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Raiders DL coach Rod Marinelli wins PFWA Paul “Dr Z” Zimmerman Award

That annual Pro Football Writers of America awards are trickling out. Monday they announced the winners of the the Paul “Dr Z” Zimmerman Award, given for lifetime achievement as an assistant coach. Each year there are two recipients of the award. …

Each year there are two recipients of the award. And one of the winners is Raiders defensive line coach, Rod Marinelli.

The longtime NFL defensive assistant was in his third year as a finalist for the award.

Marinelli is entering his 26th year as an NFL assistant coach and his second as the defensive line coach for the Raiders.

Prior to joining the Raiders last year, Marinelli was the defensive coordinator for the Cowboys for six years. He had one stint as a head coach for the Lions over three seasons from 2006-08. He got a Super Bowl ring with the Buccaneers in 2003 under Jon Gruden.

The other assistant to take home the award is 49ers running backs coach Bobby Turner.

Turner is also entering his 26th season as an NFL assistant coach. He has spent the past four seasons in San Francisco. Prior to that he spent two seasons in Atlanta, and five seasons in Washington. But he’s most well known for his 15-year stint with the Denver Broncos (1995-2009). He has coached three of those teams in the Super Bowl, getting two rings with the Broncos.

Other finalists on the ballot were Bob McKittrick (49ers, Rams, Chargers), Floyd Peters (Giants, 49ers, Lions, Cardinals, Vikings, Buccaneers, Raiders), and John Teerlinck (Browns, Rams, Vikings, Lions, Broncos, Colts).

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Raiders DL coach Rod Marinelli finalist for PFWA Paul ‘Dr. Z’ Zimmerman Award

For the third straight year, longtime NFL coach Rod Marinelli has been nominated for the Paul “Dr. Z” Zimmerman Award. The award is given out annually by the Pro Football Writers of America for lifetime achievement as an NFL assistant coach.

Marinelli is heading into his 26th year as an NFL assistant coach and his second as the defensive line coach for the Raiders. Last season he stepped in as the interim Defensive Coordinator for the final three games after the firing of Paul Guenther.

Defensive coordinator is a familiar position for Marinelli. Prior to coming to Las Vegas, he had held that position for six years, pulling double duty as the defensive line coach.

Marinelli entered the league as a defensive line coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1996 where he would eventually coach under Jon Gruden for three seasons. There he won a Super Bowl and went on to be the head coach of the Detroit Lions for three seasons (2006-08) — his only time a head coach. From there he went on to be the DL coach, DC, and Assistant Head Coach in Chicago for four seasons. He’s arguably the most respected current longtime assistant in the NFL.

Other finalists on the ballot are Bob McKittrick (49ers, Rams, Chargers), Floyd Peters (Giants, 49ers, Lions, Cardinals, Vikings, Buccaneers, Raiders), John Teerlinck (Browns, Rams, Vikings, Lions, Broncos, Colts), and Bobby Turner (Falcons, Washington, Broncos, 49ers).

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Raiders DL coach Rod Marinelli finalist for PFWA Paul ‘Dr. Z’ Zimmerman Award

Defensive coordinator is a familiar position for Marinelli. Prior to coming to Las Vegas, he had held that position for six years, pulling double duty as the defensive line coach.

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3 Bills players honored by PFWA in 2020

Buffalo Bills WR Stefon Diggs, CB Tre’Davious White, KR Andre Roberts honored by PFWA in 2020.

The Buffalo Bills had five players named to All-Pro teams this season. Of those five, three more were honored again by the PFWA.

That trio is wide receiver Stefon Diggs, cornerback Tre’Davious White and returner Andre Roberts. PFWA (Pro Football Writers of America) pegged White and Roberts to the All-AFC team for 2020.

Diggs was named to the All-AFC squad and All-NFL team as well.

The extra honor for Diggs lines up with the All-Pro selections previously handed to Bills players. He was Buffalo’s lone first-team All-Pro pick. The other four were second-teamers.

Including in those four were also quarterback Josh Allen and wide receiver Cole Beasley. Allen was overlooked for the All-AFC team on PWFA’s list by Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The All-AFC team only has one QB selected to it.

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Damien Lewis only Seahawk named to 2020 PFWA All-Rookie Team

Seattle Seahawks guard Damien Lewis was the only member of the organization named to the 2020 PFWA All-Rookie Team. He looks promising.

RG Damien Lewis is the lone Seahawk to be named to @PFWAwriters 2020 All-Rookie Team. Lewis started every game and his 91% Pass Block Win Rate as a guard was second-best among rookies. pic.twitter.com/GQc54qchDs

— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) January 19, 2021

Seattle Seahawks guard Damien Lewis had a strong rookie season in 2020, making the Pro Football Writers of America’s All-Rookie Team and being the only Seahawk to do so this year.

The Seahawks selected Lewis in the third round in the 2020 NFL Draft with the No. 69 overall pick and he made an immediate impact, playing every snap in the season opener against the Falcons and going on to start all 16 regular-season games and the postseason loss against the Rams.

Lewis proved himself a solid run blocker this year and Pro Football Focus gave him a run-blocking grade of 81.5. He could use improvement in the passing game but has plenty of room to grow.

Lewis could prove crucial to the stability of the Seahawks’ offensive line in the near future, especially considering the uncertainty of several other players positioned adjacent to him.

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Pair of Chargers named to PFWA 2020 All-Rookie team

The Los Angeles Chargers got a lot out of their first-round picks this past season.

The Chargers got plenty of production out of two rookies this past season, both of whom were selected in the first-round of the 2020 NFL draft.

Those two were quarterback Justin Herbert and linebacker Kenneth Murray, who were named to the 2020 All-Rookie team, voted by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA).

In addition, Herbert was named the 2020 Rookie of the Year and the Offensive Rookie of the Year.

The former Oregon product finished with 4,336 yards, 31 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, breaking multiple records along the way and coming up just 38 yards shy of passing the rookie passing yard record held by Andrew Luck.

Herbert is currently the front-runner to win the prestigious Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

Meanwhile, Murray recorded 107 tackles, three passes defended and one sack in his rookie season. The former Oklahoma product experienced growing pains right off the bat, but he made consistent growth week in and week out.

Chiefs CB L’Jarius Sneed, P Tommy Townsend named to PFWA All-Rookie Team

Two Kansas City Chiefs rookies are among the 27 players named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

The Pro Football Writers of America have announced their annual All-Rookie team. Two rookies of the Kansas City Chiefs have been recognized among the best at their position in their introductory NFL seasons. The Chiefs were among six other teams to also have two rookies selected to the team.

Chiefs fourth-round draft pick L’Jarius Sneed was one of the two players recognized at his position along with Minnesota Vikings CB Cameron Dantzler. Sneed burst onto the scene early in his career filling in for suspended veteran Bashaud Breeland. By Week 2, Sneed was the NFL’s interception leader. He’d see his first helping of NFL adversity in Week 3 when he suffered a fractured collarbone.

Sneed wouldn’t return until Week 11 and when he returned he was playing an entirely different position, operating as the team’s nickel corner. He met the challenge head-on and continues to impress at the position. Sneed finished the regular season with nine games played and six starts, recording 41 total tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks, seven passes defended and three interceptions. He’s already recorded a sack in the Chiefs’ postseason campaign.

Undrafted free agent Tommy Townsend, the other Chiefs rookie recognized, secured the only space for a punter on the All-Rookie team. He had big shoes to fill when he signed in Kansas City, replacing 15-year veteran punter Dustin Colquitt. He’s attacked that challenge and proven to be one of the top young punters in the game.

Townsend has done about as good of a job as you could possibly ask for from a rookie. He finished the year with 52 punts for a total of 2,339 yards, averaging 45 yards per punt with a long punt of 69 yards. He also completed a 13-yard pass attempt on a fake punt against the New York Jets in Week 8. He didn’t have a punt in the AFC divisional round of the playoffs, but signs only point to more success for the rookie from here on out.

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Texans RT Tytus Howard would have rather played in playoffs, not made all-rookie team

Houston Texans right tackle Tytus Howard would have rather played the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs than make the PFWA’s all-rookie team.

Houston Texans right tackle Tytus Howard had an impressive rookie season. Despite being limited to eight games due to an MCL injury, the former 2019 first-round pick landed on the Pro Football Writers of America’s all-rookie team.

Howard appreciates the honor, but if he could trade it back for more playing time in his rookie season, he would.

“It felt pretty good,” Howard said. “I can’t lie, I didn’t think I was going to make it because I didn’t play eight games. To me, to be honest, I wish I would have been here because it’s not, to me, about making All-Rookie.”

The consummate offensive lineman in mentality, Howard’s accomplishment is shadowed by the fact he was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 30. The Alabama State product missed the last five games of the season and Houston’s two playoff games due to the knee injury.

“I wish I was here to play in the playoffs so I could help us beat the Chiefs,” said Howard. “So, yeah, it felt good to make All-Rookie but it would have been better for me to play the second half of the season.”

The Texans fell 51-31 to Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium in the AFC divisional playoffs. Despite having a 24-0 lead, Houston was blown out of the water with the Chiefs outscoring the Texans 51-7.

Houston was rotating Roderick Johnson and Chris Clark at tackle during the final five games of the season. The offensive line would have benefited from having Howard bring consistency to the other bookend opposite of left tackle Laremy Tunsil.

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Former Browns coach Romeo Crennel wins the PFWA ‘Dr. Z’ award

Former Cleveland Browns head coach Romeo Crennel has been selected as a recipient of the Pro Football Writers of America’s Paul “Dr. Z” Zimmerman award, which recognizes lifetime achievement as an assistant coach in the NFL. The award is named after the late, legendary Sports Illustrated football writer Paul Zimmerman.

Crennel was announced as one of the two winners of the honor from the PFWA, along with longtime Dolphins assistant Bill Ansparger.

Crennel was the Browns head coach from 2005-2008. He was also the team’s defensive coordinator in 2000. Crennel has also coached with the Giants, Jets, Patriots, Chiefs and Texans, where he has been the defensive coordinator since 2014 (he sat out the 2017 season). Crennel has coached in six Super Bowls, winning five titles.

In the spirit of disclosure, I am a PFWA member and voted for Crennel.

Congrats to Coach Crennel, one of the truly good guys in the game!

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Former Dolphins coach named 2020 Dr. Z award winner

The Miami Dolphins’ proud legacy of successes through the 1970s and 1980s has officially added another feather to their cap. Former Dolphins defensive coordinator Bill Arnsparger has been named the co-winner of the Pro Football Writers of America’s ‘Paul “Dr. Z” Zimmerman award for lifetime achievement by the Pro Football Writers Association.

The PFWA identifies the award as one specifically geared towards assistant coaches at the NFL level and with Arnsparger and Romeo Crennel splitting the award this year, they join past winners such as Wade Phillips, Dante Scarnecchia, Howard Mudd, Dick LeBeau, Jim Johnson, Bud Carson and others.

To be named co-winners, Arnsparger and Crennel had to beat out a field of six other nominees:

Dick Hoak
Rod Marinelli
Bobb McKittrick
Floyd Peters
Buddy Ryan
Bobby Turner

Between the “No Name” Dolphins defense of the 1970s and the “Killer B’s” defense of the 1980s, Arnsparger quietly carved out an impressive resume in South Florida while working alongside Don Shula with the Dolphins. His tenure as a head coach was not quite as graceful — Arnsparger logged a 7-28 record over the course of three seasons as the New York Giants’ head coach from 1974 to 1976. But that shortcoming led him back to Miami for nearly another decade of calling the shots with the Dolphins’ defense and helped him further cement his legacy as an all-time great assistant head coach.

That title is further cemented with his winning of the Dr. Z Award this summer.

Arnsparger last coached in the NFL in 1994 as the defensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers, a stop that was preceded by a three year stint with the LSU Tigers at the college level. In those three seasons, Arnsparger averaged 9 wins per season and twice won SEC Coach of the Year honors.

He passed away in 2015 at the age of 88, but his legacy is remembered today as he joins an exclusive list of NFL assistants to be recognized for their lifetime contributions to the game.