Rob Ryan Brings Much Improved Saints Defense Into Cowboys Game
By Shawn Lealos
One of the big side stories in the Dallas Cowboys game this weekend with the New Orleans Saints is the return of Rob Ryan to face the team that fired him at the end of the 2012 NFL season. Ryan is the new defensive coordinator of the Saints, a position he also held in Dallas last season.
When the Cowboys missed the playoffs once again, Jerry Jones said no one was safe, but the one man he targeted was defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. It made no sense, least of which to Ryan, who said he had no idea what he did to get fired and made a joke that he would be unemployed for about five minutes.
It took a little longer than five minutes, but Ryan ended up in New Orleans taking over the defense that was shredded when Bounty Gate almost crippled the team in 2012. So, with Rob Ryan returning to take on the Cowboys, it is interesting to look at the situation from the format of a progress report.
In 2012, under Ryan's leadership, the Dallas Cowboys ranked 19th in the NFL in total defense while the New Orleans Saints ranked dead last. The Cowboys ranked 19th in pass defense and 22nd in rush defense, so it was clear why Jerry Jones wanted to make a change. The Saints ranked last in rush defense and next to last in pass defense.
After firing Ryan, Jerry Jones hired 73-year-old Monte Kiffin to take over the Dallas defense.
Through the first half of the 2013 NFL season, Dallas ranks ahead of only the Philadelphia Eagles in total defense. The Cowboys rank 31th in pass defense and 25th in rushing defense. They have allowed four different quarterbacks to throw for over 400 yards against them this season. Dallas has dropped in every defensive category under Kiffin and has one of the worst defenses in the NFL.
Under Rob Ryan, the New Orleans Saints, who ranked last in the NFL in 2012, now rank fifth in the league. They have the fourth ranked pass defense and the 20th ranked rushing offense. Under Ryan, who Jerry Jones fired in order to improve the Dallas defense, the Saints went from the bottom of the NFL to become one of the best defenses in the league.
Now, this weekend Tony Romo gets to lead his Dallas Cowboys out onto the field and try to match the Saints point-for-point. The Saints should have no problems moving the ball against the Monte Kiffin defense through the air with Drew Brees at quarterback. It also seems like Ryan might have something special in store for the team that hung him out to dry in 2012.
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Shawn S. Lealos is a freelance writer who graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2000 with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism. He writes for a variety of national publications and has over 15 years of sports journalism experience. Follow Shawn on Twitter @sslealos. Examiner.com.
