The Dallas Cowboys are two practices in to the 2021 season and all feels relatively good. In fact things feel somewhat optimistic, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. To be clear, it isn’t uncommon for defenses to look good to start camps as it takes some time for offenses to find their groove together (even ones like the Cowboys that know each other very well). Still, though, all of this is very good to see.
One of the things that has stood out through just two practices is how hands-on defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is. He is making a point to work one-on-one with Micah Parsons specifically at times, something that can go a long way getting the rookie ready for his first season.
While the rest of the team is still arriving for stretching, Dan Quinn and Micah Parsons are already hard at work on their own. #CowboysCamp pic.twitter.com/2QGL5jbvQO
— Kyle Youmans (@Kyle_Youmans) July 24, 2021
Parsons is a linebacker that is also going to rush the passer in the designated pass rusher role. When Dan Quinn met with the media on Friday, he noted how important it is to work with players who are playing multiple positions in these type of settings to make sure that all details are being interpreted and understood the way that they are supposed to.
We have all moved on from Mike Nolan and what he did (or rather didn’t) do for the Cowboys in 2020, and it is hard not to see how different something like this feels right off the bat. To be fair to Nolan his lone experience coordinating the Dallas defense came in the 2020 season which involved as minimal contact as there has ever been in the NFL, but ultimately it still does feel like Quinn is much more connected to his players.
Parsons opted out of the 2020 season for Penn State so it has been a very long time since he has had serious work on a daily basis. Given the wide variety of responsibilities that he is going to have from Day 1, it makes sense to give him a little bit more attention.
Something else that is surely helpful for Parsons is to go against the best in practice. He got to say hello to Tyron Smith on Saturday which was very cool to see.
Cowboys rookie Micah Parsons is again oscillating between work at LB and edge rusher. He started period as LB, working in 5-on-4 passing period, and then was summoned 30 yards away to rush against LT Tyron Smith. Then back to 5-on-4.
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) July 24, 2021
Pads don’t come on until Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/BY2dQBeJfg
We discussed all of the action from Saturday’s Dallas Cowboys practice, including Quinn working with Parsons and the rookie working against Smith, in our recap video on the Blogging The Boys YouTube Channel (complete with highlights from the day).
We will be doing these for every Dallas Cowboys practice and have big plans for the regular season so make sure to subscribe to our channel (which you can do right here) so you don’t miss any of our videos.