Saints Stuff...

[Cotton]

Ware's return in New Orleans seems fitting
November, 5, 2013

By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com

IRVING, Texas -- Now that noted physician, Dr. Jerry Jones, has pronounced Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Ware ready to return from a quadriceps strain, we should take note of where Sunday’s game will be played: Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

On Dec. 19, 2009, Ware had his most memorable game there.

Six days after he suffered a neck injury against the San Diego Chargers, Ware recorded two sacks of Drew Brees, two forced fumbles and three quarterback pressures. His second forced fumble ended the Saints’ final scoring drive and handed New Orleans its first loss of the season. The Cowboys ended a two-game losing streak with the win and won their final three games that season to finish with an 11-5 record.

They have not made the playoffs since.

It was a courageous performance by Ware -- who did not start that night for the first time in his career -- and the rest of the defense fed off his play that night. As he walked into the dome that night, he wasn’t sure he would play. Many inside the organization thought he would sit. He needed to be carted off the field with his head taped to a board less than a week earlier.

But somehow he played and excelled.

When the Cowboys return to New Orleans on Sunday, Ware will be on the field again, according to Jones, after missing three straight games with a quadriceps strain.

He probably could have returned against the Minnesota Vikings, but the Cowboys did not want to press the issue, knowing they would need Ware in a big way against Brees and the Saints on Sunday.

The Cowboys will need Ware this week the way they needed him in 2009.

He had four sacks in the first six games to go with 16 quarterback pressures. With Ware, a defensive line that has been hit with injuries since the first day of training camp will be better. Jason Hatcher, who has seven sacks, will have more room to operate. George Selvie, who has six sacks, will get more room.

Ware still has that kind of effect on an offense.

Before the quadriceps injury, Ware had to deal with stinger and back injuries that limited his effectiveness and led to some question whether this is the beginning of the end for the Cowboys’ all-time leader in sacks.

He is 31 and has been named to the Pro Bowl the last seven seasons. If he wants to make it eight in a row, he will need to be the Ware of old, the Ware of 2009 at New Orleans, when everybody was watching him that night inside the Superdome.

 

[Texas Ace]

IRVING, Texas -- Now that noted physician, Dr. Jerry Jones,

 

[jester]

This will be a tough game as the Saints will be coming off a loss to the Jets team that has a better defense and defensive scheme. I see the defense instead of rallying around Ware will lean on him.

We can only hope that the offense can match blows w Breese like what was done vs Manning, the real one.

 

[Texas Ace]

I'd be surprised if this was anything other than a blowout.

Our defense has no chance in this one.

 

[boozeman]

Film study: Reviewing Saints offense

November, 5, 2013


By Mike Triplett | ESPN.com


Some observations on the New Orleans Saints' offense after reviewing the tape of the team's 26-20 loss to the New York Jets in Week 9:

Dropping the ball: Without question, this was the No. 1 issue that plagued the Saints' offense. By my count, the Saints dropped at least six catchable balls -- many of which were huge momentum-changers.

When I reviewed the tape, I was actually surprised by how good the Saints' offense looked for the first 40 minutes or so. The pass protection wasn't a problem until late in the third quarter. Quarterback Drew Brees had time to throw, and receivers were getting open down the field. It was understandable why coach Sean Payton elected to keep throwing the ball so often.

But dropped passes repeatedly derailed drives.

Late in the first quarter, a Saints drive stalled near midfield when receivers Lance Moore and Nick Toon each dropped passes. Toon's came on a deep ball that could have resulted in a touchdown.

Even more costly was a ball that bounced off Toon's hands in the second quarter and wound up getting intercepted by Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie. The ball snuck up on Toon too quickly on a timing route as he turned to make the catch.

In the fourth quarter, fullback Jed Collins dropped a pass on third-and-1 that would have easily resulted in a first down.

Then on the next drive, tight end Jimmy Graham and receiver Robert Meachem both dropped passes that weren't perfectly on target but did hit them in the hands. Meachem's came on third-and-7 and forced the Saints to settle for a field goal.

Tip drill: One more pass that derailed the Saints early in the game was Brees' first interception in the first quarter. He threw the ball too far behind tight end Benjamin Watson on a crossing route. The ball got batted up by safety Dawan Landry, then linebacker DeMario Davis made a great effort to dive and catch it.

Successful throws: Despite those two batted interceptions and all those drops, Brees still threw for 230 yards in the first half -- including a 60-yard bomb to Meachem, a 51-yard touchdown to Graham, a 10-yard touchdown to Graham and a 25-yard strike to Moore.

The Jets stole a page from the New England Patriots' playbook a few times, matching cornerbacks Antonio Cromartie and Dee Milliner up with Graham, but it wasn't nearly as effective. Graham torched single coverage on both of his touchdowns. First, he used a double move to beat safety Jaiquawn Jarrett on the deep ball (and dragged Jarrett the last eight yards into the end zone). Then he used his size mismatch to box out Cromartie for the 10-yarder.

Protection breakdown: The Saints' offensive line definitely deserves its share of the blame for this performance. They started to take a beating over the final 20 minutes. Late in the third quarter, Jets end Muhammad Wilkerson beat guard Ben Grubbs with a swim move and ran between Grubbs and left tackle Charles Brown to sack Brees. And Grubbs, guard Jahri Evans and center Brian de la Puente all got flagged for holding or illegal use of hands when they lost one-on-one battles up front.

But like I said above, the Saints' line wasn't being harassed all day long. Brees was hit or hurried a few times in the first 40 minutes -- but it was often because blitz pressure forced a quick throw or because he held the ball too long searching for an open receiver.

That was the case when Brees took his two hardest shots of the day in the second half. On one of those plays, the Jets blitzed, and linebacker Quinton Coples eventually found a free path to Brees after twisting into the middle of the line. On another, Brees got nailed by safety Josh Bush when Graham let Bush loose to run out for a late pass route.

Brees' other sack also appeared to be a blown assignment by Graham (or maybe tight end Benjamin Watson). They were both lined up on the right side of the Saints' line, but neither one of them attempted to block outside linebacker Calvin Pace, who ran free at Brees.

Fourth-and-1 fail: The Saints' failed trick play on fourth-and-1 in the fourth quarter looked like a massive failure when tight end Josh Hill was stopped by Coples for an 8-yard loss on an end-around run. However, you could tell by watching the tape how it was supposed to work. Everyone else besides Coples either bit on the play-action fake to running back Pierre Thomas or got blocked out of the way. If Coples hadn't stayed home, the play might have resulted in a big gain. … But Coples never budged. He kept his eyes on Brees and Hill the whole time and made an easy tackle.

Solid runs: Payton was right. The Saints didn't run the ball often, but their run plays were pretty effective when they did. Evans, Grubbs and Collins each had at least one standout block on some of the Saints' longer gains.

Sproles imitation: Runner/receiver Darren Sproles left the game with a concussion early in the first quarter, and he was certainly missed. But Thomas did a great job filling in for Sproles on at least one play -- making a diving catch for a first down on fourth-and-2 in the fourth quarter.

Thomas was also effective as usual on screen passes, catching a total of seven passes for 66 yards.

 

[EZ22]

Rape should be illegal.

 

[jeebs]

Rape should be illegal.

What if you had a really really good reason?

 

[Cotton]

Officials breakdown: Jerome Boger

November, 6, 2013

By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com


IRVING, Texas -- Jerome Boger will be the referee for Sunday’s game between the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints.

The Cowboys saw Boger in their Week 2 loss at the Kansas City Chiefs. They were penalized five times for a season-low 27 yards. The Chiefs were penalized 10 times for 45 yards.

Last week Boger’s crew worked the San Diego Chargers-Washington Redskins' game that had a somewhat controversial replay overruling of a touchdown that would have given the Chargers the win. Washington won in overtime.

The breakdown:

False start -- 3
Personal foul -- 2
Face mask -- 1
Offensive holding -- 4
Offensive pass interference -- 1
Defensive pass interference -- 1
Neutral zone infraction -- 1
Delay of game -- 1
Horse collar tackle -- 1

Quarter by quarter:

First -- 1
Second -- 5
Third -- 4
Fourth -- 3
Overtime -- 2

 

[1bigfan13]

I'd be surprised if this was anything other than a blowout.

Our defense has no chance in this one.

I thought you knew your Cowboys.

This will probably be another game where the Cowboys play to the level of their competition.

I'm expecting a loss but something like 45-40.

 

[Rev]

I thought you knew your Cowboys.

This will probably be another game where the Cowboys play to the level of their competition.

I'm expecting a loss but something like 45-40.

Exactly.

 

[Texas Ace]

I thought you knew your Cowboys.

This will probably be another game where the Cowboys play to the level of their competition.

I'm expecting a loss but something like 45-40.

You were right about the Broncos game, but I don't see this offense with the way it's playing right now breaking out for 40 points.

No way.

 

[1bigfan13]

You were right about the Broncos game, but I don't see this offense with the way it's playing right now breaking out for 40 points.

No way.

I understand your position. The offense has looked lethargic and out of sync for a few weeks now and the running game has been completely abandoned.

If this were any other team I'd agree with you.

But the only thing this team does consistently is play to the level of their competition.

I'm expecting another high-scoring, one possession game similar to the Broncos game.

And in true Cowboys fashion they'll probably make a critical error late to lose the game.

Go Cowboys!

 

[boozeman]

The Broncos game was an anomaly. What you have seen otherwise is clearly the norm.

 

[Cotton]

Run game should work against Saints, but…
BY TOM ORSBORN : Thursday, November 7, 2013

SAN ANTONIO – One reason the Cowboys logged a franchise-low nine rushing attempts in last week’s 27-23 win over Minnesota was it knew it could move the ball through the air against a defense that ranked near the bottom of the league against the pass.

New Orleans is a different story.

Rob Ryan’s defense is fifth against the pass but just 25th against the run, allowing an average of 121.3 yards per game. Those facts, plus the need to keep Drew Brees and the Saints’ seventh-ranked offense (397.4-yard average) off the field, point to a Dallas game plan that should call for plenty of action for DeMarco Murray.

“You have to be persistent,” Garrett said in Irving of the running game. “We all know that. I know that. (Offensive coordinator) Bill (Callahan) knows that. Everybody knows that. You just have to keep banging away at it.

“At the same time, you don’t want a whole lot of wasted plays. There aren’t that many plays in a ballgame. You want to find things you’re good at and you want to migrate to those things.”

What that essentially means is that the Cowboys want to employ a balanced attack. But if the offensive line can’t open the holes, or if the Saints put eight men in the box, or if Tony Romo has a hot hand or Callahan sees a matchup in the secondary that can be exploited, Dallas will continue to be pass heavy.

 

[Cotton]

Sean Payton, Jason Garrett in different roles
November, 7, 2013

By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com

IRVING, Texas – Sean Payton made his bones as a playcaller early on in his time as the New Orleans Saints’ head coach. Before this season, Jason Garrett had called every play for the Dallas Cowboys since 2007.

When these coaches and good friends meet Sunday at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, Payton will be calling the plays, while Garrett will be overseeing the Cowboys’ offense but not directly communicating with quarterback Tony Romo.

Payton and Garrett have had role reversals of sorts.

In 2011 Payton was forced to give it up after suffering a serious knee injury on the sideline during a game. Offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael took over with Payton injured, and the Saints scored 62 points in their first game.

“So I told Pete that might be a good one to end on,” Payton said. “He did a great job for us in [2011] and a great job for us last year. He’s very in tune to what we’re doing daily. He’s a big reason why we’ve had the success we’ve had here offensively, and someone [who] will and during the course of any game call plays for us. [He] puts together all the practice plans and really is very involved in our game-planning. I think more importantly about the details of the execution philosophically, the way you want to approach each week, those things become more important.”

Carmichael called the plays last season with Payton serving a one-year suspension, but Payton is back to calling the plays for the Saints.

As good as Payton is as a playcaller, quarterback Drew Brees said the Saints missed Payton the head coach more.

“You forget all the things that are required of the head coach to be responsible for,” Brees said. “Some are more involved than others. But Sean Payton is a very hands-on coach that kind of has his hands in everything and feels responsible for everything. I think we missed him most in other areas, not necessarily just play calling.”

Depending on the story, Garrett this year either had the play-calling duties taken away from him by owner and general manager Jerry Jones or was willing to allow offensive coordinator Bill Callahan to call the plays.

Garrett remains involved in the process, but he has let Callahan run the show with Romo. The Cowboys are fourth in the NFL in points per game (28.6) but 17th in yards per game (342.8). Since a 48-point performance against Denver it has been a struggle for the offense.

But Garrett has remained an observer.

“I think it’s been a good thing,” Garrett said of the play-calling switch. “It’s something that we’ve tried to do since I became the head coach, coming from the coordinator position. They’re two full-time jobs, and in order to do each of them well, you have to focus on really every aspect of them. There are only so many hours in the day, so since I became the head coach, I was always trying to delegate some of the responsibilities I had within the coordinator position and within some of the head-coaching responsibilities that I had. So now I can be more focused on some of the head-coaching stuff.

"Certainly I’m in all of the meetings on offense and many of the meetings on defense during the week. With the installations of the plays, I’m involved in all that. But you need to delegate and more importantly empower the people around you to do those jobs. We’ve done that. I think that structure has worked well for us. That doesn’t mean that because we’re in that structure, everything is going to be perfect. We need to keep working hard to make whatever structure we use the best it can be for our players to execute ball plays.”

 

[Cotton]

Double Coverage: Cowboys at Saints
November, 7, 2013

By Todd Archer and Mike Triplett | ESPNDallas.com

There might not be a more compelling game on this week’s NFL schedule than the Sunday night showdown between the NFC South-leading New Orleans Saints (6-2) and the NFC East-leading Dallas Cowboys (5-4) at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

They’re jockeying for position in the NFC playoff race. They both offer offensive fireworks, led by the Saints’ Drew Brees and Jimmy Graham and the Cowboys’ Tony Romo and Dez Bryant. They’ve both got something to prove: The Saints, that they can bounce back from their ugliest performance of the season in a 26-20 loss at the New York Jets; the Cowboys, that they can finally beat a team with a winning record this season.

There’s even a revenge factor at play. Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan was fired by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones after last season. And he has never been shy about expressing his displeasure with that decision.

ESPN.com’s Saints reporter Mike Triplett and Cowboys reporter Todd Archer break down the matchup.

Triplett: Rob Ryan has been such a huge addition for the Saints. Players love playing for him. He’s putting them in good positions to succeed, and his versatile schemes have worked great for the most part. What wasn’t working for him in Dallas?

Archer: Injuries played a big part in his demise here. He was down six starters at the end of the season and DeMarcus Ware was playing with one arm. He had them competitive. But, honestly, Ryan played a big part in it, too. He tried to junk it up with so many different looks and schemes and packages that the players couldn’t just go play. They had to think. Maybe he felt like he had to junk it up because so many guys were hurt, but he left them unsound a lot of times. He was also way too emotional. He lacked poise when the defense needed it most. I think he was too worried about becoming a head coach. Maybe it has changed down there, or maybe Sean Payton has more control of him.

Is there any reason to think that what happened against the Jets could be the start of something for the Saints?

Triplett: The Saints have had a few nagging issues that all seemed to creep up at once in that Jets loss. Their pass protection has been inconsistent. Their run game has been nonexistent at times. The run defense has been up and down. But I think it was rare for the Saints to have all of those things come up and bite them at once at New York, and they were a little out of their element in some chilly weather against a physical team. Playing at home against the Cowboys seems like a matchup that suits them better. They’re more than happy to engage in a shootout.

What’s the biggest threat the Cowboys pose? I assume Romo and Bryant are involved?

Archer: Since they just don’t want to run the ball, after just eight carries last week (the ninth was a Romo scramble), I’ll go with Romo-to-Bryant, but the Romo-to-Jason Witten combination is pretty good. The Cowboys can throw the ball well even without a running game. They might be happy to get into a shootout as well. The last time the offense was good was a month ago, in their 51-48 shootout loss to Denver. Romo knows Brees is going to score points, so he’ll have to match it. Remember, the last time the Cowboys were at the Superdome they ended New Orleans’ run at perfection by being aggressive early. I can see them trying to do that again.

The Cowboys have allowed four 400-yard passers this season, and I’m penciling in Brees as the fifth. Calvin Johnson went for 329 receiving yards against the Cowboys a couple of weeks ago. What will Graham do?

Triplett: You could have been talking about the Saints when you said they “can throw the ball well even without a running game.” The Saints might try to establish the run a little bit since Sean Payton said that one of his biggest regrets in the Jets loss was that he was too unbalanced. But the Saints are always willing to exploit a shaky pass defense.

Some teams have been defending Graham with top cornerbacks (which worked for the Patriots but not for the Jets). But the Saints have clobbered teams whenever they leave Graham in single coverage. Meanwhile, if defenses sell out to stop Graham, Brees will happily throw to any open man. Two weeks ago, he completed passes to 10 different receivers. And it looks like Darren Sproles and Marques Colston may both be back from injuries Sunday.

Why has Dallas’ pass defense been so bad?

Archer: Mostly, it’s taken time for the players to get a grasp of Monte Kiffin’s scheme and it’s taken time for the new defensive coordinator to know how to best use his players. They have man corners in Brandon Carr, Orlando Scandrick and Morris Claiborne, but they have played a lot of zone and been exposed. There have been just too many creases. The pass rush has not helped either. They went into the season thinking Anthony Spencer, Jay Ratliff, Jason Hatcher and Ware would be their rocks. Spencer played in one game. Ratliff didn’t play in any before getting cut. Ware has missed the last three but is set to return this week. Hatcher is having a career year with seven sacks. When they have played average quarterbacks they have held up. When they have played elite quarterbacks they have given up 400 yards. For the fantasy-football owners out there, go with Brees Sunday.

You get this every week, but play calling is a big topic here. How have things been different with Payton calling the shots again?

Triplett: You’re right to mention play calling in that question. Most people ask about Payton’s leadership, which is obviously a huge deal; he instills a lot of confidence in this team and seems to press all the right motivational buttons. But his greatest strength is his offensive brain. He’s so good at using a ton of different formations to find and exploit mismatches, usually with Graham and Sproles. The offense hasn’t quite hit its peak like it did in 2011, but it has been excellent at times.

You mentioned Ware coming back. Will he be close to 100 percent? Folks around here won’t soon forget how well he played in 2009, when the Saints didn’t expect him to come back from injury so soon. He single-handedly spoiled their undefeated season.

Archer: I think so, but he has had a couple of nagging things this season (a stinger and strained back). Missing three weeks might have Ware as fresh as he has ever felt entering Week 10 of a season. They’ll need him to be the Ware of that night in 2009 to succeed. He looked great in training camp, overpowering Tyron Smith in practice all the time, but he hasn’t been as explosive when he has played. What he’ll do is make the other guys around him better because he’ll command so much attention.

Ware is making the move back to defensive end from outside linebacker. How has the Saints' defense transitioned from the 4-3 to Ryan’s 3-4?

Triplett: The transition has been outstanding, in large part because Ryan has adapted his 3-4 to fit the Saints’ personnel (after a ton of injuries this summer, including one to former Cowboys linebacker Victor Butler). As a result, the Saints have actually spent most of the season in nickel and dime defenses with a four-man front. Ryan likes to use three safeties at once in versatile roles, disguising what they do and sending them on occasional blitzes.

End Cameron Jordan and outside linebacker Junior Galette are having breakout seasons as edge rushers. And veteran cornerback Keenan Lewis has been a great pick-up in free agency, too. He’s a bigger, long-armed guy. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him shadow Bryant on Sunday night.

We've hit on Romo, Bryant, Witten and Ware. Any under-the-radar Cowboys who might have a big impact on this game?

Archer: I’ll go with Cole Beasley. He might get stopped by stadium security before the game because he just doesn’t look like an NFL receiver at 5-foot-8 and 180 pounds, but Romo loves the kid. He’s a real threat in the slot. He’s super-quick, has a great feel for getting open underneath and knows how not to take a hit. He had six catches last week against Minnesota. The Cowboys’ third-down offense has been pretty bad, but Beasley can take some pressure off Witten and Bryant in the slot.

 

[Cotton]

Tony Romo: Rob Ryan did a ‘great job’ for the Dallas Cowboys
By Jon Machota
jmachota@dallasnews.com
9:00 am on November 7, 2013 | Permalink

Tony Romo obviously doesn’t play on defense, but he did go against a Rob Ryan coached 3-4 scheme every day in practice the previous two seasons.

As expected, when asked about Ryan on Wednesday, Romo had glowing things to say about the former Cowboys defensive coordinator who holds the same position now with the New Orleans Saints.

“Rob did a great job for us,” Romo said on a conference call with media members who cover the Saints. “I enjoyed being around him. He’s got great energy and I think he has done a great job down there in New Orleans.”

When Romo was pressed on the topic of why Ryan was fired, the Cowboys quarterback attempted to steer clear of giving an opinion, saying he’s not involved with those types of decisions.

“I just go out and play quarterback and try and help this football team win,” Romo said. “I enjoyed, like I said, being around Rob and he is a great guy.”

During the 2011 season, Ryan’s first with the Cowboys, his defense finished 14th in the league, allowing 343.2 yards per game and 21.7 points. In his second season, the Cowboys slipped to 19th in the NFL, allowing 355.4 yards per game and 25.0 points.

The Cowboys had a difficult time creating turnovers last season, finishing with only 16, but the argument can be made that Ryan was limited in the talent department after several key contributors were lost for the season due to injuries.

 

[Texas Ace]

“You have to be persistent,” Garrett said in Irving of the running game. “We all know that. I know that. (Offensive coordinator) Bill (Callahan) knows that. Everybody knows that. You just have to keep banging away at it.

Garrett is such a lying piece of shit.

They obviously don't know to be persistent or we wouldn't continuously have issues where we abandon the run in a close game.

Murray is averaging almost 8 yards a carry last week and yet he doesn't get a single carry in the 2nd half in a game where we led for most of the half, and yet that's somehow supposed to show that they are committed to the running game?

GTFO.

 

[Cotton]

Scandrick has confidence in secondary
November, 7, 2013

By Calvin Watkins | ESPNDallas.com

IRVING, Texas -- The New Orleans Saints host the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night with the third-best passing offense in the NFL. The Cowboys rank 31st against the pass.

It doesn't worry Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick.

"I don't give a damn about yards, my confidence is high," Scandrick said. "I'm confident in my abilities and I know the rest of the guys are. Brandon Carr is a helluva corner and I don't think his confidence waivers at all."

The Saints produced solid numbers in the deep passing attack. On the season, the Saints have 33 passes of 20 or more yards, tied for fifth in the NFL. The Saints are tied for the league lead with the Philadelphia Eagles with 10 touchdown passes of 20 or more yards.

The Cowboys secondary has allowed 36 passes of 20 or more yards, 31st in the NFL.

Defensive end DeMarcus Ware's return to the lineup should help a pass rush in need of creating pressure on the quarterback.

"Well, there's no doubt it makes everybody better because we're getting there," defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin said of Ware's return. "They can't slide this way or slide that way and they can't chip on George [Selvie]. They can slide to [Jason] Hatcher, it balances everything, I think that's true. Anybody will tell you that with a front four with a guy as dominant as him I think it helps you overall."

Kiffin's defense is young.

Outside of three-year veteran Barry Church, Kiffin has rookie safeties Jeff Heath and Jakar Hamilton getting playing time, with Heath starting over another rookie, the injured J.J. Wilcox (knee). Kiffin also has another safety in nicked-up Danny McCray (toe and hip issues) competing.

Heath has endured serious moments in his brief time on the field. He mistimed a jump on a long pass play to Calvin Johnson two weeks ago, and after lifting the leg of Adrian Peterson last week, the running back still powered his way into the end zone over four Cowboys defenders.

"I feel like if I was in that situation again, I would do the same thing," Heath said of the Peterson run. "It's kind of one of those freak plays, where he was going back and I kind of picked him up, sit him back on his feet."

The Saints will have numerous weapons Sunday for quarterback Drew Brees from tight end Jimmy Graham, the league-leader with 10 touchdowns, running back Darren Sproles, a dual threat in the pass and run game, and of course the rest of the receivers starting with Marques Colston.

"We don't have a lot of veteran guys back there," Kiffin said. "At times there are five or six rookies or free agents. But they have [played] well when excepted. They have earned it, the young guys have earned it."

 

[Cotton]

Garrett expresses ‘love’ for Ryan
BY TOM ORSBORN : Thursday, November 7, 2013

SAN ANTONIO – Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett has said so many good things about Rob Ryan this week, it begs the question: Why isn’t he still the team’s defensive coordinator?

“I love Rob Ryan,” Garrett said Monday in Irving. “He is a fantastic person. He is a fantastic coach.”

On Wednesday, Garrett talked about his “ongoing relationship with Ryan.

“I have a great deal of respect for Rob as a coach and as a person,” Garrett said at another media briefing in Irving. “I have a great deal of affection for him, and for everything he did when he was here for the couple of years as our defensive coordinator. He and I have spoken and stayed in touch. He’s a great guy, and I just can’t thank him enough.”

The Cowboys fired Ryan after last season’s 8-8 finish. Garrett told reporters at the Senior Bowl last January that the No. 1 reason for Ryan’s dismissal was because his 3-4 defense didn’t generate enough turnovers. Under Monte Kiffin and with a 4-3 look, the Cowboys eclipsed their takeaway total from last season in Week 8 this year.

But this week, it’s been nothing but praise from Garrett.

“He’s a heck of a competitor, too,” Garrett said. “That’s one of the things we certainly liked about him, and we’ll be challenged by what he’s doing on defense, certainly, on Sunday night.”

We’ll find out what Ryan has to say on Friday, when he’s scheduled to meet with reporters who cover the Saints at the team’s practice facility.