Jean-Jacques Taylor

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The Cowboys have used nine draft picks on offensive linemen since 2000, and Andre Gurode is the only quality player in the bunch.

There have been colossal busts such as Jacob Peterson, a second-round pick in 2004, and others such as Doug Free, a fourth-round pick in 2007, who has developed more slowly than hoped.

Jerry Jones has no problem admitting his frustration with the Cowboys' failure to develop offensive linemen, especially since he has spent a chunk of the family fortune to sign free agents Marc Colombo, Leonard Davis, Kyle Kosier and Marco Rivera to long-term deals over the last few seasons.

That's not a good way to consistently conduct business.

Perhaps the key to success rests with Stephen Peterman, a third-round pick in 2004. He has started 27 games for Detroit the last two seasons.

Peterman is an average player. You can win with average guards, although we all know the Lions went winless last season. A lot of teams sign average guards. And it's even easier if you have average guards lining up next to a star center.

Maybe Jones was spoiled by the success of the early '90s, believing he needed a line filled with stars. Sometimes, the running back or quarterback has to make a play when there's a breakdown.

The consistently good teams can win without stars – or even good players – at every position.

The Cowboys might need to lower their standards a little and give some of their offensive linemen like Free an opportunity to develop by thrusting them into the lineup and seeing whether they sink or swim.

Q: As you are very aware, a successful running game or successful passing game depends on the offensive line. How well will they play this season?

Julien Frost

TAYLOR: The biggest question is how well Flozell Adams will play. If he does what he's supposed to do, the rest of the line should fall in place. Adams reported at a svelte 336 pounds, and the Cowboys hope that will help him move a little better, especially against speed rushers.

Adams had an average season in 2008. He must play better this season, reducing the false starts that short-circuit drives. He can be a dominant run blocker and a solid pass blocker when he's focused. The Cowboys need to run the ball better, but they need the offensive line, starting with Adams, to play better to accomplish that.

Q: I wish you would lay off Wade Phillips. He is a very good coach. Thoughts?

Fred Smith, Garland

TAYLOR: As always, the Cowboys' performance will determine what I write about Phillips. If the Cowboys play to their potential, then the tone of the columns will be more positive than if they turn in several poor performances as they did last year. It'll be interesting to see if Phillips can maximize the talent on defense since he's calling the plays and running the practices and meetings.

Q: When the Cowboys talk about using a two-tight end set, do they mean two tight ends at the line of scrimmage or could they also be referring to putting Martellus Bennett in the slot or even out wide? He would be a terror off the line.

John T. Gold, Salt Lake City

TAYLOR: Actually, they can use Bennett wherever they want. He'll be lined up wide. Or he'll go in motion. Or he'll line up at fullback and shift into another position. He's a terrific blocker, and the Cowboys plan to make him a huge part of the offense. The Cowboys like the two-tight end formation. It gives the line balance because there's no strong side, so the defense doesn't know whether the offense is running right or left.

Q: Why did the Cowboys support a reality show with the winner receiving a spot on the 80-man roster?

Jonathan Hazel, Richmond, Va.

TAYLOR: Jerry Jones didn't think the 80th roster spot was that big of a deal, considering they generally shuffle those types of players in and out of training camp. He also trusted Michael Irvin to give him a player who was in good shape, so he wouldn't get hurt and receive an injury settlement. More important, Jerry has a certain loyalty and trust with Irvin that he has with few other players.

Q: At a Jerry Jones news conference, he was quoted as saying that he thought Wade Phillips' failure to win a playoff game in Dallas, which puts him on the same level as Chan Gailey, Dave Campo and Bill Parcells is a good thing in terms of the determination it creates. Does this statement ensure Phillip's job is safe for next year? Will he be even more determined after this year's failure?

John Trovato, New Jersey

TAYLOR: You're being a little negative aren't you? Phillips is in the final year of his contract. If he wins enough games, he'll get an extension. If he doesn't, he'll be an assistant coach on another team's staff next year, if he still wants to coach. This team has talent, and Jerry Jones has high expectations. It's up to Phillips to maximize this team's potential.

Q: Do you think team chemistry will improve and will that be enough to get the Cowboys over the hump?

Grady Barnard, Dallas

TAYLOR: Who knows? No one can definitively say whether team chemistry leads to winning or winning leads to chemistry. If Dallas wins, they'll have good chemistry, and if they don't, they won't.

Q: Statistics don't lie, and when Jerry looks at the stats for the 2000s, then he should immediately fire himself. Where have my winning Cowboys gone?

Leroy Williams

TAYLOR: They're going to a $1.15 billion stadium in Arlington. Just so you know, he'll never fire himself, so you can quit waiting for that to happen. There's a more serious attitude in training camp this season. We'll have to wait and see whether it makes a difference in the season.

Q: How much of an impact will the winner of 4th and Long have on America's Team? Will it be embarrassing when an undrafted player off a reality show outperforms Roy Williams?

Matthew Fuller, Dallas

TAYLOR: What are you talking about? Jessie Holley has never caught a pass in an NFL game. He's never made an NFL roster. He's not going to make this team. He should be considered a huge success if he can make the practice squad. As for the notion that he might outperform Roy Williams, that's silly. Holley was an undrafted free agent, who was out of the league last year. There's a reason for that. The good thing is he'll have an opportunity to prove me wrong.

Q: Tony Romo and Dallas fans would love for Romo to be Danny White. Danny White led his team to three NFC Championship Games in a row. If Romo had the success of Danny White, there would be no reason to make the Cowboys "Romo friendly." Tom Landry did not make the Cowboys "Danny friendly." Ask Danny about Gary Hogeboom and Steve Pelluer.

Ernest Polk

TAYLOR: Romo's career is not close to being over. He still has time to win postseason games, and I think he will. Bottom line, White was a really good quarterback who couldn't quite get those Cowboys over the hump for whatever reason. In Dallas, you're judged by championships. Neither has one.

Q: What do you think of the Terrell Suggs deal? I think it just cost Jerry more money for dragging his feet on DeMarcus Ware's deal. Is it possible the Cowboys are overextended and could turn into the Cubs of football?

Steve Masterson

TAYLOR: I don't think so. Although we'd all like to see a deal for Ware done, there's really no hurry. Technically, the Cowboys control him for another three years. He has a year left on his contract, and they could conceivably franchise him for another two years after that if a deal couldn't be reached. Sooner or later, they'll get an agreement done. The Cowboys have enough money to get Ware signed, though the economy is tough on everyone.

Q: I don't understand why Roy Williams isn't or shouldn't be considered some type of deep threat. Why are people so gung-ho about Miles Austin's speed and nobody ever considers Williams a guy who can go deep?

Michael Altman, Baltimore

TAYLOR: You can't find a single person in the NFL who will tell you Williams is a deep threat. In the last two seasons, only 17 of his 100 catches have gone for 20 yards or more, including only four of more than 40 yards.

Williams has not averaged more than 13.1 yards per catch in the last two seasons. Austin averaged 21.4 yards per catch and five of his 13 catches went for more than 20 yards, including two of more than 40 yards.

He's a possession receiver because no matter what 40-yard dash time he ran at the scouting combine, he's not a guy who can consistently get deep anymore. That doesn't mean Williams can't be a really effective player.