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Dallas top pick expected to solidify 3-4 defense

02:09 AM CDT on Sunday, April 30, 2006

By JEAN-JACQUES TAYLOR / The Dallas Morning News

IRVING – The Cowboys' goal is clear: They want to build an elite defense.

That's not really surprising because coach Bill Parcells won two Super Bowls in the '80s with dominating defensive units.

Dallas, 10th in the NFL in defense last season, added two more pieces to its defense Saturday with the addition of Ohio State outside linebacker Bobby Carpenter in the first round and Grambling defensive end Jason Hatcher in the third round.

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Last year, the Cowboys drafted three defensive starters and linebacker Kevin Burnett, who is expected to be a significant contributor this season.

More important, owner Jerry Jones said he's committed to the 3-4 defensive scheme whether Bill Parcells is the Cowboys' coach or not. Parcells, who did not make himself available to the media Saturday, signed a two-year contract in January.

"We've really covered a lot of ground to be a 3-4 team, and I don't intend to change that for a long time to come," Jones said. "You can't be flipping in and out of systems. Some players fit some systems and don't fit others. We're going – and going strong – defensively with the 3-4."

A look at the projected starters on the defensive line and linebacker in 2006 reveals DeMarcus Ware, the 11th player selected in the first round last season, and Bradie James as the only returning starters as the Cowboys have gotten significantly bigger and younger.

Last season, starters La'Roi Glover, Greg Ellis, Al Singleton and Dat Nguyen were each at least 30. Now, Jason Ferguson is the only 30-year-old starter in the front seven.

Adding Carpenter solidifies the Cowboys' front seven because he fills an important role.

In the 3-4 defense, the outside linebackers are the most important players because they provide the pass rush. At Ohio State, Carpenter (6-2, 257 pounds) showed he can handle every job the Cowboys will ask him to do.

He can put his hand on the ground and rush as a defensive end, cover running backs and tight ends, and he has the size to be strong against the run even when he is matched against 330-pound tackles.

Carpenter, who had 14 career sacks at Ohio State, also can be an effective blitzer at outside linebacker, which will force opposing offensive coordinators to decide which side to slide their pass protections because Ware and Carpenter each have the ability to rush the passer.

When they do that, it will create opportunities for defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer to attack the middle of the offensive line by blitzing inside linebackers Bradie James and free-agent signee Akin Ayodele or safety Roy Williams.

"Bobby has played the position and done all of the types of things we would ask him to do," Jones said. "His work ethic, skill level and love of the game makes him have good odds of being successful.

"I would be disappointed to use that high of a pick and not have a starter. My expectation is for him to move pretty quickly once he gets here."

Carpenter's role is especially important in the NFC East, which features quality tight ends such as New York's Jeremy Shockey, Washington's Chris Cooley and Philadelphia's L.J. Smith.

Ken Ritchie / Lancaster Eagle-Gazette Bobby Carpenter takes a conference call with the Cowboys media relations department soon after being picked No. 18.

"The Cowboys are a solid team, and they've added a lot since the end of the season with T.O. and [Ayodele] and some of the other free agents they've signed," Carpenter said. "I'm hoping I can work my way into the mix and help make us one of the contenders in the NFC."

The Cowboys also need Hatcher to contribute because they have only four defensive ends on the roster and one of them – veteran Greg Ellis – was disappointed with his role on the team last year and had asked to be released or traded. The Cowboys informed Ellis that he'll be on the roster this season, but they could be grooming Hatcher to replace him.

Ellis is undersized in the 3-4 defense, a scheme that requires him to consistently win one-on-one battles with tackles that often outweigh him by 50 pounds to succeed. Hatcher is 6-6 and 285 pounds with a body frame that should easily allow him to add 10 to 15 pounds.

The Cowboys view him as a run-stopper, another important element in a division that features running backs Washington's Clinton Portis and New York Tiki Barber, each of whom gained more than 1,500 yards last season.

E-mail jjtaylor@dallasnews.com