Yes Cowboys fans it can get worse

[Vegas39]

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and coach Jason Garrett have focused their search for a defensive coordinator on longtime NFL assistant Monte Kiffin, according to team and league sources.


More on Cowboys' DC Search
The Cowboys' past investments on defense and the makeup of their division opponents might make Monte Kiffin a bad fit as defensive coordinator, Tim MacMahon writes. Blog


• Stats & Info: Did Ryan improve D?


It is unknown whether the 72-year-old Kiffin has been offered the job, but he has emerged as the leading candidate from a list that also includes Ray Horton, a former Cowboys player and current Cardinals defensive coordinator who has interviewed for several head-coaching positions recently.


If Kiffin is hired, the Cowboys would be switching from a 3-4 defensive front to a 4-3, forcing pass-rusher DeMarcus Ware to play defensive end, with his hand on the ground for the first time in his career.


Kiffin resigned as defensive coordinator at USC, where his son Lane is the head coach, and expressed his desire to return to the NFL.


Jones, Garrett and Kiffin could not be reached for comment.


Andy Reid was interested in appointing Kiffin to be his defensive coordinator when he took over the Kansas City Chiefs but Kiffin was not interested in that opportunity.


The Ben & Skin Show
Play Podcast
Ed Werder discusses the Cowboys' coaching changes with Ben and Skin. Werder says Monte Kiffin is the best choice to replace Rob Ryan, next season's offensive playcaller is up in the air, and Jason Garrett has been destabilized.


More Podcasts »
Kiffin has been an NFL defensive coach for 26 years, half of those with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he helped the franchise win its only Super Bowl after Jon Gruden replaced Tony Dungy.


Garrett was a backup quarterback with the Bucs in 2004 when Kiffin was the defensive coordinator.


Kiffin is creator of the Tampa 2 defense and is the mastermind of one of the most successful defenses in league history. The Bucs ranked in the top 10 in fewest yards and points allowed 10 times, a league record.


The Cowboys fired Rob Ryan on Tuesday after two seasons as defensive coordinator.


ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen contributed to this report.

[slacker00]

Gotta respect Monte Kiffin, but 72 years old? Dang.

I wonder if there's ever been an NFL coordinator that old.

[pulledclear]

Old man Kiffin??????Maybe Jerry the genius will bring on Lane the ultimate muppet!!!

[ROYAJA8]

Well as long as they give him a wheelchair and he hasnt lost his mind then maybe. Nah hell no keep him away he led usc to a terrible d with all those star athletes. Get Horton or zimmer back. We have the players to have a dominant d if our players stay healthy. Our secondary yo go with our lbs Lee,Carter, Ware, and Spencer is scary. Need a new dline men n hope ratliff can get his old form back. And please sign a new offensive coordinator. Garrett waits for last 3 seconds to get the play called every play we should let Romo go no huddle n call the plays and please get a couple new olineman to save the great Romo.

[Bluehorseshoe]

Great idea. Lets start screwing with Demarcus Ware.

[frizzelli]

Dick Lebeau is like 96 so this could work.

[SportsPedagogy]

Great idea. Lets start screwing with Demarcus Ware.

MAybe his hand in the ground will keep him on sides a bit more

[InTheDrink]

Maybe at the sacrifice of wares sack totals they might, ya know, actually stop someone.

[slacker00]

Dick Lebeau is like 96 so this could work.

Good call. Lebeau is 75. He's in the NFL HOF as a player for the Lions, 62 interceptions over 13 years playing CB.

[Bluehorseshoe]

Maybe at the sacrifice of wares sack totals they might, ya know, actually stop someone.

Why sacrifice sacks? The problem was they didn't get turnovers. God forbid they blitz every once in a while.

[TheCentaur]

Doesn't matter what they do as long as Romo is QB. It's like trying to find the right combination of air fresheners with a turd in the room

[You mad bro]

Why sacrifice sacks? The problem was they didn't get turnovers. God forbid they blitz every once in a while.

they couldnt blitz u fckn idiot ... they had no guys with over the top coverage .. whats the point in sending ur linebackers or safeties when they are all 4th string players anyway .. might as well try and clog up the field ...

they had 2 second string safeties in and 2 linebackers playing that werent even gonna see the field all year ... prob werent even on the practice squad

[Bluehorseshoe]

they couldnt blitz u fckn idiot ... they had no guys with over the top coverage .. whats the point in sending ur linebackers or safeties when they are all 4th string players anyway .. might as well try and clog up the field ...

they had 2 second string safeties in and 2 linebackers playing that werent even gonna see the field all year ... prob werent even on the practice squad

So how does changing the defensive scheme going to help you????

[SEAHAWKHARRY]

still wont matter owner hands need to stay out of playcallin he's great for filling the seats but play calling and personnel moves he stinks

[You mad bro]

So how does changing the defensive scheme going to help you????

demarcus ware will be fine playing defensive end .. he likes to rush more than cover anyway

cowboys with a healthy lee and carter would help the linebacker core out so much ... ratliff healthy in the middle of the 4 along with another person ... it was pointless to have ware cover anyone this year but they had no choice cuz he was hurt ... they need a safety and an offensive line and their team will be fine


a 4-3 actually helps against the pash rush if u didnt know ... plus ratliff and ware would most likely be next to each other to prevent double teams

[TheMoneyShot]

horrible decision

[nicktran808]

Was Rob Ryan actually bad? I never could actually tell if Rob Ryan was a good or bad DC

[Petey Wheatstraw]

Doesn't matter what they do as long as Romo is QB. It's like trying to find the right combination of air fresheners with a turd in the room

Unknowing Fledling comment. Surely.

[Petey Wheatstraw]

Possibly exhume Ernie Stautner?!?!?!?

C'mon Jerry Jones, sell it or hire me.

Christ almighty.

[TheCentaur]

Unknowing Fledling comment. Surely.

Do you mean fledgeling?

[Petey Wheatstraw]

Do you mean fledgeling?

No I had it write the first time FLEDGLING twice.

[TheCentaur]

You Cowboys fans are desperately discussing changes to the plane when you've got a suicidal pilot in the cockpit. Sure it might fly better and faster for awhile but he's still going to crash it.

[TheCentaur]

No I had it write the first time FLEDLING twice.

wow

[PAULYPOKER]

Gotta respect Monte Kiffin, but 72 years old? Dang.

I wonder if there's ever been an NFL coordinator that old.

Dick LeBeau is 75,

but he is an NFL defensive mastermind,

Kiffen is not..............

As you said earlier,

Lovie Smith would be the best fit but Dallas management is successfully retarded..........................

[Petey Wheatstraw]

RG Spaghetti Knee Athletic Supporter?!?!

I think so.

[Petey Wheatstraw]

demarcus ware will be fine playing defensive end .. he likes to rush more than cover anyway

cowboys with a healthy lee and carter would help the linebacker core out so much ... ratliff healthy in the middle of the 4 along with another person ... it was pointless to have ware cover anyone this year but they had no choice cuz he was hurt ... they need a safety and an offensive line and their team will be fine


a 4-3 actually helps against the pash rush if u didnt know ... plus ratliff and ware would most likely be next to each other to prevent double teams

You're Hired.

Sincerely,

Jerry Jones

[slacker00]

Dick LeBeau is 75,

but he is an NFL defensive mastermind,

Kiffen is not..............

As you said earlier,

Lovie Smith would be the best fit but Dallas management is successfully retarded..........................

Kiffin had a top 10 defense 12 of his 13 years in Tampa from 1996-2008. If Lebeau can do it, why not Kiffin?

[PAULYPOKER]

Kiffin had a top 10 defense 12 of his 13 years in Tampa from 1996-2008. If Lebeau can do it, why not Kiffin?

Why did Kiffin leave the NFL?

[slacker00]

Why did Kiffin leave the NFL?

He wanted to help his son coach college. I know it seem silly, but that's why he left.

[Petey Wheatstraw]

Kiffin had a top 10 defense 12 of his 13 years in Tampa from 1996-2008. If Lebeau can do it, why not Kiffin?

Mold is the reason.

[PAULYPOKER]

He wanted to help his son coach college. I know it seem silly, but that's why he left.

Dedication along with environment would be the downfall of why he couldn't succeed in Dallas...........

Dallas is liken to a severely dysfunctional family,not too far behind Oakland in this department.........


While Pittsburgh is liken to a story book family...................

Kiffin is Too old for the he said she said games................

[BeantownBlue]

You need a new QB first fergodsakes.
You are not gonna get anywhere with Romo.

[TheCentaur]

You need a new QB first fergodsakes.
You are not gonna get anywhere with Romo.

fledlig comment

[opie1988]

Dick LeBeau is 75,

but he is an NFL defensive mastermind,

Kiffen is not..............

As you said earlier,

Lovie Smith would be the best fit but Dallas management is successfully retarded..........................

You honestly think he's going to be ok coming down to be another HC's DC?

He's got lots of choices to be a HC himself. No way he's coming here to work for some other head coach. That's not even a possibility.

[slacker00]

You honestly think he's going to be ok coming down to be another HC's DC?

He's got lots of choices to be a HC himself. No way he's coming here to work for some other head coach. That's not even a possibility.

It was my suggestion in another thread, Pauly is just echoing it.

I also said that Jones would have to pay Lovie as a HC, maybe even give him a title like assistant HC, I dunno.

But I understand your point. Jerry Jones would have to give Lovie special treatment, far above just some DC.

I do think Lovie can still be a fine HC, somewhere, but he needs someone to handle the offensive aspects.