Marinelli Bringing Warren Sapp With Him
The title is a little misleading, but this article was the last thing I was expecting to read today. Warren Sapp did an interview in which he praised new defensive line coach Rod Marinelli:
WHAT ARE THE BEARS GETTING IN ROD MARINELLI?
WS: The architect of the one of the greatest pass rushes the NFL has ever known. We went on a string of 70 straight games with a sack. It was all of us. That was our little string. Him, it was all of us. We attacked quarterbacks like it was nobody's business. I just spoke to him the other day. He said, `Yeah, it's going to be fun again. Here we go.' He has a good group and he's excited. I spoke to him [Tuesday] night and said he was packing up and going to Chicago today. Look out Windy City, here comes the man.
IS IT THE X'S AND O'S OF ROD MARINELLI OR IS IT SOMETHING ELSE?
WS: No, it's the passion. It's his conviction. You don't see many men stand and do what he did up in Detroit, going 0-16 and people attacking him and talking about his daughter and different stuff. He's a man of dignity who served his country in the Vietnam War. I love the man. I absolutely adore him because he took me on a path to greatness and wouldn't let me deter off it even a little bit. After I won my defensive player of the year award, he looked at me said, `Let's see if your play can catch up with your athletic ability.'
I said, `What do you mean my athletic ability?'
He said, `What can you do?'
I said, `I can do anything.'
He said, `Well, let's see.'
I came back and up put 16 1/2 [sacks] so he'll challenge you in a way that just is going to push your boundaries. If [Adewale] Ogunleye and Alex Brown and Tommie Harris and the rest of them, [Israel Idonije] and [Marcus Harrison] and the rest of those guys up there buy into a system that lives off the front four, that's what the defense does, it lives off the front four. If they want that, greatness is right in front of them. Just go get it.
But what is more is this little bit here:
WS: I guarantee you he is going to be healthy this year and if he's not, it will be obvious. You have to put him together before he gets there. Rod will do a great job with that. He's always done a great job with me because I had a little trick knee sometimes and I didn't practice at times but you know when you need to grind and the grind happens. I talked to Tommie the other day and I told him, `Me and you are going to start this offseason as soon as I get out of Tampa [after Super Bowl XLIII] buddy because the under tackle position is something that not many people even want to be talked about because it's not a defensive tackle and it's not something else, it's an under tackle, a unique guy that goes both ways, that does special things. I only know two other ones other than myself and that's John Randle and Keith Millard that even consider themselves as under tackles. If you want to be in that class with me and those other two dudes, we're going to have to look each other in the eye and we're going to have to talk about this the right way and see what he's thinking. Because if he's not thinking about it the right way, with me and Rod, we're going to get some work out of Tommie, I guarantee you this because he's too good of a player to be sitting in that system looking like he's not a player.
SO YOU ARE GOING TO WORK WITH TOMMIE?
WS: I am going to work with him, yes.
I know there are differing opinons on Sapp and his place in history, but there were a number of years when he was an absolute monster on that line.
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Comments
I find this actually exciting for once!
Anyone else?
What to do, with Larry Hughe?
by Rudey on Jan 14, 2009 3:31 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
The point is this
Harris for whatever reason has been underachieving. Whether do to attitude or injury.
I don’t know what athletic ability Sapp had, but I always deemed him to be a big time over achiever. He did more with less. If he and Marinelli can get Harris to max his abilities that would be huge.
Being Who You Thought We Were Since 2005!
by Adam T on Jan 14, 2009 3:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Look what Ewing is doing for Dwight Howard
What to do, with Larry Hughe?
by Rudey on Jan 14, 2009 4:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Ewing gets far too much credit
There’s been reports that Ewing does little more than ogle the cheerleaders during practice. Most former players make poor coaches because they aren’t committed to teaching and instead just want to be around the environment of their glory days.
We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look.
Ronald Reagan
by snley on Jan 14, 2009 4:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I'd heard the same
Ewing pretty much begged his way into to a job. Most coaches seem to know which players would make good coaches and they seem to get their chances. In this case, I’m not worried. I assume Sapp will be working with Harris at the same time as Marinelli.
Being Who You Thought We Were Since 2005!
by Adam T on Jan 14, 2009 8:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Sapp's gonna get his hands on him right after the Super Bowl
What I’m most interest to know is…
Did Tommie seek out Sapp? Or did Marinelli fetch Sapp on Tommie?
Listening to Sapp on the radio today was pretty cool.
I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008
by SackMan on Jan 14, 2009 10:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Tommie found Sapp
I read that back when he was at Oklahoma, Tommie contacted Warren Sapp for advice.
by Subotai on Jan 15, 2009 7:24 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm also curious to see what Marinelli can do with
Alex Brown.
I wonder though if Lovie’s scheme in some way could hamper what Marinelli may be able to do.
Being Who You Thought We Were Since 2005!
by Adam T on Jan 14, 2009 3:35 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
I'd be willing to bet
Lovie is going to give Marinelli a pretty long leash to work with…
Things will get better as they improve...
by Dane Noble on Jan 14, 2009 3:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
He's going to go all Jack Bauer on their *#%!!!
He’s going to make them work overtime and prove they can garner consistent pressure on the QB. I kind of agree with the aforementioned post about the level of excitement. Their showing a ton of fire this early in the off-season. I still think Angelo will add a DE very early in the draft.
The first day of the draft should look something like this…
1st- Safety/DE
2nd- DE/Safety
3rd- OT/WR
"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus
by propheteer on Jan 14, 2009 10:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Just get him in a winning environment.
He looked ready to get out there at the NatChamp game around all of his future alumni friends.
For those children who claimed they’ve been a fan of their favorite team all their life, or even since they were about four or five years old: bullshit. There’s always that certain event or certain player that draws to the sport and draws you to a team. For me, Nomar Garciaparra was that reason. - Nick Coviello: I Try To See Rocco, But All I Think Is Nomar; 1/9/09
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jan 14, 2009 7:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
How would running Tampa 2 (which is what they ran in... Tampa with Sapp, et all)
hamper what Marinelli would be able to do?
by halfblindcubbiegirl on Jan 14, 2009 10:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
don't...
… let facts get in the way.
Bringing moderation to a place I don't moderate.
visit the mindful mission
by big_lowitzki on Jan 16, 2009 9:15 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
i was just wondering if i was
hallucinating… that sentence made no sense to me.
by halfblindcubbiegirl on Jan 16, 2009 3:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
huh?
i was agreeing with you. You brought up obvious facts to contradict WCG’s silly assertion that Lovie Smith’s scheme would hamper what Marinelli would do, even though said scheme was the same scheme that Marinelli became a very successful coach under.
Bringing moderation to a place I don't moderate.
visit the mindful mission
by big_lowitzki on Jan 17, 2009 1:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
And I was sayng
that i thought i was hallucinating from wcg’s comment. it was nice to know someone else read it the same way, is what i meant.
by halfblindcubbiegirl on Jan 17, 2009 8:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
For all the on and off field antics over the years, I have to say I'm impressed by the passion of UM players
A lot of these guys, Sapp certainly included, seem to have a great passion for the game and show it in their desire and willingness to work with those younger than them. This may not be unique to UM, but it sure seems to be much more prevalent.
We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look.
Ronald Reagan
by snley on Jan 14, 2009 3:46 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
maybe but they also
can be stubborn when it comes to off season work. I recall a number of times one wouldn’t join his team for voluntary work outs. Instead they were working out at the university with other Miami players.
Being Who You Thought We Were Since 2005!
by Adam T on Jan 14, 2009 3:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Eh, as long as they're staying in shape and improving their games, I don't care where they work out
We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look.
Ronald Reagan
by snley on Jan 14, 2009 4:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, that is one of their big selling-points to recruits.
That all their NFL Alumni come back to The U to work out together in the off-season…
Brian McRae's 5 o'clock shadow
by PurpleLineToWrigley on Jan 15, 2009 10:59 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
The "U" just happens to produce a majority of the top talent in the NFL...
I think that’s what you’re noticing… they recruit some of the best athletes in the Football Factory State of Florida. And they (until recently) do nothing but win. I grew up in South Florida (in a Chicago household), and had the pleasure of watching Miami on Saturdays, and the Bears on Sundays.
Here’s a list I copied and pasted from drafthistory.com
Going back to about 1980 or so, when Miami wast first becoming a powerhouse… these are some of the guys that went to the NFL.
Brandon Meriweather Patriots DB
Jon Beason Panthers LB
Greg Olsen Bears TE
Devin Hester Bears WR
Antrel Rolle Cardinals DB
Roscoe Parrish Bills WR
Frank Gore 49ers RB
Sean Taylor Redskins DB
Kellen Winslow Jr Browns TE
Jonathan Vilma Jets LB
Vernon Carey Dolphins G
Vince Wilfork Patriots DT
Andre Johnson Texans WR
Willis McGahee Bills RB
Bryant McKinnie Vikings T
Jeremy Shockey Giants TE
Phillip Buchanon Raiders DB
Ed Reed Ravens DB
Clinton Portis Broncos RB
Najeh Davenport Packers RB
Dan Morgan Panthers LB
Damione Lewis Rams DT
Santana Moss Jets WR
Reggie Wayne Colts WR
Bubba Franks Packers TE
Edgerrin James Colts RB
Ray Lewis Ravens LB
Warren Sapp Buccaneers DT
Ryan McNeil Lions DB
Michael Barrow Oilers LB
Darrin Smith Cowboys LB
207 Jessie Armstead Giants LB
Leon Searcy Steelers T
Russell Maryland Cowboys DT
Cortez Kennedy Seahawks DT
Steve Walsh Cowboys QB
Cleveland Gary Rams RB
Bennie Blades Lions DB
Michael Irvin Cowboys WR
Daniel Stubbs 49ers DE
Brian Blades Seahawks WR
Brett Perriman Saints WR
Vinny Testaverde Buccaneers QB
Alonzo Highsmith Oilers RB
Kevin Fagan 49ers DT
Bernie Kosar Browns QB
Albert Bentley Colts RB
Jim Kelly Bills QB
Ronnie Lippett Patriots DB
Fred Marion Patriots DB
Ottis Anderson Cardinals RB
I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008
by SackMan on Jan 14, 2009 10:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Alonzo Highsmith
was only worse than Albert Bentley in Tecmo Bowl … and that’s not saying much.
by junkhorse on Jan 15, 2009 6:50 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I like it
I hope the DLine is as excited as I am..
by tfrabotta on Jan 14, 2009 3:49 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Here we go baby! Time to bring the heat!
I’m sure the youth and talent on our D line had a lot to do with Hot Rods decision to join the Bears. I am very excited to see what the Magic Man can do with this group. I think we can be top of the food chain.
Passion For The Game, Loyal To The Name, Chicago Bears, I Trust In Thee, Standing Strong Since 1983.
by Haightminow on Jan 14, 2009 4:09 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Good move, I'm actually liking this off season so far..
Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..
by Chanman25 on Jan 14, 2009 6:52 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
This has pretty much made my day
Ha! I didn’t know much about Marinelli other than the fact he was the d-line coach of one of the best defenses in my lifetime(only 21). Happy we’ve picked him up, even more happy to read the article from Sapp. Harris has shown flashes of greatness imo, if Sapp can work w/ him on staying a lil more healthy and better technique, he alone could make the D dominant again.
"URLACHER IS GOD"....."PLAY-MAKERS STAND UP!!!!!"
by Acreman20 on Jan 14, 2009 7:19 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Millard and Randle were also awesome
During the Bear’s glory years when both those guys played for the Vikes, they were awesome in every facet of their games. I’ll take performances that are 3/4 of what those guys did anyday.
by Waylon on Jan 14, 2009 7:49 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Randle had a motor and a mouth that never stopped...
Much like Sapp. No wonder those two get along so well.
I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008
by SackMan on Jan 14, 2009 10:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
This was the biggest and most curious statement of the interview
I guarantee you he is going to be healthy this year and if he’s not, it will be obvious.
You guys may think that statement is talking about health. It’s not… it’s talking about making excuses, skipping practices, and not working hard. Sapp knows that Marinelli isn’t going to put up with that BS, like Lovie, Babich, and Brick Haley did last this past season.
I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008
by SackMan on Jan 14, 2009 10:37 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
I am excited
Heard a clip on the Score a couple weeks ago from Sapp where he was saying that if the Bears are blitzing then they aren’t running a proper Cover 2 (And yet we rarely blitzed under Rivera who Lovie ousted for his boy Babich who blitzs like crazy and we never get there) so maybe with Marinelli and Sapp pushing these guys and making Harris better we can stop the blitz heavy crap we did last year and get back to the 2005-06 glory days of this D and Harris can finally get closer to a 10 sack season he always seems to strive for in August and we all forget about when December rolls around and he’s on IR or missed 5 games and has 3.5 sacks.
Fire Ron Turner!!!
Fire Angelo!!
by GallopingGhost on Jan 15, 2009 12:35 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
This was exciting to see. I think Tommie needs a guy like Warren Sapp to open his eyes to his true potential. Obviously ’08 was a letdown going against his past seasons. I think with Marinelli and Sapp, ’09 will be a completely different TH.
by Twins Territory on Jan 15, 2009 3:14 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

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