Cowboys' Rod Marinelli tabbed as NFL's top defensive coordinator

[w8lifter]

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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

 

[Doomsday]

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.

Whatta bunch of crap. Two things "improved" this defense last year. 1) Claiborne's injury and 2) 400 fucking carries by Murray keeping this defense off the field..

Otherwise this "unit" was picked apart by throwaway and 3rd string quarterbacks every damn time it faced one, and couldn't even slow down or even lay a glove on a hobbled Rodgers in the playoff loss to Green Bay. The "improvement" is a myth, this defense folded every time it was exposed.

 

[Everlastingxxx]

this defense folded every time it was exposed.

What the fuck are you talking about? They stopped Seattle twice to win the game. Stopped the Giants to win the game. Stopped Detriot to win the game. Plus a number of other stops to keep the Boys in the game.

Why are you bringing up Claiborne, that doesnt even make sense. Yes controlling the clock helped the defense, but they did make plays and played far beyond everyones expectations.

Marinelli is a fucking god. What he did with a patchwork of d-lineman and linebackers was short of amazing.

 

[Doomsday]

What the fuck are you talking about? They stopped Seattle twice to win the game. Stopped the Giants to win the game. Stopped Detriot to win the game. Plus a number of other stops to keep the Boys in the game.

Why are you bringing up Claiborne, that doesnt even make sense. Yes controlling the clock helped the defense, but they did make plays and played far beyond everyones expectations.

Marinelli is a fucking god. What he did with a patchwork of d-lineman and linebackers was short of amazing.

*wipes forehead*

This illusion the defense is in any way improved does come from one additional turn of luck - the lack of major injuries that caused Dallas to have to play 21 defensive linemen in 2013... That problem didn't exist in 2014. I've always maintained the defense has never been as bad as was maintained by most during that season, and it sure as hell isn't as good as people are touting now. It's mediocre.

They stopped Seattle twice to win the game. Stopped the Giants to win the game. Stopped Detriot to win the game. Plus a number of other stops to keep the Boys in the game.

They stopped alot of people the year before too, but because the offense couldn't generate any 3rd down conversion rate to save their asses, those stops don't get mentioned. Defenses stop offenses all the time, even the really bad ones.

The stops count more when the offense then turns around and keeps the ball, and maybe even puts points on the board.

Why are you bringing up Claiborne, that doesnt even make sense.

Are you kidding? That injury alone which took "Mo" out for the season did more to improve Dallas' pass defense than anything else you can name. He was a huge liability out there in coverage, and other teams knew it and burned his ass with abandon. The loss of Claiborne was a huge boost for this D.

played far beyond everyones expectations.

Right, because the expectations were based on the injury riddled performance the year before. Not on any real defensive abilities.

 

[ZeroClub]

Can we leave your forehead out of this?

 

[Midswat]

Stopped Detriot to win the game.

Illegally. Thanks refs.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I think you missed the point entirely doomsday.

 

[Doomsday]

I think you missed the point entirely doomsday.

The point that Marinelli is a God? Or that the writer of the dripping with man-love article linked in the OP is a moron?

Or, the point that people shouldn't take a dispassionate, objective view of this tripe and if they do they surely shouldn't ever let it be known?

 

[boozeman]

Marinelli's genius is more legend than reality. He's good, can get shit to play better, but often victimizes himself because he is not smart enough to get out of the way and let the talent take over. He believes a lot in his "scheme", and that causes personnel issues. The best coaches do the best with what they have, and are a little more flexible in their approach. In other words, a good player is a good player, not whether or not he fits into my paradigm of a defense which I try to recreate everywhere I go.

IMO, he is vastly inferior to Wade Phillips as a DC.

 

[ZeroClub]

Wade Phillips is quite good, no doubt.

The Dallas defense looks to have better talent next year. It'll be interesting to see what Marinelli can do with it.

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

Marinelli's definitely not a "genius" in the sense that he's not going to outsmart anyone, but there's great value in just getting your guys to play extremely hard and sound and tackle well.

I find his defense boring compared to someone like Wade's, but I think his approach is the right one for this league where you can't hit the QB or WRs much anymore. Really all you can try to do anymore is keep everything in front of you and hold teams to FGs, because you simply can't shut down good offenses anymore.

 

[Doomsday]

Wade's 3-4 is about like any other one, the linemen tie up blockers and let the linebackers make plays. It is at its core a "read and react" kind of defense. When they really want to get after you, Wade and the other 3-4 acolytes put four defensive linemen in, and play upfield pressure. There's nothing special or genius about Wade or his schemes. The 3-4 can play just about well enough to let your high powered offense win games for you. That is, when it isn't giving up 41 points after you had a 30+ point lead, like the Buffalo-Houston playoff game of '92.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Marinelli's definitely not a "genius" in the sense that he's not going to outsmart anyone, but there's great value in just getting your guys to play extremely hard and sound and tackle well.

I find his defense boring compared to someone like Wade's, but I think his approach is the right one for this league where you can't hit the QB or WRs much anymore. Really all you can try to do anymore is keep everything in front of you and hold teams to FGs, because you simply can't shut down good offenses anymore.

Good point. We all saw first hand that even a complex defensive scheme can be a detriment your own defense re. Rob Ryan.

With how sped up offenses are nowadays; your best bet is just to get everyone flowing to the ball. No time to get creative anymore on D.