Don’t expect drastic changes under Raiders’ interim defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli

Those who are expecting massive changes for the Las Vegas Raiders in the final three games of the season under new interim defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli may want to temper their expectations.

Marinelli, in his first season as the Raiders’ defensive line coach, said he is not expecting to change much of the base of the Raiders’ defense that was in place under former coordinator Paul Guenther, who was fired Sunday night after 45 games with the team.

Boasting nine seasons of NFL defensive coordinator experience, Marinelli said the final three games of the season will be based on communication and getting the players to play fast.

Marinelli’s challenge is even greater since his first week in the coordinator chair is a short one with a game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night.

“I think you got to be efficient with your time and efficient with your message,” Marinelli said. “And it’s got to be clear and precise, and then believable, so you can give yourself an opportunity to achieve. That’s how I do. I plan that every day.

“We just got to do our job. At the end of the day, it’s not just on the players. It’s coaches together and players together, so that’s the thing you’re trying to emphasize with each man, doing our job. And it’s a part of the teacher’s job, they reflect a coach at the end of the day.

“So, we just go back, don’t change anything. We just got to keep trying to get better, especially on a short week.”