3 realistic goals for Cowboys LB Micah Parsons this season
With Dallas Cowboys training camp underway, the 2022 football season is officially here. The Cowboys are looking to repeat as NFC East champions and second-year linebacker Micah Parsons will likely be a big reason for their success.
Not only is Parsons confident in his ability to perform in year two, but so is his head coach. Here’s what Mike McCarthy had to say in his pre-training camp press conference:
"“What you look from from the rookie class — we talk about it all the time — is taking that second-year jump. He’s lost a little weight, he’s had a really good offseason. Obviously, in Year 2, and how people look at him, and how they’ll have to game plan against him, we’ve had a whole year to implement the schemes around that and to make sure we’re giving him the opportunities he’s needing. … He’s definitely put himself in a position to take a big second-year jump … He’s definitely going to be a big part of our defensive success.”"
Parsons comes into his second season with high expectations. Dallas will need another great encore performance from No. 11 to have similar defensive success in 2022. So, how can the linebacker improve on an impressive first season? Here are some goals he can set.
Three goals Cowboys LB Micah Parsons should strive for in 2022
3. 25+ tackles for loss
In 2021, Parsons finished the season tied for third in the league with 20 tackles for loss. With the league leaders (T.J. Watt and Nick Bosa) beating him out by one for the league lead. This season the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year should take a step up in the tackles for loss category.
Here is every sack + tackle for loss by #Cowboys DE/LB Micah Parsons in 2021: pic.twitter.com/nGdABqVyWh
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) December 13, 2021
His speed and ability to shed blocks make it easy for him to spend all game in the opposing team’s backfield. Tackles for loss are huge for a defense because it allows them to make the offense play from behind the chains and force them into obvious passing downs. The Dallas defense had a ton of success on third downs last year. To be exact they were second in the league in opponent third down conversion rate allowing conversions on only 34.75% last year.
For the Cowboys’ defense to be successful in 2022, Parsons is going to have to perform at a high level once again. Achieving 25 tackles for loss will be difficult but it is within the realm of possibility based on what he did as a rookie.