Of the seven games Dallas lost last year (and I watched all of them),
the Defense fading in the second half and giving up easy scores and
not being able to get a stop in 3rd down running situations
contributed directly to at least 4 of them.

Dallas was scoring around 27 points a game so getting the ball in the
endzone was not that much of a problem.

The problem was the Defense giving up more than 27 points a game.

Like it or not, it wasn't the Dallas offense that resulted in that
late season collapse that led to Dallas limping into the playoffs.

It was the defense fading in the second half on a consistent basis.

For this reason, we need to ask ourselves a question:

A new coaching staff, new head coach,and new schemes will this solve
the problem with the current personnel?

If Jones and Phillips think yes, then Dallas will go offensive with
most of their early picks.

If they are not sure, then Dallas will make defensive selections.

Another thing to consider is that Dallas was often losing the
struggle at the scrimmage line on both sides of the ball late in the
games last year.

Our offensive pass protection - to be frank - sucks. Even the highly
mobile Romo, who can scramble, buy time and throw on the run,
struggled during that 2nd half run. Bledsoe never really had a
chance.

The run blocking struggled too in short yardage situations as Dallas
failed to convert on many 3rd and shorts. Many people blame the size
of Julius Jones. It actually had more to do with Dallas getting
dominated at the scrimmage line.

Defensively the key role of the down lineman in a 3-4 is to stuff the
run and on passing plays open up holes in the opponents Oline for the
LB's to run through to get to the QB.

That rarely happened last year; most of Ware's sacks were sheer speed
rushes to the outside coming off the edge.

Dallas simply MUST improve on both lines to have a shot at succeeding
this year and winning the division and getting that crucial first
round bye.

There are other needs of course, but these two are the most pressing
and failing to address them will mean once again in December that the
skill position players on offense and the LB's on defense will
struggle because of the fading lines in front of them.

About all we need on the Offense is a OL and a WR, maybe a QB late.

Here's my hoped for breakdown:

1. LB/DE
2. WR/KR
3. SS/CB
4. OG/OT
5. DT/DE
6. LB/DE
7. QB
8. OT/OG