Raiders’ interim DC Marinelli says he sees progress
Two games, two lategame collapses, and interim defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli insists he’s staying the course and not focused on what the future may bring with the Raiders.
Marinelli took over the Raiders defense when coach Jon Gruden fired Paul Guenther on Dec. 14, the day after a 44-27 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
While the Raiders have played harder and more effectively in spurts, the end game has been a disaster.
A 26-25 loss to the Miami Dolphins ended with a blown coverage and a defensive penalty with 19 seconds to play, turning an apparent win into a gut-punch loss. In Marinelli’s first game as coordinator, against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Raiders opened overtime with a field goal and the Chargers drove down the field and scored a touchdown for the win.
Both games included coverage breakdowns in the secondary when it mattered most.
While Marinelli will correct players forcefully in team settings, his public stance is to focus on the group.
“It’s always been the same, it’s player and coach. It’s coach and player. We’re the teachers,” Marinelli said. “They reflect us at the end of the day, so it’s not one guy in it, it’s all of us in it. So, we got to go back and correct our teaching, all the things we’re asking them to do, having the right person in the game at that time. So, it comes down to that and then you watch it on tape, and we make the corrections and then you move forward. And just what we did.”
Marinelli insisted he’s seen progress with a “less is more” approach.
“I love the intensity they’re playing with; their hitting has picked up,” Marinelli said. “It’s really clear what they have to do and so I’ve just cut things down. That’s who I am. I cut things back a little bit and lets really get good at a few things, and I think it’s really starting to show. The rush came pretty well, our pressures. I thought some coverages were good, so my goal now
is we’re just going to keep growing this week.”
Changes in the defensive staff are assured given the way the unit has played all season. Given Marinelli’s standing with Gruden, it’s likely he’ll be back as defensive line coach if not as coordinator.
“I just let things go as they go. That’s always been me,” Marinelli said. “I love being with these guys. I love seeing them grow and I’ll just leave it at that.” CROSBY’S SOPHOMORE SLUMP » Defensive end Maxx Crosby had his last sack on Nov. 15, after which the Raiders celebrated a 37-12 win and a 6-3 record. It was Crosby’s sixth of the season and he looked on pace to put up double digits again after a 10-sack rookie season.
Instead, Crosby has been blanked and the Raiders have lost five out of six as they face the Broncos again to close out the season. Marinelli, who was Crosby’s position coach before taking over as interim defensive, said he’s not disappointed.
“Just some detail things, especially off the edge,” Marinelli said. “Sometimes a little too deep, getting by the quarterback, getting counter moves. But you can’t coach a better guy that’s hungrier. Shows up every day hungry, the look in his eye. He’s gotten a little more attention this year with some chips on him. But there is no ceiling to Maxx. I believe he’s going to get better and better and it’s important to finish correctly.”
WALLER RECEIVES CRAIG LONG AWARD » Tight end Darren Waller is the first two-time winner of the Craig Long Award, voted upon by media members who cover the team regularly to the player who best exemplifies collaboration and professionalism with the media.
Waller has recounted his own battled with drug and alcohol addiction with members of the press several times in the past two years, and he has been a frequent interview subject for group media conferences.