The Cowboys gave up 37 points to the Giants Sunday night, including two touchdowns in the final six minutes. Instead of blaming Tony Romo, Jason Garrett, or Dallas’ typical December collapses, NFL analyst Keyshawn Johnson says the defense is the big problem. Specifically, he says Rob Ryan’s complicated playbook is a concern for the team.
“We can all point to the obvious and say ‘Tony Romo, Jason Garrett, the timeouts, all that sort of stuff,” Keyshawn said on Monday Night Countdown. “Take a look at the defense though. Take a look at Rob Ryan. I talk to some people in Dallas that play on the defense. They say ‘we got too much stuff, Key. We don’t know our assignments. We’ve blown coverages that people haven’t found out.’
“Sometimes coaches put too much stuff in because they’re geniuses, because they’re too great. You gotta know what you got and know who’s who, and they don’t do that.”
It never crossed my mind that Rob Ryan’s playbook was too complicated, but Keyshawn is saying that’s what players are telling him, so you have to believe that’s true.
I have felt that Rob’s defenses have performed questionably. Against the Eagles and Giants, his defenses were burned for touchdowns on all-out blitzes on numerous occasions. Whether the playbook is too complicated or he’s taking too many chances, the point is clear that Rob’s defenses have struggled at times throughout the season.
