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OXNARD, Calif. – In the last two years, Bradie James and defensive coordinator Brian Stewart have developed a close relationship, but with the NFL allowing coach-to-player communication for the first time via a transmitter, they are sure to get closer.

Stewart and James had their first in-game opportunity to work with the system Saturday in San Diego, and came away knowing they have some work to do before the Sept. 7 season opener at Cleveland.

"It's different," James said, "but I think it can be a tool to help us out. I think we can use that to our advantage at some point."

But parts of the system need to be ironed out.

The league approved the system partially to avoid another spying scandal that cost New England a first-round draft pick and $750,000 in fines, but coach Wade Phillips had been a proponent of it for a long time.

An offensive communication system has been in place since 1994, and Phillips sees the new rule evening things out.

Stewart and James are still figuring out the mechanics of the device. During every practice, Stewart will call the play in with a walkie talkie.

On game days, he works with a headset and holds a button before speaking to James. Stewart has talked with offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and other playcallers about the dos and don'ts of the system, and James has talked with Tony Romo.

"He told me there's a delay," Stewart said. "You have to push the button for a second and then you speak and leave it on. Then you let it go and make sure they get it."

James found himself breaking free from his teammates before the snap Saturday.

"I can't just start talking bad to somebody if they make a mistake," James said. "I can't chase them down. Really what I have to do is step out of the huddle because there's a lot of chatter, a lot of guys talking about what happened on the play before. I have to step out to hear what Stew says."

Before making the call, Stewart listens to coaches in the press box about the offensive personnel grouping, and then he makes the play call to James. He has until 15 seconds are left on the play clock before the system shuts off, as it does for the offense.

"But I don't want to be talking while I'm trying to get that information," Stewart said.

If the system breaks down, the Cowboys have a series of signals in place, as in the past. After getting the call James must relay it to the rest of the front seven and the secondary, which was difficult at times Saturday.

"I have to make sure everybody gets back to the huddle," James said. "If they don't, they're waiting for me to make the call. When you had the signals, the secondary can see their coverage part. It's hard for the secondary because they always are run off if it's a deep pass. You have to wait on them, so we still communicate. It's one of the things we have to work out."