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Rival's View
Bengals Staff Knows Ryan's Strengths Well
Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
MOBILE, Ala. - Folks in Texas might not be familiar with Rob Ryan yet, but some old rivals at the Senior Bowl - the Cincinnati Bengals, coaching the North squad this week in Mobile - know plenty about what the Cowboys' new defensive coordinator can do.
Ryan has not met with local reporters since his official hiring last week and probably won't be available until after head coach Jason Garrett finalizes his staff. Thoughts on his 3-4 defensive philosophy, as well as the Cowboys' current roster, will have to wait.
But Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis and his staff grew quite aware of the challenges Ryan's scheme presents in four games against his previous unit, the Cleveland Browns, since 2009. The Bengals won three of four AFC North meetings, averaging 372.8 yards but only 19.4 points.
In seven years directing the Browns and Raiders defenses, only Ryan's 2006 Raiders (third) finished in the top 20 in total defense. Both units improved, however, and the Cowboys arguably have better pieces, led by Pro Bowlers DeMarcus Ware and Jay Ratliff.
"I think they're going to be very physical," Lewis said. "I think he's done a nice job of that. The Cleveland defense really evolved over time, and before that the Raiders defense (did). I think in the stops where he's been the coordinator, you see an evolution of play and productivity. He kind of inherits a group down there in Dallas that's pretty talented."
In discussing Ryan's strengths as a coordinator, Garrett emphasized two key traits: his system is pressure-oriented and creative yet fundamentally sound; and his players seem to share his visible sideline enthusiasm. They play hard for him.
Asked a general question about Ryan's style, Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski entirely echoed Garrett's observations.
"He does a great job scheme-wise and he does a great job of getting his players to rally and play very hard," Bratkowski said. "They play very physical, they play with a lot of emotion, and his schemes are really good. They do some things that really make you have to get yourself prepared properly."
The Ryan family - Rob's twin brother Rex, and their famous father, Buddy - is known for aggressive defense, dating back to Buddy's vaunted "46" scheme. Bratkowski said their styles can be misperceived as reckless, "organized chaos." Not so.
"It's very well thought out," Bratkowski said. "It knows how to stop the run. It knows how to attack protections and put a lot of stress on the line. And the other thing it does is create mismatch problems.
"If you're not careful, you can get some guys in positions that you really don't want them in."
Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, a long-time Cowboys assistant who held the same position in Dallas from 2000-06, respects Ryan's work from afar.
"He's very innovative," Zimmer said. "The guys play hard. He's always got guys that seem like they're well coached and do what they're supposed to do."
So what are the chief concerns for an offense against a Rob Ryan defense?
For the Bengals, they were twofold.
"No. 1, you've got to make sure you button up and protect the quarterback," Lewis said. "No. 2, that you don't throw the ball into where you think is a hole and it's kind of a trap coverage. They do an excellent job in the red zone. Those are the challenges."
Garrett has confidence the Cowboys' defense can cause the same problems under Ryan. The Cowboys finished 23rd (351.8) in total defense this season and allowed a franchise-record 436 points. Takeaways jumped from 10 to 20 (30 total) in the last eight games under interim coordinator Paul Pasqualoni, but opponents still averaged 25.5 points during that final stretch.
But the talent is there. A year earlier, the Cowboys allowed the league's second-fewest points (250).
It's Ryan's turn to lead them.
"I think he creates an atmosphere where it's hard, it's tough, guys work at it, but at the same time they enjoy playing football for him," Garrett said. "A lot of different people told me that."
And some old division foes agree.
Bengals Staff Knows Ryan's Strengths Well
Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
MOBILE, Ala. - Folks in Texas might not be familiar with Rob Ryan yet, but some old rivals at the Senior Bowl - the Cincinnati Bengals, coaching the North squad this week in Mobile - know plenty about what the Cowboys' new defensive coordinator can do.
Ryan has not met with local reporters since his official hiring last week and probably won't be available until after head coach Jason Garrett finalizes his staff. Thoughts on his 3-4 defensive philosophy, as well as the Cowboys' current roster, will have to wait.
But Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis and his staff grew quite aware of the challenges Ryan's scheme presents in four games against his previous unit, the Cleveland Browns, since 2009. The Bengals won three of four AFC North meetings, averaging 372.8 yards but only 19.4 points.
In seven years directing the Browns and Raiders defenses, only Ryan's 2006 Raiders (third) finished in the top 20 in total defense. Both units improved, however, and the Cowboys arguably have better pieces, led by Pro Bowlers DeMarcus Ware and Jay Ratliff.
"I think they're going to be very physical," Lewis said. "I think he's done a nice job of that. The Cleveland defense really evolved over time, and before that the Raiders defense (did). I think in the stops where he's been the coordinator, you see an evolution of play and productivity. He kind of inherits a group down there in Dallas that's pretty talented."
In discussing Ryan's strengths as a coordinator, Garrett emphasized two key traits: his system is pressure-oriented and creative yet fundamentally sound; and his players seem to share his visible sideline enthusiasm. They play hard for him.
Asked a general question about Ryan's style, Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski entirely echoed Garrett's observations.
"He does a great job scheme-wise and he does a great job of getting his players to rally and play very hard," Bratkowski said. "They play very physical, they play with a lot of emotion, and his schemes are really good. They do some things that really make you have to get yourself prepared properly."
The Ryan family - Rob's twin brother Rex, and their famous father, Buddy - is known for aggressive defense, dating back to Buddy's vaunted "46" scheme. Bratkowski said their styles can be misperceived as reckless, "organized chaos." Not so.
"It's very well thought out," Bratkowski said. "It knows how to stop the run. It knows how to attack protections and put a lot of stress on the line. And the other thing it does is create mismatch problems.
"If you're not careful, you can get some guys in positions that you really don't want them in."
Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, a long-time Cowboys assistant who held the same position in Dallas from 2000-06, respects Ryan's work from afar.
"He's very innovative," Zimmer said. "The guys play hard. He's always got guys that seem like they're well coached and do what they're supposed to do."
So what are the chief concerns for an offense against a Rob Ryan defense?
For the Bengals, they were twofold.
"No. 1, you've got to make sure you button up and protect the quarterback," Lewis said. "No. 2, that you don't throw the ball into where you think is a hole and it's kind of a trap coverage. They do an excellent job in the red zone. Those are the challenges."
Garrett has confidence the Cowboys' defense can cause the same problems under Ryan. The Cowboys finished 23rd (351.8) in total defense this season and allowed a franchise-record 436 points. Takeaways jumped from 10 to 20 (30 total) in the last eight games under interim coordinator Paul Pasqualoni, but opponents still averaged 25.5 points during that final stretch.
But the talent is there. A year earlier, the Cowboys allowed the league's second-fewest points (250).
It's Ryan's turn to lead them.
"I think he creates an atmosphere where it's hard, it's tough, guys work at it, but at the same time they enjoy playing football for him," Garrett said. "A lot of different people told me that."
And some old division foes agree.