AP

While he didn’t speak to the future of the coach who installed it, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones endorsed the Tampa 2 defense, saying it was the future of the team.

Of course, that transition from their old 3-4 has led to a last-in-the-league defense, which is threatening many records for futility heading into tomorrow’s finale against the Eagles.

“This is the system we want to be in going forward,” Jones told Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “Nothing about this year has discouraged us from this system.”

The Cowboys have already broken franchise records by allowing 6,279 yards, 4,360 passing yards and 367 first downs. But Jones is putting more stock in the fact they played one of their best games against the Eagles earlier this year, limiting them to three points and 278 yards.

“I like where we are this week, what we’re doing in our game plan, and in my mind we’re a better defense,” Jones said. “We’re going to have our personnel that’s going to be on the field have more repetitions [than they have had].”

Jones didn’t specifically address the future of coordinator Monte Kiffin, saying he wanted to focus on this week. But it’s reasonable to ask if the 73-year-old has much of a future there, considering the results this year.

But the Cowboys have also been hammered by injuries which kept many of their best players off the field. Getting some of them back next year might make the scheme look better.

If only because it can’t get worse.