7 Reasons I Opposed Ryan/Kiffin Transition

[T-RO]

I want to revisit a number of the arguments I invoked last January and why I was puzzled, miffed and appalled by the coaching change Jerry Jones wrought on our defense.

1. Kiffin is not only 73(!)...he was several years removed from the NFL...and the league has changed considerably.

2. Kiffin had been unsuccessful (very much so) as a defensive college coach in recent years, even with the luxury of coaching highly regarded USC talent. If he's such a genius and his system is easy...how does one explain those results?

3. Bend-but-don't-Break sucks. The shallow middle of the field is the heart of the field and this defense yields it up.

4. We lacked the proper personnel for this flavor of 4-3 Cover-Two...something even Tony Dungy said. On top of that we spent big money on Brandon Carr and a premium #1 pick on Claiborne...and these guys were borne to play man-to-man. Kiffin's move diminishes what those two do best.

5. Rob Ryan was not a reasonable scapegoat but in fact had done a remarkable job considering the near total wipe-out of the defensive roster by injury. This season Ryan is doing a stunning job in turning a Saint defense that was 32nd in the league last year.

6. Ryan is a very bright innovator and his players love going to war for him.

7. Ryan had turned the light on for several players, including Lee, Hatcher and Carter.

Bonus reason: When it fails...which I said it would...we'll be right back into yet another transition in 2014. This was just another massive miscalculation by Jerry Jones...the same GM who replaced epic Jimmy Johnson with buffoon Barry Switzer.

 

[Doomsday]

I didnt mind JG wanting to go in a different direction than Rob philosophically, what I never understood was why go to a zone based scheme in todays NFL.

One of the biggest issues with playing mostly zone, is you cant hit WRs so the fear factor of going over the middle just isnt what it use to be. Not to mention that you are giving teams free releases down the field which doesnt do a whole lot to break up timing or allow your pressure to develop. Plus our bend dont break defense seems to be giving up BIG chunks of yards with what seems like little to no resistance.

 

[kramskoi]

I want to revisit a number of the arguments I invoked last January and why I was puzzled, miffed and appalled by the coaching change Jerry Jones wrought on our defense.

1. Kiffin is not only 73(!)...he was several years removed from the NFL...and the league has changed considerably.

2. Kiffin had been unsuccessful (very much so) as a defensive college coach in recent years, even with the luxury of coaching highly regarded USC talent. If he's such a genius and his system is easy...how does one explain those results?

3. Bend-but-don't-Break sucks. The shallow middle of the field is the heart of the field and this defense yields it up.

4. We lacked the proper personnel for this flavor of 4-3 Cover-Two...something even Tony Dungy said. On top of that we spent big money on Brandon Carr and a premium #1 pick on Claiborne...and these guys were borne to play man-to-man. Kiffin's move diminishes what those two do best.

5. Rob Ryan was not a reasonable scapegoat but in fact had done a remarkable job considering the near total wipe-out of the defensive roster by injury. This season Ryan is doing a stunning job in turning a Saint defense that was 32nd in the league last year.

6. Ryan is a very bright innovator and his players love going to war for him.

7. Ryan had turned the light on for several players, including Lee, Hatcher and Carter.

Bonus reason: When it fails...which I said it would...we'll be right back into yet another transition in 2014. This was just another massive miscalculation by Jerry Jones...the same GM who replaced epic Jimmy Johnson with buffoon Barry Switzer.

They actually want to make Ryan Mayor of New Orleans! The Dallas front office is berated heavily on sportstalk radio and they can't wait for the Cowboys to come to the Superdome. I thought the move to Kiffin was bad initially. I did not know that Marinelli had come with him. I'm sure it was thought that Carter and Lee would possess the insane speed that is needed to make the scheme work. It has not worked out that way so far and Wilcox is making [expected] mistakes when they rotate to single high. I think no single play epitomized the importance of the MLB in the scheme than Gates getting by Lee two weeks ago. The cornerback talent is indeed being used less efficiently, as they only need to be excellent tacklers with great speed. Everything about the Tampa-2/robber is predicated on high speed, great tackling, and consistent harrassment from 4 DL. The cowboys only seem to have tackling down to any degree of proficiency.

 

[links18]

I am not quite sure anyone really knows just what defense we are running out there?

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

they replaced the wrong coordinator.

 

[Zordon]

jerry might be a worse judge of coaches then player personnel.

 

[17yearsandcounting]

#8..Lets take our best linebacker and drop him down the middle of the field in zone coverage every play. What could go wrong?
#9...Spend a fortune on Carr? Trade up for Claiborne? Lets totally disregard this investment and play them in a contradictory system
#10.. Bruce Carter was starting to play way too well in the 3-4 before his injury, lets go ahead and pointless change for the sake of change


ooops see you touched on #9

 

[Everlastingxxx]

Very good points and well thought out. Should be a featured thread.

 

[pugilist]

#1 Larry Lacewell "recommended" him. just typing that makes me want to punch Jerry in the face

 

[marchetta]

Where was your criticism after the Rams game? I don't like how the D is playing either. But, lets not be hypocritical and start patting ourselves on the back now. I didn't read where you conceded that you may have been wrong about your 7 points after the Rams game. JMO

 

[ConstantReboot]

The person that should have been replaced was Garrett. I know some will argue with this. But Ryan should not have been blamed for the debacle on defense. At least they should have given him another year to prove his worth which they didn't.

Ryan was nothing more than a fall guy. They needed someone to blame and Ryan was it. Nothing more.

 

[StarBoyz83]

I am not quite sure anyone really knows just what defense we are running out there?

Prevent

 

[17yearsandcounting]

#1 Larry Lacewell "recommended" him. just typing that makes me want to punch Jerry in the face

Seriously? Lacewell AGAIN?

 

[ShiningStar]

What were your thoughts after the Giants game? THe rams game? What did you protest and which coach as well? Ddi you complain about the secondary coach? teh ST coach as well? Can you list for me, not the things you see now, but teh things you saw before all of us? im just curious/

 

[RS12]

Kiffin couldnt defend the spread or middle of the field at USC, that didnt bode well for a Dallas team that had been weak at the exact same thing for years. Despite the fact the scholarships were lowered the team still had talent.

 

[mldardy]

LOL at people still on this 'we should have kept Ryan' nonsense. Where was this last year or when Ryan was let go? Ryan is still an average at best d-coordinator. He's never had a top 10 defense and only 1 top 15. The Saints haven't exactly faced the best offenses so far. Let's wait for the rest of this season to materialize before crowning him.

 

[17yearsandcounting]

LOL at people still on this 'we should have kept Ryan' nonsense. Where was this last year or when Ryan was let go? Ryan is still an average at best d-coordinator. He's never had a top 10 defense and only 1 top 15. The Saints haven't exactly faced the best offenses so far. Let's wait for the rest of this season to materialize before crowning him.

There were quite a few of us actually.

 

[T-RO]

I didnt mind JG wanting to go in a different direction than Rob philosophically, what I never understood was why go to a zone based scheme in todays NFL.

One of the biggest issues with playing mostly zone, is you cant hit WRs so the fear factor of going over the middle just isnt what it use to be. Not to mention that you are giving teams free releases down the field which doesnt do a whole lot to break up timing or allow your pressure to develop. Plus our bend dont break defense seems to be giving up BIG chunks of yards with what seems like little to no resistance.

I like press man-to-man....and obviously from Claiborne's comments he does too. I'd be cuious to get into Carr's head on the topic.

 

[T-RO]

Very good points and well thought out. Should be a featured thread.

Thanks bro, but my hunch is that only sunny, positive threads become featured here. Can't recall an exception.

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

You have

I want to revisit a number of the arguments I invoked last January and why I was puzzled, miffed and appalled by the coaching change Jerry Jones wrought on our defense.

1. Kiffin is not only 73(!)...he was several years removed from the NFL...and the league has changed considerably.

2. Kiffin had been unsuccessful (very much so) as a defensive college coach in recent years, even with the luxury of coaching highly regarded USC talent. If he's such a genius and his system is easy...how does one explain those results?

3. Bend-but-don't-Break sucks. The shallow middle of the field is the heart of the field and this defense yields it up.

4. We lacked the proper personnel for this flavor of 4-3 Cover-Two...something even Tony Dungy said. On top of that we spent big money on Brandon Carr and a premium #1 pick on Claiborne...and these guys were borne to play man-to-man. Kiffin's move diminishes what those two do best.

5. Rob Ryan was not a reasonable scapegoat but in fact had done a remarkable job considering the near total wipe-out of the defensive roster by injury. This season Ryan is doing a stunning job in turning a Saint defense that was 32nd in the league last year.

6. Ryan is a very bright innovator and his players love going to war for him.

7. Ryan had turned the light on for several players, including Lee, Hatcher and Carter.

Bonus reason: When it fails...which I said it would...we'll be right back into yet another transition in 2014. This was just another massive miscalculation by Jerry Jones...the same GM who replaced epic Jimmy Johnson with buffoon Barry Switzer.

You have some nice points but what has the 3-4 ever done for us ? Our trademark defense has always been the quick 4-3 and always should be .