Since his selection in the first round of the 2021 Draft, there are high expectations around linebacker Micah Parsons. With the Dallas defense rebuilding under Dan Quinn, the rookie is expected to be a mainstay in the process. However, Parsons may have a few more responsibilities in his first year in the NFL.
During training camp in Oxnard, Parsons’ helmet has a green dot on it. This point indicates that your helmet contains a radio transmitter that keeps you in communication with defensive coordinator Dan Quinn for play calls. It is worth mentioning that linebackers Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith also have transmitters on their helmets.
These three linebackers are projected to be starters, and the broadcasters aim to get them familiar with the play calls Quinn makes during camp. Although this may be seen as just another task in Oxnard, Micah Parsons seems comfortable with this. This is how the rookie let him see this Monday during a press conference.
“It really doesn’t say much.”Parsons said about Dan Quinn and having a streamer during camp. “It has been to call the plays and understand my role of telling the defense how we are going to run, how he wants us to line up, and what corrections we are going to make.”
#Cowboys LB Micah Parsons talked about having the green dot helmet:
“[Dan Quinn] don’t really say too much… It’s been for play-calling and understanding just me telling the defense what we’re going to run and how he wants to line up and what checks we’re going to make.”
— Mark Lane (@therealmarklane) August 10, 2021
But that is not all. In the regular season, the role of taking calls from the defensive coordinator falls to a single player. And the fact that Parsons is familiarizing himself with this makes him a potential candidate for the role of coordinating and organizing Dallas’ defense this year.
Considering this is Micah Parsons’ rookie year, this places a huge responsibility on the young linebacker. And not only that. This also speaks to the great confidence the coaching staff has in the Penn State product.
“You have a great responsibility because 11 guys have to be on the same page, and they all need to understand how we are going to run and what we are going to do.”Parsons told the media. “It is a great responsibility because if you fail, things can go very wrong”.
Micah Parsons, among other things, has proven to be a very perfectionist player. Despite that, the rookie knows that camp practice is where he still has room for error. Once the regular season begins, there is no room for mistakes.
“It is preferable to make mistakes now, because we will have to face the champions of the Super Bowl in week 1”said Micah on Monday. “That is a game where I would like not to be wrong.”
Cowboys LB Micah Parsons has consistently stood out in camp but said he’s glad to have another month to learn before Sept. 9 opener vs. Buccaneers. “Make those mistakes now because you’ve got the Super Bowl champs Week 1. That’s a game where I’d like to make no mistakes.” pic.twitter.com/ZxrR1TCTzb
– Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) August 9, 2021
Will Parsons have a good rookie year?
Of course, the expectations around Micah Parsons are very high, and his brief appearance in the Hall of Fame game last Thursday raised them. In two series against the Steelers, Parsons made a good impression with three tackles and a recovered fumble.
But that was not all. Parsons was, along with rookie linebacker Jabril Cox, one of the two highest-rated Dallas players against the Steelers, according to the statistics website Pro Football Focus (PFF). Although his performance was very short, this is a good start for both rookies in the NFL.
Rookie @MicahhParsons11 is a football magnet. Fumble recovery! @dallascowboys
????: @ProFootballHOF Game on FOX pic.twitter.com/MHOQDh1MlK
— NFL (@NFL) August 6, 2021
Micah Parsons & Jabril Cox were Dallas’ highest-graded players last night
Both rookies ⭐⭐ pic.twitter.com/FPlMOGwoyy
— PFF College (@PFF_College) August 6, 2021
This year Micah Parsons is not only expected to be a mainstay in Dallas’ defense, but also a versatile piece at Dan Quinn’s disposal. The defensive coordinator likes to have versatile players at his command, and Parsons will clearly be one of them this year. Recall that the rookie is not only projected to play as a middle linebacker, but also as a designated defensive end (or designated pass rusher).
Being a versatile, mobile gamer is something Parsons seems to be comfortable with. In fact, the rookie made a very interesting analogy with chess during a press conference, a game that is becoming a hobby for him due to the influence of receiver Amari Cooper.
Micah Parsons on being like a queen in chess: “You never want to be a rook, where u can only go straight or you can only go sideways. You want to be able to go diagonal. That’s what makes the queen so strong. I kinda want to be the queen of linebackers…but also a king in a way.”
– Jon Machota (jonmachota) August 9, 2021
“You want to be like the queen on the board”Micah Parsons said Monday in Oxnard. You never want to be the pawn, where you can only move to the front or to the sides. You want to be able to move diagonally. I think that’s what makes the queen so strong. I want to be like the ‘queen’ of linebackers, but also the king in a way. “
Without a doubt, Micah Parsons has the potential to become the “king” of linebackers, at least in Dallas. It remains to be seen if Dan Quinn makes the most of this rookie, and if he later becomes the leader of the western defense. It seems unlikely that Parsons will be the one to get Quinn’s calls in the regular season. But, with the confidence that there is about Parsons, this is something that cannot be completely ruled out.
