Kiffin, Marinelli face challenge in Dallas

[Szczepanik]

Defense sucked. Offense kept us in it. Romo's near 5000 yards passing kept us in it. Did you watch any of the games?

Really? Im pretty sure that the defense held it's own against many teams that year. Also counting that almost the entire starting defense was on the bench.

Defense clinched the pitt game.
Defense kept low scoring game in Cincy to allow for the comeback.
Defense kept Cleveland from pounding us out.
Defense played fairly well in the Seattle game until the end. (Punt block TD, fumble on the kickoff, Witten's plagued game with drops)
Defense played very well in the Atlanta game.
Defense generated turnovers against the Eagles both games.
Defense played well in the Tampa game.
Defense played fairly well in the last game of the season with the injuries.

I think the defense played honorably, considering the circumstances.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

They're going to have a hard time living up to Rob Ryan's defense, in my mind. I think Ryan was completely underrated.

Hard time keeping up with how much Rob ran his mouth and wrote checks his defense could not cover?

 

[jnday]

He had hardly an offseason to install his defense for his first year.. and second year most of his defense watched the game from the bench...

How can you judge him after that? Seems unfair to me.

His three man rush on passing downs was horrible. His defense created confusion among his own players. These press CBs were playing off the WRs. It was really a disorganized mess and it was his fault. I could go on and on, but you get the picture.

 

[Idgit]

He had hardly an offseason to install his defense for his first year.. and second year most of his defense watched the game from the bench...

How can you judge him after that? Seems unfair to me.

That's actually basically what I was saying, although I couched it in a bunch of 'I hate the Ryan family.' It's tough to hire a guy knowing his system takes a couple seasons to implement fully, and then bail on him at the end of an injury-riddled year two.

I do think JG was sincere in the good things he had to say about Rob Ryan as a coach after he let him go. And I believe we made the change because we wanted to bring Kiffin's defense in specifically to improve takeaways.

It doesn't get mentioned much, but there's a pretty good relationship in place between us and the Saints. It's probably no coincidence Rob Ryan ended up there. You know Sean Payton made a call to Dallas before bringing the guy to NOLA.

I imagine the team liked Ryan (though Jerry might not have), and just decided they needed to implement an entirely different defensive system. Personally, I think the Kiffin hire was an odd one, but it's pretty clearly a group of coaches Jason Garrett is very comfortable with. We'll see if it pays off early this season. It's a lot of upheaval to invite for a team that needs to start fast and play consistently on both sides of the ball.

 

[jobberone]

I think they have more options with Carr/Claiborne than they've had with many of their other Cornerbacks.

I was talking about people having years of film on the two coaches' defense.

 

[xwalker]

I was talking about people having years of film on the two coaches' defense.

Yes, that is what I thought you were referencing.

My point is that having CBs that can play man or zone at a high level allows them to do some things schematically that they could not do with zone only CBs.

 

[Yoshimitsu]

I can't wait to see what they do with Bruce Carter. That's Derrick Brooks 2.0


His speed is ridiculous. He closed in on very speedy running backs in a hurry. Ran stride for stride with Dallas Clark.

 

[Eddie]

That's great. Wasn't Rob Ryan's D supposed to be some magical fix with his exotic blitz schemes and stuff. What happened with that???

 

[jobberone]

Yes, that is what I thought you were referencing.

My point is that having CBs that can play man or zone at a high level allows them to do some things schematically that they could not do with zone only CBs.

Oh! Went right over my head.

 

[ROUSH8692]

Really? Im pretty sure that the defense held it's own against many teams that year. Also counting that almost the entire starting defense was on the bench.

Defense clinched the pitt game.
Defense kept low scoring game in Cincy to allow for the comeback.
Defense kept Cleveland from pounding us out.
Defense played fairly well in the Seattle game until the end. (Punt block TD, fumble on the kickoff, Witten's plagued game with drops)
Defense played very well in the Atlanta game.
Defense generated turnovers against the Eagles both games.
Defense played well in the Tampa game.
Defense played fairly well in the last game of the season with the injuries.

I think the defense played honorably, considering the circumstances.

considering the injuries yeah youre right, but there were a couple of games where they allowed 28+ points and that in itself changes the offenses gameplan

 

[jobberone]

I agree with you 100%. Other posters and even others reporters and coaches in the league have said that they never had above average corners. I think they will look at Seattle and then adjust for what they have here in Dallas. I personally hope to see a VERY VERY VERY vanilla defense early in the season. I want the players to play and not merely react.

This will serve two immediate purposes: first, we will see what the players can do without trying to overly scheme; secondly, it allows the coaches to know later in the season when there is film on this team to know how far they can go this season.

All this said, injuries notwithstanding, I expect a sound, but not over the top good defense. I just want to see a team that is in and can keep the overall points allowed under 20 a game. Get this team to 10 games won and even one playoff win and I'll want to walk the 1800 miles to Dallas to pay homage.

If we average less than 20 I will be happy. Less than 17 and I will be very happy. I'll walk with you.

 

[Szczepanik]

considering the injuries yeah youre right, but there were a couple of games where they allowed 28+ points and that in itself changes the offenses gameplan

Every defense is going to have a few bad games in that regard.

SF's defense allowed how many in the superbowl?
Seattle allowed how many to Atlanta? lol.

Point I am making is that in general the defense played fairly well given their hand. Granted it was a hand without most of it's fingers.