By Brandon George / Reporter
bgeorge@dallasnews.com | Bio
4:51 PM on Thu., Dec. 15, 2011 | Permalink
IRVING -- For a man who has no problems communicating, Cowboys first-year coordinator Rob Ryan has been dealing with communication issues with his defense this week.
Cowboys players took blame all week for poor communication and busted coverage that led to several deep completions by Giants quarterback Eli Manning and New York rallying from a 12-point deficit Sunday to score two touchdowns over the final 5:41 in a 37-34 win.
Ryan came to his players' defense. Though he said his defense statistically was "garbage" for giving up 510 yards, Ryan took ownership: "I've been absolutely atrocious" in calling defensive plays in hurry-up situations.
Ryan said he has changed how he sends in his calls to help alleviate the communication issues that have plagued the Cowboys in hurry-up situations.
"Two-minute situations have been our Achilles heel all year. That's on me. We've addressed them," Ryan said. "We're signaling from the sideline as well now. They give you this headset that you talk into and one guy gets the call and you can't line up and you can't huddle. Everybody knows all the signals now, so it won't be one guy looking here. They've got to know where to look first. They've got a place to look. Hopefully the game slows down because right now it's too fast for us at the end of the game."
Ryan said he put his players in tough situations Sunday by trying to cover up for injuries. Cornerback Mike Jenkins, linebackers DeMarcus Ware and Sean Lee and nose tackle Jay Ratliff were in and out of the game at different times.
Ryan said his substitutions resembled that of a hockey team because of the multiple changes between plays.
"We've got guys coming in and out over the bench," Ryan said. "We've had some problems with a ton of injuries. Half the damn defense wasn't out there."
Jenkins said earlier in the week that perhaps Ryan's complex scheme should be simplified at times in certain situations. Ryan said Thursday that is the plan.
"I like to stretch the envelope about as far as I can stretch it, mentally demanding on our players, but if there are some problems and it doesn't work I've got to tone back," Ryan said. "That's the hardest thing for me to do, but it's something that has to be done. Sometimes you got to eat a little humble pie."
bgeorge@dallasnews.com | Bio
4:51 PM on Thu., Dec. 15, 2011 | Permalink
IRVING -- For a man who has no problems communicating, Cowboys first-year coordinator Rob Ryan has been dealing with communication issues with his defense this week.
Cowboys players took blame all week for poor communication and busted coverage that led to several deep completions by Giants quarterback Eli Manning and New York rallying from a 12-point deficit Sunday to score two touchdowns over the final 5:41 in a 37-34 win.
Ryan came to his players' defense. Though he said his defense statistically was "garbage" for giving up 510 yards, Ryan took ownership: "I've been absolutely atrocious" in calling defensive plays in hurry-up situations.
Ryan said he has changed how he sends in his calls to help alleviate the communication issues that have plagued the Cowboys in hurry-up situations.
"Two-minute situations have been our Achilles heel all year. That's on me. We've addressed them," Ryan said. "We're signaling from the sideline as well now. They give you this headset that you talk into and one guy gets the call and you can't line up and you can't huddle. Everybody knows all the signals now, so it won't be one guy looking here. They've got to know where to look first. They've got a place to look. Hopefully the game slows down because right now it's too fast for us at the end of the game."
Ryan said he put his players in tough situations Sunday by trying to cover up for injuries. Cornerback Mike Jenkins, linebackers DeMarcus Ware and Sean Lee and nose tackle Jay Ratliff were in and out of the game at different times.
Ryan said his substitutions resembled that of a hockey team because of the multiple changes between plays.
"We've got guys coming in and out over the bench," Ryan said. "We've had some problems with a ton of injuries. Half the damn defense wasn't out there."
Jenkins said earlier in the week that perhaps Ryan's complex scheme should be simplified at times in certain situations. Ryan said Thursday that is the plan.
"I like to stretch the envelope about as far as I can stretch it, mentally demanding on our players, but if there are some problems and it doesn't work I've got to tone back," Ryan said. "That's the hardest thing for me to do, but it's something that has to be done. Sometimes you got to eat a little humble pie."
