A recent interview with Micah Parsons uncovered a lot about what he’s trying to create in Dallas. Parsons, the face of the Cowboys defense, revealed that he feels responsible for not lifting up the defense when needed. And how he plans to change that this season.
Growing in Leadership on the Defense with Micah Parsons
Where It Went Wrong Last Year
Parsons admitted that even though he had a stand-out year last season, it wasn’t enough. He made mistakes that possibly cost the Cowboys the win against the Green Bay Packers.
Instead of worrying about the entire defense, lifting up every single man on the team, Parsons was focused more so on his own game and how he could improve. This doesn’t seem problematic, and it didn’t to Parsons until teammates pulled him aside right at the end of the regular season. Here’s what that talk entailed.
“Honestly, it was a deep conversation we had last year right before playoffs. Guys were just like, ‘You have to bring us along with you. You can’t be on this journey alone. You’re Mr. All-Pro.’ And it was a reality check for me.”
The realization was so late in the season that Parsons didn’t have the ability to act on the words, but instead internalized them as a means for improvement.
Parsons Showing Little Changes Everywhere
Over the training camp, Parsons took second-year DT Mazi Smith under his wing. Smith had a tough first year, under stern criticism after being drafted in the first round last year. Parsons saw Smith as an opportunity for improvement and began pushing his potential.
Speaking highly of Smith, Parsons said that Smith “wants to get better” and is constantly seeking that feedback and a nod from Parsons.
But it isn’t just with Smith that Parsons has shown growth. Since the start of training camp, Parsons has been having morning meetings with Mike Zimmer, the new defensive coordinator. The meetings have been highly analytical, showing ways for the entire game to improve.
Instead of trying to gatekeep all of the knowledge, Parsons has been inviting other guys on the defense into the talks, as a way to bring all of his teammates up with him.
As Parsons says in the interview, “you’re only as good as the worst player on the team.” By ensuring that everyone learns precious diamonds from Zimmer, he solidifies the growth of the Cowboys defense as a whole.
Studying Greatness Creates Greatness for Parsons and the Cowboys
Along with studying film with Zimmer, Parsons listens to the advice of others, constantly taking in how other legends and greats of the game played.
When he first received criticism from his teammates about not bringing them on the journey with him, he went to his group of mentors. Parsons admits that he never had to take on this kind of task before and seemed open to learning from others.
“I’m trying to find every characteristic from the winning teams. What were y’all doing in practice that was clicking for y’all . . . you’ve got to find characteristics in the winning teams and ask ‘how can I bring this over to my team?’”
After studying greats like Andrew Whitworth, Richard Sherman, Ray Lewis, and Tom Brady, Parsons is putting the pieces together to be an incredible leader for this defense.
With the defense playing as well as they have been during preseason, it seems like all his hard work is already paying off.
Main Photo: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports
