(Editor's Note: Each day we will take the 2 best questions for our staff writers to answer from the Mailbag. "Click here" to email questions now.)

TERRENCE CREWS - BATON ROUGE, LA: Hi guys, my question is about Alan Ball. Do you think he's going to be able to succeed at free safety and hold up physically given he's about 20 pounds lighter than Ken Hamlin?

Nick: Well if he's 20 pounds lighter, then he should be a lot quicker, too. Maybe he'll be around the ball even more.

Josh: Luckily it is free safety we're talking about here, so there are more centerfield-type responsibilities instead of having to be up in the box playing the run. And judging by the work he does on those special teams coverage units, he's a pretty good tackler. The relative inexperience is, I think, the biggest thing to worry about.

Rob: We're going to find out. Ball does give up some size against the run, but a safety with corner-like coverage skills is a plus. He also seems to have pretty good instincts back there. Pat Watkins also has experience if needed in certain situations.

JESUS CAMERO - NORMAN, OK: Why don't the Cowboys use more hurry-up offense? It looks like they move the ball better, and it could open up more running plays later on, particularly the draw.

Nick: I think there are times to use that but you can't just go into a game and make it the offense. Do one three-and-out and see how your still-tired defense responds. However, you're right in that the offense seems to do well in the hurry-up. Most of the time it's against prevent defenses. You wonder how a defense might react against a hurry-up early in the second quarter.

Josh: Jason Garrett talked this week about being an offense that plays with good tempo. While it's not the hurry-up, exactly, the goal is still to keep the defense off-balance. Remember, it's hard to constantly go no huddle if you have different personnel packages you want to put into the game.

Rob: I like the idea of using thehurry-up in some situations. The issue, though, is Jason Garrett likes to use so many different personnel groups. Yes, you're keeping the same defensive group on the field, but you're not giving yourself a chance to substitute, either.

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