Mailbag: Learning from past mistakes?

(Editor's Note: Time to check the mail! The DallasCowboys.com staff writers answer your questions here in 'Mailbag' presented by Miller Lite.)

In my opinion, the Cowboys are in the same exact position as they were last year. A high-profile player needs a contract extension, there are questions about the offensive tackle position and wide receiver depth, and they have a highly suspect defense with a new defensive coordinator. Do you believe the organization has learned from its past mistakes or will it be more of the same?–*Charles Springer/Baton Rouge, LA*

Nick: Sounds like another offseason in the NFL. Now, you make solid points on the similarities between last year and this year, but to me, it's always going to be about 10-15 question marks heading into the season. This year, it just so happens you can draw comparisons to last year, too.

On the flip side, nothing is ever exactly the same. But it doesn't really matter if the problems are the same. What you're asking is if the Cowboys will have better answers this year. That's what we're all hoping for.

Yes, we're hearing the same things you guys are - the Cowboys are going to be more aggressive in free agency and they're going to dip into the future to help the current state of the team. Will that happen exactly? Only time will tell. But it does sound like they're doing things a little differently. We saw that in the DC coaching search and we've seen it with re-signing Javonte Williams earlier. So far they are learning from the mistakes but the true change will be either getting Pickens signed earlier so they can create cap space to be as aggressive in free agency as it sounds like they could be.

Kurt: Maybe I'm wearing rose-colored glasses, but I do believe things are different this time around, and precisely for the reason you mentioned – because the Cowboys are in the same position as they were last year.

A fire seems to have been lit under the front office after such a disappointing season, which has brought at least some acknowledgement that they need to change how they're doing things. And we indeed saw a change not only with an expanded search to find a new defensive coordinator, but in who they actually wound up hiring as well, a young, up-and-coming innovator in Christian Parker instead of another retread former head coach.

We saw more change with running back Javonte Williams, who inked a new deal on Feb. 21. That's the earliest the team has re-signed a significant free agent in his prime since working out a contract with starting left guard Ronald Leary on Feb. 17, 2015, and he was a restricted free agent. Historically, Dallas just hasn't done this type of business in February.

Of course, we will truly find out for sure if things are different when free agency gets going next week. Jerry Jones has made statements like, "I can see us being aggressive in free agency," and that he's ready to "bust the budget."

However, Stephen Jones has kept his responses a little closer to the vest, saying, "A lot of it will depend on what's out there, and the value that we think there is. We certainly think we'll be involved in free agency." So not exactly a guarantee they'll be wading into the big-fish waters.

But all signs are seemingly still pointing to the Cowboys spending some significant money to shore up the defense. Then again, as we saw last year, actions speak louder than words.