All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons has said he liked playing Madden with the Minnesota Vikings defense under coach Mike Zimmer, now his defensive coordinator with Dallas Cowboys.
And there has been a lot of talk about how Zimmer is going to use Parsons in Dallas, moving him all over the defensive line while also rushing him from the linebacker position.
After a ho-hum start to training camp as as the scheme was being installed, the Cowboys got a taste of the new Parsons project in Monday’s practice.
He repeatedly ran by left tackle Chuma Edoga for sacks on quarterback Dak Prescott.
After practice, Parsons told the Star-Telegram that is over for the Cowboys offense for the rest of camp.
“Yeah, it’s pretty much over and I’m in rhythm now,” Parsons said. “The first few days. I haven’t played in seven, eight months. I mean, I know my angles. I feel like I’m in week four right now. I’m in rhythm. There’s nothing they can do. They might as well start chipping, sliding, or it’s gonna be a long day here.”
“If they don’t chip, there will be a five, six sack day every day. It’s pretty much over. I’m gonna tell you that right now. This is this is what it’s gonna keep looking.”
Parsons said the difference for him is they were installing things and they were giving partial looks and doing normal down and distance.
Now the third down packages are in and he is doing his best to “take them to the deep waters” and “make the team better.”
There was a play in practice when Parsons had a would be sack of practice but they kept going.
“They said they’re just going to leave guys out there to see where they are because they got to see it,” Parsons said.
Another difference for Parsons is that he’s in shape now and fully adjusted to his lighter eight of 240 pounds after playing at 250 last season.
“I am in shape,” Parsons said. “The first day. I was [expletive] dog tired. But now my body’s adjusted to it. I was a little sore. That’s why I’m running in between practices. That’s for me.”
The Cowboys hope his domination will carry over to the regular season.
Parsons has made the All-Pro team in each of his three seasons in the league and finished in the top three in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting.
But he has struggled in the playoffs — along with there rest of the team.
He hopes to finish the job in 2024 as NFL DPOY and leading the Cowboys in a deep run in the playoffs.
Monday’s practice was just the beginning.