Immediately after one of the more gut-wrenching losses in recent memory, Cowboys fans found out one of their best coaches could be departing.Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reports Dallas defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli is "expected" to join Lovie Smith's staff with the Buccaneers, according to an unnamed source. The report says he would probably serve as defensive coordinator in Tampa Bay, too.Smith and Marinelli have a long history together. He was Smith's assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and defensive line coach with the Bears for four seasons (2009-12). Additionally, Smith was also the Buccaneers' linebackers coach from 1996-2000, a stint that overlapped with Marinelli, who was the defensive line coach there from 1996-2001. The Cowboys assistant, now 65, then added the title of assistant head coach in 2002 and remained there until he took over as the Lions' head coach in 2006.Marinelli is in his second season in Dallas. He was the defensive line coach last year before taking over Monte Kiffin's duties as defensive coordinator in 2014. Head coach Jason Garrett has praised the work of the veteran coach, and he has been appropriately credited with turning around the NFL's worst defense.The Cowboys finished the year ranked 19th in total defense (355.1 yards per game), including eighth against the rush (103.1 ypg) and 26th against the pass (251.9 ypg). They were far and away the league's most battered defense under Kiffin in 2013, giving up 415.3 yards per contest.Florio says Marinelli's contract has expired, and this would be a major loss for Dallas. We will see if Jerry Jones has any tricks up his sleeve (like a whole lot of cash) to keep the coach beloved by his players with the Cowboys.
