Dallas Cowboys: Rob Ryan should make a difference

The Dallas Cowboys selected eight players in the NFL Draft. Six of the eight were offensive players. The Cowboys no doubt will look to free agency to shore up a defense that developed all kinds of holes.

But free agency will have to wait until the NFL fixes its labor dispute. For now, Dallas’ defense will have to puts its hope in another newcomer.

Coordinator Rob Ryan.

“We are absolutely excited about Rob Ryan coming in here as our defensive coordinator,” head coach Jason Garrett said. “He was hired for a reason. He does an outstanding job, and we expect him to do an outstanding job with our defense. We are certainly happy with Rob and what he can bring to our defense.”

Ryan, the son of NFL defensive coaching legend Buddy Ryan, was born in Ardmore but never really lived in Oklahoma until he came to Southwestern State to play football.

Rob Ryan was Bob Simmons’ defensive coordinator at OSU from 1997-99 and did a superb job, which catapulted him back to the NFL, this time without the help of his dad.

Rob and his brother Rex were on Buddy’s Cardinal staff in 1994-95. But Rob’s status soared during stints as the linebacker coach at New England (2000-03, two Super Bowl titles), defensive coordinator at Oakland (2004-08) and defensive coordinator at Cleveland (2009-10).