IRVING, Texas -- Before being drafted by the Cowboys in the fourth round last week, outside linebacker Kyle Wilber had watched Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan on television and thought Ryan was just acting a certain way because he was on camera.
During Friday's rookie minicamp, Wilber said he quickly realized what you see is what you get with Ryan.
"I seen him on TV, seen what he says and everything and it's real life in person," Wilber said. "There's no hiding it. I thought it was just a front but it's really not a front. This is who he is. But I like it, though. He's a great coach. He's excellent at what he does and I know he's going to make us better as football players."
The 113th overall pick, who is expected to play behind Anthony Spencer at the "Sam" linebacker spot, got his first impression of Ryan during a pre-draft visit to the Metroplex.
"We rode in the car with [linebackers] coach [Matt] Eberflus and him and [Ryan were] just cracking jokes the whole ride to Cowboys Stadium," Wilber said. "He's hilarious."
When asked what he brings to the Cowboys' linebacking unit, Wilber said he is capable of jamming wide receivers and tight ends while also being able to rush the quarterback. The 6-4, 250-pounder recorded 3.5 sacks and a career-high 70 tackles last season at Wake Forest.
"I have a sneaky inside move and I'm smart," Wilber said. "I got a motor on me and I keep going."
Ryan doesn't view Wilber as a project that won't be able to contribute for a few seasons. No, Ryan said Friday that Wilber can make an impact in 2012.
"He's a smart kid," Ryan said. "He plays hard. He knows how to cover, which is a hard thing for an outside linebacker. All they do is rush in college. Well, this kid knows how to cover.
"He's going to be a lot further advanced than most rookies are. The kid's got a lot of talent. So we hope he'll be able to help."
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