Dallas Cowboys Defensive Coaching Staff: Rod Marinelli Reunites With Monte Kiffin

Todd Archer was the first (at least that I saw) to file a story that the Cowboys had reached a deal to make Rod Marinelli the new defensive line coach.

Marinelli, who was at Valley Ranch on Friday, will reunite with defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, with whom he worked with for 10 years in Tampa Bay before Marinelli took over as head coach in Detroit in 2006.

Now Dallas has not one, but two of the prime movers behind the original Tampa 2 defense. This is likely to change the perspective of many who were skeptical about bringing in a 72-year-old defensive coordinator. While Marinelli is no spring chicken at 63, he is certainly not as exceptional for his age. And now Dallas has two of the most highly regarded defensive minds in the NFL from the past couple of decades working together.

This is a possible indication that Matt Eberflus may be retained, along with Jerome Henderson who has already been announced as staying with the team. The Cowboys still face the transition from a 3-4 to a 4-3 base set, but they now have about as good a coaching staff as possible to manage it as they get ready to go to the Senior Bowl to scout the top talent entering the NFL draft.