Bears defensive coordinator Marinelli assesses situation

BOURBONNAIS - As the coordinator, Rod Marinelli is responsible for the entire Bears defense, but his focus always has been and will continue to be on the guys up front.

Marinelli became known as one of the NFL's best d-line coaches during a decade (1996-2005) at Tampa Bay, when the Bucs' front four was annually one of the league's best, especially when it came to rushing the passer.

That's why he's perfectly suited to getting increased production from a Bears defensive line that must play a huge role in any improvement, especially when it comes to rushing the passer.

The Bears got 36 sacks from their linemen in 2006, but they've fallen way off since, with 28 in 2007, 221/2 in '06 and 24 last season.

It's a unit in transition this year, without longtime defensive end starters Alex Brown and Adewale Ogunleye, but with the addition of Julius Peppers.

A battle for the other end spot is being waged between Mark Anderson and Israel Idoinje. The winner will be the player who supplies the best pass rush, which is why Anderson is the favorite to win the job.

"They understand the importance of (winning) the 1-on-1s," Marinelli said. "They'll play their run gaps well. Now it comes down to who can win the 1-on-1s."

With the five-time Pro Bowler Peppers at the other end attracting double-team blocks, Anderson/Idonije will have the luxury of working against just one blocker.

"And they've got to win them," Marinelli said, "so you're constantly evaluating that."

Peppers, a 6-foot-7, 283-pound physical freak with rare athleticism, has done much more than divert attention from his linemates.

"The thing I really admire with 'Pep' right now is that he's come in here and he has worked - every day, every snap, like a pro," Marinelli said. "From note taking, to details, to his pass rush; just the little, subtle things that we ask him to do, he's on it.

"What a great example for a lot of our young players up front, to see a guy being a pro like that and working each and every day. That's been special."

The nose tackle position is another battle - between Anthony Adams and Marcus Harrison.

The 6-3, 312-pound Harrison is bigger and four years younger than the 6-foot, 310-pound Adams.

But Harrison already has missed practice time with heat-related problems, including dehydration. Adams, who's getting most of the first-team snaps, has made a career of outplaying more highly touted teammates.

"He's had a very, very solid camp," Marinelli said of Adams, who led all Bears linemen with 42 tackles last season. "Each and every day he comes out and works.

"He knows his job, but he expands his job. What I mean by that is, he's a sideline-to-sideline player as a nose tackle. He's got rare rush ability for a nose."

Because it's just a week into camp, Harrison hasn't fallen out of the race, but he has to pick up the pace soon if he's going to increase his playing time.

"That's why we have training camp," Marinelli said. "You get (three) weeks we have at it, and you get in shape and get in condition, and you keep working at it until you get it right.

"You start to learn to develop the endurance to play this game, the mind-set to play this game, or you limit snaps."

One of the most encouraging signs of camp is a healthy Tommie Harris being on the practice field at the three-technique tackle spot more than in the past two years.

"The biggest thing to getting better is showing up every day, and he's in there, he's getting padded up every single day, and in this game, and in what we're trying to do, practice is everything," Marinelli said. "It's skill development. The key is lining up and getting the work, and he's doing that."

When healthy, Harris has been - in addition to a disruptive force to the offense - a formidable pass rusher.

That, according to Marinelli, is what it comes down to.

"You've got to be able to develop a (four-man) pass rush," he said. "Not just on third down, but first down, too. That's key point for us."

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