7 Reasons Jerry Jones Will Be NFL GM of the Year in 2012

Last season the Cowboys secondary was beat more often than eggs would be in a bakery. The defense was ranked 23rd in the league at defending the pass, and it gave up 243 yards a game.

But even those numbers don't tell the whole story.

Too often when the Cowboys desperately needed a stop, a corner would get beat or a safety would blow a coverage assignment. It happened multiple times throughout the season and ultimately cost the team a playoff berth.

Heading into the offseason improving the secondary was the team?s top priority, and Jones wasted no time in doing so.

First, he signed one of the top cornerbacks on the market, Brandon Carr to a five-year deal to replace Terence Newman as Dallas' top corner.

Carr will be an impact player immediately for Dallas. He is excellent in man coverage and has the much needed ability in Rob Ryan's defense to press and hold receivers at the line, so Ryan?s aggressive blitzes have time to get to the QB.

Then in a quieter move he went out and secured former Jets safety Brodney Pool with a one-year deal.

Pool will provide stability in the Cowboys secondary. He is a solid cover player with soft hands and a high football IQ with his only real downside being he doesn't make a lot of big plays. Still, he will be a huge improvement over Abram Elam in coverage.

Adding to Pool's value is his familiarity with Ryan's defense, as he played for him a few years in Cleveland.

Jones finished his reconstruction of the secondary on draft day with his selection of? Claiborne in the first round.

Claiborne will join a deep cornerback stable, which now includes former Pro Bowler Mike Jenkins, a standout?slot corner in Orlando Scandrick and the aforementioned Carr. This group of corners is now one of the deepest and most talented in football.

Opposing quarterbacks will have a much more difficult time this season if they wish to throw on the Cowboys.

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