Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons harbors a strong desire to emulate Pro Football Hall of Famers Lawrence Taylor and Derrick Brooks. With two First-Team All-Pro accolades in his first two seasons in the league, he has showcased his unwavering commitment to achieving this goal.
Beyond his personal aspirations, Micah has made a significant contribution to the Cowboys’ impressive victories this season. One of the Cowboys’ most notable triumphs occurred recently against the New York Jets. Following the game, Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett made a peculiar statement regarding the team’s game plan against Parsons, as the Jets failed to contain the Cowboys’ seasoned linebacker and secure a victory.
Jets OC talks on LB Micah Parson
Both the Jets and the Cowboys entered AT&T Stadium with victories in their season-opening games. While the Cowboys had a clear advantage in both their offense and defense, the Jets were anticipated to provide stiff competition. However, the Jets’ offensive lineup failed to meet those expectations, allowing the Cowboys to exploit the superpower of Micah Parsons and hand the Jets a 30-10 defeat.
Hackett acknowledged that they didn’t focus much on Micah Parsons when executing their game plan against the Cowboys, and he attributed the loss entirely to their game plan after the match. Surprisingly, the Jets seemed unaware of Micah’s speed, despite his impressive 4.39-second 40-yard dash at his Pro Day and his victory in a race against Tyreek Hill, Trevon Diggs, and Nick Chubb at the 2022 Pro Bowl.
“We even underestimated his speed on the quick game. He is spectacular, and somebody you have to look back and say, ‘Can you even do that?’ We looked back at the tape, corrected it, and saw how we can help ourselves out.”
However, Hackett’s honest admission collected a pile of backlashes for the OC following his statement.
“I mean, how can you underestimate arguably the best defensive player in the league.. and then admit it?” one comment read.
Nathaniel’s failure with the Denver Broncos led him to be fired from the team before joining the Jets. hence, many fans also raised eyebrows at his coaching style for ignoring the Cowboy’s best weapon to destroy the Jet’s offense.
“Pretty amazing this guy has a job in football still,” another fan commented.
On Sunday, September 24, the Cowboys will take on the Arizona Cardinals in a match that is part of the NFL’s Week 3 schedule with the goal of going 3-0.
Micah Parsons’ performance in Jets vs. Cowboys
Following Aaron Rodger’s season-ending injury, the Jet’s offensive lineup was in question as the offensive lineup was largely dependent on inexperienced Zach Wilson. In this aspect, the Cowboys felt confident in their ability to use their big-bodied Parson to put pressure on the Jets’ offensive line.
However, the Cowboys’ strategy worked out because Parson was sufficient to swarm the Jets’ whole offensive line. Micah ended with two sacks, six quarterback pressures, and three tackles for loss thanks to his outstanding defensive play. In addition, he recovered a fumble and forced one on Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook.
Based on his overall performance in the two games, he’s already a frontrunner for the MVP award this season. He currently leads the league in quarterback pressure rate among players who have rushed the passer at least 40 times, with a remarkable rate of 21.8% in just two games this season. Parsons recognizes his own value, as he expressed his desire in a post-game interview not only to be named the Defensive Player of the Year but to be recognized as the “best player in the NFL.”
“When I talk about Defensive Player of the Year, I don’t look at the subject of the award. I look at the subject and say ‘I want to be the best player in the NFL.’ So whatever comes with that, I don’t think just qualify myself as just a defensive player. I think I’m a most valuable player.”
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