Cowboys' Defensive Coordinator Candidate: Rob Ryan

Rob Ryan

 2004 Oakland Raiders

• T-9th in Pass Plays Over 40 Yards Allowed(7)
• 32nd in Quarterback Rating Versus The Defense(99.4)
• 31st in Sacks(25)
• 30th in Pass Defense(245.3)
• T-6th in Average Yards Per Carry Allowed(3.7)
• 22nd in Rush defense(125.8)
• 30th in Total defense(371.0)
• 31st in Scoring Defense(27.6)
• 18 Takeaways

2005

• T-14th in Pass Plays Over 40 Yards Allowed(7)
• 29th in Quarterback Rating Versus The Defense(90.7)
• T-18th in Sacks(36)
• 18th in Pass Defense(202.7)
• T-15th in Average Yards Per Carry Allowed(4.0)
• 25th in Rush Defense (128.1)
• 27th in Total Defense(330.8)
• 25th in Scoring Defense(23.9)
• 19 Takeaways

2006

• T-4th in Pass Plays Over 40 Yards Allowed(5)
• 7th in Quarterback Rating Versus The Defense(74.1)
• T-19th in Sacks(34)
• 1st in Pass Defense(150.8)
• T-11th in Average Yards Per Carry Allowed(4.0)
• 25th in Rush Defense(134.0)
• 3rd in Total Defense(284.8)
• 18th in Scoring Defense(20.8)
• 23 Takeaways

2007

• T-25th in Pass Plays Over 40 Yards Allowed(9)
• 12th in Quarterback Rating Versus The Defense(78.9)
• 18th in Sacks(27)
• 8th in Pass Defense(195.8)
• 32nd in Average Yards Per Carry Allowed(4.8)
• 31st in Rush Defense(145.9)
• 22nd in Total Defense(341.6)
• 26th in Scoring Defense (24.9)
• 26 Takeaways

2008

• T-22 in Pass Plays Over 40 Yards Allowed(9)
• 12th in Quarterback Rating Versus The Defense(79.3)
• 13th in Sacks(32)
• 10th in Pass Defense(201.3)
• 29th in Average Yards Per Carry Allowed(4.6)
• 31st in Rush Defense(159.7)
• 27th in Total Defense(360.9)
• 24th in Scoring Defense(24.3)
• 24 Takeaways

Cleveland Browns 2009

• T-23rd in Pass Plays Over 40 Yards Allowed(13)
• 24th in Quarterback Rating Versus The Defense(90.6)
• T-8th in Sacks(40)
• 29th in Pass Defense(244.7)
• 29th in Average Yards Per Carry Allowed(4.6)
• 28th in Rush Defense(144.6) 
• 31st in Total Defense(389.3)
• 21st in Scoring Defense(23.4)
• 19 Takeaways 

2010 

• T-16th in Pass Plays Over 40 Yards Allowed(8)
• 17th in Quarterback Rating Versus The Defense(84.8)
• 25th in Sacks(29)
• 18th in Pass Defense(220.7)
• 27th in Average Yards Per Carry Allowed(4.1)
• 27th in Rush Defense(129.4), 
• 22nd in Total Defense (350.1)
• 13th in Scoring Defense(20.8)
• 28 Takeaways

Analysis - Rob Ryan is a big name. So naturally, he's going to enthrall fans by that alone. Statistically, he's very mediocre. His run defenses have ranked 25th or worse every year as a coordinator. I mean, honestly, everything across the board has been bad. He had the top ranked pass defense in in 2006 and the 8th in 2007. But besides that, nothing really impresses me. I've seen him on the sideline, and as a Ryan, it's no real surprise, but he's a fiery guy. He comes from a good defensive coaching pedigree, so I'm sure he can get his point across to his players. I just wonder about his ability to put together a game plan, make in-game adjustments, and how well he uses his players. I've read that he's not very good at using his players like they're supposed too. 

He's certainly a big name, but his track records leaves a lot to be desired. I know, Oakland and Cleveland aren't exactly overflowing with talent, but even still. Unless he didn't have any say in the defense, which I'd find pretty hard to believe, even though in Oakland he had Al Davis running the team in the ground. In Cleveland he was working under Eric Mangini, who is a defensive guy. So he might have had his hand in the defense somewhere. I wouldn't blame him.

This hire would make a lot of sense and maybe he's just a product of trying to coaching on a bad team. He'd have everything he could possibly want here. There's no reason he can't succeed in Dallas.