It's an indisputable fact.

That's the reason Bruce Read no longer works in Dallas and among the reasons the Cowboys didn't make the playoffs.

Who can forget the collapse against Arizona that began with the opening kickoff returned for a touchdown and ended with a blocked punt in overtime returned for a touchdown? Or the raggedy kickoff coverage that nearly resulted in a disastrous loss to Cincinnati?

Well, let me tell you, Joe DeCamillis is here to save the day.

He better.

Otherwise, there's a good chance Wade Phillips won't be the Cowboys coach at the start of the 2010 season. Perhaps that's why Jerry Jones and Phillips made sure to give Joe D plenty of help on draft day.

DeCamillis has spent his entire 21-year career coaching special teams for the Broncos, Giants, Falcons and Jaguars before arriving in Dallas a few months ago. He spent 10 seasons with Atlanta, where he worked with Phillips.

"I'm not a savior," DeCamillis said. "I just want our guys to work hard and get better every day."

We remember the Dirty Dozen draft in 1975, the backup draft in 1995 and the cornerback draft in 2000. This one will be remembered as the special teams draft since that's where the Cowboys , without a first-round pick, clearly placed their emphasis.

It was a good idea, though you hope some of the 12 players drafted have futures as starters.

The kickoff and punt coverage units needed the most help because when it comes to field position, those are the two most important statistical categories.

The Cowboys ranked 29th in average starting field position and 22nd in net punting. Joe D wants Dallas to be considerably better in those categories.

To do so, he needs Phillips' full support. Nothing less will do.

If the head coach doesn't make it clear to every player that special teams is important, then they will just go through the motions.

It starts with Phillips, who traditionally prefers not to use starters on special teams, which is among the reasons the Cowboys used four of their 12 draft picks last week on linebackers.

Jason Williams, the Cowboys' first selection, runs a 4.49 in the 40-yard dash, and played special teams throughout his career at Western Illinois. Sixth-round pick Stephen Hodge from TCU will only make the team if he excels on special teams.

Then there's fifth-round pick David Buehler, a kickoff specialist who's expected to have an enhanced role on the coverage units.

In college, the stars normally don't play on special teams. Now, players who were college stars must adapt to a new role.

It's not always easy.

Take a guy like Brandon Williams, a fourth-round pick, who rarely played special teams at Texas Tech.

"We have to show him this is your role. We have to show him a way to be successful, then his self-esteem will get higher," DeCamillis said. "Then coaches will get more confidence in him. They'll see he's making plays for Joe D and, maybe, he'll start making some plays for me."

Clearly, there's a new attitude at Valley Ranch

Just don't make the mistake of calling Joe D a difference-maker. Or a savior. He just wants to be known as an assistant coach whose unit expects to make daily improvement.

"We don't have second and third down to get it right. We have one down to get it right. It takes great effort and intensity to get it done," Joe D said. "It's a privilege to be in the National Football League, and on these 20 plays I'm willing to sell out and do everything possible to help us win."