Coach P says the pressure to beating Peyton is more pressure. If Manning has all of the time in the world to throw he will pick apart any secondary, especially the one that we currently have. Not only does the team have to focus on stopping the big play, but they need to make sure they stop the Colts from getting third-and-shorts.

CLICK HERE to listen to audio of Coach P answering questions about Manning and the Colts.

Defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni spoke with the media today to discuss his approach to the game as well as how player’s have been reacting to his teaching. He also discusses the minor adjustments he has made in the defense and the Dallas mindset heading into the Lions game.

You can listen to the entire interview by CLICKING HERE.

Starting tight end Jason Witten also spoke on the team when he joined Galloway& Company to discuss the new sense of accountability and renewed energy in the Cowboys locker room.

LISTEN HERE for the Witten interview.

New defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni had said he wouldn’t make any major changes to the defensive unit this season, but that the changes he would make would be significant.

The changes Pasqualoni made proved to be effective. He utilized more zone defense — which allows the defensive backs to make more plays on the ball — and his defense blitzed a lot less than the Cowboys did under former coach Wade Phillips.

Another change that has been made is defensive rotation. Coach P and the Cowboys are looking more to the future and giving their younger players more playing time. Against the New York Giants, Dallas used a season high 20 players on defense. Out of the 20, 17 had at least contributed to a tackle.

The new strategy will give the younger players the valuable playing time they need to improve in their careers, as well as keep players fresh so they can keep a physical brand of D.

“The more guys you can play, the harder everybody is able to go,” interim coach Jason Garrett said. “(The reserves) snaps are important, but the fact that the other guys can stand on the sideline and catch their breath and go back into the ballgame ready to go helps us.”

Linebackers Sean Lee and Victor Butler saw their playing time increase significantly as did corners Orlando Scandrick and Bryan McCann. Granted, the corners were brought in due to injury but the game experience will be more valuable in the long run.

Two other players that helped spell the defensive line were defensive ends Jeremy Clark and Jimmy Saddler-McQueen. The two players signed as free-agents last week and played in Sunday’s game after only three days of practice.

“I got a lot of help from these guys in learning my assignments,” Clark said. “The important thing is to be in the right place. If you do that, the play will come to you.”