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'Man talk': Rod Marinelli wants more from Cowboys DE Taco Charlton, and that was made clear this summer
By Calvin Watkins
OXNARD, Calif. -- Rod Marinelli called it a man's talk.
The Cowboys defensive coordinator sat down with defensive end Taco Charlton and gave him the business this summer. Marinelli told the 24-year old, 2017 first-round pick it was time to live up to the potential and forget about the past, particularly last year.
When it comes to first-round draft picks, Charlton has struggled to make enough plays on the field. It's too early to say Charlton is a bust, but Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones quotes the late Tom Landry when describing defensive linemen. Jones was told it takes three years before you really start to see a lineman fulfil his potential.
This is Year 3 for Charlton, and Marinelli and everyone else associated with the Cowboys want to see something positive from him. So Marinelli and Charlton had a heart-to-heart.
"I mean, that's man talk," Marinelli said. "Here it is. You don't beat around the bush. Here's what we've got to do. Here's what you have to do to be the type of player you want to be and we want you to be. He's coming into camp. His offseason was good. I like what he's done so far."
Charlton started the first seven games of the 2018 season before a shoulder injury placed him on the inactive list from Weeks 9 through 11. But Marinelli wasn't happy with Charlton's progress in the trainer's room and on the field. Marinelli didn't like Charlton's body language and attitude.
Charlton was a healthy scratch for the Week 12 game against the Saints and was inactive again for Weeks 13 and 14 before playing in the final two games.
It was a major disappointment for Charlton, who finished with just one sack, four quarterback hits and 27 total tackles.
This offseason, in addition to the ankle and shoulder surgeries he underwent, he had this chat with Marinelli.
"It was a lot," Charlton said. "I can't really get into that talk and what that was, some of it had nothing to do on the football field. So that's a different talk. To say my side of it, ain't time for that."
Marinelli has a unique relationship with his defensive linemen. He says he cares about them as men first, football players second. During the draft process he makes prospects whom he likes sign a contract about what they will do on the field. The contract includes such things as hustling to the ball and being a team player.
When Marinelli spoke with Charlton about moving forward as a football player, so many items were brought up.
"There's no doubt in anybody's mind, the whole meeting, we talk about it," Marinelli said. "We show each other's grades. We see how certain guys are sprinting to the ball and maybe some are not. Those are the standards. They're not changing. That will never change. You've got to rise to be here, and you've got to rise to the challenges. I like what he's doing."
With DeMarcus Lawrence missing the start of training camp as he recovers from offseason labrum surgery, it's given Charlton a chance to get first-team reps at left defensive end. Charlton said he plays better from that spot, but when Lawrence returns, Charlton will move to the right side. And even on that side, Charlton is behind veteran Robert Quinn, who looks good in the early stages of training camp.
Second-year end Dorance Armstrong has also done some good things in camp, even beating All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith in a one-on-one drill Thursday.
Defensive line coach Leon Lett said Charlton is improving and becoming more physical on the pass rush.
"I think so," Marinelli said if Charlton's body language has improved. "That's a big part of playing -- what you show your opponent. Are you standing up straight, your chest, good play, bad play doesn't matter. Nobody sees you tired."
Charlton is hoping to live up to the hype of the Cowboys' previous first-round picks. It's a stellar list on which four of the last five have reached the Pro Bowl, including linebacker Leighton Vander Esch last year.
There are so many questions surrounding Charlton this year.
Will he get a second contract with the Cowboys? Will he even make the 53-man roster, given the depth along the defensive line? Is the relationship with Marinelli improved?
"We got to talking in the offseason and hash out our differences, and now we can move forward," Charlton said, "and worry about what's going on on the football field and go from there."
By Calvin Watkins
OXNARD, Calif. -- Rod Marinelli called it a man's talk.
The Cowboys defensive coordinator sat down with defensive end Taco Charlton and gave him the business this summer. Marinelli told the 24-year old, 2017 first-round pick it was time to live up to the potential and forget about the past, particularly last year.
When it comes to first-round draft picks, Charlton has struggled to make enough plays on the field. It's too early to say Charlton is a bust, but Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones quotes the late Tom Landry when describing defensive linemen. Jones was told it takes three years before you really start to see a lineman fulfil his potential.
This is Year 3 for Charlton, and Marinelli and everyone else associated with the Cowboys want to see something positive from him. So Marinelli and Charlton had a heart-to-heart.
"I mean, that's man talk," Marinelli said. "Here it is. You don't beat around the bush. Here's what we've got to do. Here's what you have to do to be the type of player you want to be and we want you to be. He's coming into camp. His offseason was good. I like what he's done so far."
Charlton started the first seven games of the 2018 season before a shoulder injury placed him on the inactive list from Weeks 9 through 11. But Marinelli wasn't happy with Charlton's progress in the trainer's room and on the field. Marinelli didn't like Charlton's body language and attitude.
Charlton was a healthy scratch for the Week 12 game against the Saints and was inactive again for Weeks 13 and 14 before playing in the final two games.
It was a major disappointment for Charlton, who finished with just one sack, four quarterback hits and 27 total tackles.
This offseason, in addition to the ankle and shoulder surgeries he underwent, he had this chat with Marinelli.
"It was a lot," Charlton said. "I can't really get into that talk and what that was, some of it had nothing to do on the football field. So that's a different talk. To say my side of it, ain't time for that."
Marinelli has a unique relationship with his defensive linemen. He says he cares about them as men first, football players second. During the draft process he makes prospects whom he likes sign a contract about what they will do on the field. The contract includes such things as hustling to the ball and being a team player.
When Marinelli spoke with Charlton about moving forward as a football player, so many items were brought up.
"There's no doubt in anybody's mind, the whole meeting, we talk about it," Marinelli said. "We show each other's grades. We see how certain guys are sprinting to the ball and maybe some are not. Those are the standards. They're not changing. That will never change. You've got to rise to be here, and you've got to rise to the challenges. I like what he's doing."
With DeMarcus Lawrence missing the start of training camp as he recovers from offseason labrum surgery, it's given Charlton a chance to get first-team reps at left defensive end. Charlton said he plays better from that spot, but when Lawrence returns, Charlton will move to the right side. And even on that side, Charlton is behind veteran Robert Quinn, who looks good in the early stages of training camp.
Second-year end Dorance Armstrong has also done some good things in camp, even beating All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith in a one-on-one drill Thursday.
Defensive line coach Leon Lett said Charlton is improving and becoming more physical on the pass rush.
"I think so," Marinelli said if Charlton's body language has improved. "That's a big part of playing -- what you show your opponent. Are you standing up straight, your chest, good play, bad play doesn't matter. Nobody sees you tired."
Charlton is hoping to live up to the hype of the Cowboys' previous first-round picks. It's a stellar list on which four of the last five have reached the Pro Bowl, including linebacker Leighton Vander Esch last year.
There are so many questions surrounding Charlton this year.
Will he get a second contract with the Cowboys? Will he even make the 53-man roster, given the depth along the defensive line? Is the relationship with Marinelli improved?
"We got to talking in the offseason and hash out our differences, and now we can move forward," Charlton said, "and worry about what's going on on the football field and go from there."
