Photo Credit: The Dallas Cowboys Football Club for their use.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Cowboys’ rookie Micah Parsons sparked the defense’s surge against the Chiefs with relentless pursuit off the edge. At Arrowhead Stadium, his play created reminiscent flashbacks to a premier predecessor, DeMarcus Ware.
Ware’s pass rush tips for Parsons during the offseason displayed on HBO’s Hard Knocks have paid dividends for Dallas. Ironically, on Sunday, he tied Ware’s 2005 franchise record for sacks (8.0) and consistently harassed Patrick Mahomes. Parsons notched two sacks and three quarterback hits working off the edge.
One came late in the second quarter. From second-and-ten, Parsons beat Andrew Wylie and closed on Mahomes from behind like a man possessed, knocking the ball out. His strip sack gave the ball back to the Cowboys’ offense at Kansas City’s 42-yard line and shifted the momentum when desperately needed.
The Cowboys’ offense could not match the defense’s sensational play. In a microcosm of the day, Kellen Moore’s unit was unable to capitalize on the takeaway with a score. Dak Prescott’s pass was intercepted by Charvarius Ward to end the first half.
Despite the outcome, Parsons’ production garnered praise from the former Super Bowl MVP. Mahomes stated, “He’s a special player. I mean to be that good of a linebacker and be able to play defensive end, there’s not a lot of guys like that in this league. He has a high motor, he chased me down on that sack, the strip sack, and the whole game, he was in there the whole time battling and battling.”
Dan Quinn has built the defense around the Penn State product’s versatility in 2021. Whether he is flying off the edge, blitzing the A-gap, or spying on the quarterback, Parsons’ downhill range and rare closing speed have wreaked havoc on offensive game plans. His vision and agility near the line of scrimmage has channeled the defensive turnaround this season under Quinn’s tutelage. “I just think he’s such a weapon for our defense, and, boy, Dan Quinn sure seems to have a great feel for how to use him and — he’s got freakish skills — how to use those skills,” executive vice president Stephen Jones said on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas. “I do think it’s something that, hey, you break the huddle, and you don’t know where the guy is lining up in terms of how you’re going to double team him, how you’re going to chip him, how are you going to deal with the player… he’s good at wherever you seem to put him. So, you know, it’s just a great problem to have. I think he’s only going to show up more as we get Randy Gregory back and DeMarcus Lawrence back, which hopefully is right around the corner.”
Parsons is generating a quarterback pressure on 19.4 percent of his 181 pass rush snaps in 2021, the second-highest pressure rate in the league – more impressive considering Parsons has not lined up as a full-time pass rusher and seven games remain in the regular season. No. 11 only lined up as a stationary defensive end in two games, Weeks 2 and 3 against the Chargers and Eagles. His transition from linebacker was a result of the team’s thinning depth at end. Against the Chargers, the Cowboys were playing without DeMarcus Lawrence (foot) and Randy Gregory (Reserve/COVID-19). The next week against the Eagles, the club was without Lawrence (Reserve/Injured) and Dorance Armstrong (ankle).
In facing the Chiefs, the Cowboys were without both starting defensive ends: Lawrence (foot) and Gregory (calf), who are currently on IR. Their absence prompted Parsons’ shift.
His dominance off the edge is undeniable. Parsons’ twitch and short-area quickness are jumping off the tape week-after-week. The hybrid superstar is starting a revolution in Dallas and reinventing the landscape of the sport. He is a player that cannot be compartmentalized into a category and Quinn is maximizing his skillset. A lethal combination!
