings the best out of you,” told the new Bronco. “Every year that I played under Coach Kollar I got better and improved as a football player. I expect playing for him again, I will continue progressing as a football player and just improve my skill and my game.”
Playing alongside Watt influenced Crick and his progression and now he gets to join another great pass rusher in Von Miller.
“Both are great rushers, but they bring a lot of different things to the table,” he explained. “It was fun playing with J.J., but I think it’s going to be fun also learning to play with Von.”
Crick is a fourth-year player who has appeared in 63 regular season games. He owns 146 career tackles, 5.5 sacks and has seen playing time in three postseason contests. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft out of the University of Nebraska and mentioned that his alma mater has a following with his new team in Denver.
“I went to Nebraska, so there are a lot of Nebraska fans that are Broncos fans so I have a little bit of a fan base which will be nice,” he said.
He was initially considering several teams as his new destination but it ultimately came down to two.
“It was pretty much between here and Houston and at the end of the day,” Crick told. “I just didn’t think I could go wrong coming back and playing for Coach Kubes, Coach Wade, Coach Kollar, just being in that comfortable fit.”
Defensive tackle Derek Wolfe undoubtedly holds one of the two starting tackle positions but Malik Jackson’s departure via free agency to the Jacksonville Jaguars leaves an opportunity for Crick, Kenny Anunike, Vance Walker and George Uko to try and earn the coveted second starting spot.
