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Brandon Carr likes Monte Kiffin’s “old-school” approach

Monte Kiffin

Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin gestures as he responds to a question during an NFL football news conference at the Cowboys training facility Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, in Irving, Texas. Kiffin is about to turn 73 and has been out of the NFL for five years. The Cowboys are thinking more about his history of success at Tampa Bay and how a switch to Kiffin’s 4-3 alignment will translate into fewer mistakes and more turnovers. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

AP

New Cowboys defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin turned 73 this week, and he’s half a century older than some of his players. One of the Cowboys’ top defensive players seems to like having a coach who does things the old-fashioned way.

Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr says that when he met Kiffin, the two of them hit it off, and that he’s excited for the way Kiffin will transform the defense.

“He seemed like an old-school ball coach, a no-nonsense guy that makes everyone out there accountable for their actions,” Carr told the Dallas Morning News. “The short meeting that we had he gave me a lot of information and insight. He let his enthusiasm rub off on me.”

But while Kiffin certainly has a different personality than his predecessor, Rob Ryan, the bigger question is whether Kiffin’s 4-3 front and Tampa 2 coverage will mesh with a defense that was built with different schemes in mind. Carr admitted he’s not sure how that’s going to play out.

“As far as going from a 3-4 to a 4-3, I guess only time will tell where this progresses,” Carr said. “Just talking to the guys, everybody has a good attitude and we’re eager to get back at it.”

Cowboys fans will be eager to see if Kiffin’s old-school approach brings a renewed energy in 2013 to a defense that disappointed in 2012.