Cowboys Mailbag:Mick's Mail: 07/27

After seeing quarterbacks Jaxson Dart and Jayden Daniels run on the Cowboys and knowing the team is about to face Lamar Jackson, I've wondered why a player isn't assigned the sole responsibility of monitoring and engaging running quarterbacks? I remember my days as a soccer player where a player is assigned the responsibility of shadowing a dangerous opposing player. Would that not work?

Despite all the additions on the defensive line, the Cowboys are still struggling to stop the run and generate a pass rush. Is it the scheme, talent or just a lack of making plays? Given the investments there, I would have expected more.

Why are the Cowboys having so much trouble getting the ground game going? We all know that not having Tyler Smith doesn't help, but that can't explain such poor production in consecutive games. T.J. Bass is no Smith, but he's a reliable and solid backup who could start for many teams.

The Cowboys continue to struggle trying to contain running quarterbacks, and now here comes Washington's Jayden Daniels on Sunday with Baltimore's Lamar Jackson the next week. How can they break this trend? What's the key to fixing this?

I hate that DeMarvion Overshown is hurt yet again. The guy just can't seem to catch a break. But there were already some concerns at middle linebacker, and now the position seems like it could be a real problem. Are you worried? Is it time to look for outside help?

Why does discipline continue to be a major problem for the Cowboys? This was supposed to be fixed, but it continues to plague the team. Despite new coaches and new players each year, how is it that they still struggle to correct the problem

Do you think the defensive starters should have played in the preseason for at least one quarter or even half a quarter to work on gelling as a unit, especially since game one was against a division opponent? Or are the Cowboys willing to let games one through four act as the defense's preseason

With the Cowboys deciding to get deals done with both Brevyn Spann-Ford and Ryan Flournoy in the same night, is there a reason they both happened like this, just before the season?

We know the Cowboys needed to improve their defense during the offseason. However, does the offense need to improve in any way this year? Pass or run blocking? Third-down efficiency? Improvement in the red zone? Getting off to a good start in the first half or second half?

With the addition of Christian Parker and so many new pieces, how many games do you think it will take to really know what we have on defense?

One of my favorite plays is the screen pass. Tony Dorsett, Emmitt Smith, Marion Barber and Ezekiel Elliott used to do very well and gain good yards with it. Why is it not used that much now? Is it due to personnel? The screen pass seems to have been replaced by the jet sweep.