VIDEO: Raiders interim defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli’s first press conference. CLICK HERE if you’re viewing on a mobile device.
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 Colts 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.”
Marinelli’s energy and core beliefs were consistent during his role coaching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers under Tony Dungy and then Gruden, winning a Super Bowl. Through a 10-38 record as the Lions head coach that included one of only two 0-16 seasons in NFL history. Through being a line coach and defensive coordinator in both Chicago and Dallas with varying degrees of success.
At age 71, Marinelli was brought in by Gruden to replace Brentson Buckner, a popular defensive line coach. Marinelli said he’s not thinking past the Chargers or if he would like to continue in the coordinator’s role beyond this year.
“People bring age up, I’ll tell you what, I want to see ’em step in my shoes and have my juice,” Marinelli said. “I love it. I don’t ever look past it right there. I just want to do a great job right now, and my job right now is to help these men.”
Marinelli is schooled in the Tampa 2 system with the Buccaneers, which Chicago also ran with former Buccaneers assistant Lovie Smith in charge as head coach. Marinelli’s defenses in Dallas were more multiple, and upon going from defensive line to coordinator, brought one of the worst defenses in the NFL to No. 14 in a 12-4 season in 2014. Two years later, the Cowboys were 13-3 and ranked fifth defensively.
Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said he won’t know for sure what to expect with Marinelli in charge until the game is underway, but doubts if it will be overly dramatic.
“I know Rod’s scheme is a little different. You’ll see more shell coverage and line stunts,” Lynn said in a conference call. “Definitely expect them to do some things, try to get after the quarterback, but I don’t see a big difference this late in the game.”
Marinelli, a military veteran who served in Vietnam, has never backed down from a challenge. According to a 2007 profile in the Detroit Free Press, Marinelli and two friends once came upon a car dealership which offered the opportunity to beat “Victor the Wrestling Bear” for $10. It was 1966, and the three scraped together the 10 bucks.
“We put the money up there, and in goes Rod,” Marinelli’s friend Gary Schram recalled. “Rod did then what he does now: He went in to win. He flew into that thing. And let me tell you, he had that bear on his back in about 10 seconds.”
Compared to what Marinelli is taking on, the Raiders may be a bigger challenge than the bear.
