Detroit Lions Weblog

Head Coach Rod Marinelli Interviewed on the Jim Rome Show

Head Coach Rod Marinelli had a brief interview on the Jim Rome show today, partially filling the role of a shil-, er, I mean spokesperson for some award sponsored by some cell phone company.  Rome’s first question was to ask Marinelli about gaining his first NFL victory against Buffalo? Marinelli said that it felt good but that in the NFL you don’t have the advantage of being able to savor any victory, especially considering that the Lions followed that win up with a loss this Sunday.

Rome asked Marinelli how he felt about entering the bye week and Marinelli responded by stating that he didn’t dwell on things he had no control over.   He did say it would be a valuable time to break down film and hopefully get some players healthy. 

Rome asked about comments made by Kevin Jones that stated that not only were the Lions fighting to preserve their reputation but also were “fighting for him (Marinelli) and his reputation, too”.  Rome wondered how that made Marinelli feel when a player said something of that nature.  Marinelli said that he feels strongly about this team and believes that they can win through paying more attention to details.   Anymore, most games are won during the 4th quarter and attention to detail goes along way towards determining the outcome in close games.  He also said that Kevin Jones has been playing at a very high level recently.

Rome asked Marinelli about the Lions losing culture and how you go about changing it?  Marinelli said that the past can’t dominate your thoughts and that you have to establish and adhere to what you believe in philosophically as a coach.  He said that he believes in laying down the fundamental building blocks and instilling toughness as approaches that may lead to victory.  Marinelli also stated that physical toughness has been there from day one for the Lions, but mental toughness and the consistency that comes along with mental toughness have been lacking.  He believes that the lack of mental toughness is why they are losing late in games.

Rome asked how Marinelli believed you could nurture this mental toughness? Marinelli stated that it’s taught step by step and that through repetition you develop consistency in execution.  When facing adversity this consistency becomes poise (consistency through times of turmoil)  as opposed to panic–which is a reflection of being unprepared.  Marinelli also said that consistency is a reflection of belief in what you are doing.

Rome asked about releasing a talented player like Charles Rogers.   He wondered if the release was performance-based or a reflection of Rogers’ lack of a positive attitude or commitment.  Marinelli said that the coaching staff had to do what was right for the team and said that tough choices sometimes have to be made.  (He was very brief in regards to Mr. Charles Rogers) 

Rome asked about D-Line Coach Joe Cullen and his early season “nude drive-thru”  incident?  Marinelli said that he was upset and disappointed about what Cullen had done.  He said that Cullen was getting help for his problems and that he had been corrected through his one game suspension.  He also said that he believed that some people take pleasure in other people’s misfortune.

Rome’s last question was in regards to Marinelli’s service in Vietnam (something Marinelli doesn’t comment upon)?  Marinelli said that his service was a private issue and then there was a brief but very awkward moment where Rome decided that it was probably time for Marinelli to enter his shil-uh, I mean spokesperson mode.

I really respect Coach Marinelli.   I think that he says the right things and it’s remarkable that he has yet to lose his team.   Other than their embarassing performance against the Bears, all of the Lions games have been winnable in spite of any adversity.   That being said, this a team that is consistently losing close games in the 4th quarter, turning the ball over too much (when it has little or no room for error), is heavily penalized and is precariously close to having one of it’s worse seasons of all time.   I have to wonder what kind of timetable it will demand for him to establish the poise, belief, and consistency that he referred to in his Rome interview.   I also wonder that if in deferrence to his superiors within the organization, he avoided mentioning that he believes that the Lions are lacking the proper personnel to execute the system that he and the coaches were attempting to put into place.  

Let’s face it, players like Boss Bailey, Jeff Backus, Kalimba Edwards, and Cory Redding et al are remarkably average and have not developed into the type of talents that we would like to believe that they are.   Maybe Marinelli would like to say that not only does he need to change the Lions losing culture but the team will also need to undertake a costly, time-consuming roster overhaul that will likely have to come sooner than later.  In which case, “Millen Man” marches and other means of Lions fans expression of disgust will likely be de rigeur as this team continues to languish in it’s interminable, unremittent rebuilding program.