4 observations from Week 2 of Dallas Cowboys training camp
1. LB Micah Parsons & DL Osa Odighizuwa stepping up
In the mid-2000s, the Cowboys had leadership on defense led by pass rusher DeMarcus Ware and linebacker Bradie James. They were not just vocal leaders, but their play on the field reflected their attitude.
For the 2022 Dallas defense, there seems to be a renaissance of defensive leadership once again.
Second-year players Micah Parsons and Osa Odighizuwa switched to another gear when the pads came on. Parsons is already in mid-season form, running down plays with maximum effort.
Watch Micah Parsons close on Tony Pollard in a sprint down the sideline pic.twitter.com/EHp5WxwStc
— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) August 1, 2022
Odighizuwa is also looking to take a step forward after finishing the season as one of the best rookie defensive tackles. Both players can become cornerstone players for the Cowboys on defense and, in return, elevate the play of everyone around them.
The defense, as a whole, changed their tone and embodied their coach’s mentality. That is what fans saw last season under defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. Quinn got his squad to finish seventh best in the NFL, including a league-leading 34 takeaways. Parsons and Odighizuwa were significant factors in that change.
Fans should believe in the hype around the defense, Parsons, and Odighizuwa because the early feel from camp is that it can be special this season.
Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn working with DT Osa Odighizuwa during this weekend’s rookie minicamp
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) May 15, 2021
(Video: @dallascowboys) pic.twitter.com/iQiUkkvOYK
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