Not saying these DT can't play better because they can, but I'm almost through rewatching the first half of yesterday game, and the constant issue in the run game I'm seeing is Micah...a few plays really stick out to me.
- One was with 7:04 in the second quarter. Bell blitzes off the edge, the rest of the DLine slants away from the blitz and Micah just gets shielded off like it was nothing leading to a 12 yard gain. I can't say with 100% confidence that it was his gap, but with the DT slanting down and a blitzer off the edge I have to believe Micah was responsible for the inside gap there.
- Another is the opening play of the game where they run right at Micah, he makes an inside move on the T and simply can't fight back through the block and gets washed right out of the play with ease.
- 4:18 left in the 2nd quarter Micah and Dlaw both sanding up on the right side Buffalo runs a trap and Micah isn't even aware of it. G/C block down on the DTs, T shields off Dlaw, and Micah gets picked up by the trap guy with absolutely zero awareness of what's going on. Cook runs right through Micahs gap. When the Oline lets you into the backfield untouched like that you have to be aware that you're about to get either a trap, screen, etc.
- 2:53 left in the 2nd Q Micah is on right side edge, another trap play by Buffalo that works easily. Micah 1v1 vs the RT and makes an odd move where he dips his head and the RT just lets him take himself out of the play. This play was exceptionally bad all around for the defense but had Micah just held his ground it probably goes for a minimal gain, instead he loses contain and gives Cook an easy 9 yards.
The guy might be the best pure pass rusher in the league, but its been an issue time and time again where teams can run right at the guy with ease. I think it's really time to get serious about moving Micah Parsons back to playing LB on 1st down.
Micah seems to have zero feel for playing against the run on the DLine, and he also doesn't seem to have the weight/strength to battle through blocks. The guy is just a better player in space as he doesn't have the body mass to play with these Olinemen in the run game. Not trying to pick on or single out Micah either, this was a let down across the board, but his performance really stuck out to me yesterday, and not for good reasons.
