My Q&A (OK, OK—Just Q) with Defensive Line Coach Rod Marinelli
Published by Michael Rushton on May 28, 2009
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
Lovie Smith described the off season move for long-time friend and former head coach of the win-less Detroit Lions, Rod Marinelli, as the most important off season acquisition he could have made.
Well, no. Not really—hindsight being 20/20 and all.
With the unexpected acquisition of Jay Cutler having since engulfed all other off season moves—not only for the Bears but arguably for the entire NFL—Rod Marinelli’s role in the Bears’ future success has taken a back seat as far as your average fans are concerned.
However, it has been widely acknowledged internally and by many NFL experts that Rod Marinelli’s return to coaching the defensive line position could still have the greatest influence over the Bears’ ability to make that next step of returning to NFC prominence.
Many fans don’t really know Marinelli’s background and reputation as one of the finest position coaches in the league and are (and I can’t blame them) more than a little underwhelmed by his recent track record as the head coach of the Detroit Lions.
So who is Rod Marinelli and what should Bears nation expect from this legendary (for better and worse) personality? Here’s what I want to know.
1) Tell us how your experiences in Vietnam have shaped your world view. It’s an intense test to pass for any young man- have you taken any of the lessons learned in the military and transferred them to the football field?
2) What does it mean for you to be re-united with your long time friend and peer, Lovie Smith? What’s your working relationship like?
3) You have a very veteran line this year with Bears—they know the system up and down and there’s nothing new in the way of technique that they haven’t seen before- how do you go about getting better play from them?
4) Can you clear something up for us? Many people think that you have been a defensive coordinator at the professional level, which isn’t actually the case.
You do, however, have extensive experience as an Assistant Head Coach—a responsibility you will resume here in Chicago. What are the responsibilities of an Assistant Head Coach and how do they differ from that of an offensive or defensive coordinator?
5) Two of the top four draft choices this year were defensive linemen- how much influence do you wield personally in draft day decisions when it comes to your defensive line?
6) In your estimation, what will it take from Tommie Harris to regain the form he displayed in ’05 and ’06?
7) How did your experience in Detroit change your coaching philosophy, if at all? What did you learn? Is there anything you would have done differently looking back on it?
8) Which of your young players are you looking to have a quantum leap in production from this year and why?
9) What coaches have you learned the most from and who has most inspired your philosophy and brand of coaching?
10) With many teams in the NFL currently switching away from the 4-3 defense to play the 3-4, why do you think the Tampa Two derivatives, with the right personnel and executed correctly, can be the most effective scheme in the league?
