FRISCO, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys were in a similar spot 21 years ago, making a defensive scheme change from the 4-3 to the 3-4.
The stakes weren't so dire in 2005. The Cowboys' defense finished ranked 16th in the NFL in yards per game in 2004 but allowed 405 points, a staggering 145 more than the previous year.
In the past two years, however, the Cowboys have finished 28th and 30th in yards per game and 31st and 32nd in points allowed.
The 3-4 scheme preferred by then head coach Bill Parcells in 2005 is not the same as what new defensive coordinator Christian Parker prefers in 2026, but the premise remains the same: They want more size and athletes on the field.
"We've made a conscious decision to be a blend of the equivalent of the 3-4. It won't be a pure 3-4," owner and general manager Jerry Jones said. "And you can say that's with the times too. You got to have flexibility. It's not new to me. From Bill Parcells throughout my time in sport, even going back to college, the 3-4 concept can give you a better run support. The question is can that outside guy do a little pass covering, cover a little space, plus give you the pressure on the outside? That's always been the big thing."
Parcells' greatest successes as a head coach came with 3-4 defenses with the New York Giants, New England Patriots and New York Jets. He just was not as comfortable with a 4-3 scheme that relied on speed and undersized players.
Linebacker DeMarcus Ware went on the Pro Football Hall of Fame after being part of the Cowboys' 2005 NFL draft class. AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File Heading into the 2005 draft, the Cowboys had two first-round picks (Nos. 11 and 20) like they have two first-round picks this year (Nos. 12 and 20). According to Jeff Ireland, who was the Cowboys' vice president of college and pro scouting and is now the New Orleans Saints assistant general manager and college scouting director, Parcells was not locked into the 3-4 move.
"I just remember going into [the draft] like he's still a little iffy on it, but he wanted to get big people," Ireland said. "He said, 'I think this could be a two-year process.'"
It turned out to be a two-day process.
With the 11th pick, the Cowboys drafted linebacker DeMarcus Ware out of Troy. At No. 20, they selected LSU defensive end Marcus Spears. In the second round, they got linebacker Kevin Burnett. In Round 4, they got defensive end Chris Canty. In the seventh, they got defensive lineman Jay Ratliff.