Micah Parsons is on the shortlist among a handful of defenders any NFL coach would like to be working alongside right now.
At just 25 years old, the “lion-backer” is already one of the best defensive ends in the game, but it’s his versatility that sets him apart as a dream for any coordinator.
He’s lightning fast. Instinctive in coverage. Strong enough to shed blockers.
He can practically play all levels of the defense with his exceptional athleticism. Knowing his mindset, he probably would if he had the choice to.
And from what we’ve seen this offseason, Parsons is taking a heightened lead leadership role to heart, valuing his attendance at offseason programs despite still being in negotiations for a massive contract extension.
For the new-look Dallas Cowboys staff led by head coach Brian Schottenheimer and defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, the opportunities with Micah are endless.
Eberflus, who was the Cowboys linebackers coach during his earlier stint with the team, touched on the opportunity to coach Cowboys legend DeMarcus Ware and how it compares to his job now.
“That was really, for me, the experience that I had to hold everybody else to the highest standard of ‘hey, that’s the best of the best’ … in terms of a rusher, in terms of a worker, and all those things,” Eberflus said.
“Micah has all of those. He really does.”
So the age-old question rises again: How will Micah be used?
Eberflus said he had a sit-down with Parsons for half an hour and hashed out ideas, “just him and I in my office.” Here is what he’s thinking:
“For him, you have to move this guy around,” Eberflus explained. “Now, what’s great about our current roster is that we have other rushers now that can rush. So to pay attention to one particular rusher is going to be more difficult than if you just had one on one side. That’s going to be a good thing, too.”
In the past, Parsons has played linebacker and either ends of the defensive line as an edge rusher, typically preferring the left side.
But could he play anywhere else? After Dallas’ abysmal run defense was the story of last year, it might be worth a shot to throw Micah in between the tackles to draw a mismatch.
About lining up against guards and centers Eberflus said, “Sure, oh yeah. We’ll move him along the line…”
Eberflus and his staff have a loaded repertoire with Micah Parsons on defense. Now it’s time to find the best use of him, and if it’s everywhere, manage his rotations accordingly.
Oh, and let’s also get him paid.
Paging Jerry Jones…
