Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett cited the team's lack of turnovers as the main reason for firing defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.

The Cowboys tied for 29th overall with 16 takeaways last season, including being tied for last in the NFL with seven interceptions. The Chicago Bears led the NFL with 44 takeaways.

"We had 16. That's 28 more opportunities with the ball," Garrett told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. "Give me some of those 28 opportunities.

"That's something that we really sat back and thought a lot about, had a lot of discussions about -- what's the best way to try to achieve that, and then, 'OK, you want to do that, now who are the guys who can help implement that?'"

By comparison, the Cowboys ranked eighth in the NFL with 29 giveaways last season.