Big changes coming to the Dallas Cowboys

The hiring of Monte Kiffin as the new defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys is actually a big change for the Dallas Cowboys. Since the Bill Parcells era of the Cowboys. The Dallas Cowboys have been a 3-4 defense style team for an entire decade. Why, because Jerry Jones seemed to covet the 3-4 defense as the defense for a dominant team. However with the failures of the 3-4 on various teams including the Cowboys, has led Jones to make a big change, with large ramifications. That change is to turn the Cowboys defense into a Tampa 2 scheme.

The first difference in the defense is a change from the 3-4 to the 4-3, but the Tampa 2 defense is more complex than that. It’s an aggressive, fast and attacking defense. What Jones has seen in the Tampa 2, is the teams that stick with the Tampa 2 defense have consistently dominant defenses. Take the Chicago Bears under Lovie Smith’s tenure, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers under Kiffin. Those defenses are fast, aggressive and always attacking.

The 3-4 can be aggressive too, but there are very few defensive coordinators that can run the 3-4 correctly. Every defensive coordinator on the Cowboys with the exception of Wade Phillips could not successfully run a 3-4 defense to its full potential. However, when you see a defense that has led to dominant defenses, and you get one of the men that helped invent to run it. You can’t go wrong with the decision to hire Monte Kiffin. This will lead to major changes in personnel on the Dallas Cowboys roster.

The Cowboys will need to get a middle linebacker that is fast, smart and can tackle. That will be the major challenge for the Dallas Cowboys in the offseason, but all the other positions on the Cowboys will love this defense. It’s read and react. No more thinking is involved here. Your goal is to beat up the man you are assigned to, and to get turnovers.

The defensive linemen need to attack the pocket.  The linebackers and defensive backs play zone, and tackle anything that moves in their area. What’s not to love in a defense like that? The only question this defense brings is the real possibility that Lovie Smith could be on Jerry Jones’ radar.

Jones is already rumored to want to limit Jason Garrett’s power on the team. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Jones pursue Smith if he’s available in 2013 or 2014. Bottom-line, Jerry Jones has fulfilled his promise for real changes in Dallas. Question marks still remain with Tony Romo and the offense, but this Tampa 2 defense transition is something I can sink my teeth in. I’m excited to see what 2013 holds, and I have confidence, that the defense will become dominant in at least a couple of seasons.

James Cobern is a Featured Journalist for TPF and can be contacted at JCobern@ThePenaltyFlagBlog.com.