Orsborn: Kiffin, Marinelli coaching up defensive line

Cotton

One-armed Knife Sharpener
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
120,257
Kiffin, Marinelli coaching up defensive line
BY TOM ORSBORN : Sunday, September 22, 2013

ARLINGTON – What once looked like a weakness for the Dallas Cowboys has turned into a major strength.

When the season started, the defensive line was riddled with injuries. But bell cow end DeMarcus Ware and solid veteran tackle Jason Hatcher have performed at a high level, while injury-replacement end George Selvie and fill-in tackle Nick Hayden have been real finds.

Perhaps the coaching of defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Rod Marinelli is the main reason why the club has been able to overcome the knee surgery that has forced defensive end Anthony Spencer to miss two games and season-ending injuries to ends Tyrone Crawford and Ben Bass.

After the 31-7 trouncing of St. Louis on Sunday, Rams quarterback Sam Bradford indicated that Kiffin and Marinelli played a big part in the Cowboys registering six sacks.

“They were running a lot of games with their down linemen,” Bradford said. “A couple of blitzes got us, too.”

Kiffin gave all the credit to Marinelli.

“Coach Marinelli does a great job,” he said. “Like I’ve told you, he’s an icon. He’s the best. When players get a chance to play for Coach Marinelli, it’s an unbelievable experience. He shows tapes and tapes and goes through every single move they can make and how to set it up, read blocks, read the back and the whole bit, and they went out and executed it.”

Kiffin also credited Marinelli with Selvie’s play. The fifth-year pro already has a career-best 2.0 sacks.

“Selvie’s really done a great job,” Kiffin said. “He’s a great example, again, of coach Marinelli taking a free agent and making something out of the guy. You know he did it with Greg Spires, who was cut twice on the Super Bowl team in 2002. Simeon Rice was let go by the Cardinals. You just never know. And Nick is the example at nose tackle, playing his tail off.

“These are guys who were cut by other teams. I think one of them was home watching the sitcoms or something on the couch. That’s pretty exciting. I love coaching guys like that. Rod and I both do. We love taking guys like that. Free agents, whether it be ones coming out of college or let go by other teams. We definitely look at people like that.”

__________________________________

It's hard not get really excited about this defense right now. If we can remain even kinda consistent on offense this could turn even booze back to his homer side.
 

Simpleton

DCC 4Life
Joined
Apr 8, 2013
Messages
17,541
If we can add one or two quality DL in next years draft we may have something between Ware, Hatcher (needs to be re-signed if his demands are realistic), Hayden, Selvie, Crawford and the rookies. Even POS Wilber has flashed a few times showing he might be able to rotate in a bit.

This whole Melton situation is something to keep an eye on though. He probably tore his ACL last night and the Bears are a notoriously cheap organization, I could also see him wanting to see what the market has to offer considering the situation. If his price ends up being cut in half because of this injury we might just have to find a way to sign him, whether that means releasing Austin, Scandrick or someone along those lines. I assume Ratliff is as good as gone after this year of course.
 

fortsbest

DCC 4Life
Joined
Apr 8, 2013
Messages
3,764
If only this teams management were smart enough to find a few good lineman on either side of the ball in any draft we'd be way ahead. Maybe Kif and Marinelli can have some influence there.
 

Simpleton

DCC 4Life
Joined
Apr 8, 2013
Messages
17,541
If only this teams management were smart enough to find a few good lineman on either side of the ball in any draft we'd be way ahead. Maybe Kif and Marinelli can have some influence there.
Yea that's what I'm hoping for.

I've also basically bought in to Floyd not fitting the system based on the supposed fact that Kiffin/Marinelli didn't think he did. I mean, they've done such a great job with these guys they must know what works and what doesn't so if they don't think he fit, then he didn't in my book.

I wouldn't trade Frederick for Floyd straight up right now.
 

L.T. Fan

I'm Easy If You Are
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
21,700
If only this teams management were smart enough to find a few good lineman on either side of the ball in any draft we'd be way ahead. Maybe Kif and Marinelli can have some influence there.
Seems like only yesterday that some were saying that Kiffin was a mistake hire and nothing more than a has been senior citizen. Better watch us old guys.
 

VA Cowboy

Brand New Member
Joined
Apr 8, 2013
Messages
4,710
Good to see, but hopefully Jerry won't bypass drafting DL thinking we can get by with mediocre players due to coaching.
 

Cotton

One-armed Knife Sharpener
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
120,257
Good to see, but hopefully Jerry won't bypass drafting DL thinking we can get by with mediocre players due to coaching.
You mean like he always does?
 

boozeman

28 Years And Counting...
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
123,061
I am now convinced about Marinelli. He has Selvie looking like he deserves a Jerry extension pronto.
 

boozeman

28 Years And Counting...
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
123,061
If we can add one or two quality DL in next years draft we may have something between Ware, Hatcher (needs to be re-signed if his demands are realistic), Hayden, Selvie, Crawford and the rookies. Even POS Wilber has flashed a few times showing he might be able to rotate in a bit.

This whole Melton situation is something to keep an eye on though. He probably tore his ACL last night and the Bears are a notoriously cheap organization, I could also see him wanting to see what the market has to offer considering the situation. If his price ends up being cut in half because of this injury we might just have to find a way to sign him, whether that means releasing Austin, Scandrick or someone along those lines. I assume Ratliff is as good as gone after this year of course.
I would risk it...especially since we will bypass the position in the draft anyways.
 

superpunk

Banned
Joined
Sep 20, 2013
Messages
439
Yea that's what I'm hoping for.

I've also basically bought in to Floyd not fitting the system based on the supposed fact that Kiffin/Marinelli didn't think he did. I mean, they've done such a great job with these guys they must know what works and what doesn't so if they don't think he fit, then he didn't in my book.

I wouldn't trade Frederick for Floyd straight up right now.
P sure Floyd caused a nice INT with his pressure yesterday. Hit the QB while he was throwing got a pop-up. Meanwhile Frederick may have cost us the KC game by refusing to block Poe on the goalline.

I guess what I'm saying is it's early.
 

Smitty

DCC 4Life
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
22,561
I am now convinced about Marinelli. He has Selvie looking like he deserves a Jerry extension pronto.
These things have a habit of falling apart on us after looking good previously, though.
 

Smitty

DCC 4Life
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
22,561
I would risk it...especially since we will bypass the position in the draft anyways.
Depends on the price.

If you cut Ratliff and let Spencer go, maybe there is your money for Melton.... even a discounted Melton. A full price Melton probably is not in our budget one way or the other.
 

Simpleton

DCC 4Life
Joined
Apr 8, 2013
Messages
17,541
Depends on the price.

If you cut Ratliff and let Spencer go, maybe there is your money for Melton.... even a discounted Melton. A full price Melton probably is not in our budget one way or the other.
Yea, I don't think we can afford to pay Melton the 9-10 million he probably would've been asking for. With the injury that price could drop to around 5-6 million, which we might be able to do.

I'm hoping the Bears alienate him in some form or fashion and he seeks comfort in playing for his old coach/coming home.
 

ravidubey

DCC 4Life
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
20,221
If only this teams management were smart enough to find a few good lineman on either side of the ball.
I think that's what's happened, though not entirely via the draft.

Hayden, Selvie, Leary, Frederick, and now Waters. Compared with last season it's night and day, 5 good players are ten times better than 1 star player in Anthony Spencer from 2012. Even Wilber got in on it. If Spencer (and God help us, Ratliff) come back in good form the DL stands to actually be a true strength. Crawford would have been dynamite in addition.

It's amazing what a difference good coaching can make.

Of course Dallas has yet to face a balanced offense like Denver, Chicago, San Fran, Seattle, or New Orleans, but such offenses seem rare in today's NFL.

The defensive formula is simple. Play with energy, stuff the run, get the lead, get after the passer, get the ball. Now the offense has to step up.
 

1bigfan13

Your favorite player's favorite player
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
27,184
It's been quite a while since the Cowboys have looked this good rushing the passer. This switch to the 4-3 along with the improved coaching on defense, has breathed new life into our defense.

The best part about it is we're doing most of the damage with our defensive linemen. We're not having to sell out with our LBs and DBs in order to generate pressure and that's helped the pass defense in turn as we can drop more players into coverage. Ware and Hatcher look very natural in the 4-3 like the scheme switch has just started the back half of their careers.

They got burnt up a bit in the season opener but it looks like the guys are gaining more confidence and comfort in the system as the young season progresses.

The most encouraging part about the defense is that they're doing this w/o Spencer or Ratliff's bitch ass.

I'll be very surprised if the DL can maintain this level of play but I'm enjoying it for now.
 

1bigfan13

Your favorite player's favorite player
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
27,184
I think that's what's happened, though not entirely via the draft.

Hayden, Selvie, Leary, Frederick, and now Waters. Compared with last season it's night and day, 5 good players are ten times better than 1 star player in Anthony Spencer from 2012. Even Wilber got in on it. If Spencer (and God help us, Ratliff) come back in good form the DL stands to actually be a true strength. Crawford would have been dynamite in addition.

It's amazing what a difference good coaching can make.

Of course Dallas has yet to face a balanced offense like Denver, Chicago, San Fran, Seattle, or New Orleans, but such offenses seem rare in today's NFL.

The defensive formula is simple. Play with energy, stuff the run, get the lead, get after the passer, get the ball. Now the offense has to step up.
Rivers will be a good test for them this Sunday. He's played well so far this season.
 

boozeman

28 Years And Counting...
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
123,061
Rivers will be a good test for them this Sunday. He's played well so far this season.
He is playing his best football in a few years. But if we can pressure their OL and get the rush going, we can force some things. Should be a decent test.
 
Top Bottom