You really have to admire Monte Kiffin, the former Vikings assistant under Jerry Burns and Dennis Green.
Sure he's a top-flight defensive football coach, maybe even a genius, the mind behind the Tampa 2 defense. But then he goes to work for his son Lane. And now, his patience will surely get tested as he takes on the monumental task of leading the Dallas Cowboys defense. (I'd say rebuilding, but was it ever built in the first place?)
So not only do you have all the eyes of the Lone Star State upon you. (No offense, Houston Texans.) But then your boss is ... Jerry Jones.
At least the 72-year-old Kiffin has down pat the straightforward skills needed for life in Dallas. When Kiffin announced that he was leaving the Trojans and hoping to head back to the NFL, the Orange County Register asked if he would miss coaching with his son. The answer? "Um, no, not really," with a laugh.
They were display again in the statement from Kiffin released by the Cowboys:
"I came away from the interview process with Jason [Garrett] with a feeling that Dallas is the right place to be. He has this team headed in the right direction. They're close, and I am confident that there are quality pieces in place for us to be able to get the job done."
Read more here: http://sportsblogs.star-telegram.com/cowboys/2013/01/kiffin-hiring-announced-in-statement-he-says-cowboys-have-quality-pieces-in-place-to-get-job-done.html#storylink=cpyThe Fort Worth Star-Telegram has praise for Kiffin from his former boss, Gophers star and, before head coaching greatness, former Vikings assistant Tony Dungy, who also had a question for the Cowboys:
One of Kiffin's first moves looks to be switching the Cowboys from a 3-4 to a 4-3 alignment. The Star-Telegram says that would mean finding a strongside linebacker and moving DeMarcus Ware from outside linebacker to defensive end. "Rushing the passer every down would likely put more wear and tear on him, and it would signal the end of his dropping into coverage," the Star-Telegram says.
The Dallas Morning News rates Kiffin's defenses and their generally above-average results, even against the run, which might be especially important in the NFC East.
