FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys rookie linebacker Jaishawn Barham said Wednesday that wearing the green dot helmet and relaying the defensive call is just part of playing middle linebacker, with DeMarvion Overshown out for a third straight game.
Overshown has a hamstring injury and was ruled out Friday for Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans. Barham has played in his place at middle linebacker and has worn the green dot, the helmet with the radio that receives defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s calls.
Barham said he did not have a green dot in college but helped call the defense with signals. He said every linebacker practiced it during camp.
“I mean, of course, that’s a big responsibility, just trying to make sure everybody on the same page, everybody communicating, so of course that’s a big responsibility. But, I mean, like I said, it’s football. It’s something that you get ready for as you play Mike,” Barham said. “And it’s not just me. I feel like every linebacker did it during camp, so we all be prepared for it when the moment comes.”
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said earlier Wednesday that the green dot settles Barham down and helps him into the flow of a game. Barham said it would be the same either way.
“I mean, no, I think no Green Dot or Green Dot. I feel like it’s almost the same thing. We all communicate,” Barham said. “If I did have the Green Dot and somebody else had it, it would be the same. We just all communicate and stand on the same page.”
Brian Schottenheimer Says Jaishawn Barham Is Making A Strong Case
Schottenheimer said Tuesday that Barham made fewer mistakes in the loss to the Baltimore Ravens than he did in the Week 1 loss at the New York Giants.
“He’s doing everything in his power to fight to keep that spot. We’re very pleased not only with how he’s doing but how he’s growing,” Schottenheimer said. “Part of playing young players is that they’re going to make mistakes and grow from them. I saw fewer mistakes from Jaishawn in this game than in the Giants game, and he’s making a strong case not to leave the field.”
Jaishawn Barham Says Run Defense Starts With Being Physical
Dallas gave up 165 rushing yards to the Giants in Week 1, and Derrick Henry ran for 89 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries in Rio. Barham said improving against the run starts with physicality and has to happen at every level.
“Being more physical. You got to just want to do it,” Barham said. “I mean, of course, we just have to be better as a unit. I mean, it’s not just one person or just one group. I would say just up front, second level, third level.”
On third down against Baltimore, Dallas walked Barham to the edge and blitzed him, and he dropped the running back for a three-yard loss, Schottenheimer said Wednesday. Barham played more on the edge last season and said his conditioning at Mike is still catching up.
“I think it’s pretty good. Yeah, it could get better, but of course,” Barham said. “No, I’ll probably say that’s probably just for me last year just playing more edge, it’s a different kind of role. So this is me getting back used to playing Mike more, that’s probably it.”
Barham is not surprised by his role and expects to keep it.
“I mean, that’s what I came in here to do, to play football, to find a role in this team and help this team,” Barham said. “So now that I’m doing that, I feel like I got to keep doing that and helping this team.”
Barham and rookie safety Caleb Downs have both played major roles in their first season. Barham said neither of them thinks of himself as a rookie.
“I mean, I feel like I don’t really look at myself just like, oh, he’s a rookie, so he’s doing this. So I think Caleb might feel the same way, but I think we just come in and play football,” Barham said. “This is what we’ve been doing forever.”
Schottenheimer said Wednesday that the team would play the middle linebacker job by ear once Overshown returns but that Barham is earning the opportunities. Dallas plays at Houston on Sunday at noon CT.
