The Raiders made the bold decision this offseason to replace defensive line coach Brenston Buckner, who was a favorite among the players in the locker room, for Rod Marinelli. While Marinelli is undoubtedly the more seasoned and proven coach, the change will likely be a significant one for the Raiders’ defense.
Widely considered as one of the best defensive line coaches in the NFL, Marinelli has always emphasized pass-rush over stopping the run. He has traditionally favored undersized players who can get up the field and put pressure on the quarterback. That is why it wouldn’t be all that surprising if Arden Key makes a leap in Year 3 under Marinelli.
In the first two seasons of his career, Key has totaled just 15 quarterback hits and three sacks. In 2019, he was placed on the injured reserve list for the final nine games of the season due to a foot injury. But now that he is healthy entering the 2020 season, he will be competing for snaps behind Clelin Ferrell and Maxx Crosby.
However, Marinelli has had a lot of success resurrecting the careers of undersized edge rushers. In 2018, Cowboys’ defensive end Randy Gregory had a career year, recording six sacks and 15 quarterback hits as a situational pass-rusher. Marinelli was able to work his magic again in 2019 as Robert Quinn had his first double-digit sack season (11.5) since 2014.
It’s clear that Key has the talent and skillset that Marinelli craves from his right defensive end. It will be fascinating to see if the third-year defensive end from LSU can put it all together this season with the Raiders. It’s truly a make-or-break year for Key in 2020.
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