DMN: George: If the Cowboys part ways with Kiffin, there is a good chance they lose Marinelli

[jobberone]

George: If the Dallas Cowboys part ways with Monte Kiffin, there is a good chance they lose Rod Marinelli

SportsDayDFW.com
Published: 28 December 2013 06:40 PM
SportsDay Cowboys beat writer Brandon George chatted with readers on Friday. Some excerpts:

Question: Do you think the Cowboys will stay in a 4-3 def next year, or get rid of Kiffin and go back to a 3-4 and bring in someone that knows how to run it?

George: My feeling is that Jerry Jones brings back Monte Kiffin as defensive coordinator for one more year and give him a shot to get the transition to a 4-3 complete with a healthier roster. Yes, I know Kiffin has the league's worst overall defense, but the Cowboys committed to making the switch to a 4-3 and if you lose Kiffin, there's a good chance Rod Marinelli is gone, too, because of how close those two are and Marinelli is a loyal guy.

Question: What would you do with Hatcher after this year? Offer a three year deal? Would he take something shorter term like that? The line is so thin, the Cowboys are not in a good negotiating position.

George: I believe you bring Hatcher back IF you can get him for the right price. He'll be 32 in July and you can't pay age along the DL in this league. He had a great start to the season but has struggled to pressure the QB over the last month. He's going to test the market, and if the money and years that he's looking for just isn't there in free agency, maybe you can get him back for the right price. He's certainly a leader in the locker room and the Cowboys definitely need the help up front.

Click here for the entire chat.

 

[CATCH17]

So be it then.

 

[SDCowboy]

Oh well.

 

[Aven8]

CYA

 

[lwehlers]

if this team somehow makes the playoffs I would not be surprised to see kiffin back then.

 

[dstovall5]

Luckily for us you can't be worse then the 32nd ranked defense, we can only get better at this point, right? CYA!

 

[03EBZ06]

I hope Kiffin retires and Marinelli gets promoted to DC.

 

[Sarge]

Marinelli is a good coach - that would be a shame, but..... if that is what it takes to get rid of Kiffin....... so be it.

 

[Bullflop]

I think it's possible Jerry himself hasn't made up his mind about Kiffin as yet. Today's game may very well bear an impact upon that decision. If we lose in embarassing fashion, it just might be the straw that broke the camel's back. Jerry has been known to give way to public pressure in the past. A big loss might see to that.

 

[Risen Star]

So be it then.

Really.

He hasn't had any players to work with but he hasn't exactly done anything that stands out in a positive way either.

 

[unionjack8]

Who cares.

 

[jobberone]

Luckily for us you can't be worse then the 32nd ranked defense, we can only get better at this point, right? CYA!

We are not the 32nd rated defense. It depends on how the ratings are done and exactly what you are talking about but we are in the bottom 1/3. The team is ranked 31st in yards given up passing.

 

[Bullflop]

Who cares.

I think the players do . . . most of them hold him in high regard and have nothing but praise for his methods. That'd be a valuable member to lose on any coaching staff. We need more of those.

 

[jobberone]

Their game plan against Philly in the first game was if not brilliant then very good. No one else but NYG has held that defense to less than 10 points and we only gave up 19 first downs and 22 of 49 for less than 200 net yards.

 

[dstovall5]

We are not the 32nd rated defense. It depends on how the ratings are done and exactly what you are talking about but we are in the bottom 1/3. The team is ranked 31st in yards given up passing.

It was just a joke to add emphasis that we really can't get much worse then where we are now, I know we're not actually ranked 32nd.

In the important rankings, we're right around 24-28, which is still terrible. I'd gladly welcome in a new face.

 

[jobberone]

Marinelli is well thought of by coaches around the league and so is Callahan. Marinelli has done extremely well with a bunch of castoffs on the DL. Our LB coach and DB coach are also well thought of. We have an excellent staff on defense. It's hard to cook with substandard ingredients.

 

[jobberone]

It was just a joke to add emphasis that we really can't get much worse then where we are now, I know we're not actually ranked 32nd.

In the important rankings, we're right around 24-28, which is still terrible. I'd gladly welcome in a new face.

You're right. The defense to put it nicely is problematic. The only good thing we've gotten out of all these injuries is a good look at the depth (and lack of it) and given some players needed experience. You don't know who the players are until you play them a bit.

 

[Nav22]

Marinelli is a good coach - that would be a shame, but..... if that is what it takes to get rid of Kiffin....... so be it.

I hope Kiffin retires and Marinelli gets promoted to DC.

Haha fans are funny. We don't know what goes on in meeting rooms, at practice... hell, we barely know what's going on during actual games. But some coaches apparently don't get a pass for the team's poor performance (Garrett, Kiffin) and apparently some do (Marinelli).

Would either of you gents care to share why, exactly, you blame the poor D on Kiffin but not Marinelli?

Their systems/philosophies are basically identical. Marinelli's the DL coach and our DL has performed terribly nearly all season! His "rushmen" are near the bottom of the league in sacks.

"Oh, but the DL has been ravaged by injuries."

So has the LB corps as well as a few guys in the secondary, and Kiffin's theoretically responsible for the entire unit. So why doesn't Kiffin get that same leeway?

Sounds like it's a matter of mere perception. Marinelli isn't as old as Kiffin and "looks the part" more than Kiffin does, so we assume he's still a good coach but Kiffin isn't.

 

[jobberone]

Haha fans are funny. We don't know what goes on in meeting rooms, at practice... hell, we barely know what's going on during actual games. But some coaches apparently don't get a pass for the team's poor performance (Garrett, Kiffin) and apparently some do (Marinelli).

Would either of you gents care to share why, exactly, you blame the poor D on Kiffin but not Marinelli?

Their systems/philosophies are basically identical. Marinelli's the DL coach and our DL has performed terribly nearly all season! His "rushmen" are near the bottom of the league in sacks.

"Oh, but the DL has been ravaged by injuries."

So has the LB corps as well as a few guys in the secondary, and Kiffin's theoretically responsible for the entire unit. So why doesn't Kiffin get that same leeway?

Sounds like it's a matter of mere perception. Marinelli isn't as old as Kiffin and "looks the part" more than Kiffin does, so we assume he's still a good coach but Kiffin isn't.

I agree. You can't make chicken salad with chicken stuff. I would love to see them pull one out of the hat today. A lot depends on Holloman. Poor guys is in the middle of it all and has played the Mike for 5 days in his life....the last 5.

 

[30yrheel]

Good, clean house, Garrett included. Or make more excuses next year.