Troy Aikman calls criticism of Cowboys DC Monte Kiffin is unfair
By Mike Dyce
The Dallas Cowboys defense has struggled at times and defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin has come under fire. The Cowboys allowed the Chicago Bears to score on every drive on Monday Night Football except for one, the final drive when they kneeled to run out the clock.
Former Cowboys quarterback, Hall of Famer, and current NFL analyst Troy Aikman defended Kiffin on a Dallas radio station.
“Clearly they’ve had some injuries this year that have affected them up front,” Aikman said on The Musers on KTCK-AM, via the Dallas Morning News. “When you have the leader of your defense, Sean Lee, and he misses some time and then he got hurt again and DeMarcus Ware is banged up. He’s always been one of those difference makers on the defensive side of the ball. Those types of guys are rare throughout the league. That’s impacted them. Losing Anthony Spencer to start the year, that was a guy who was very productive.”
“Teams have thrown the ball very well against them. I don’t think their corners are bad players. I think they’re good players… I think looking at it from the numbers standpoint in terms of yards is misleading because of the way teams are able to throw the football. But there is no question they are a decimated team, and they’re not as talented as many people expected coming into the season. It has been a defense that has struggled this year and last year. Even though Monte Kiffin is responsible and heavily criticized, there is a track record there so it’s a bit unfair. But that’s all part of it.”