DeMarvion Overshown and Ovie Oghoufo off the edge
How will Texas play the edge this year? It’s one of the central questions of the offseason and the Longhorns brought two major pieces to the puzzle to Arlington to discuss it at the 2022 Big 12 Media Days.
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One of the biggest questions has been how they’ll use DeMarvion Overshown, the athletic but regularly miscast defender from East Texas. In particular, how often is he coming off the edge for the defense next season?
“It’s something you can get used to seeing me do.”
DeMarvion Overshown at the 2022 Big 12 Media Days.
Texas’ two Edge defenders came to assure everyone they intend to be around the quarterback this coming season.
Overshown on the edge?
“Man, I’m doing everything.”
DeMarvion Overshown at the 2022 Big 12 Media Days.
Texas’ linebackers were a bit coy about specific positions and roles but made clear Overshown is in the mix at Edge. He’s going back and forth to either room, with both Pete Kwiatkowski the Edge coach and Jeff Choate who handles the inside linebackers.
He’s learning a lot from the defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski himself.
Just different pass-rush stuff, and basically just dialing into the defense, getting the whole scheme. What is he trying to do on this scheme, what is he trying to do on this scheme. How can I disinfect the whole offense into one so I can break it down like, ‘okay they can only run these two or three plays.’ So basically getting where he’s coming from when he’s calling these plays and the offense is in this certain formation, helping me since I’m the coach of the defense being that linebacker. Helping me understand why he’s calling these plays.
DeMarvion Overshown at the 2022 Big 12 Media Days.
What he’s describing is being able to diagnose what the offensive formation is, what the offensive tendencies will be from that formation, and how PK’s play-call is designed to counter the threats and erase the advantages the offense is trying to create.
He’s been able to learn some pass-rushing technique though and adjust to life on the edge, in part due to working with fellow Media Day attendee Ovie Oghoufo.
I’ve helped teaching him the edge position and pass-rushing and learning from him as well. His speed off the ball…he has the qualities to get what we need to get done.
Ovie Oghoufo at the 2022 Big 12 Media Days
Oghoufo has grown, he’s literally larger and has learned considerably from his first year playing in PK’s defensive scheme. When asked about their struggles to defend the edge against the run last year he was forward-looking.
This year our point of emphasis was learning our playbook and understanding why our job was so important to the defense as a whole. I think that, as we’ve been learning that in the spring and going into fall camp, all those counters and all types of runs, stretch, whatever you want to call it, we’ll get it shut down.
Ovie Oghoufo at the 2022 Big 12 Media Days
Improved understanding of the defense and system were regular talking points for the Texas representatives. This group are ready to benefit from being in year two with the new approach.
So what will this look like in 2022?
Overshown is going to play two different positions in 2022, depending on the down/distance context and potentially the gameplan. He’ll still be the Will linebacker, but he’ll also spin down as the Edge in the dime package.
Texas will be able to get into a pass-rushing, 2-4-5 sort of scheme on obvious passing downs with Overshown spinning down opposite Oghoufo.
He could also play as the sole Edge in a 3-3-5 if they wanted to keep bigger D-linemen on the field for an every down sort of package.
Pete Kwiatkowski often liked to play a 3-2-6 Dime package against spread teams at Washington and use a safety as the boundary outside linebacker. Overshown spinning down there gives Texas the chance to split the difference between having a pass-rushing Edge as well as having someone with a safety’s range and coverage ability.
On regular downs they could also get the “Oghoufo and Overshown off either edge” effect if they wanted to play Oghoufo as the Jack opposite Moro Ojomo at defensive end and set him to the field while Overshown stayed in the boundary.
If they lined up in this fashion, they could always spin the defensive end inside to play as more of a tackle and walk Overshown down to the edge.
One thing is clear, Texas likes what Overshown can offer blitzing off the edge because of his length and speed and intend to package him into positions to get after opponents.
