sbk92
2
- Messages
- 12,134
- Reaction score
- 6
Rush Week
Defensive Leaders On Board With Ryan
Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
DALLAS - As Rob Ryan adapts his 3-4 scheme to the Cowboys' personnel, he's likely to build around his two Pro Bowl players: outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware and nose tackle Jay Ratliff.
Both returned from Hawaii - Ware's fifth consecutive all-star selection and Ratliff's third - and made the rounds on Radio Row during Super Bowl week. Neither knows Ryan well yet, but they're intrigued and excited about their new defensive coordinator's reputation as a creative, animated coach.
"Asking around, everyone says we're going to love him," Ratliff said. "He's a fiery guy. He's fun, has a great personality. And as a defensive player with the coaches we have, that's what we want. That's what we're looking for. That's our comfort zone.
"I think that was a great move bringing him in. The players say he's just an aggressive-style coach. And as long as we have an aggressive coach and we're playing aggressive, I think defensively we'll be good."
Ryan, head coach Jason Garrett's first official hire last month, is not expected to meet with the media until the Cowboys finalize their entire staff. He replaces new University of Connecticut head coach Paul Pasqualoni, the Cowboys' defensive line coach and interim defensive coordinator for the final eight games following Wade Phillips' dismissal. The team has yet to hire a new defensive line coach.
"Coach P is a guy that we all respect, we all love, and he has that intensity that we all talk about," Ratliff said. "You're going to play your best for him no matter what."
The Cowboys doubled their takeaway total under Pasqualoni (20, 30 overall) in the season's second half but still allowed an average of 25.5 points per game. They yielded a franchise-record 436 points in 2010 and finished 23rd (351.8 yards per game) in total defense.
Ryan, the son of longtime defensive guru Buddy Ryan and twin brother of current Jets head coach Rex Ryan, has directed one top-20 defense in seven years as a defensive coordinator in Oakland and Cleveland. But both units improved, and most noticeable to Garrett, they played hard for Ryan under mostly rebuilding circumstances.
Ryan is clearly inheriting more talent in Dallas. He currently has five new players with Pro Bowl experience, including two 2010 choices in Ware and Ratliff.
Ware, the NFL's sack leader with 15.5, has met Ryan briefly and believes his system will put the defense in advantageous spots.
"I think he's going to be a really good coach for us because we have so many versatile guys that can play so many versatile positions: drop, rush, play the run," Ware said. "Do all those things that you can sort of mix and match all the guys."
One benefit in a 3-4 is, unlike a four-man defensive line, offenses can't determine where the fourth rusher is coming from. Ware has noticed that Ryan's defenses are notorious for various pre-snap looks, dropping different players into coverage and moving players around before the ball is snapped.
"It keeps the guys on their feet, the pass coverages, how to block certain guys, who's coming, who's not coming," Ware said. "And that's what makes 3-4 defenses wreak havoc on all offenses."
Defensive Leaders On Board With Ryan
Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
DALLAS - As Rob Ryan adapts his 3-4 scheme to the Cowboys' personnel, he's likely to build around his two Pro Bowl players: outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware and nose tackle Jay Ratliff.
Both returned from Hawaii - Ware's fifth consecutive all-star selection and Ratliff's third - and made the rounds on Radio Row during Super Bowl week. Neither knows Ryan well yet, but they're intrigued and excited about their new defensive coordinator's reputation as a creative, animated coach.
"Asking around, everyone says we're going to love him," Ratliff said. "He's a fiery guy. He's fun, has a great personality. And as a defensive player with the coaches we have, that's what we want. That's what we're looking for. That's our comfort zone.
"I think that was a great move bringing him in. The players say he's just an aggressive-style coach. And as long as we have an aggressive coach and we're playing aggressive, I think defensively we'll be good."
Ryan, head coach Jason Garrett's first official hire last month, is not expected to meet with the media until the Cowboys finalize their entire staff. He replaces new University of Connecticut head coach Paul Pasqualoni, the Cowboys' defensive line coach and interim defensive coordinator for the final eight games following Wade Phillips' dismissal. The team has yet to hire a new defensive line coach.
"Coach P is a guy that we all respect, we all love, and he has that intensity that we all talk about," Ratliff said. "You're going to play your best for him no matter what."
The Cowboys doubled their takeaway total under Pasqualoni (20, 30 overall) in the season's second half but still allowed an average of 25.5 points per game. They yielded a franchise-record 436 points in 2010 and finished 23rd (351.8 yards per game) in total defense.
Ryan, the son of longtime defensive guru Buddy Ryan and twin brother of current Jets head coach Rex Ryan, has directed one top-20 defense in seven years as a defensive coordinator in Oakland and Cleveland. But both units improved, and most noticeable to Garrett, they played hard for Ryan under mostly rebuilding circumstances.
Ryan is clearly inheriting more talent in Dallas. He currently has five new players with Pro Bowl experience, including two 2010 choices in Ware and Ratliff.
Ware, the NFL's sack leader with 15.5, has met Ryan briefly and believes his system will put the defense in advantageous spots.
"I think he's going to be a really good coach for us because we have so many versatile guys that can play so many versatile positions: drop, rush, play the run," Ware said. "Do all those things that you can sort of mix and match all the guys."
One benefit in a 3-4 is, unlike a four-man defensive line, offenses can't determine where the fourth rusher is coming from. Ware has noticed that Ryan's defenses are notorious for various pre-snap looks, dropping different players into coverage and moving players around before the ball is snapped.
"It keeps the guys on their feet, the pass coverages, how to block certain guys, who's coming, who's not coming," Ware said. "And that's what makes 3-4 defenses wreak havoc on all offenses."