The Cowboys are making strides on multiple fronts as they try to improve a defense that has underperformed through the first five games of the season.
Longtime NFL defensive coordinator Mike Pettine is joining the staff and will be defensive coordinator Christian Parker move to the booth after coaching from the sideline during the team’s 2-3 starts. The team’s players also had what linebacker DeMarvion Overshown called a “heart to heart” meeting about what they need to do to improve on the field.
“Looking for ourselves in the mirror“said Overshown, via the team’s website. “Putting down what we want to be the standard, we put that on the board. We went through bullet point, bullet point. Are we going to hold it? Are we like this? As a unit, how do we come together? what is it Just listening to all of us. It’s really not like a fire drill conversation, it’s more, ‘What can I do to help you? What can I expect from you every Sunday, or every Monday?’ We have to talk to each other like that because the ship will only go as far as the weakest person in the boat. As long as we are all in this together, I think we’re going to be great. I know we’re going there.”
Overshown missed four games with a hamstring injury and his return to health could be another piece of the puzzle as the Cowboys find the right mix of planning and execution that can turn things around on the defensive side of the ball.