Stephen Jones hoping Cowboys defense can stay healthy

The Dallas Cowboys have had their fair share of concerns on the defensive side of the ball over the past few seasons, but the problems do not always have to do with a lack of talent. Instead, the real issue comes from the defensive unit being hammered by injuries.

This season, with a new group of players, Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones is hoping that the team can just stay healthy.

“When we were sitting here last year we thought we were better because we thought Ware was going to be Ware and Hatch was going to be Hatch and Spence was going to be Spence and Rat was going to be Rat,” Jones said, via the Star-Telegram

“And those were pretty damn good football players before the injuries hit. This time last year, we loved our front because I thought everyone was going to be healthy and back and they didn’t.”

The Cowboys went out and made some signings to bolster their front seven, and Jones is hoping those additions will lead to bigger improvements.

“If we play better on defense, then we should be a better team,” Jones said. “Maybe Mincey and Melton and McClain and whoever we draft end up being healthier than those guys, so we end up being better.”

One of the Cowboys’ main priorities was to improve the defensive line in 2014 as they work on completing their transition to the 4-3, but nothing will help the team more than keeping their players on the field and working as a cohesive unit.