The Sports Xchange

IRVING, Texas — Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is giddy about what his team accomplished in the draft, especially their ability to continue a complete overhaul on defense.

The Cowboys took defensive players with five of the first six picks led by cornerback Byron Jones and defensive end Randy Gregory in the first and second rounds respectively.

Add that to what the Cowboys accomplished in free agency, the return to health of Sean Lee and the continued development of some of the young defensive players they added last year and Jones said this is a completely different unit than the one that struggled to get pressure on quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the NFC Divisional playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers.

“Gosh when you look down through there, potential and everything is potential,” Jones said. “But when you look at the positions and everything on the defense I couldn’t have asked for more in this draft. We addressed some key positions. Weak-side linebacker is a key position for us. Pressure player is a key position for us. And certainly in this particular place, corner was key. Put it all together this thing has been a major overhaul on defense. This is a very significant sea change of what we are doing on defense and it’s all for the better. We are dramatically improved personnel wise from the team that was on the field against Rodgers in the playoff game against Green Bay.”

–The Cowboys feel like they got two first-round picks with the selection of Nebraska defensive end Randy Gregory falling to them in the second round because of a failed drug test and reported mental health issues.

The Jerry Jones-led Cowboys have a history of taking chances on troubled defensive linemen, including Charles Haley, Alonzo Spellman, Dimitrius Underwood, Tank Johnson and current player Greg Hardy. Hardy has been suspended for the first 10 games of the 2015 season for violating the personal-conduct policy.

Gregory promises to stop smoking marijuana and believes he is on the right team to help him get his life in order.

“I’m going to have to,” Gregory said. “In order for me to be successful and in order for me to help this team out I’m going to have to. That’s something I had to shut down and promise myself I would get under control. It’s not so much about that, it’s about bad decision making. It’s about maturing, and I’ve done, believe it or not, a lot of maturing over the last few weeks and I feel like this staff can help me get to a whole new level with that. I’m just so excited to work with them, I really am.”

The Cowboys believe they have a support system in place to help Gregory.

“We got very comfortable with our discussions with him. He communicated well with the coaches. We are comfortable with that pick,” Jones said. “If things work out, we have a support system in place for a player of his character that goes to the top of the organization. We invest a lot into that. It gives us confidence we can work through the issues that caused him to drop and help him contribute to us winning.”

Gregory plans to work with Jerry Jones to put himself in the best situation to succeed. He even asked the Cowboys during his visit in April about having some type of accountability partner to help his transition to the NFL.

“I have had some bumps in the road along the way,” Gregory said. “What better guys to help me out with that than Jerry Jones, coach Jason Garrett and defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli. They are great mentors and great leaders. It was something I mentioned. It was something I felt like I needed. It worked out because they felt the same way. It’s a great spot for me.”

–The Cowboys said that drafting a running back wasn’t a high priority in the draft even though they lost DeMarco Murray in free agency.

They were interested in taking a running back but it wasn’t as important as improving the defense. It wasn’t just lip service as the Cowboys took no running backs in the draft.

It was more about being true to the draft board and not reaching for a back rather than there being none the Cowboys were interested in, coach Jason Garrett said.

“If you look over our drafts the last four or five years, probably the best thing we’ve done is have really good discipline on draft day,” Garrett said. “Often times you have a need, or a perceived need, that you feel like you have to go reach for a guy who you feel isn’t as good as a number of other players you have on the board.

“There were some running backs we were interested in at the top of the draft, in the middle of the draft and down here late in the draft, but I do think we had good discipline throughout taking players at other positions that we think can really help us.”

Garrett also said the Cowboys feel good with their current running back corps. They signed Darren McFadden earlier this offseason, and have returners in Joseph Randle, Lance Dunbar and Ryan Williams. None of them, however, are seen as legitimate replacements for Murray, who led the league in rushing last season.

They could also add a back in free agency and will look for additions in training camp and on the waiver wire.

Garrett said the Cowboys will continue to emphasize the running game in 2015.

“We’re going to run the football this year; that was a good formula for us,” Garrett said. “We’re a physical football team and running the football is going to be a big part of what we do. We have confidence in a number of the guys we have on our roster right now.”

McFadden has one 1,000-yard season in seven seasons, and has averaged only 3.3 or 3.4 yards per carry the past three seasons. Randle has only 105 career carries, and has raised plenty of questions with off-field issues. Dunbar is viewed as more of a change-of-pace back, and Williams spent all of last season on the practice squad.

A closer look at the Cowboys’ picks:

Round 1/27 — Byron Smith, CB, 6-1, 199, Connecticut

An explosive athlete who can play safety and cornerback. His athleticism is off the charts in that he set a would-be world record in the broad jump at the NFL Combine with an effort of 12 foot, 3 inches, shattering the old record of 11-7.

Round 2/60 – Randy Gregory, DE, 6-5, 235, Nebraska

Gregory fills a huge need on the field as a talented edge rusher. But he is troubled as his stock dropped in the draft because of a failed drug test at the NFL Combine in February.

Round 3/91 – Chaz Green, T, 6-5, 314, Florida

Green fills a need for a backup swing tackle behind starters Tyron Smith and Doug Free after the departure of Jermey Parnell to Jacksonville in free agency. Green missed his junior year at Florida with a torn labrum, but returned to start 11 games as a senior. He will serve as a backup in 2015 but will be groomed as the team’s right tackle of the future in place of Free.

Round 4/127 – Damien Wilson, LB, 6-0, 245, Minnesota

Wilson led the Gophers with 119 tackles last season, along with 10.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. He is known for his high motor and will give them depth at weak-side linebacker and on special teams.

Round 5/163 – Ryan Russell, DE, 6-4, 269, Purdue

Russell had 47 career starts at Purdue. As a senior, he had 44 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and one forced fumble. Tremendous upside. Needs to be more consistent and play with nasty demeanor.

Round 7/236 – Mark Nzeocha, LB, 6-2, 232, Wyoming

Has only played football four years as he is from Germany. But is a very good athlete and has surprisingly good instincts. A developmental project who could impact special teams.

Round 7/243 – Laurence Gibson, T, 6-6, 305, Virginia Tech

Another big body, athletic offensive lineman who can be groomed for the future. Has good feet but needs more strength. The Cowboys love his potential

Round 7/246 – Geoff Swaim, TE, 6-4, 250, Texas

Was not very productive in college as a pass-catcher, but is an old-fashioned blocking tight end. The Cowboys felt so good about him that they traded a 2016 pick to get back in the seventh round to take him rather than risk losing him as an undrafted free agent.