The Cowboys came out of Sunday night with a lot to sort through on defense, but the linebacker spot is already looking like the one that could become a real problem.
Dallas got pushed around by the Giants, and while there were plenty of issues to spread around, DeMarvion Overshown and Dee Winters stood out for all the wrong reasons. The pair looked lost at times, and New York’s offense made a habit of putting them in uncomfortable spots.
Giants offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and Greg Roman kept Dallas guessing with run-pass looks that never let Overshown and Winters settle in. The flat was left open on three straight plays in the fourth quarter before the Giants turned their attention to the middle of the field once Winters dropped into coverage. It was the kind of plan that took advantage of exactly what Dallas was trying to get by with.
Winters was especially targeted in coverage, and the Giants were smart to go after him there. He’s at his best when he can attack downhill, but that strength doesn’t help much when he’s being forced to sort out route concepts and react after the snap.
Pro Football Focus gave Winters a 42.2 defensive grade, which ranked 15th among the 20 Cowboys defenders who played at least 10 snaps. He gave up four completions on four targets for 40 yards, with 20 of those yards coming after the catch.
Against the run, he didn’t fare much better: no defensive stops, three tackles, one missed tackle, and a 38.3 run-defense grade that was fourth-worst on the team.
Overshown’s night was rough in a different way, but the result was the same. He allowed all four of his targets to be completed for 38 yards, and PFF charged him with a 145.8 passer rating allowed, the highest on the defense.
He posted a 63.5 run-defense grade, but the film won’t be kind to him after a night that featured overpursuit and trouble working through traffic. To make matters worse, Overshown was flagged for a late hit after tagging Jaxson Dart a step out of bounds, handing the Giants 15 yards.
He needs to rein that in.
The bigger issue is what this says about the fit. Overshown, a former safety at Texas, is listed at 230 pounds.
He’s built, but he doesn’t look like the kind of MIKE linebacker who can anchor the middle and process everything coming at him. After what happened Sunday night, the idea that he belongs more at WILL feels a lot more believable.
Winters is even smaller at 5-foot-11 and 227 pounds, and his speed and aggression work best when he’s flying downhill. Asking him to constantly sort through traffic and take on blockers between the tackles puts him in a tougher spot.
Put the two together, and Dallas is missing the kind of true MIKE linebacker who can steady the group in the middle. That concern is only sharper if Overshown has to miss time after the hamstring injury he suffered in the loss. At this point, the Cowboys may have to start considering whether a linebacker trade is part of the answer.
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