Micah-Like Moves: How Cowboys' Dan Quinn Plans to Replace Overshown
Ahead of the "hardest cut" to the 53-man roster limit in "years" for the Dallas Cowboys, according to COO Stephen Jones, Saturday's preseason loss to the Seattle Seahawks presented them with a big swerve as linebacker DeMarvion Overshown had his seasons end with a torn ACL.
And despite the Cowboys' linebacker depth being left with slimmed depth now without Overshown, who was described as the "star" of the rookie class by coach Mike McCarthy on Monday, it seems they won't be looking for outside help.
"I think we have the answers on this team," Jones said on Tuesday when asked about the linebacker room. "I've always told you that we're always open. If the right situation came along that we feel like would make our team better, then we'd look at it. (But) we also feel very comfortable with the players we have on this team."
So what is the Cowboys' plan? Think back to what we've talked about regarding Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and his "chess pieces.'' Not only is Micah Parsons an edge rusher who is also a linebacker, but starting safeties Jayron Kearse and Donovan Wilson have the body types/talents to cover, play in the box or rush the passer.
And then there are the young guys like Juanyeh Thomas and Markquese Bell ...
"We have safeties who can play linebacker, that's the way Dan designs this defense," Jones continued. "You've got a guy like Juanyeh out there playing at a high level in both preseason games and practices. He's certainly made his way into the picture of adding more depth at safety. Then, we have a lot of safeties that can do a lot of things that Overshown can do."
Bell has also been a preseason standout since the short-term injury to Wilson and is also now in Quinn's plan on how to replace Overshown.
“However I can help the team is how I see myself," Bell said about his potential new role. "If they need me at linebacker, safety, hybrid — [I'm] willing to do whatever."
While it may seem like a big transition for safety to move to the middle of the field and play in the box, that is an aspect where Bell has already gained experience doing this preseason. According to Pro Football Focus, Bell has spent 44 of his 102 total snaps this preseason in the box.
At 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, Bell is listed at 15 pounds lighter than Overshown. Thomas is even bigger than Bell at 6-3, 217.
The first linebacker listed as the step-up guy here is Jabril Cox, a linebacker by trade. But somewhere in this mix, the Cowboys look like they're going to mix it up - with Dan Quinn, doing more of what he's been doing with Parsons ... playing chess with versatile pieces.
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