"Every year there's going to be change," said Phillips, who was commenting for the first time since owner and general manager Jerry Jones declared the coaches off limits to the media in January. "We tried to pick up players to help our Football team. Not necessarily the same positions sometimes, but sometimes they are. ... Sometimes you lose players and you've got to be solid enough going into the draft. That's part of what we've done."

Phillips spoke briefly Monday at the NFL owners' meetings at St. Regis Resort Monarch Beach before heading to a session involving all of the head coaches. He is scheduled to speak formally to the media Wednesday for the first time.

The Cowboys' most daunting task is replacing wide receiver Terrell Owens, who was cut earlier this month and has since signed with Buffalo.

"That's what we've got to address," Phillips said. "He had over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns last year, and the year before, he had more than that. We do think we have good players, young players especially, that we think can come through. And plus, we've got Roy Williams."

Williams, acquired in a trade deadline deal with Detroit, had only 19 catches and one touchdown in 10 games for the Cowboys. But for the last few weeks, he and Tony Romo have worked out together at the team's Valley Ranch facility.

"He can help us, and I think he will once he gets in with the quarterback and the off-season and the regular season and preseason and all that," Phillips said. "He's got great talent and he works hard. He's going to fit in well with our guys."

The Cowboys have also added two defensive players with ties to Phillips.

Keith Brooking will replace Zach Thomas at inside linebacker and reunite with Phillips, who was his defensive coordinator for two years in Atlanta.

"He's a five-time Pro Bowler and he can play in the nickel and play well," Phillips said of Brooking. "I think he still has a lot left."

Defensive end Igor Olshansky, a three-year starter for Phillips with the Chargers, will replace free-agent departure Chris Canty.

"I think he's got some [pass rush] potential that hasn't been tapped enough," Phillips said. "He's one of the strongest guys in the league, and we've got to get him to utilize that as far as pass rush. But he's such a strong run player, it helps your front seven."

The Cowboys also added Gerald Sensabaugh, who spent his first four years in Jacksonville and was coached by Dave Campo and new special teams coach Joe DeCamillis. Sensabaugh will replace Roy Williams at strong safety.

"Sensabaugh's a cover safety," Phillips said. "He can play strong [safety], but he can cover well, so that gives us some versatility that we hadn't had."

Much of what the Cowboys have done this off-season has been about familiarity. The one addition to the staff is DeCamillis, who worked with Phillips in Denver and Atlanta. Phillips takes over as defensive coordinator, a role he held last season after Brian Stewart's dismissal.

The biggest adjustment for Phillips will be handling the coordinator duties. Stewart ran the meetings last year even after he was relieved of the play-calling duties.

"It wouldn't be fair to bring somebody in or move somebody up and have me basically do it," Phillips said, "so that's what we're doing."

Stewart's firing was difficult for Phillips because the two have a tight bond from their time together in San Diego.

"It was something we had to do, so that's what we did," Phillips said. "He understood the whole thing, and I kept him well-informed as to what was going on and what we were doing. I think he'll bounce back because he's a really good coach. ... We've shown improvement on defense [the last two seasons], and Stew had a lot to do with that."