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Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli is the best defensive coordinator in the NFL.
At least according to NFL Media analyst Bucky Brooks, there's no one that does it better in the league right now than Marinelli. Here's the breakdown by Brooks:
The ex-Marine has always been viewed as one of the top defensive coaches in football, but his work with the Cowboys in 2014 was one of the best coaching jobs in recent history. Marinelli transformed a group of castoffs and misfits into a stout unit by getting his guys to play harder than the opponent. As simple as it sounds, it is hard for most defensive coordinators to get every defender to run to the ball with reckless abandon. Yet, the crusty play caller convinced the 'Boys to swarm the ball like a pack of wolves. Most importantly, the unit tackled as well as any defense in football and attacked the ball with the kind of ferocity that routinely produces turnovers. Granted, the Cowboys' scheme is simple, but the flawless execution and impressive hustle is a testament to Marinelli's ability to get his team to buy into his message.
It's true, Marinelli didn't have much to work with last season. The Cowboys were without linebacker Sean Lee and they lost first-round pick Morris Claiborne early in the year. But with the help of Marinelli, linebacker Rolando McClain reinvented himself and cornerback Orlando Scandrick continued his solid play.
The stats helped back up Marinelli's defense last year in his first season with total control. The Cowboys finished with 355.1 yards allowed per game (19th) compared to 415.3 yards allowed per game (last) in 2013. They also only gave up 22 points per game (15th) compared to the 27 points per game (26th) in 2013.
Moving forward, Marinelli has a ton of new weapons to test out. Recently signed defensive end Greg Hardy and second-round draft pick Randy Gregory should significantly bolster the defensive front. Defensive back Byron Jones will see plenty of playing time at cornerback and at safety. And Lee is completely healthy and in the process of making the transition to weakside linebacker.
There's still nowhere to go but up for Marinelli and his Cowboys defensive unit.
http://dal.247sports.com/Bolt/Cowboys-Rod-Marinelli-tabbed-as-NFLs-top-defensive-coordinator-37900496
Related: Scott Linehan among top 10 offensive coordinators