After the 2012 season ended with yet another failure to make it to the playoffs, Cowboys owner/G.M. Jerry Jones decided to make a change.
He fired defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.
Now, as the Cowboys prepare to face the team that hired Ryan, Jones is discussing his decision to dump Ryan and his 3-4 system in favor of Monte Kiffin and his 4-3 attack.
Via Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Jones exlpained on Friday that he wanted the defense to be less aggressive.
“I think so highly of Rob Ryan as a coach, frankly, as an imaginative coach and how he imaginatively approaches the game,” Jones said, via 105.3 The Fan in Dallas. “He can have a lot going on, and we wanted less going on, but that doesn’t make it right or wrong. He’s basically implemented it and executed it the way he wants to do it down there and they’re going to give us fits Sunday.”
With more going on in New Orleans and less going on in Dallas, the Saints have improved from a unit that allowed the most yards in league history to ninth in yards allowed. The Cowboys currently are 31st.
So Jones wanted less aggressive, and he apparently got less aggressive. And less productive.
In all (or at least some) fairness to the Cowboys, Kiffin’s 4-3 system is premised on creating turnovers, and it has. Still, Ryan landed on his feet; come Sunday, he’ll be trying to knock Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo on his ass.