The Dallas Cowboys’ defense will presumably look a lot different this season under new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, but over the first two preseason games, the group has looked woefully familiar from 2010, surrendering 20 points a game against the Broncos and Chargers, and allowing quarterbacks to complete better than 65 percent of passes for a 99 quarterback rating.
This could be attributed to the lack of offseason workouts, which were wiped from the schedule due to the lockout and which kept Ryan from any hands-on instruction in the nuances of his brand of the 3-4--whereas the offense remains the same as it was last year.
Indeed, head coach Jason Garrett acknowledges that the defense faces a peculiar challenge in learning a new system in a shortened span.
"I think our defense like our football team is a work in progress," Garrett said, per ESPN Dallas. "The more difficult thing for our defensive system is the defensive system was not in place last year like our offense and kicking game systems have been in."
That said, Garrett believes the team will be able to iron out any difficulties between now and the team’s season opener, against the Jets in New York, on September 11.
"They've had to learn more quickly to understand how to make adjustments and how to be resourceful more quickly than the other units have," Garrett said. "In the offense and the kicking game we had to be reminded of things and learn on the run on some of the new things we're trying to run. On defense, they've responded very well."
Stay on top of the latest Dallas Cowboys news with NBCDFW.com. Follow NBC DFW Sports on Facebook or have breaking Cowboys news sent directly to your phone with Blue Star SMS alerts. Text "bluestar" to 622339 (NBCDFW) to subscribe to this free service. Read more about it here.
