Mailbag: Will draft strategy change with Parker?

Do you believe that a rapid improvement of defensive and overall team performance is possible? Do you think our offensive prowess gives Brian Schottenheimer enough of a head start to join quick-turnaround clubs like New England and Chicago?

How big is it that the Cowboys hired a defensive coordinator who comes from a division rival and knows the other two teams in the NFC East well? Also, does he supply inside info the Eagles had on the Cowboys' tendencies?

Why did the Cowboys struggle so much in zone coverage? Is it a matter of recognition, keys and quick mental adjustments? Is it tough to know what to do when you drop into zone and you have receivers coming and going every which way? In man-to-man coverage, you just stick to your man as best you can. It may be more difficult physically, but mentally can you play faster? 

What will the new defensive coordinator bring to the Cowboys defense? Can we expect something similar to what the Eagles ran the past two seasons? Or will Christian Parker mold this into his own defense? 

I keep hearing the teams who made the playoffs are more physical and more disciplined than the Cowboys. And stats like ranking among the worst in the league in penalties and missed tackles seem to support that. But can physicality and discipline be coached? Seems to me you either have that mindset, or you don't. Which means, do the Cowboys need to take a hard look at the players they have on their roster?

Is the new defensive coordinator going to have a new defensive line coach and other coaches on that side of the ball? Or is it just going to be all the same coaches who were here? Do you think it's best to keep the assistants in order to maintain some consistency, or start fresh with new voices after such a tough season? 

How do you keep communication, availability and knowledge a constant? I realize the value of rotating for freshness or subbing for injury, but how does consistency happen when players only play 20-25% of the snaps?

While there has been a lot of discussion regarding the defense, the Cowboys special teams also struggled to play good complementary football. The kickoff returns and coverage were not up to par. As a result, opponents frequently had a short field, while it seemed like the Cowboys always had to go the length of the field to score. Do you foresee any changes there?

I know those wins don't look as good in hindsight, but defeating the past two Super Bowl representatives in a span of four days was a really fun time to be a fan. What will be your favorite memories from this season?

I am hoping you could shed some light on why certain coaches are able to coach to their existing personnel while others seem to only coach their system, regardless of their personnel? And what kind of system would match the personnel the Cowboys have presently?

What do you think about having a defensive coordinator with head coaching experience vs. having a young up-and-coming defensive coach? I think part of the problem is that a former head coach, though experienced, may be less focused on cutting edge defensive trends.