What improvements have been made to the D-line since Marinelli got here?

[JoeyBoy718]

Surely, a coordinator should try to persuade the higher ups to bring in players via draft and free agency to improve his unit. Our O-line wasn't built over night. Each of our 3 superstars were drafted in different years. "It's a process." So what process has Marinelli been working toward?

He came in as D-line coach in 2013. We spent 0 picks on D-line in that year's draft. We got rid of Kenyon Coleman, Marcus Spears and Victor Butler. We replaced them with Nick Hayden and George Selvie.

He became defensive coordinator in 2014. We traded our 3rd round pick to move up in the 2nd to get Demarcus Lawrence. We also drafted Ben Gardner and Ken Bishop in the 7th round. We got rid of Demarcus Ware and Jason Hatcher. We brought in Jeremy Mincey, Henry Melton, Terrell McClain and Jack Crawford.

Marinelli was extended 3 years in 2015. We drafted Randy Gregory in the 2nd and Ryan Russell in the 5th. We got rid of Anthony Spencer as well as recent acquisitions George Selvie (2013) and Henry Melton (2014). We signed the troubled Greg Hardy.

This past season, 2016, we drafted Maliek Collins in the 3rd and Charles Tapper in the 4th. We got rid of Hardy after one year and Mincey after two. We brought in Benson Mayowa and Cedric Thornton.

That's it after 4 years. Highest drafted DL was Demarcus Lawrence. We took a chance on Randy Gregory via draft and Greg Hardy via free agency. Other than them, we either ignored DL altogether in the draft or waited until the later rounds. Our free agent signings were usually dumpster dives or reclamation projects that didn't last more than a year or two.

I'm happy that we purged our defense and moved on from veterans like Ratliff, Ware, Hatcher and Spears, but we failed to do anything to replace them. 4 years later and all we have to show is the hope that Maliek Collins becomes a decent player and that Demarcus Lawrence's back isn't career threatening.

And that's just D-line. I'm not even talking about other positions. Though Marinelli is the coordinator for the entire defense, I'll cut him some slack for LBers and secondary but definitely not for D-line. The only player that consistently plays well, Sean Lee, was brought in long before Marinelli got here. Heck, the most successful DLman in the past 4 years was Jason Hatcher.

So, what exactly has Marinelli brought to the defense the past 4 years other than having to make miracles out of garbage?

 

[The Natural]

To answer the last question in your post, nothing.

 

[jwooten15]

Greg Hardy....

Joking.

 

[Lutonio]

So is this post pro or anti Marinelli? Other than his stubbornness with blitzing, I think he has over achieved with limited talent.

 

[perrykemp]

The Cowboys coaching staff is really going to be introspective this offseason on their analysis of the defense.

The offense masked a ton this season... the 26th rated pass defense (by QB rating) -- a pass rush that was mostly non-existent for much of the season, and in general, outside of Sean Lee, a collection of 'nice' players but no consistent game changers.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

So is this post pro or anti Marinelli? Other than his stubbornness with blitzing, I think he has over achieved with limited talent.

Did you read my OP? Specifically the last line "So, what exactly has Marinelli brought to the defense the past 4 years other than having to make miracles out of garbage?"

I went through the 4 years he's been here, who we drafted, who we released, who we signed. What improvements have been made to the roster since he got here?

We can keep saying every year "Heck, Marinelli overachieved with that garbage D-line," but eventually that D-line needs to start improving. How has Marinelli helped to improve this D-line in any way?

 

[Sydla]

Marinelli is an interesting cat. He still does things that frustrate me. But what he did get out of this defense this season was a good job IMO. His lack of blitzing and trying to dictate to offenses frustrates me at times.

Interestingly enough, if Smith is healthy and raring to go, one of his strengths from scouts has been his blitzing. Will he be wasted under Rod?

 

[CyberB0b]

So is this post pro or anti Marinelli? Other than his stubbornness with blitzing, I think he has over achieved with limited talent.

That's on him, though. We always hear stories about him saying X guy in the draft won't fit his scheme, or drafting Zeke would make his defense better. The excuses are over. He talks a lot, but he hasn't produced. This also falls on the shoulders of Will McClay. Whoever though Benson Mayowa was the solution should be fired.

 

[Clove]

The blitz started to work so we go back to not doing it.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

I see a lot of people mentioning that Marinelli overachieved (yet again) considering the lack of talent on the D-line. The point of my OP is that the talent has not improved at all since he got here 4 years ago. I know he's not a scout or a GM, but surely a coordinator has at least some influence on the acquisitions a team makes for his unit. He's either extremely unlucky or he's not good at standing up and demanding some good players.

 

[TheCoolFan]

Two 2nd round pass rushers who can't consistently get on the field because of health and/or suspensions...which means they are worthless to this defense.

 

[Lutonio]

Did you read my OP? Specifically the last line "So, what exactly has Marinelli brought to the defense the past 4 years other than having to make miracles out of garbage?"

I went through the 4 years he's been here, who we drafted, who we released, who we signed. What improvements have been made to the roster since he got here?

We can keep saying every year "Heck, Marinelli overachieved with that garbage D-line," but eventually that D-line needs to start improving. How has Marinelli helped to improve this D-line in any way?

Sure I read it, but the meat of it talked about free agent signings and draft decisions that I wouldn't guess are as much in his control (maybe they are). Then it ends by saying he makes miracles.

Like I said, I think he needs to blitz more.

 

[manster4ever]

Surely, a coordinator should try to persuade the higher ups to bring in players via draft and free agency to improve his unit. Our O-line wasn't built over night. Each of our 3 superstars were drafted in different years. "It's a process." So what process has Marinelli been working toward?

He came in as D-line coach in 2013. We spent 0 picks on D-line in that year's draft. We got rid of Kenyon Coleman, Marcus Spears and Victor Butler. We replaced them with Nick Hayden and George Selvie.

He became defensive coordinator in 2014. We traded our 3rd round pick to move up in the 2nd to get Demarcus Lawrence. We also drafted Ben Gardner and Ken Bishop in the 7th round. We got rid of Demarcus Ware and Jason Hatcher. We brought in Jeremy Mincey, Henry Melton, Terrell McClain and Jack Crawford.

Marinelli was extended 3 years in 2015. We drafted Randy Gregory in the 2nd and Ryan Russell in the 5th. We got rid of Anthony Spencer as well as recent acquisitions George Selvie (2013) and Henry Melton (2014). We signed the troubled Greg Hardy.

This past season, 2016, we drafted Maliek Collins in the 3rd and Charles Tapper in the 4th. We got rid of Hardy after one year and Mincey after two. We brought in Benson Mayowa and Cedric Thornton.

That's it after 4 years. Highest drafted DL was Demarcus Lawrence. We took a chance on Randy Gregory via draft and Greg Hardy via free agency. Other than them, we either ignored DL altogether in the draft or waited until the later rounds. Our free agent signings were usually dumpster dives or reclamation projects that didn't last more than a year or two.

I'm happy that we purged our defense and moved on from veterans like Ratliff, Ware, Hatcher and Spears, but we failed to do anything to replace them. 4 years later and all we have to show is the hope that Maliek Collins becomes a decent player and that Demarcus Lawrence's back isn't career threatening.

And that's just D-line. I'm not even talking about other positions. Though Marinelli is the coordinator for the entire defense, I'll cut him some slack for LBers and secondary but definitely not for D-line. The only player that consistently plays well, Sean Lee, was brought in long before Marinelli got here. Heck, the most successful DLman in the past 4 years was Jason Hatcher.

So, what exactly has Marinelli brought to the defense the past 4 years other than having to make miracles out of garbage?

I LIKE your posts most of the time but....Rod isn't in the front office bro. He doesn't draft 'em, he just coaches 'em up to the best of his ability. Not making excuses, just the way it is. I'm as frustrated as you but Rod has tried to make chicken salad out of chicken **** for years now.

 

[UncleOscar]

When he reportedly agreed to and signed off on drafting Elliott over Jalen Ramsey, I thought, dang, what coordinator doesn't fight and scream for his own players? Don't get me wrong, I'm glad we drafted Elliot over Ramsey, I just thought it was real odd how Marinelli rolled over so easy.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

In summary of the OP:

In 4 years with Marinelli:

DRAFTED:
Demarcus Lawrence(hurt), Randy Gregory(suspended), Maliek Collins, Charles Tapper(hurt), Ryan Russell(gone), Ben Gardner(gone), Ken Bishop(gone)

SIGNED:
Nick Hayden(gone), George Selvie(gone), Jeremy Mincey(gone), Henry Melton(gone), Terrell McClain(free agent), Greg Hardy(gone), Benson Mayowa, Cedric Thornton

 

[manster4ever]

I see a lot of people mentioning that Marinelli overachieved (yet again) considering the lack of talent on the D-line. The point of my OP is that the talent has not improved at all since he got here 4 years ago. I know he's not a scout or a GM, but surely a coordinator has at least some influence on the acquisitions a team makes for his unit. He's either extremely unlucky or he's not good at standing up and demanding some good players.

You keep talking about "talent not improving"....what talent specifically? Lawrence with his bad back and drug suspension. Randy Gregory the train wreck? He doesn't have much blue chip 'talent' at all man. He just doesn't .No first rounders....only Lawrence and Gregory in the 2nd round. Thin pickings IMO

 

[manster4ever]

We loaded up on skill guys and Oline. Now the Dline sucks. It has NO young, eligible talent. It would if Gregory wasn't an idiot, but he is.

 

[manster4ever]

When he reportedly agreed to and signed off on drafting Elliott over Jalen Ramsey, I thought, dang, what coordinator doesn't fight and scream for his own players? Don't get me wrong, I'm glad we drafted Elliot over Ramsey, I just thought it was real odd how Marinelli rolled over so easy.

"Reportedly'? You don't know that....at all. Plus, it was the right call in a BIG way. Too bad LInehan gagged tonight and didn't use him enough.

 

[Nova]

I'm annoyed it hasn't panned out, but they've actually tried quite a bit.

You have to consider that they had to start from scratch in '14.

The unfortunate thing is, the BPA in the high round just hasn't been a DL that could help us.

It would be a mistake to reach for a need in the draft, and buying up high priced FAs also doesn't usually pan out.

It sucks, but we shouldn't over extend ourselves to bring in guys that may or may not workout.

Keep plugging away.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

You keep talking about "talent not improving"....what talent specifically? Lawrence with his bad back and drug suspension. Randy Gregory the train wreck? He doesn't have much blue chip 'talent' at all man. He just doesn't .No first rounders....only Lawrence and Gregory in the 2nd round. Thin pickings IMO

We just haven't improved at all talent wise. We make similar dumpster dive free agent signings that last 1-2 years before we release them and sign a similar free agent. How long are we gonna keep doing that? I'm not saying it's Marinelli's fault. Maybe he's extremely unlucky. But it's not working. We can't go into every season expecting Marinelli to make miracles out of an untalented D-line. I'd rather bring in a lesser coach like Rob Ryan (not him but someone like him) who could at least try to get creative with what we have. We keep expecting to play this straightforward defensive approach with a bunch of guys who shouldn't even be on an NFL roster. Either bring in a coach who will try to get creative or bring in some actual talent. I'm tired of seasons being derailed because of an awful D-line.