Mailbag: Pick your poison stopping run, pass?

(Editor's Note: Time to check the mail! The DallasCowboys.com staff writers answer your questions here in 'Mailbag' presented by Miller Lite.)

The defense finally achieves a dominant pass-rush performance against the Jets and the secondary covers well, but then they also get exposed against the run. Having seen improvements on defense the last two weeks, the question becomes, is this a "pick your poison" situation? Defend the pass or stop the run? – Jack Jackson/Tyler, TX

Nick: I've never really heard it put that way before and probably the reason for that is coaches are greedy. They're always going to say "both" in terms of stopping the run or pass. But it usually begins with stopping the run. That's the NFL, college, high school and any other organized football team. If you don't