Bell Tolls: Rod Marinelli pushing the right buttons in Dallas

[RS12]

They call it a loaf, and it's exactly what it sounds like.

If you're a member of the Dallas Cowboys defense, this is not a good thing.

"There's no gray area at all," Cowboys linebacker Bruce Carter said. "We have a lot of guys flying around. If you're not doing what everybody else is doing, you'll stand out easily."

This speaks to an element of success for a no-name Cowboys defense that has undoubtedly overachieved on the way its divisional playoff game at Green Bay on Sunday.

Rod Marinelli, promoted this season to coordinate the defense, keeps track of loafs. And the week-to-week tallies, and a chart, are shared with the entire defense.

What's a loaf? If a defender gets blocked to the turf on a play and is a bit slow getting up, that's a loaf.

Imagine two defenders chasing a receiver bent on piling up yards after the catch. If one of the defenders passes the other while they are in pursuit, somebody's going to get a loaf.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...lli-inspires-dallas-cowboys-defense/21549593/

 

[RS12]

Love the loaf chart concept.

 

[CF74]

This guy has the right formula.. So awesome...

 

[xwalker]

They call it a loaf, and it's exactly what it sounds like.

If you're a member of the Dallas Cowboys defense, this is not a good thing.

"There's no gray area at all," Cowboys linebacker Bruce Carter said. "We have a lot of guys flying around. If you're not doing what everybody else is doing, you'll stand out easily."

This speaks to an element of success for a no-name Cowboys defense that has undoubtedly overachieved on the way its divisional playoff game at Green Bay on Sunday.

Rod Marinelli, promoted this season to coordinate the defense, keeps track of loafs. And the week-to-week tallies, and a chart, are shared with the entire defense.

What's a loaf? If a defender gets blocked to the turf on a play and is a bit slow getting up, that's a loaf.

Imagine two defenders chasing a receiver bent on piling up yards after the catch. If one of the defenders passes the other while they are in pursuit, somebody's going to get a loaf.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...lli-inspires-dallas-cowboys-defense/21549593/

Coaching really does work. The Cowboys are #2 in takeaways this season. I saw a video the other day with Marinelli saying "we install takeaways every week, it's part of our scheme".

He managed to get this group of players to significantly overachieve. I guess nicknames really work!

 

[RS12]

Coaching really does work. The Cowboys are #2 in takeaways this season. I saw a video the other day with Marinelli saying "we install takeaways every week, it's part of our scheme".

He managed to get this group of players to significantly overachieve. I guess nicknames really work!

I like the motivation by humiliation part. Also if 10 guys are going all out, you dont want to be the one guy who is caught dogging it by your peers.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Rod Marinelli, promoted this season to coordinate the defense, keeps track of loafs.And the week-to-week tallies, and a chart, are shared with the entire defense.

We have to find a way to keep Marinelli. I know I know that isn't a shock.

 

[xwalker]

I like the motivation by humiliation part. Also if 10 guys are going all out, you dont want to be the one guy who is caught dogging it by your peers.

Yes, it's funny that Bruce Carter was quoted about this issue because he seemed to be dogging it in a few games in the middle of the season. I don't think he was being lazy per se, but he seems to lose focus in some games and just stand around. He was good early in the season and late, but there were some games in the middle where he was just standing around in a daze on multiple plays.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Between the Oline culture and Marinelli defensive accountability lies the key to the turn around witnessed in Big D from Jan. 2014 to 2015.

12 short months ago we had Holywood Culture Club now we have is easily a good Roquefort to an aged sharp cheddar. Keep feeling fascination.