DeMarvion Overshown is in line for green dot duties, but will the Cowboys’ defense benefit from putting more responsibility on him?
I will start by saying I like the Cowboys giving Overshown green dot duties. I just don’t want them turning one of their best athletes into a traffic director.
That will be the balance Dallas has to get right. Overshown has the speed, range, violence, and attitude this defense needs in the middle of the field. He can run, cover, blitz, and close space in a hurry.
The Numbers Back it Up
In six games last season, after returning from injury, Overshown had 28 combo tackles, 15 solo, 13 assists, and 1 tackle for loss.
The 2024 season is when the magic happened. In just 13 games, Overshown had 90 combo tackles, 56 solo, 34 solo, 8 tackles for loss, 5 QB hits, 5 sacks, 4 pass deflections, and 1 interception returned for a touchdown.
DeMarvion Overshown isn’t a one-trick pony. He showed, when healthy, he affected the game in multiple ways.
So why does having the green dot matter?
The green dot isn’t just a sticker on a helmet. It would mean Overshown would be getting the defensive call, relaying it to the rest of the defense, setting the front, handling checks, adjusting motion, and just making sure everybody is where they need to be.
I don’t question whether Overshown is talented enough. He’s proven that over 19 games. I know he’s smart enough because you don’t move from safety to linebacker in college and excel and then become an NFL playmaker if you can’t process the game.
The question I would pose is, can the Cowboys put more on his plate without taking away from his playmaking ability?
Overshown answered that question in an interview:
“I’ll be able to do even more,” Overshown said. “Now I’m not running from sideline to sideline, I’m running from the middle of the field to the sideline. So that’s more tackles for me, I’m protected on both sides, so now I can just play free. I’m not just coming from ‘Okay, I need you take care of this side of the field, and we’re going to be good.’ No, you put me in the middle so I can take care of both sides of the field. I’m excited to have that role.”
The Safety Background Matters
DeMarvion Overshown is not a traditional middle linebacker, and that is a good thing.
If you didn’t know this, he was recruited as a safety by the University of Texas, before they decided to move him closer to the line of scrimmage.
I like that background because he sees the game differently. He understands space, angles, leverage, and how offenses try to stress second-level defenders.
His college production showed the same all-around skill set we’ve seen in his short time in the NFL. At the University of Texas, he finished his collegiate career with 249 tackles, 30.5 tackles for loss, 9 sacks, 18 pass breakups, 3 fumble recoveries, and 3 interceptions.
He’s learned the game from multiple levels of the defense, and he had to change what he’s looking for, keys, fits, and responsibilities. That doesn’t guarantee he can run the Cowboys’ defense, but it does tell me the mental side shouldn’t scare Dallas.
This is one of the reasons I think he can not only survive, but excel as the green dot middle linebacker.
The Green Dot Cannot Slow Him Down
My biggest concern is simple. I don’t want Overshown thinking when he should be hunting.
His best football comes when he sees it and goes. That’s when his burst shows up on tape, and when he plays with violence. I want him to look like what we have seen, one of the few Cowboys’ defenders who can erase a mistake with pure athletic ability.
The green dot can help a defense, but it can also slow a player down if he gets overloaded. If Overshown is worried about getting everything done a green dot has to do, he could start playing a tick late.
Dallas cannot let that happen.
The Cowboys need him to lead, but they also need him to stay aggressive. That means Christian Parker’s scheme has to help him and I think it will. He will have a defensive line to keep blockers off him and, hopefully, a much better secondary to communicate with him.
I don’t want to see him as a traditional MIKE linebacker who spends every snap banging with guards. That’s not his game.
Was this helpful?
1 Comment