Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said Wednesday he's taking a more active role with the defense, the latest move to try shoring up one of the team's weak links during a 1-3 stretch that's taken them from Super Bowl favorite to third place in their division.

"I'm going to try to do more," Phillips said. "I think I can help more than I have. When I step back and look at it I say, 'I'm losing some of my expertise.' Even though I'm in there on a lot of the meetings, I'm trying to be more proactive."