| Curtis A. Clark. 27th January, 2006 - 4:04 am
 Has Matt Millen finally concocted a winning formula? In his third attempt to nab the best available coach with a last name that starts with an M, Millen found Rod Marinelli.
In Tampa Bay, Marinelli coached one of the best defensive lines in the NFL over the last 10 seasons. His defensive set an NFL record with 69 consecutive games with a sack and was consistently in the top 5 in total defense overall. The Lions defensive line has been the one constant strength of the Lions organization over the last 5 years. Players like Shaun Rogers, James Hall, Dan Wilkenson, and Kalimba Edwards will all benefit from Marinelli’s experience.
Millen went away from the need and played to the strength of on field performance with this hire. While Marinelli’s coaching abilities play to the teams strength, his personality is what the team really needs. The Lion’s players, under former head coach Steve Mariucci, were left unaccountable for their errors. Many speculate that Mariucci lost his locker room because of his players coach mentality and lack of discipline. Marinelli by all accounts is a fiery tempered, hard nosed head coach who expects his demands to be met. Hopefully the counter Mooch in Millen’s mind.
While Marinelli’s personality seems to be the fit, he lacks any head coaching experience. He has never been a coordinator, never called plays at the NFL level, and has only ever been in charge of a small group of players. Many question GM Matt Millen’s choice in Marinelli. Millen, who’s track record is one of the worse as a GM in NFL history, is know to fall in love with coaches and relying to much on his emotions and possible best case scenarios. The hire Marinelli has signs of being a similar choice. The gamble, in the eyes of Millen, is worth the risk. After an extensive 12 person interview, Millen concluded that his team could only get the discipline it needs from Marinelli.
Still Lion’s fans should be excited. The biggest concern of fans last year had to be the lack of effort by certain Lions players on every down. The Quarterback and Receiver positions especially were criticized for lackluster performances. Marinelli has been brought in especially to light a fire under his players. He will follow several cliché NFL philosophies, such as, playing hard on ever down and leaving everything on the field. Two concepts the Lions did not understand last year.
Marinelli’s first coaching staff hire also follows his fiery mold. Donnie Henderson, the former defensive coordinator of the New York Jets, has been brought on to be the Lions defensive coordinator. Henderson will sick with a cover two defense, something the Lions are familiar with, but with more emphasis on aggressive play calling. Described as emotional and combustible, the hope is Henderson, like Marinelli, can light a fire under the Lions capable defensive unit.
Marinelli is yet to hire his offensive coordinator, a crucial hire due to the Lions ineptitude in the Joey Harrington era. That decision may actually end up being more important than even the Marinelli hire, as the Lions offense has been the unit that has lost the Lions most of their games in the last 5 seasons. |
