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Rod Marinelli makes a sign change at Valley Ranch, refers to his group as ‘Rushmen’
By Jon Machota / Special Contributor
jmachota@dallasnews.com
5:53 pm on May 11, 2013 | Permalink
IRVING — When Rod Marinelli was coaching the Chicago Bears’ defensive line the previous four seasons he referred to his linemen as “rush men.” Now, as the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive line coach, Marinelli is identifying his four-man front the same way.
Marinelli even had the sign on the defensive line’s Valley Ranch meeting room door changed to say “Rushmen.” The 63-year-old coach is making it known that he needs all of his linemen to be able to get to the quarterback.
Rod Marinelli's sign change at Valley Ranch.
“That’s what we have to do,” Marinelli said Saturday when asked about the sign change. “In the four-man front, you try to identify a position or men with one thing they got to be able to do, and that’s that. It’s very clear.
“It’s all part of what we are. We make sure we understand it and we just go on from there.”
The Bears finished with 41 sacks last year, seven more than the Cowboys. But over the last four seasons, the Cowboys have totaled 153 sacks, 10 more than the Bears during that time.
That’s not to say that sacks are the lone way to measure a good pass rush. Marinelli will have no problem with his group missing out on sacks if his guys are in the pocket, making the opposing quarterback uncomfortable, something that often leads to poor decisions and turnovers. The Bears led the NFL last season with 44 takeaways, 28 more than the Cowboys.
And Marinelli is no stranger to finding unique ways to motivate his players. While he was the head coach of the Detroit Lions, Marinelli had a large rock placed in the middle of the locker room, symbolizing his slogan “Pound the Rock.” The Lions didn’t have much success with that mentality, however, finishing 10-38 during his three seasons, which included going 0-16 in 2008.
Follow Jon Machota on Twitter: @jonmachota
By Jon Machota / Special Contributor
jmachota@dallasnews.com
5:53 pm on May 11, 2013 | Permalink
IRVING — When Rod Marinelli was coaching the Chicago Bears’ defensive line the previous four seasons he referred to his linemen as “rush men.” Now, as the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive line coach, Marinelli is identifying his four-man front the same way.
Marinelli even had the sign on the defensive line’s Valley Ranch meeting room door changed to say “Rushmen.” The 63-year-old coach is making it known that he needs all of his linemen to be able to get to the quarterback.
Rod Marinelli's sign change at Valley Ranch.
“That’s what we have to do,” Marinelli said Saturday when asked about the sign change. “In the four-man front, you try to identify a position or men with one thing they got to be able to do, and that’s that. It’s very clear.
“It’s all part of what we are. We make sure we understand it and we just go on from there.”
The Bears finished with 41 sacks last year, seven more than the Cowboys. But over the last four seasons, the Cowboys have totaled 153 sacks, 10 more than the Bears during that time.
That’s not to say that sacks are the lone way to measure a good pass rush. Marinelli will have no problem with his group missing out on sacks if his guys are in the pocket, making the opposing quarterback uncomfortable, something that often leads to poor decisions and turnovers. The Bears led the NFL last season with 44 takeaways, 28 more than the Cowboys.
And Marinelli is no stranger to finding unique ways to motivate his players. While he was the head coach of the Detroit Lions, Marinelli had a large rock placed in the middle of the locker room, symbolizing his slogan “Pound the Rock.” The Lions didn’t have much success with that mentality, however, finishing 10-38 during his three seasons, which included going 0-16 in 2008.
Follow Jon Machota on Twitter: @jonmachota