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The Dallas Cowboys fired their defensive coordinator Rob Ryan this offseason and there were plenty of people who couldn’t understand why? Anyone who defended Ryan continuously pointed to the defensive injuries suffered as the main reason for why the Cowboys struggled on defense and that he shouldn’t have been fired.
To all those who still believe that hogwash, I give you DeMarcus Ware. Ware, one of the many Cowboys players who loved playing for Ryan, has spoken a number of times about Ryan’s scheme this offseason. However, his latest statement should be the final word on whether firing Ryan was the right decision or not.
“I just think the terminology of the 3-4, you had to think a lot,” he said. “Now I don’t have to think about who I have to cover. It’s about being aggressive and getting to the quarterback. That makes more you effective and gives you more opportunities.”
Ware just told us why anyone who still suggests that Ryan was the right defensive coach for this team should have their heads examined. Why would any coach have a system that puts your best defensive player in coverage? Let’s be clear about what Ware is saying here; DeMarcus Ware is the best pass rusher on the Cowboys and Rob Ryan had him thinking about who he had to cover! That borders on the insane.
If you’re a Cowboys fan, think back to last year and how many times did you scream at the TV because you saw Ware and Anthony Spencer in coverage on a third down? I’m guessing too many times than you’d care to remember. Even if you believe the scheme needed to show the Cowboys were willing to drop their two best pass rushers in coverage occasionally, Ware’s strongest words in the quote maybe these:
“It’s about being aggressive and getting to the quarterback.”
Wasn’t that what Rob Ryan told us he was going to do when he arrived in Dallas, be aggressive? Yet here is Ware telling us all that Ryan’s scheme wasn’t aggressive enough. Just another case of Ryan talking big but not backing it up. That’s the difference in Ryan and new defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin. Kiffin doesn’t need to talk a big game; his results speak for themselves, while Ryan talks a big game but doesn’t deliver acceptable results.
The Dallas Cowboys did the absolute right thing by firing Rob Ryan this offseason, and if you don’t believe me, believe DeMarcus Ware.
Ben is a Cowboys writer for www.Rantsports.com and you can chat with or follow him on twitter @BenGrimaldi. You can also add him on Google+
