Micah Parsons' Cowboys Position Change? Coach Dan Quinn Reveals Truth
FRISCO - Dallas Cowboys star "Lion-backer'' Micah Parsons is in the process of shifting his positional focus for 2023 from being a do-it-all standout to being more of a pass-rusher ... and with that change inside The Star comes a changes when it comes to the oddsmakers.
But there has been a misunderstanding along the way, as we’ve trying to explain. And now coordinator Dan Quinn is helping with the clarity.
Parsons, who has played a pass-rushing role in Dallas his first two pro seasons despite being labeled a "linebacker,'' revealed on Wednesday that he is currently in the process of training to become a full-time defensive end. … or, at least, that’s how one media outlet interpreted his comments.
But we’ve used the word “subtle” when it comes to the “change.”
It will mark a change in where he gets some of his snaps, and it will mark a (subtle) change in how much weight he carries, maybe up to 255 pounds rather than being around 250.
And it'll also mark a change in how likely he might be to finally, after coming so close in his first two NFL seasons, to win the league's top defensive honor.
Now that this “news” has gone public, Parsons is suddenly the odds-on favorite to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2023. He's at +600, followed by Browns star Myles Garrett (+650), 49ers star Nick Bosa (+900) and Steelers standout TJ Watt (+1000).
The full odds can be seen here on the field, featuring Parsons, who won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2021. Dallas' first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft has racked up 26.5 sacks in his first two seasons while playing linebacker and some defensive end and ... well, pretty much everywhere.
But now? Under the supervision of coordinator Dan Quinn, if Micah really closes in on being a "full-time'' EDGE, or anything close to "full-time,'' those sack totals figure to rise. ...
And therefore, following the position change, so do Micah Parsons' odds of winning DPOY.
Except … this weekend, Quinn is offering clarity as to this supposed change.
“He’s a pass-rushing linebacker,” Quinn said, emphasizing that Micah is NOT making a “full-time” move. “If you ever need (info on) position changes, come to me. What I think he was probably trying to say is, ‘I’m really emphasizing some pass rush into my offseason.’”
That can still change sack totals. And odds. But as we’ve said all along … Micah is still going to be Micah.
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