Micah Parsons says he'll be 'way more versatile' in 2023
The Dallas Cowboys are counting on Micah Parsons to be a disruptor from several different positions this season. Chatting with former Cowboys lineman Brian Baldinger, Parsons explained in more detail what he believes his role will be come September.
“Man, you’re going to see me being way more versatile, moving all across the line of scrimmage, in the backfield, in with the linebackers,” Parsons told Baldinger. “A little bit of everything. People who want me to be a linebacker will be happy, people who want me to be a rusher will be happy. I’m going to surprise some people with what I’m going to do over some guards and centers this year. It will be pretty fun.”
After initially telling reporters he would move to full-time defense end, the third-year defender now says he’ll play as many as eight positions.
“I don’t want to give a lot away right now, but it’s going to be a really cool year,” Parsons said last week at minicamp. “I’m probably going to play like eight positions this year.”
Last season, Parsons played just 19% of his snaps at linebacker even though that’s technically his designation still.
The Cowboys want to increase the impact he has and increase the opportunities for the players around him.
“My job is to help find matchups, Micah and others, to put guys in spots where we can really allow them to rip and kick ass,” Dan Quinn said of Parsons’ role. “That’s been my goal all along.”
Although his overall impact should improve, Parsons is already preparing fans to see fewer sacks from him in 2023. He earned AP Defensive Rookie of the Year after he racked up 13 sacks and 20 tackles in 2021. Last year, his remarkable level of dominance continued, and he tallied up 13.5 sacks.
Parsons coming off the ‘sack wave’
“Micah, clearly, is at the stage in his career, he’ll always be extremely impactful, it’s up to us to create those opportunities for him,” Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said on Thursday.
“From an offensive perspective, when you line up a premiere player at the same spot, it’s easier. The next measure of Micah being an elite player, it’ll be about impacting the game and the opportunities he creates for others.”
Parsons has taken his coach’s goals for him to heart. He told reporters on Thursday that he’s “off the sack wave.”
“I’m kinda off the sack wave. I’m onto the impact wave,” Parsons said, via Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News. “You see Aaron Donald. He can have 12 sacks, but the impact he makes is so dominant. You can tell.
“I really just want to be dominant. And then you see guys who have 16-17 sacks, but they’re not considered a guy. I want to be a guy, not one of the guys. You feel me? I’m not chasing for something. I’m trying to achieve and be greater than someone who is chasing.”