Marinelli: Cowboys players need to have career year

The Dallas Cowboys defense struggled through injuries in the 2013 season and they’re looking to rebound. Unfortunately for the Cowboys they had to make some tough decisions and let DeMarcus Ware and Jason Hatcher leave in free agency.

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Then before training camp even started, the Cowboys lost middle linebacker Sean Lee to an ACL injury. Now the Cowboys 2014 season is beginning to look a lot like the 2013 season before it even begins. In order to pull things out the Cowboys defensive players will need to have a career year according to new defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli.

“We just got to get guys to have career years,” Marinelli said, via Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News. “I think you set standards for men. If you don’t set standards, you certainly won’t reach them. If I put a ceiling on them and say, ‘This is all I expect of you,’ that’s all you’ll get.

“I take the ceiling off. I want every guy to have a career year. That’s how I do it.”

The Cowboys drafted DeMarcus Lawrence to replace Ware and signed some defensive lineman in free agency like Henry Melton, Terrell McClain and Jeremy Mincey, but there are still a lot of question marks surrounding the team. The Cowboys are hoping Marinelli, a defensive line guru, can work some of his magic to get players in those positions to play above their level.