Cowboys Defense Had 'Heart to Heart' Meeting After Loss to Bucs, DeMarvion Overshown Says

After a 2-3 start to the season, the Dallas Cowboys are searching for answers on defense.

According to linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, the team had a "heart to heart" following Thursday's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"Looking ourselves in the mirror," Overshown said of what was discussed in the meeting, per Tommy Yarrish of the team's website. "Putting what we wanted our standard to be, we put that on the board. We went by bullet point, bullet point. Are we holding up to this? Are we being this? As a unit, how can we get closer? What is it? Just hearing from all of us. It really wasn't like a fire drill conversation, it was more so, 'What can I do to help you? What do I expect from you on Sundays, or every Monday walk throughs?' We've got to talk to each other like that because the ship is only going to go as far as the weakest person on the boat. As long as we all in this together, I think we're going to be great. I know we're going to be there."

The Cowboys spent the offseason trying to upgrade the defense, drafting Caleb Downs 11th overall and adding players like defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. Earlier this month, they traded for Pittsburgh Steelers star cornerback Joey Porter Jr.

But the results haven't shown up yet. Dallas has allowed the second-most total yards per game in the NFL this season (395.4) and the eighth-most points per game (27.2).

Despite the still-struggling defense, Overshown believes the Cowboys have the tools necessary to be one of the top units in the NFL.

"It's no reason why we couldn't be a defense that only allowed 10 points a game," Overshown said. "Our thing is not shooting ourselves in the foot, the mental errors. Once we get past that, we're going to be one of the best defenses in the league, we've just got to stop shooting ourselves in the foot."

Perhaps it is a matter of just putting things together, but the Cowboys' defense has looked lost through the first five games of the season.