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Marinelli Still Trying To Send Positive Message To Lions

The Associated Press

Rod Marinelli, Detroit's embattled head coach, has remained resolute throughout the 0-10 start of the Lions, who face the Bucs Sunday at Ford Field.

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By IRA KAUFMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 21, 2008

TAMPA - If you're waiting for Rod Marinelli to show signs of desperation, good luck.

Detroit's embattled head coach has remained resolute throughout the 0-10 start of the Lions, who face the Bucs Sunday at Ford Field.

"I've been good most of my life at staying the course,'' says Marinelli, Tampa Bay's former defensive line coach. "My job is to lead this building. When you're in a leadership role, you lead from the front. You never lead from behind and you never lead depressed. If we stay the course, the results will come.''

That may be a tough message to swallow for long-suffering Detroit fans who have seen the organization lurch from one losing season to another under an array of coaches.

Despite eight former Bucs dotting their roster, the Lions are in danger of matching the 1976 Bucs as the only franchises in the league's 89-year history to lose every game in a season.

Marinelli's future in Motown remains uncertain. He is 10-32 since arriving in 2006 and his decision last year to hire his son-in-law, former Bucs LBs coach Joe Barry, as Detroit's defensive coordinator, has generated local criticism.

Detroit's opponents are averaging 36 points per game at Ford Field and the Lions are 9-point home underdogs to the 7-3 Bucs, who will face three NFC South rivals after Sunday's matchup.

"In terms of knowing how to play close games, Jon Gruden might be as good as anybody in football,'' said Marinelli, who spent four years on Gruden's staff in Tampa. "They know how to win 'em. Then you add a Jeff Garcia. He doesn't let a play die, he doesn't throw picks and he never gets tired. You've got to get some oxygen to go after him.''

One of the former Bucs on Detroit's ravaged defense is veteran cornerback Brian Kelly, who has started eight games.

"If you came in this locker room, you'd think our record was 7-3 or 6-4,'' Kelly said. "Guys are upbeat and a lot of it has to do with the guy Rod is. We're not walking around high-fiving each other like we're playing great, but we're also not walking around with our head in the sand and moping around, looking for excuses. Rod takes all the heat. He takes every bullet they throw his way. He's not pointing the finger at any player and when you've got a guy like that, we've got to get some wins for him.''

Marinelli said he's well aware he is a role model for aspiring coaches eager to see how he deals with adversity.

"I have a certain standard for the game of football that I have to represent,'' he said. "It's really important we send a strong message in good times and bad times that you've got to believe in what you're doing and how you work.''

If the Lions hire a new general manager from outside the organization after the 2008 season, it appears unlikely Marinelli would be retained for a fourth year.

"If you're in this business long enough, you're going to have seasons that just don't go the way you've planned,'' Gruden said. "You have to be mentally tough and he is that. I know this – he's a great coach and a great leader. I'd swear by Rod Marinelli as long as I'm alive.''

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