Dallas Cowboys X factors: Considering DeMarvion Overshown as a spy, Jake Ferguson’s impact and more

1) The Cowboys' potential spy — or spies — following Lamar Jackson

After a strong performance in a Week 1 win over the Browns in which he racked up nine tackles and chased down the speedy Deshaun Watson for a sack, Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown welcomed questions from reporters in the locker room. When one asked if he considered shadowing mobile quarterbacks a speciality, Overshown smiled.

"If you want to say that," he said.

A third-round pick in 2023, Overshown's electrifying speed has caught attention from teammates, coaches and fans.

Sunday, the Cowboys might want to use that trait to help contain Ravens star Lamar Jackson, who's on the path to shattering just about every quarterback rushing record in the NFL's history books. The burst Overshown displayed in bringing down Watson certainly suggests he'd have as good a chance as anyone to stick with Jackson or serve as the traditional quarterback spy — a linebacker or safety who stays on the second level to mirror a speedy signal-caller.

But the Cowboys showed last week they aren't committed to handing Overshown a large role in every game.

He played only 18 defensive snaps in Week 2 , when Dallas used more of its base defense against the Saints' run-heavy attack and opted to place other linebackers on the field. If Dallas doesn't fully trust Overshown to handle a strong run game, it might not rely on him heavily against the Ravens, who can ask 250-pound ball-carrier Derrick Henry to bludgeon opponents who opt to go light with their defensive personnel.

Still, Overshown's speed is tempting. He'll likely have at least some role in following Jackson on Sunday, especially in passing situations.

For now, Cowboys coaches aren't publicizing their plans.

"Yeah, we'll see," defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer said Monday when asked whether Overshown would play the role of spy against Jackson.

In fact, during his news conference, Zimmer brought up a different player who could spy Jackson: All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons.

Zimmer might simply have aimed to create confusion by introducing another possible Jackson-stopper, but leaders around the NFL regularly express awe at Parson's athleticism. Spying Jackson would just be the latest impressive line on Parson's unique resume.

Options for how to defend Jackson abound. The problem for the Cowboys is that it's difficult to identify — and execute — the right one.

The Cowboys' defensive collapse last week against the Saints attracted the most attention, but the offense experienced struggles of its own. Dallas failed to score touchdowns on all three of its trips inside the 20-yard line, the running game sputtered and quarterback Dak Prescott threw two interceptions .

The team can hope that tight end Jake Ferguson will help rectify some of those issues.

Ferguson, who missed last week's game because of an MCL sprain in his left knee, practiced in full Friday and received the green light to play against the Ravens. Though he doesn't solve Dallas' lack of explosive running back play, he will offer Prescott a capable target in the red zone and across the middle of the field.

Last year, Ferguson ranked second on the Cowboys in receiving yards. And Prescott looked confused at times without his comforting tight end target in Week 2.

The NFL's highest paid quarterback missed on some throws near the goal line and seemed eager to force the ball to All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb on several occasions, including his second interception. The first interception came when Prescott tried to fire a pass across the middle to second-year pro Jalen Brooks, who stumbled out of his route.

Had Ferguson been healthy, Brooks might not have been in the game as often.

Backup tight end Luke Schoonmaker had career highs of six catches and 43 receiving yards in Ferguson's absence last week, but he didn't find consistent success on the type of downfield routes that put significant pressure on a defense. Ferguson can do that. And the Cowboys might need it against Baltimore.

Prescott, in his ninth NFL season and second running coach Mike McCarthy's system, believes he has a strong command of the offense. He said Sunday that despite an uneven start to the year, he thought he was able to get the offense into successful situations and throw the ball well through the season's first two weeks.

That might be true, but the Ravens have an inside linebacker, Roquan Smith, who can muck up an offense's rhythm with his speed, strength and ability to diagnose plays.

"He's a great player," Prescott said. "Smart player."

Despite Smith's presence, Prescott downplayed the idea of trying to match wits with a veteran on the other side of the line of scrimmage. Instead, the 31-year-old signal-caller wants Dallas to run its offense and make the opponents worry about adjusting.

"As far as chess, we're going in and playing our game," Prescott said. "That's on them how they're going to adapt to that. We're going to be the aggressors and bring it to them."

Fair enough. An attacking mindset has benefited Prescott in the past. It's still wise to be careful around Smith, though. The four-time first-team All-Pro has never finished a season with fewer than 100 tackles, and keeping him away from the ball Sunday will be paramount for the Cowboys, whether they accomplish that through brain, brawn or a combination of the two.