Marinelli vs. Linehan

[Cotton]

Offensive style helps defense, too
Taylor By Jean-Jacques Taylor
ESPNDallas.com

Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli is doing a tremendous job with the Cowboys' defense, transforming a unit that seemed destined to be among the worst in the league into a group that's helping the Cowboys win games.

Playcaller Scott Linehan's work makes it all possible.

Everything about the Cowboys' offensive style this season -- run the ball, run the ball, then run it some more -- is designed to protect the defense.

It's among the reasons Linehan has remained committed to running the ball even on the few occasions it seems like DeMarco Murray is running into a brick wall. Murray leads the NFL with 913 yards on 187 carries.

The Cowboys have had the ball for more than 33 minutes in each of the past four games -- the first time that's happened since 1980. We all know it's pretty much impossible for a defense to give up points when it's chilling on the bench chugging Gatorade.

Not only does the rest keep them fresh, but it has the defense playing about 10 fewer plays per game than last season. Over the course of a season, that would be 160 plays or about three games.

Imagine that.

The defensive players have no problem giving maximum effort because they're well-rested -- and it certainly helps that much of the time this season they've been playing with a lead.

Linehan has done even more for the Cowboys' offense than he's done for the defense.

He's built the entire offensive attack around the talents of Murray and Dez Bryant. Sixty percent of the runs and passes he's called this season have been designed to put the ball in their hands.

On Sunday against the Giants, 41 of the 60 plays he called were for Murray or Bryant. Murray rushed for 128 yards and Bryant caught nine passes for 151 yards. They combined for four plays of 20 yards or more.

Their production has removed the pressure from Tony Romo and positioned him to make a handful of game-changing plays each week, which he's done.

This offense, built around the NFL's best running game, is an attack that's good enough to succeed in whatever elements the season brings.

It's an offense that Linehan's touch has made the best in the NFL, making the Cowboys a contender. And that's why Linehan is just a smidgen more important than Marinelli.

 

[Cotton]

D performing above expectations
Archer By Todd Archer
ESPNDallas.com

Considering the expectations entering the season, I don't know how the answer isn't Rod Marinelli. It just has to be.

Look at what he has to work with. Look at what Scott Linehan has to work with. I'm trying not to slight what Linehan has done. He has been a key figure in the turnaround of the Cowboys' offense, especially their third-down work.

But he has Pro Bowlers past, present and future in Tony Romo, Jason Witten, Dez Bryant, Tyron Smith, DeMarco Murray, Zack Martin and Travis Frederick.

He has top role players like Terrance Williams, Cole Beasley, Dwayne Harris and Gavin Escobar. He has the best offensive line in football, to date.

It is not a given to make all the talent work, so Linehan deserves credit, but look at what Marinelli has to work with and tell me who is the sure-fire Pro Bowler.

Maybe Rolando McClain makes it. I think we know more about his effect on the defense than those nationally might. Maybe Orlando Scandrick, but he needs more interceptions to get in the Hawaii loop.

This wasn't just supposed to be a bad defense. It was supposed to be a historically bad defense. I said they would max out at 25th in the league. They are currently 14th in yards per game. Citing yards per game is sometimes foolish, but it's the one everybody cited when talking about last year's defense. In points per game, the Cowboys are ninth.

How are they doing this? They don't get sacks (just seven) because they don't have a stud pass-rusher. They affect the quarterback sometimes. They take the ball away at a good clip. They are OK on third downs (14th). They are decent in the red zone. But they are allowing 6.1 yards per play and 4.9 yards per rush.

Somehow they are getting the job done. Justin Durant is a different player this year. The cornerbacks are much more aggressive. The defensive line is better at everything but getting sacks. Maybe DeMarcus Lawrence can change that when he returns.

Marinelli has made these guys believe. He is tough, demanding and does not give an inch. The players are buying in.

It's not perfect, but it's miles and miles better than what anybody thought it would be.

 

[boozeman]

Far more impressed with Linehan's effect than Marinelli. Not that he isn't an improvement over Kiffin, but it is the exact same system.

 

[NoDak]

Far more impressed with Linehan's effect than Marinelli. Not that he isn't an improvement over Kiffin, but it is the exact same system.

Not me. Sure, Linehan is getting great results that we've all been wanting to see for a long time. With what's arguably the best Oline in the league. And a very good QB. And a very good RB. And a very good TE. And a very good WR...

Marinelli is getting above avg results from a group that everyone to a man here thought was a dumpster fire just waiting to happen. I would like to see what he could accomplish with some talent on the D, to go along with this ball control offense.

 

[DontCryWolfe]

Far more impressed with Linehan's effect than Marinelli. Not that he isn't an improvement over Kiffin, but it is the exact same system.

I don't know. The defense may not be setting the world on fire, while the offense is tops in the league, but there is a considerable talent difference between the two groups. I'm not saying by any stretch that any schmuck could come in and call a successful game with our offense, but what Marinelli has done should put him at the top of the list for Coach of the Year, in my opinion. Both are irreplaceable to this team right now, and without them there is no way we're sitting on a 6-1 record. But this defense has not been anywhere near the liability we all thought it would, and despite lack of a pass rush, has made plays, and made them when they count.

 

[GForce78NJ]

we are starting the following players in the front 7: George Selvie, Terrell McClain, Rolando McClain, Justin Durant, Bruce Carter.

1-2 seasons ago, Bruce Carter was losing his job, Rolando McClain was retired, Terrell McClain was a rotational guy at best, Justin Durant was let go in free agency by the Lions, and George Selvie was signing with the cowboys after being let go by 4 teams in 2 years.

These are guys that can be dumped and replaced at any point minus Rolando McClain who always had the talent but didnt have the mental capacity to play in the NFL. Through the draft this year, we gave Marinelli ZERO help (I know Demarcus Lawrence, but he hasn't even played yet). Our Defense playing at a high level is most definitely more surprising than the Offense. Linehan is a good coach but they have studs in every position.

The point is without Marinelli, this defense doesn't do jack shat. Without Linehan, I think our offense is still top 10 in the NFL. It does help that our time of possession has been astronomical however.