‘Kudos To Shemar’: Shemar James Keeps Green Dot After Leading Cowboys Defense In Win Over Eagles

PHILADELPHIA — Shemar James found out earlier in the week that he would start at middle linebacker and wear the green dot for the Dallas Cowboys. On Monday night, he played 58 defensive snaps, 88% of the total, and tied for the team lead with 6 tackles in a 38-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.

The green dot marks the defensive player with the radio in his helmet. James said he was excited for the opportunity and made the most of it.

“Earlier this week, so I was prepping as a [starting] Mike, with the green dot and everything. So, I mean, I was excited,” James said. “I was excited for this opportunity, and I’m glad that I did the most with it.”

Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer praised the command of the player wearing the green dot.

“He’s earned it. Great control of what we’re doing. Awesome job with the green dot,” Schottenheimer said. “And just proud of his command.”

Schottenheimer said Tuesday that the linebacker room has been bitten by injuries this season. James has had the job for two weeks, and Schottenheimer said several players could handle it, but James is the one the staff trusts most right now.

“One, he’s earned the responsibility. I mean, he’s played really, really well from his insertion two weeks ago. And I think just the command and the control that he does out there is noticeable,” Schottenheimer said Tuesday. “You see him talking to everybody. You see him driving the car, if you will. And I thought he did well. Again, we’ve got a number of guys that can do it, but at the moment, he’s the one that we feel the best about. And that’s not a shout out to anybody else. It’s kudos to Shemar.”

James is maximizing every opportunity, according to Schottenheimer, and linebacker Justin Barron has also played some as Dallas spreads the snaps around.

“So we’re trying to get a lot of guys exposed, but in terms of Shemar, very proud of him and how he’s controlling and driving the defensive play call and getting us lined up,” Schottenheimer explained.

Shemar James Calls The Dallas Cowboys Defense Against The Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia scored touchdowns on three of its first five possessions. Dallas was flagged 8 times for 47 yards, including an offside call that wiped out a fumble recovery on fourth-and-1 and a roughing-the-passer call on third-and-7 during the Eagles’ second touchdown drive.

“We just had to figure out where the team would be. I mean, we just kept shooting ourselves in the foot, kept getting penalties. They kept converting on third downs,” James explained. “And we just had to come together as a team and just be like, we got to get off the field on third down. We got to get after the quarterback. We got to get turnovers.”

The Eagles did not score after the third quarter. Their last four possessions ended in a punt, an interception, a turnover on downs, and the end of the game. Dallas did not have many clean drives on defense, according to James, but stood up when it needed to.

“That was a great team. I mean, there’s going to be blows. I mean, we’re going to score, they’re going to score. I mean, those things happen in division games, especially with a team great like Philly,” James said. “I mean, we didn’t expect to come in here and blow them out. I mean, so we’re just rolling with the punches.”

“I mean, we maybe didn’t have so much clean and so much pretty drives throughout the game, but at the end of the day, we came out with the win, and we stood up when we needed to,” James continued. “Keep chopping. Keep chopping. Eventually the tree is going to fall, and that’s what happened tonight.”

James lined up next to DeMarvion Overshown, who also had 6 tackles and intercepted Tanner McKee in his first game since Week 1. Defensive tackles Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark were in front of him. All three make his job easier, James said.

“Most definitely, yeah. I mean, when you [have] this guy, I mean, it makes your job so much easier. I mean, you just tell him to play and he go do it,” James said. “So, I mean, just having Demo, having Q, having KC on the defensive line, I mean, it just makes my job easier. I just tell those guys what to do, and I just do my job and watch them thrive.”

James On Fatherhood And The ‘Sr.’ On His Jersey

James had to fit his preparation around a baby at home. His wife takes the baby when he needs to watch film, he said, and leaves the room so he can sleep when the baby cries.

“My wife, she makes it so easy. I mean, when I come home from work, I mean, I’m thankful that I can have my wife and kid there. But she never put too much on me. When I tell her I need to watch film, she takes the baby and I watch film,” James said. “When I need to go to sleep, when the baby cries, she leaves the room so I can sleep. So, I mean, all credit to my wife because she allows me to be this player and to actually get my time in.”

James sometimes watches film with his son. His wife sent him a video of the baby watching a game.

“Yeah, I do it sometimes. She just sent me a video of him watching a game. I mean, he’s learning quick, man,” James said. “He might be a little Mike linebacker when he get older.”

James’ name now carries a “Sr.” on the back of his jersey.

“I love it. I love to see it. I mean, I got it on my jersey. I mean, Mike, he told me, he was like, ‘I put the senior on the back of your jersey for you,’” James said. “I mean, I was excited to go out there and just represent not only me but my son as well.”

Dallas improved to 3-4 and hosts the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at AT&T Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon CT on FOX.