Who will Marinelli help the most?

[nfoligno]

Likely a question for later in the offseason, but hey, I'm bored:) So I am reading a couple articles on Marinelli, and I think the consensus is Marinelli will be good for the DL, and that Marinelli is a solid "teacher" who will elevate the play of the DL. So while most assume he will help the play of the DL as a whole, it got me wondering what players are most likely to see the greatest increase in their development.

 

Tommie Harris - This one is easy. According to Marinelli, the system doesn't just revolve around the DL, but he actually said it all starts w/ the "under" DT, and that would be Harris. Harris was considered one of the elite pass rushing DTs in the game. Last year was a total disappointment, but many expect harris play to elevate. But Harris is not my pick as he had already developed into one of the games best. It would be a tremendous gain if Marinelli gets him back to that level, but I am wondering more who gets to a level previously unseen.

 

Of the main guys, I think Wale is the least likely. I just don't think he has it anymore, and frankly, am not certain he best fits the mold. I think Wale is a guy who could be great against the run, and decent against the pass, but at this point, I am just not sure Marinelli can make Wale a pro bowler.

 

I toss Dusty, Scott and Idonije out too. I like Idonije, but don't see him as a special player. Nice backup and situational guy. Dusty has the heart, but I just don't think the talent. Scott is a solid run defending interior guy, but his ceiling isn't high.

 

That leaves three.

 

Mark Anderson is a guy I have talked about in the past. He had what, 12 sacks as a rookie. I pointed out in another thread that Richard Dent praised Anderson that year for the number of moves he displayed, and talked about how you never see a rookie enter the league w/ such an expanse of moves. I have always believed Anderson's drop was due, in large part, to our changed DL and DC coaches after his rookie season. While I am NOT saying Anderson will turn into a stud starter, I do believe Anderson has a great opportunity w/ Marinelli, and could well again become a great situational pass rusher.

 

Harrison is a kid many felt could have been a 1st round pick if it were not for some red flags. He didn't put it all together last year, but did show flashes of great talent. While I liked our defense w/ Scott, is there any question we saw more pass rush w/ Harrison. My concern w/ Harrison is how well he fits the NT role, but I do think there is a solid chance Marinelli can develop this kid into something. What that something is, I am not sure, but I do feel the ceiling here is high.

 

This leads me to Alex Brown. I have for years ripped Brown for his wide, very wide, angles to the QB, but I have also always questioned how much was him and how much was the staff. Brown is very good in run defense. He has shown great ability in pass rush, but the only consistent thing here was the inconsistency. But in Brown, I see a DE that truly fits the cover two, and a DE I think Marinelli could really get far more out of than what we have ever seen before.

 

Brown's highest sack total was 7, w/ 3 years finishing at 6. IMHO, w/ a truly great DL coach, Brown could elevate his total as high as double figures. It may be odd to pick one of the older guys (29) on the DL to play at a higher level than ever before seen, but that is my call. While Harris and Anderson may get back to a form previously seen, in Brown, I think there is the potential to hit levels always previously outside his reach. If we combine the better coaching w/ an upgrade at LDE (which I still think very possible for Angelo/Lovie), then I think the chance for Brown only goes up.

[kinglopaka]

Scott? You are a year behind there mate. I do believe you mean Adams?

[Mongo3451]

#54 I know the spirit of the question was intended for DL, but...

 

So, I'll go out on a limb and say Wale. He's in a contract year and Harris and Harrison are going to free him up more. Plus, I see the ends rushing more to the inside than last year.

[madlithuanian]

I'm actually thinking Brown as well. He seems to have the heart for improvement...

 

Likely a question for later in the offseason, but hey, I'm bored:) So I am reading a couple articles on Marinelli, and I think the consensus is Marinelli will be good for the DL, and that Marinelli is a solid "teacher" who will elevate the play of the DL. So while most assume he will help the play of the DL as a whole, it got me wondering what players are most likely to see the greatest increase in their development.

 

Tommie Harris - This one is easy. According to Marinelli, the system doesn't just revolve around the DL, but he actually said it all starts w/ the "under" DT, and that would be Harris. Harris was considered one of the elite pass rushing DTs in the game. Last year was a total disappointment, but many expect harris play to elevate. But Harris is not my pick as he had already developed into one of the games best. It would be a tremendous gain if Marinelli gets him back to that level, but I am wondering more who gets to a level previously unseen.

 

Of the main guys, I think Wale is the least likely. I just don't think he has it anymore, and frankly, am not certain he best fits the mold. I think Wale is a guy who could be great against the run, and decent against the pass, but at this point, I am just not sure Marinelli can make Wale a pro bowler.

 

I toss Dusty, Scott and Idonije out too. I like Idonije, but don't see him as a special player. Nice backup and situational guy. Dusty has the heart, but I just don't think the talent. Scott is a solid run defending interior guy, but his ceiling isn't high.

 

That leaves three.

 

Mark Anderson is a guy I have talked about in the past. He had what, 12 sacks as a rookie. I pointed out in another thread that Richard Dent praised Anderson that year for the number of moves he displayed, and talked about how you never see a rookie enter the league w/ such an expanse of moves. I have always believed Anderson's drop was due, in large part, to our changed DL and DC coaches after his rookie season. While I am NOT saying Anderson will turn into a stud starter, I do believe Anderson has a great opportunity w/ Marinelli, and could well again become a great situational pass rusher.

 

Harrison is a kid many felt could have been a 1st round pick if it were not for some red flags. He didn't put it all together last year, but did show flashes of great talent. While I liked our defense w/ Scott, is there any question we saw more pass rush w/ Harrison. My concern w/ Harrison is how well he fits the NT role, but I do think there is a solid chance Marinelli can develop this kid into something. What that something is, I am not sure, but I do feel the ceiling here is high.

 

This leads me to Alex Brown. I have for years ripped Brown for his wide, very wide, angles to the QB, but I have also always questioned how much was him and how much was the staff. Brown is very good in run defense. He has shown great ability in pass rush, but the only consistent thing here was the inconsistency. But in Brown, I see a DE that truly fits the cover two, and a DE I think Marinelli could really get far more out of than what we have ever seen before.

 

Brown's highest sack total was 7, w/ 3 years finishing at 6. IMHO, w/ a truly great DL coach, Brown could elevate his total as high as double figures. It may be odd to pick one of the older guys (29) on the DL to play at a higher level than ever before seen, but that is my call. While Harris and Anderson may get back to a form previously seen, in Brown, I think there is the potential to hit levels always previously outside his reach. If we combine the better coaching w/ an upgrade at LDE (which I still think very possible for Angelo/Lovie), then I think the chance for Brown only goes up.

[ASHKUM BEAR]

I'm thrilled we got Marinelli. I think we can throw the whole Detroit thing out the window, because he was not given the best opportunity to succeed. The guy wants to bring the best out of everyone. In media intervews,the guy is always spinning negatives into positives. He'll be the drill sergant in TC that will demand excellence from the players.

 

Just with his enthusiasm, he will turn around this team. The guys I can see him helping out the most:

 

Tommie Harris - He will become a believer once again (in the team that is). Marinelli/Sapp will work with him to give him techniques and a better mentality to the game. Harris will follow Marinelli and once again become a vocal leader. The elevation of Harris will spread through the D, because that is were it all starts. Once Harris gets back to his early 05 form, teams will have to scheme to contain him.

 

Dvorecek/Harrison - The NT's will benefit greatly from a healthy/motivated Tommie Harris. Like with Harris, Marinelli will get these guys prepared with proper technique. He will have them in shape and motivated. The push all starts from the middle in the cover-2. Thats why Lovie has the DE's take wide angles to swallow from outside then in.

 

DE's-whoever we will have at the start is the biggest unknown. I can really see JA going after Peppers or Suggs and then using a RD1 or RD2 on a DE in the draft. With our system, the DE's can't just be a specialist. They will need to be good at run contain, but excellent at pass rush. Mark Anderson had the pass rush down his rookie year, but all of his effort/talent was used firing off to the QB and his run defense was horrible. Once teams found that out, they attacked him. Brown is a little bit of the opposite. His run D is great, but he just don't have the speed to get to the QB. If you watch Brown, he is always anticipating the snap. He is really good at getting off before the Olineman, and sometimes gets the offsides call. With that sound technique, he still only manages 6-7 sacks/yr. Wale, I won't bring up b/c I believe he will be cut. With our DE's, I think Marinelli will teach them how to use there feet/hands better to fight the olineman until they can make a play. I don't think we have a DE on our roster right now that can elevate there play to cause other teams to panic over. Sign Peppers and draft Everett Brown, and then we a talk about panic.

 

LB's - I think the addition of Marinelli will also bring Urlacher back to pro-bowl level. Because the Dline will be back to swarming the QB, the LB's will get free roam over the middle of the field. You won't see a G using his first steps to target the LB as he will first try to chip the DT. I expect Urlacher to increase his tackles, and have 1-2 INT's.

 

In order for any of this to work out, Marinelli needs to get Tommie Harris of old back and the rest will follow.

[Wesson44]

IMHO he can help them all. Harris & Harrison will get the most out of him, and this will make the DE better. I have watched the Bears at times when I could and have noticed that our DE are getting blocked too much with the techinque they use. Guys like Peppers, Allen,harrison(Pitt)Abrams,Freeney and some others all have moves to get off blockers and get to the QB and just keep coming. On the other hand we at times seam to get to the blocker and then just stand around watching the play or get blocked out of the play. We don't stunt our DE'S much. I saw it once in the Rams game when Ogun put Bulger out of the game..

[AZ54]

Dusty. The guy needs a lot of help with his pass rush but he's a hard worker and I think he'll take to Marinelli very quickly and get a lot of benefit out of it.

[BearSox]

I'd be shocked if Dusty isn't cut this offseason. He can't stay healthy, and the tape will show he's played like shit when healthy.

[nfoligno]

Damn. That is like the 50th time I have said Scott meaning Adams.

 

Scott? You are a year behind there mate. I do believe you mean Adams?

[Mongo3451]

I am amazed at the broad range of players that our board has chosen. These are type of responses that inspire hope. Can one position coach make that much of a difference. I guess it depends on how bad the predecessor was. I also like the Sapp connection. It always helps when a HOF caliber player comes in and lends a hand.

[nfoligno]

One, yes, I think how bad the previous position coach has a lot to do w/ it. Players like Harris and Anderson were huge prior to Brick. Wale was also playing at a much higher level. Brown hasn't changed that much to be honest. Not saying it was all Brick, but a change was seen.

 

Two, beyond just Marinelli (and I should have said this) is also changed who calls the plays and creates the game plans. I think few would at this point defend Babich as our DC. Its one thing to have a coach that doesn't do well, or well enough, but another to have a coach who seems to absolutely destroy a unit. IMHO, that is what Brick and Babich did. I think our LB and DB coaches were fall guys, but Brick and Babich were awful.

 

Agreed about Sapp. A couple years ago, we had Dent as an assistant DL coach. While not every great player is a great coach, I do think great players have something to offer. Players like Dent and Sapp simply learned over the years a host of moves and "tid bits" that if passed on, could truly help young players. Personally, I believe every team should have some guys like that on their coaching staffs.

 

I am amazed at the broad range of players that our board has chosen. These are type of responses that inspire hope. Can one position coach make that much of a difference. I guess it depends on how bad the predecessor was. I also like the Sapp connection. It always helps when a HOF caliber player comes in and lends a hand.