NEW RAIDERS DC MARINELLI UNDER GUN
Rod Marinelli doesn’t have much time to fix all the problems on the Las Vegas Raiders defense.
Marinelli was promoted from defensive line coach to interim defensive coordinator after Paul Guenther was fired Sunday and has just three days to make his mark before the Raiders host the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night.
“I think we’ve got a package established,” Marinelli said Tuesday. “It’s really hard within a day or two and a few walkthroughs to get everything done. So we’ve got our system and we just kind of constantly work on refining certain things that we do well and things that we believe in.”
When asked what the defense did well, Marinelli gave no specifics, instead talking about the need to work together, have discipline, play fast and “hit like a Raider.”
The Raiders (7-6) haven’t done much well in recent weeks, or even in nearly three full seasons with Guenther in charge. Las Vegas has allowed at least 200 yards rushing in back-to-back games, leading to a 44-27 loss last week to Indianapolis that ultimately cost Guenther his job.
In nearly three full seasons with Guenther running the defense, the Raiders ranked last in points allowed per game (28.4), last in sacks (60), 31st in yards per play allowed (6.04), 30th in takeaways (47) and 29th in passer rating against.
“It’s not been good enough,” Marinelli said. “Coach or player hasn’t been good enough yet. I just keep believing in these men. I just know if you just keep driving it and pushing it, we’ll have the results. Because they work every second of every day. I think it starts with the belief and I have a strong belief in them.”
The 71-year-old Marinelli is in his 48th season as a coach, with the past 24 coming in the NFL where he helped guide talented linemen like Warren Sapp, Simeon Rice and Julius
Peppers over the years.
Rooney award finalists
Baltimore defensive end Calais Campbell is a threetime finalist with New England wide receiver Matthew Slater a finalist for a second straight year and third overall for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award announced by the NFL.
The award first created in 2014 is given each year to an NFL player best demonstrating on-field sportsmanship with fair play, respecting the game and opponents and integrity in competition.
Finalists include four players from each conference and were picked by a panel of former players from the NFL Legends Community featuring Warrick Dunn, Curtis Martin, Karl Mecklenberg and Leonard Wheeler.
Indianapolis defensive end Justin Houston and Pittsburgh defensive tackle Cameron Heyward are the other finalists from the AFC. The NFC finalists are Carolina quarterback Teddy Bridgewater,
Tampa Bay linebacker Lavonte David, Philadelphia center Jason Kelce and San Francisco fullback Kyle Juszczyk.
The finalists will be listed on the Pro Bowl ballot under the NFL Sportsmanship Award category. Teams can’t vote for their own player.
Notable
The NFL said teams won’t be allowed to create local bubbles during the postseason by mandating that players stay in a hotel, except for the night before a game.
The Jets released kicker Sergio Castillo after he missed three of his four fieldgoal attempts at Seattle last Sunday. Castillo had been filling in for Sam Ficken, who’s on injured reserve with a strained groin but could be cleared to practice this week.
The Ravens activated wide receiver Dez Bryant from the reserve/COVID-19 list, the team announced Monday, after a positive test sidelined him for the past two games.