Get ready for the odd couple in Dallas featuring buttoned down Jason Garrett and the crass Rob Ryan.
That will be the pairing running the Cowboys’ offense and defense now that the Cowboys have hired Ryan as the defensive coordinator on Garrett’s new staff.
After seeing three potential defensive coordinator candidates take jobs elsewhere, Garrett zeroed in on Ryan during a whirlwind interview process on Jan. 14 that ran through the weekend.
Ryan, who ran the Browns’ defense the past two years, showed up at the Cowboys’ headquarters on Jan. 19 with boxes in hand and ready to go.
Ryan may have not been the team’s first choice.
The Cowboys interviewed Stanford coordinator Vic Fangio on Jan. 10 and then San Francisco 49ers coordinator Greg Manusky two days later. But Fangio took a position with the 49ers and Manusky signed on with the San Diego Chargers.
Paul Pasqualoni, who ran the Cowboys’ defense the last eight games of the season, went back to the college game as Connecticut’s head coach.
But Ryan, who runs the 3-4 defense the Cowboys employ, might be the right choice.
The colorful Ryan, who is every bit the twin brother of Jets head coach Rex Ryan and son of ex-Eagles head coach Buddy Ryan, doesn’t have an the Ivy league education of Garrett. He also likes to string four letter words together more so than four syllable ones like Garrett.
Garrett, however, values passion and commitment. He preached to his team about it.
Well, Ryan has it in spades.
He might be needed to jump-start a defense that was arguably the worst in Cowboys franchise history last season.
The Cowboys set team records for most yards allowed, passing yards allowed, touchdowns allowed and points allowed.
Also key to the pairing is Ryan’s experience. He has been an NFL defensive coordinator for seven seasons—with the Oakland Raiders from 2004-08 and the last two years with the Browns.
Considering that Garrett is a first-time head coach, it was important that he hire a coordinator who wasn’t calling defensive plays for the first time.
Ryan also has experience working with conservative, understated head coaches such as Patriots boss Bill Belichick, for whom he was linebackers coach, and Eric Mangini, his head coach in Cleveland.
And while Ryan’s defenses weren’t great in Cleveland - the Browns finished 13th in points allowed per game (20.8) and 22nd in yards allowed (350.1) last season—he did come up with plans to shut down Drew Brees and Tom Brady in shocking wins over the Saints and the Patriots for a 5-11 Browns team.
What’s also true is that he will have more talent to work with in Dallas, where he will have Pro Bowl linebacker DeMarcus Ware and Pro Bowl nose tackle Jay Ratliff at his disposal.
No one from Browns made the Pro Bowl the last two seasons.
NOTES, QUOTES
• There is no truth to the speculation on ESPNDallas.com that the Cowboys would consider trading rookie Dez Bryant for the right package.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and vice president Stephen Jones have no thoughts or intentions of moving Bryant. Stephen Jones said any report saying as much is “totally wrong.”
Bryant proved during an injury-plagued rookie year that he was the team’s best play-maker. Bryant caught 45 passes for six touchdowns and scored two more touchdowns on punt returns despite playing only 12 games. He was hobbled at the start of the season with a sprained ankle that limited his effectiveness, and he missed the last four games with a broken ankle.
• LB Bradie James and CB Orlando Scandrick are schedules to have offseason surgery this week. James will get tissue within the patella tendon on his left knee cleaned up. Interestingly enough, James will not need the right knee that bothered him worked on. He suffered a sprained PCL in his right knee against Houston in September and labored through it the entire season, missing at least one day of practice every week to rest it. Scandrick had a second surgery on his left index finger. He was initially hurt in minicamp in May and had surgery before training camp.
• Owner Jerry Jones made the Rooney Rule look like a sham this week when the Cowboys let receivers coach Ray Sherman go after interviewing him for the head coaching job days earlier. Jones said he supports the rule, which is why he interviewed Sherman and Dolphins assistant head coach Todd Bowles.
“I did interview them because I believe in the principles of what the Rooney Rule is trying to do,” Jones said. “I certainly believe that we should make a genuine effort to consider minority opportunities, and the way that we’ve all agreed that gets done is through the interview process.”
Jones said the process is good for the Cowboys and the coaches. He said the interview will end up being a good thing for Bowles after Jones is finished spreading the word about the impression he left on the team.
“I didn’t hire as head coach, obviously, Todd Bowles,” Jerry Jones said. “But I tell you one thing: By the time that I’m through visiting about my interview, what went on, the impressions, by the time I’ve talked to people about that, that should be a positive for him.”
Quote To Note: “Our 2010 season did not play out in any way in the manner that we all would like. It did give us the opportunity to evaluate Jason Garrett under pressure, in the pressure situations that come with being an NFL head coach. He passed the test. He has my respect. That says it all, right there.”—Owner Jerry Jones on hiring Jason Garrett after he went 5-3 as interim coach following the departure of Wade Phillips.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
Jason Garrett has a host of changes he plans to usher in as Cowboys head coach. At the top of the list is being more physical at practice and in training camp than the Cowboys were the last four years under Wade Phillips. There will be no more Camp Cupcake.
“Absolutely. It’s a physical game,” Garrett said. “You have to practice being physical in order to be physical on Sunday afternoons. So we’ll practice that way and continue to do that.”
Team Needs
Offensive tackle: Marc Colombo is no longer getting it done at right tackle. He is past his prime and has chronic knee problems. The Cowboys could opt for a left tackle and move Doug Free back to right tackle, depending on how free agency and the draft shake out.
Offensive guard: Leonard David and Kyle Kosier both need to be replaced but the Cowboys are going to be hard-pressed to find three starters, including one offensive tackle. Look for one to be guard to be gone in the offseason. The Cowboys could address this position in free agency.
Safety: The Cowboys must address one if not both safety positions because Gerald Sensabaugh and Alan Ball failed to get it done.
Unit-by-unit Analysis
Quarterback: Starter—Tony Romo. Backups—Jon Kitna, Stephen McGee.
Romo missed the last 10 games after suffering a fractured left clavicle. And while Kitna played surprisingly well in his absence, this remains Romo’s team. He may be better for it, learning a few things from Kitna about leadership while sitting and watching, gaining perspective on the offense, play-calling and other valuable lessons. Kitna proved he still has it and could actually start for a few teams in this league if surrounded by enough playmakers. He went 4-5 as a starter to more than earn another year with the Cowboys. McGee played for an injured Kitna the final 1 1/2 games and showed he is worth investing more time in as a backup for the future.
Running Backs: Starters—Felix Jones, FB Chris Gronkowski. Backups—Tashard Choice, Marion Barber
The Cowboys went through a changing of the guard at running back. Jones is now the full-time starter. He took over the role as the featured back earlier in the season, while Barber continued to open the game with the first team. But once Barber missed three games with a strained calf, Jones was inserted into the starting lineup. He led the team in rushing with 800 yards. Barber had his worst season since his rookie year, gaining just 373 yards and averaging 3.3 yards per carry. The Cowboys liked the tandem of Jones and Choice and that appears to be the duo going forward. Dallas could actually save money on the salary cap by cutting Barber.
Tight Ends: Starter—Jason Witten. Backups—Martellus Bennett, Martin Rucker, John Phillips
Witten had another stellar year and was named to his seventh straight Pro Bowl. He recorded 94 catches for 1002 yards and a career high nine touchdowns. Bennett caught 31 passes and showed he might be ready to live up to his normal potential. It’s a must if he is to keep his spot. Phillips had a chance to be the second tight end this year if not for a season-ending injury in the preseason opener.
Wide Receivers: Starters—Miles Austin, Roy Williams. Backups—Teddy Williams, Sam Hurd, Manual Johnson, Jesse Holley, Dez Bryant, Kevin Ogletree
Miles Austin didn’t repeat his breakout season of a year ago. He caught 69 passes for 1,041 yards and seven touchdowns. He also had 10 dropped passes. But the Cowboys have no worries about Austin. He is part of the future. As is Bryant, who caught six touchdowns and was the team’s fourth-leading receiver with 45 catches despite missing the last month of the season. He will supplant Williams as the starter in 2011. Williams caught 37 passes and five touchdowns in what might have been his last year in Dallas. Ogletree did not step up as the Cowboys hoped he would after a productive rookie season. He then spent the last month of the year on injured reserve. The Cowboys are hoping to develop Teddy Williams, a former track star.
Offensive Linemen: Starters—LT Doug Free, LG Kyle Kosier, C Andre Gurode, RG Leonard Davis, RT Marc Colombo. Backups—T Sam Young, T Alex Barron, C Phil Costa, G Montrae Holland
The only thing that panned out as planned on the offensive line was Free, who replaced Flozell Adams and developed into the team’s best lineman. The rest of the unit is in rapid decline. Don’t let Gurode’s Pro Bowl selection fool you, he did not have a good season and should be a candidate to be replaced. The Cowboys are definitely looking to make moves with aging players like Kosier, Davis and Colombo. All three showed diminishing skills. Young could potentially play right tackle next season. The Cowboys should consider using Costa at center and moving Gurode over to solve one of the guard spots.
Defensive Linemen: Starters—RE Igor Olshansky, NG Jay Ratliff, LE Stephen Bowen. Backups—NG Josh Brent, E Jason Hatcher, E Clifton Geathers, Marcus Spears, Sean Lissemore.
Ratliff was the heart and soul of the defense in 2009 when the Cowboys finished ninth in defense overall and second in points allowed. He had a down year and in 2010 and it’s little wonder the soul was ripped out of a unit that set team records for points allowed, yards allowed, passing yards allowed and touchdowns. Ratliff’s sack and pressure totals were way down. Spears most likely is on his way out. He is a free agent and team has shown no interest in keeping him. Bowen was forced to action full-time as a starter because of Spears injury. He remains best at rushing the passer and has limitations against the run. The Cowboys will likely target the position early in the draft.
Linebackers: OLB DeMarcus Ware, ILB Keith Brooking, ILB Bradie James, OLB Anthony Spencer. Backups: OLB Brandon Williams, ILB Sean Lee, OLB Victor Butler.
Ware led the team and league in sacks with 15.5. He was named to the Pro Bowl and did what he always does. The same is true of James who led the Cowboys in tackles for a team-record sixth straight year. Spencer was a disappointment as he didn’t build on his strong finish to the 2009 season. His numbers were down across the board. Age and injury seemingly caught up with Brooking, whose production and ability to stay on the field declined sharply. Lee showed glimpses that he will be able to supplant Brooking in the starting lineup next season. But he also has to show he can stay healthy.
Defensive Backs: Starters—RC Mike Jenkins, LC Terence Newman, FS Alan Ball, SS Gerald Sensabuagh. Backups—CB Orlando Scandrick, CB Bryan McCann, S Barry Church, S Danny McCray.
A year ago, Jenkins and Newman became the first duo in team history to make the Pro Bowl together. This year they starred in opposing receiver’s highlight reels. Jenkins and Newman were burned for big plays all season, especially Jenkins, who also led the team in interference penalties. The only thing worse than bad corner play was the horrendous safety play. The Cowboys couldn’t give the corners any support; the play at safety was so bad. Ball made little impact and rarely made a tackle to prevent a big play. The decision to give him the starting job uncontested from the departed Ken Hamlin was a mistake. Sensabaugh wasn’t much better. Scandrick played solid late in the season. Church and McCray have yet to prove they can do more than contribute on special teams.
Special Teams: K David Buehler, P Matt McBriar, LS L.P. Ladouceur, PR Dez Bryant. KR Bryan McCann. K Kris Brown.
The Cowboys gambled on Buehler. They stubbornly supported him through a season of inconsistency before finally admitting their mistake by signing Brown the last week of the season. Brown is the favorite to win the kicking job next season. McBriar had a stellar season and was named to Pro Bowl. Bryant proved to be a game-breaking punt returner before suffering a broken ankle against the Colts. McCann was a surprise improvement on kickoff returns. He averaged 22 yards a return and had a long of 38. He also had a 97-yard punt return for a touchdown.
