The Dallas Cowboys defense held a hard look at itself after losing to Tampa Bay. Players sat down to ask tough questions about their own play. DeMarvion Overshown told Yahoo Sports the team wrote down their standards on a board. They looked at what they needed from each other to fix the mess. The unit ranks 31st in total defense, giving up 395.4 yards a game. That stat hurts. It shows why the team is 2-3 and why the meeting happened on Monday, October 12. Talk is cheap until the pads hit. Sunday night against Green Bay will tell the real story.
One Question That Matters
Overshown said the group focused on help, not blame. He explained the discussion with one simple line. “What can I do to help you?” Overshown used to clarify the discussion was one of the questions. That is the right way to fix a broken defense. It stops the finger-pointing and starts the work. But a good meeting does not fix a bad unit by itself. The players must carry that spirit onto the field at Lambeau Field. They need to stop mental errors and finish tackles. If they just talk and then play the same way, the meeting was a waste of time.
Pettine Arrives With a Friend
Mike Pettine is back in the fold to help coach Christian Parker. He joined as a senior defensive assistant after taking time off for family. The 60-year-old coach admitted his retirement might not have lasted long. “My wife, when we would tell people I’m retired, she would always add ‘ish’ on the end of it,” said Pettine, whose title is senior defensive assistant. He knew he would return when his friend Parker needed him. “It’s been some tough circumstances,” Pettine said. “And like I said, when it’s somebody you care about, a friend that’s in need and asks for some help, you answer the call.”
Parker does not want to be seen as someone who needs saving. He said, “I don’t really need to respond to it,” regarding the talk about Pettine fixing the defense. The two worked together before when Pettine was the coordinator in Green Bay. Now they face a 3-2 Packers team on Sunday, October 18. The Cowboys lost their last game 24-16 to the Buccaneers. They gave up 419 yards and 241 yards on the ground. That performance forced the meeting. The addition of Pettine and the talk from the players are just the start. The real test comes when the game clock starts.
