Reuters

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says Rob Ryan, who was fired as defensive coordinator last month, ran a defense that was too complicated.

Jones said at the Scouting Combine that the decision to fire Ryan and hire Monte Kiffin was made in large part because Dallas needs a simpler defense with a slimmer playbook.

“Where we fundamentally came down with Rob is that his philosophy is about multiple scheme,” Jones said, via the Star-Telegram. “I think you have to skinny it down. Philosophically, I don’t think Rob believes in that.”

Jones said he expressed his concerns to Ryan a year ago, and that Ryan did try to simplify his defense — just not enough to satisfy Jones.

“I think Rob will tell you we had long visits about this in the off-season last year that there was too much scheme. He tried to cut it back and he did skinny it back, but it’s still a lot,” Jones said. “We just didn’t feel like at the end of the day Rob could skinny it back enough to our satisfaction that we could make plays.”

So Kiffin will come in and run a defense that’s simpler. And maybe better.