Stephen Jones: ‘Too many schemes’ caused 'Boys to replace Rob Ryan with Monte Kiffin

[WoodysGirl]

More than a month after the organization tossed Ryan to the curb and brought Kiffin into the fold, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said the change that was made was a “tough decision.”

But he also added it was made with long-term considerations in mind.

“I think Rob is a very smart guy,” Jones said. “His schemes are very sound. There are a lot of schemes. That becomes a question. We made a tough decision. We felt like too many schemes can cause problems regardless of how good they are and how sound they are. If there is more than the players can digest in this day and time – as you don’t keep players for long, they move on and you have injuries – you just had to make a decision. And we made a tough one.”

Jones’ comment came after he was asked if the simplicity of Kiffin’s 4-3 scheme was an attractive selling point when they contemplated hiring him.

Ryan attempted to streamline his playbook and later admitted that he may have tried to install too many schemes before the Cowboys could establish a comfort level with the most basic ones.

Read more: http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/20...h-kiffin.html/

[StarBoyz83]

Well that does make sense to me. I just hope this works out! Im not big on signing a DC who wasnt very good in college. Plus almost all top defenses run a 3-4 but I dont mind the switch. 4-3 seems like it'd suit this team better.

[Doomsday101]

Originally Posted by StarBoyz83

Well that does make sense to me. I just hope this works out! Im not big on signing a DC who wasnt very good in college. Plus almost all top defenses run a 3-4 but I dont mind the switch. 4-3 seems like it'd suit this team better.

Yet has won a SB. I tend to agree with a statement Kiffin made, 3-4/4-3 there are 11 guys on defense and the key is getting them to play as a 1. Play hard, smart and fast.

I like Rob but my biggest complaint was how often he would use 3 man rushes. You get a team in a sure passing situation and we turn around and rush 3? Other teams will put you in a passing situation and then get after the QB we didn't we sat back and allowed QB's all day to find the open man.

[StarBoyz83]

Originally Posted by Doomsday101

Yet has won a SB. I tend to agree with a statement Kiffin made, 3-4/4-3 there are 11 guys on defense and the key is getting them to play as a 1. Play hard, smart and fast.

I like Rob but my biggest complaint was how often he would use 3 man rushes. You get a team in a sure passing situation and we turn around and rush 3? Other teams will put you in a passing situation and then get after the QB we didn't we sat back and allowed QB's all day to find the open man.

Thats true I noticed that a lot too.

[Doomsay]

The multiple schemes did seem to be a problem, but to be fair, the offense didn't seem to be any more "on the same page" as the defense over the past 2 seasons.

The three man rush was hard to comprehend.

[superpunk]

I thought a couple weeks ago we fired Rob because we lost to Detroit or something.

[AMERICAS_FAN]

Originally Posted by Doomsday101

Yet has won a SB. I tend to agree with a statement Kiffin made, 3-4/4-3 there are 11 guys on defense and the key is getting them to play as a 1. Play hard, smart and fast.

I like Rob but my biggest complaint was how often he would use 3 man rushes. You get a team in a sure passing situation and we turn around and rush 3? Other teams will put you in a passing situation and then get after the QB we didn't we sat back and allowed QB's all day to find the open man.

It's not just the number of schemes but the philosophical approach.

You're right that rushing only 3 happened too often and that that's a problem.

DL Coach, Leon Lett, recently said that Ryan's 3-4 was a read-and-react philosophy up front. So basically it's not just rushing 3, they're not even rushing.

In Kiffin's 4-3, Lett said we're going back to the days of attacking the QB first, with the DL and adjusting later - on the run to the QB - much like how defense was played in Dallas when Lett played.

So it's not just about number of schemes. The 3-4 is simply a better defense.

[superpunk]

Originally Posted by AMERICAS_FAN

It's not just the number of schemes but the philosophical approach.

You're right that rushing only 3 happened too often and that that's a problem.

DL Coach, Leon Lett, recently said that Ryan's 3-4 was a read-and-react philosophy up front. So basically it's not just rushing 3, they're not even rushing.

In Kiffin's 4-3, Lett said we're going back to the days of attacking the QB first, with the DL and adjusting later - on the run to the QB - much like how defense was played in Dallas when Lett played.

So it's not just about number of schemes. The 3-4 is simply a better defense.

Essentially in Kiffin's 4-3 we're going to be running Wade's defense with slightly different personnel. All the scheme changes will be in the back end. If Kiffin is honest about how we're going to play like Seattle you'll see five man fronts alot with the SOLB being a pass rusher alot of the time, gap shooting D.

So we went from Parcells read and react two gap, to Wade's one gap five rushers D, back to a read and react front with even less blitzing, back to a one-gap rushing system with five rushers. Schizophrenia, thy name is Dallas's defensive front scheme.

[dadymat]

Originally Posted by superpunk

I thought a couple weeks ago we fired Rob because we lost to Detroit or something.

you seem to be feeding at the media trough .....

[Idgit]

I put this 'confusion' about why we let Ryan go in the same bucket I put us hiring Houston Nutt for RB coach in.

Obviously, the reasons we let him go when we let him go are the same reasons we let him go in retrospect. The only thing that's changed is the amount of clarifying information about the move available to the press.

[Marktui]

Originally Posted by Doomsday101

Yet has won a SB. I tend to agree with a statement Kiffin made, 3-4/4-3 there are 11 guys on defense and the key is getting them to play as a 1. Play hard, smart and fast.

I like Rob but my biggest complaint was how often he would use 3 man rushes. You get a team in a sure passing situation and we turn around and rush 3? Other teams will put you in a passing situation and then get after the QB we didn't we sat back and allowed QB's all day to find the open man.

Rush 3 and play coverage, yet they still complete a big pass play on us. That was the most painful thing to watch.

[Doomsday101]

Originally Posted by Marktui

Rush 3 and play coverage, yet they still complete a big pass play on us. That was the most painful thing to watch.

You give any QB time they will find an open WR. Zone or man will not matter.

[JerryFan]

Originally Posted by Doomsday101

Yet has won a SB. I tend to agree with a statement Kiffin made, 3-4/4-3 there are 11 guys on defense and the key is getting them to play as a 1. Play hard, smart and fast.

I like Rob but my biggest complaint was how often he would use 3 man rushes. You get a team in a sure passing situation and we turn around and rush 3? Other teams will put you in a passing situation and then get after the QB we didn't we sat back and allowed QB's all day to find the open man.

I agree 100%. It would drive me nuts and then wonder why our DB'S didn't have a lot of INT's. He'd give the qb a perfect comfy pocket to throw on damn near anything longer then 3rd and 10.

[FLcowboy]

Originally Posted by StarBoyz83

Well that does make sense to me. I just hope this works out! Im not big on signing a DC who wasnt very good in college. Plus almost all top defenses run a 3-4 but I dont mind the switch. 4-3 seems like it'd suit this team better.

Kiffen has already established his NFL credentials. Rob Ryan is still trying to find his.

[the_h0wey]

But he also added it was made with long-term considerations in mind.

Did they not know the guy they hired is 74?