The Cowboys have multiple areas on the roster to upgrade this off-season but none seem bigger than improving the offensive and defensive lines.
Switching to a 4-3 defensive front means more linemen will be needed to play Monte Kiffin’s new system. The offensive line was among the league’s worst, evident by a running game that ranked 31st and Tony Romo routinely having little time to throw from the pocket.
Tom Ciskowski, the Cowboys’ assistant director of player personnel, recently said the team could go in either direction early in the draft because there are good o-line and d-line prospects available.
Ciskowski, who addressed several draft-related topics with DallasCowboys.com’s Bryan Broaddus, said moving from a 3-4 to a 4-3 scheme won’t be difficult because of the personnel already on the roster.
“I think it will be an easy process for us because in most cases with the outside linebacker we’re looking for the pressure player whether he’s in a two-point or a three-point (stance),” he said. “DeMarcus Ware is a guy that can pressure from any stance, so we feel real comfortable that he can play the open side end and still be very, very effective.”
Ciskowski said the Cowboys like some of the younger defensive linemen on their roster, specifically mentioning Tyrone Crawford and Sean Lissemore. He also talked about defensive tackle Jay Ratliff “hopefully” coming back from having “an injury-prone season.
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