Better be careful overdoing Parsons at DE

[Typhus]

I thought the Cowboys did a great job last year in maximizing production out of Parsons due to his swiss army knife skill set. A lot of LBr in base downs and pass rusher in nickel / dime downs.

This year they are clearly playing him at DE a LOT more this year and I think they're playing with fire. He's a LBr that is a great pass rusher...he is not a great DE due to his size and limitations against the run. He isn't built for it. Opposing O's have already starting running right at him and their seeing a lot of success. We're giving up 5 yards per carry (tied for 4th worst in the league) and have given up 20 runs of 10+ yards.

Good teams with quality OLs are going to get the blueprint out for our defense IMO if we don't adjust.

Parsons is going to play Parsons ball, I can guarantee you that if Parsons goes to Q and tells him that listen man, I hate that alignment, and its just too much to handle, that Q immediately adjusts.
Let Parsons lead this defense with his gladiator approach, Im not holding him back to play the game the way he wants to play it.
Let this beast feast, how long has it been since we had not only and elite player defensively but team overall player.

 

[TequilaCowboy]

I thought the Cowboys did a great job last year in maximizing production out of Parsons due to his swiss army knife skill set. A lot of LBr in base downs and pass rusher in nickel / dime downs.

This year they are clearly playing him at DE a LOT more this year and I think they're playing with fire. He's a LBr that is a great pass rusher...he is not a great DE due to his size and limitations against the run. He isn't built for it. Opposing O's have already starting running right at him and their seeing a lot of success. We're giving up 5 yards per carry (tied for 4th worst in the league) and have given up 20 runs of 10+ yards.

Good teams with quality OLs are going to get the blueprint out for our defense IMO if we don't adjust.

Exactly, the great thing about having the opponent not knowing where he is coming from is gone when they know he will line up at RDE. They can set up their blocking scheme and help that way. Too much wear and tear on MP. They like to crack back on him on sweeps to the right side of the defense. They need to move him around more like they did last year.

 

[Typhus]

Yeah, lets drop him into coverage. That always works out good.

Well yes, but he has again proven most recently that he can break up passes in the secondary.
Doesn't mean necessarily that it was even drawn up that way, so I hear what you are alluding to, but MP has some insane instincts and nose for the ball.

 

[fivetwos]

Nope. Keep sending him. It’s his natural position.

Playing linebacker and dropping into coverage is just some side trick he’s ok at.

Rushing is what makes him special.

Agreed, but do you not think that at least a portion of his rush success should be attributed to the defense being unsure where he is, and if rushing or not?

 

[HungryLion]

You know he played LBr in college and was drafted as a LBr right?

He’s a LBr.

Micah had 41.5 sacks playing DE in high school. FWIW

 

[CATCH17]

You know he played LBr in college and was drafted as a LBr right?

He’s a LBr.

You know he’s played linebacker and has been nothing special but as a Rush End has been incredible right?

 

[stilltheguru]

He should only rush from the end on 3rd downs.

 

[Ranched]

Micah had 41.5 sacks playing DE in high school. FWIW

And 1256 rushing yards. The kid can literally play at any position lol.

 

[Zekeats]

Guess you missed where he carried McLaurin on a route last week and forced an incompletion.

Guess you missed the 2 huge 3rd down and long conversions that cost us points against the 49ers last year so he could play zone coverage.

 

[john van brocklin]

I thought the Cowboys did a great job last year in maximizing production out of Parsons due to his swiss army knife skill set. A lot of LBr in base downs and pass rusher in nickel / dime downs.

This year they are clearly playing him at DE a LOT more this year and I think they're playing with fire. He's a LBr that is a great pass rusher...he is not a great DE due to his size and limitations against the run. He isn't built for it. Opposing O's have already starting running right at him and their seeing a lot of success. We're giving up 5 yards per carry (tied for 4th worst in the league) and have given up 20 runs of 10+ yards.

Good teams with quality OLs are going to get the blueprint out for our defense IMO if we don't adjust.

No common sense allowed here!

 

[CATCH17]

A big problem in this thread is many of you think Parsons was anything special at linebacker.

Moving him around to linebacker just hurts the team because he’s not that great at it.

He’s good but can’t make much of a impact.

 

[817Gill]

A big problem in this thread is many of you think Parsons was anything special at linebacker.

Moving him around to linebacker just hurts the team because he’s not that great at it.

He’s good but can’t make much of a impact.

So you’d rather have Parsons try to set the edge as a DE on a run play than chase and tackle as a LB?

And if your answer is yes, do you honestly think a 235 pound player can do that consistently? Especially when we saw Washington run right at him successfully last week?

 

[SackMaster]

The thing that confuses me is that last year Parsons was one of the best blitzing LBs from a LB spot that I have seen in years.

Seeing an OG, C or RB TRY to move into position and NOT get ran over was hilarious for us, but futile for them.

With a guy like Parsons, you can use him to rush the QB and NOT have to line him up at DE to do so.

I hope that DQ remembers this again this year, because a blitzing Parsons is 10x more dangerous than just rushing him from a DE spot every time.

JMHO

 

[baltcowboy]

So you’d rather have Parsons try to set the edge as a DE on a run play than chase and tackle as a LB?

And if your answer is yes, do you honestly think a 235 pound player can do that consistently? Especially when we saw Washington run right at him successfully last week?

Catch is dug in and not going to change his mind. Fans seem to forget the Minnesota game. I think that was the best game Parsons played all season and he played middle linebacker the whole game because the team was afraid Cook was going to run down our throats. Parsons has like 14 tackles in that game and graded out high .

 

[Havic]

Parson's looks hurt, not hurt enough to not play, but enough to slow him down.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

I thought the Cowboys did a great job last year in maximizing production out of Parsons due to his swiss army knife skill set. A lot of LBr in base downs and pass rusher in nickel / dime downs.

This year they are clearly playing him at DE a LOT more this year and I think they're playing with fire. He's a LBr that is a great pass rusher...he is not a great DE due to his size and limitations against the run. He isn't built for it. Opposing O's have already starting running right at him and their seeing a lot of success. We're giving up 5 yards per carry (tied for 4th worst in the league) and have given up 20 runs of 10+ yards.

Good teams with quality OLs are going to get the blueprint out for our defense IMO if we don't adjust.

Good point Knute.
However, what is the adage about leaving well enough alone?

 

[JBond]

I thought the Cowboys did a great job last year in maximizing production out of Parsons due to his swiss army knife skill set. A lot of LBr in base downs and pass rusher in nickel / dime downs.

This year they are clearly playing him at DE a LOT more this year and I think they're playing with fire. He's a LBr that is a great pass rusher...he is not a great DE due to his size and limitations against the run. He isn't built for it. Opposing O's have already starting running right at him and their seeing a lot of success. We're giving up 5 yards per carry (tied for 4th worst in the league) and have given up 20 runs of 10+ yards.

Good teams with quality OLs are going to get the blueprint out for our defense IMO if we don't adjust.

Correct. Use his skill set in an amazing creative way. Those that believe he is a pure DE are incorrect.

 

[thunderpimp91]

Catch is dug in and not going to change his mind. Fans seem to forget the Minnesota game. I think that was the best game Parsons played all season and he played middle linebacker the whole game because the team was afraid Cook was going to run down our throats. Parsons has like 14 tackles in that game and graded out high .

Spot on...Not only did he rack up the tackles but made impactful plays in that game. The idea that Parsons can't be a difference maker at LB is just false.

 

[PhillyCowboysFan]

And when he is not in there every play, posters are crying about that.

 

[baltcowboy]

Spot on...Not only did he rack up the tackles but made impactful plays in that game. The idea that Parsons can't be a difference maker at LB is just false.

That game was the reason why I thought he was the best and most versatile defensive player in football. That game put our defense on the map.