New ‘D’ coordinator has little time to improve struggling unit
Rod Marinelli is in paradise.
We know this because coach Jon Gruden says Marinelli not only thrives in adversity, but loves it. Circumstances seldom get more adverse than what the Raiders’ interim defensive coordinator is facing after taking over for the fired Paul Guenther for the last three games of the season.
All Marinelli has to do is get one of the most maligned defenses in the NFL to suddenly become competent in order for the Raiders (7- 6) to get back in a playoff position. The emphasis will be on “what we do well” and of late that’s been tough to discern.
Win three or it’s over. Starting with minimal preparation for a Thursday night game against the Los Angeles Chargers (4- 9) at Allegiant Stadium. No pressure there.
When asked about the range of emotions Sunday night he would take over the defense after a 44-27 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, Marinelli, responded with a flat-line gesture as if smoothing over wet concrete.
“Just like that. No changes. I don’t change,” Marinelli said Tuesday in a video conference. “I don’t care what happens. Up and down. It’s how you respond. My response is with poise and patience. Panic (and) you don’t know what you’re doing. So it’s all poise.”
The Raiders have been riddled with defensive penalties of late, unable to stop the run and poor in terms of both pass rush and pass coverage. Potential starters Johnathan Abram, Damon Arnette and Nicholas Morrow are in concussion protocol and may not be available. Same with Clelin Ferrell, who hurt his shoulder and left the Jets game.
With lack of production everywhere — including the defensive line which was Marinelli’s position group before the promotion — where do you start?
“I think you’ve just got to rely on your rules,” Marinelli said. “You want to make sure guys have rules that can take care of everything. Which allows you to play really fast. One thing I really believe in a defense is chemistry and speed and guys working together. And the star of the defense is the defense — nobody else. It’s not a call, it’s not a coach. It’s not a player. It’s trying to get that continuity together this week. It’s fun. It’s a great challenge and I think we’re all up for it.”
Teamwork, fundamentals, hustle. The same things preached by old- school coaches since the beginning of time. All valid traits that have eluded the Raiders for 13 games with Marinelli as part of the coaching staff. Things that eluded them under Ken Norton Jr., Jason Tarver and almost any other defensive coordinator you can name for the better part of the last 25 years.
And while talent ultimately wins in the NFL,
Marinelli said he’s looking beyond physical skill.
“The identity, you’ve got to hit like a Raider and you’ve got to have great tempo and great pursuit and gang tackle,” Marinelli said. “And that takes no talent. None. Just having an attitude and a will to do that. That’s who I’ve been my whole career.”
Matt Millen, the Fox network analyst who hired Marinelli to coach the Detroit Lions in 2006, said players can expect a matter- of-fact tone and no gray areas.
“What Rod can do is maybe turn up the heat a little bit in preparation, start adjusting some attitudes and get them flying to the ball,” Millen said in a phone interview. “It’s not like you can make a huge change. That can’t happen.”
While Marinelli isn’t into public shaming of players in the media, Millen said he’ll be very direct in person.
“It’s not like he’s selling you a bunch of baloney. He’s telling you real stuff,” Millen said. “That’s his strength. Rod is not going to give you a `let’s go get ‘em’ and all that. He’s not that guy. He’s a guy who deals in reality. If football is important to you, then you’re in great shape. If football’s not important to you, then you’re going to struggle a little bit because Rod will make it real.”