Micah Parsons demands attention. Posting 13 or more sacks in each of his first three seasons in Dallas, Parsons is on a historic pace. Only 14 players have posted more 13-plus sack seasons than him in a career, and just three of them have eclipsed five.
Very few players, if any, bring the level of gravity Parsons brings to the field. Offenses scheme for him on nearly every play. They identify and often roll protection into his direction, chip blocking him, double teaming him and sometimes even triple teaming him into neutralization. They seemingly do it all and it still doesn’t stop the Cowboys All-Pro edge rusher.
According to ESPN’s pass rush win rate (PRWR) Parsons was the No. 1 edge in the NFL in 2023, a full five percent higher than second place Myles Garrett. He was also double-teamed at the highest rate, a full six percent more often than second place Garrett.
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His mere presence on the field opens up near countless opportunities for his teammates, yet no returning teammate managed to post more than four sacks alongside Parsons in 2023. It’s tragedy that must be fixed in 2024.
The Cowboys aren’t exactly devoid of talent alongside Parsons. DeMarcus Lawrence and Osa Odighizuwa are both well regarded defensive linemen in Dallas, with the former coming off his fourth Pro Bowl season. Given the number of opportunities Parsons is creating, it’s difficult to explain how the two only combined for seven sacks.
On 4th & 2, with just over a minute left in regulation, Micah Parsons pressured Geno Smith in 1.4 seconds. This was Parsons’ league-leading 46th quick pressure of the season, 13 more than the next closest player.#SEAvsDAL
#DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/KXRiTQPWaO— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) December 1, 2023
The interior specifically is somewhere where Parsons opens opportunities. Playing wide on the EDGE, Parsons will often take wide angles as he rounds the pocket and reaches for the passer. The quarterback’s only way of survival in instances such as this is to step up in the pocket. It’s these situations where someone from the defensive interior has to step up and make a play.
There’s a reason teams like the Ravens repeatedly rank near the top of the league in sacks – it’s because there’s seemingly always a second rusher in position to clean up after the initial pressure player flushes the pocket.
Mike Zimmer, the Cowboys new defensive coordinator, might pay off enormously in this facet…
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