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Monte Kiffin speaks! New Cowboys defensive coordinator reveals plan
By BRANDON GEORGE Staff writer
Published: 22 January 2013 09:55 PM
MOBILE, Ala. – New Cowboys defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin said he’s not even sure how to spell “retire” and it’s a word that’s not even in his vocabulary.
The soon-to-be 73-year-old talked to the media for the first time Tuesday since he was recently hired to replace Rob Ryan, who was fired after two seasons as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator.
Kiffin said he’s “fired up” about his new job and feels like he can get the Cowboys transitioned from a 3-4 defense to his 4-3 Tampa Cover-2 scheme this off-season.
“We have to get the people in the right positions now,” Kiffin said. “We have to make sure we make the right decisions.”
Kiffin said that he has finalized his defensive coaching staff and most of Ryan’s assistants will return. The only significant change other than Ryan was former Chicago defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli replacing Brian Baker as the Cowboys’ defensive line coach.
Kiffin worked with Marinelli for 10 years in Tampa Bay and is excited to be reunited with him.
“It’s really special,” Kiffin said. “Rod Marinelli is an icon.”
Tony Dungy was the head coach of Kiffin and Marinelli’s standout defensive teams in Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers took a few years to become one of the league’s best defenses when they put in the Cover-2 scheme, and Dungy recently said that he felt like Kiffin would need some time for his scheme to work well in Dallas. Dungy said he believed the Cowboys would need a few drafts to get the right players at the right positions in the scheme.
“We were starting from scratch in Tampa Bay,” Kiffin said when told of Dungy’s comments. “It’s a process. We want to hit it running. I don’t think this is a rebuilding, four- or five-year plan type of deal. Hopefully we can get the process sped up a little bit.”
Kiffin plans to sit down with his entire defensive staff and the team’s scouts next week once all of them are back from the Senior Bowl this week.
Kiffin said his age won’t slow him down.
Kiffin paused as his home nurse spoon fed him some more apple sauce, then replied, “They don’t ask you before the game how old you are,” Kiffin said. “Can you coach or can you coach? If there comes a time you don’t have the energy or you can’t do, heck, retirement. I don’t golf, I don’t hunt, I don’t fish, I don’t bowl. I just love coaching. I enjoy getting to work every day.”
By BRANDON GEORGE Staff writer
Published: 22 January 2013 09:55 PM
MOBILE, Ala. – New Cowboys defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin said he’s not even sure how to spell “retire” and it’s a word that’s not even in his vocabulary.
The soon-to-be 73-year-old talked to the media for the first time Tuesday since he was recently hired to replace Rob Ryan, who was fired after two seasons as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator.
Kiffin said he’s “fired up” about his new job and feels like he can get the Cowboys transitioned from a 3-4 defense to his 4-3 Tampa Cover-2 scheme this off-season.
“We have to get the people in the right positions now,” Kiffin said. “We have to make sure we make the right decisions.”
Kiffin said that he has finalized his defensive coaching staff and most of Ryan’s assistants will return. The only significant change other than Ryan was former Chicago defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli replacing Brian Baker as the Cowboys’ defensive line coach.
Kiffin worked with Marinelli for 10 years in Tampa Bay and is excited to be reunited with him.
“It’s really special,” Kiffin said. “Rod Marinelli is an icon.”
Tony Dungy was the head coach of Kiffin and Marinelli’s standout defensive teams in Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers took a few years to become one of the league’s best defenses when they put in the Cover-2 scheme, and Dungy recently said that he felt like Kiffin would need some time for his scheme to work well in Dallas. Dungy said he believed the Cowboys would need a few drafts to get the right players at the right positions in the scheme.
“We were starting from scratch in Tampa Bay,” Kiffin said when told of Dungy’s comments. “It’s a process. We want to hit it running. I don’t think this is a rebuilding, four- or five-year plan type of deal. Hopefully we can get the process sped up a little bit.”
Kiffin plans to sit down with his entire defensive staff and the team’s scouts next week once all of them are back from the Senior Bowl this week.
Kiffin said his age won’t slow him down.
Kiffin paused as his home nurse spoon fed him some more apple sauce, then replied, “They don’t ask you before the game how old you are,” Kiffin said. “Can you coach or can you coach? If there comes a time you don’t have the energy or you can’t do, heck, retirement. I don’t golf, I don’t hunt, I don’t fish, I don’t bowl. I just love coaching. I enjoy getting to work every day.”
