DeMarvion Overshown returned to the field for the Dallas Cowboys in Week 11 against the Las Vegas Raiders about a month ago, and he was a welcomed sight, to say the least. With four games under his belt,
Overshown has played himself into football shape, and he’s seen his production go up each week as well.
Something else has increased steadily over the last four weeks for Overshown, and the that’s the number of snaps he’s played. He’s logged 31, 37, 46, and 47 snaps so far as he’s been on restrictions due to coming off his second major knee injury. Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings is critical for the Cowboys as they need to win out to have a shot at catching the Philadelphia Eagles in the race for the NFC East. Luckily, Dallas will get the best version of Overshown yet as he will play without a snap count.
Now that the limit is not a thing anymore, those packages that I wasn’t on the field, you’ll see me more,” Overshown said. “It’ll still be some mixing and matching, but I’ll be on the field more than I have.
Overshown’s game is pretty simple. He’s a heat-seeking missile that roams from sideline to sideline and also plays downhill with speed and reckless abandoned. That was on full display a season ago before he tore his ACL as he registered 90 tackles, eight tackles for loss, five sacks, four pass breakups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one interception, which he returned for a touchdown.
Simply put, Overshown is a playmaker, and the Cowboys desperately need him at his full capabilities as they look to sneak into the postseason. Unlike his first two years in Dallas, the defensive side of the ball has one key factor that can greatly assist in Overshown doing his thing, and that’s a strong interior defensive front.
With Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, and Osa Odighizuwa causing havoc, Overshown will have to worry less about offensive linemen getting to the second level, and he can freely scan the field and make plays by filling gaps against the run or tracking down pass catchers in the open field. This will also help the Cowboys’ secondary in terms of the time they have to cover, and with their struggles this season, it’s certainly much needed.
Overshown shouldn’t be off the all that often for the rest of the season, especially if defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus wants to get the most out of his unit, which has faced scrutiny this season, and rightfully so. With that being said, the unleashing of Overshown will greatly help the Cowboys defensively, and hopefully it helps fuel a playoff berth.
