The latest coaching firing came in Las Vegas Sunday night with the Raiders dismissing defensive coordinator Paul Guenther. His firing didn’t come as a big surprise being that their defense has been giving up the third-most points in the NFL this season, including an average of 37.5 points the past four games.
The past two games were especially bad with the defense allowing the winless Jets to run all over them and tie a season-high with 28 points followed by allowing 37 points to the Colts (the final TD was a pick-six).
Gruden is averse to firing coordinators during the season, but with three games left and the defense stopping no one, he had to make a move. He appeared in his Monday press conference to explain his decision.
“Its a very tough decision we made,” said Gruden. “Paul is a great friend and a great coach. He’s given great effort here for two and a half years. And it’s a very tough circumstance. With the COVID players coming and going, all the injuries, we need a new voice right now. And I think it will help Paul in the long run probably getting away from me. But certainly, he’s a great coach, we thank him for everything that he has done.”
Taking over for Guenther the rest of the way is defensive line coach Rod Marinelli, who last season was the defensive coordinator in Dallas.
“We need a new voice right now. I think we need a new energy and with three games left, we’re going to let Rod Marinelli call the plays,” Gruden continued. “He’s experienced doing that. We have a good staff, we have a lot of young players, and we want to service those young players the best we can with a new voice, a new energy and a guy that’s had a lot of experience in some tough situations.”
Marinelli has been coaching at the NFL level since 1996 first as a defensive line coach with the Buccaneers. He was retained by Gruden when he took over as head coach in Tampa in 2002 and added the title of Assistant Head Coach.
Marinelli had been the Cowboys’ DC and defensive line coach for six seasons in Dallas. When he came available prior to this season, Gruden brought him in to coach his defensive line again. He now returns to the job of DC.
“He’s one of the great teachers and great motivators and great people that I’ve met in this business,” Gruden said of Marinelli. “He looks forward to adversity. He thrives in it. I think he looks forward to these challenges. The building of this defense, putting it all together. That’s why we brought him here in the first place. If his soldiers got healthy upfront, but he’s got great experience as well as great experience in situations like this.”
The Raiders are still in contention for a playoff spot. They sit at 7-6 with three games remaining. That starts on a short week against the Chargers on Thursday Night Football before facing the Dolphins in Week 16 and the Broncos in Denver in the finale.
[vertical-gallery id=77159]
[lawrence-newsletter]