Aikman: Cowboys need to decide which direction they're going

The Seattle Seahawks named Pete Carroll head coach and John Schneider general manager in January 2010. In four seasons, those two helped turn Seattle from a four- and five-win team into a Super Bowl champion.

While talking about that quick turnaround on Wednesday, former Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman was asked if his former team was capable of doing the same.

"The Cowboys have to decide really which direction they're going and what's important," Aikman said after an unveiling ceremony at the renovated Cooper Fitness Center in Dallas. "When you visit with John Schneider, the general manager for Seattle, you can ask him any position and he'll tell you exactly what he wants at that position, and really what the staff wants. Right now, they've got a good situation going. They have a really bright, young general manager and they've also got a head coach who is a pretty dynamic guy and they coach those guys up and have a philosophy as to what type of player they want. I think the teams that are successful have that.

"There's been a lot of turnover here in Dallas with the staff and schemes and what not because of the relatively lack of success on the field, and until they can really get locked down as to what they're about, it's hard then to go and build a roster the way that a team like Seattle has been able to do."

Schneider and Carroll were phenomenal from their first draft together, landing key Pro Bowl pieces like left tackle Russell Okung, safety Earl Thomas and safety Kam Chancellor with three of their first six picks. They continued to draft wisely over the next couple of years, picking up All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman in the fifth round in 2011 and two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson in the third round in 2012.

One of the biggest obstacles the Cowboys will face entering the 2014 season is having their third offensive play-caller in as many seasons.

How tough will that be on Tony Romo and the Cowboys offense?

"It depends on if the play-caller is any good," Aikman said. "We were last in the league my second year and we brought in Norv Turner and it was a great change. We went from last to ninth in the league. I think change for the sake of change is not necessarily good, but if change improves that position then it is a good thing. Tony [Romo] is a smart guy, the players are smart and they'll learn a new offense. I'm sure the terminology will stay the same. I think sometimes we make a bigger deal about calling plays than we probably should.

"But the fact that there's been change on both sides of the ball again, just really kind of reiterates the lack of direction or commitment that this team has had with those that have been in those positions."

The Cowboys will also enter the 2014 season with their third different defensive coordinator in as many seasons.