Micah at Minicamp: Cowboys Rookie 'Creating Havoc,' Learning From Tank, Chasing Zeke

This coaching staff seems intent on finding ways to help rookie Micah Parsons achieve a goal.

FRISCO - It is only fitting that rookie linebacker Micah Parsons served as a standout of this week's minicamp practices at The Star. For one thing, as the team's first-round NFL Draft pick, his sheer talents should provide him a showcase.

And for another? This coaching staff seems intent on finding ways to help him achieve a goal:

“Just creating havoc,” Parsons said. "Creating disruption, being able to create that excitement, momentum change, a chance to get the ball out and get it back to our explosive offense.”

Parsons was specifically talking about being able to line up as a defensive end, as the DPR (designated pass-rusher), and there were some spectacular moments there. He got a pass defensed in 7-on-7 work by knocking away one throw. Later, Parsons rushed off the right edge and so over-matched tackle Ty Nsekhe that the big man got twisted up and had to temporarily limp off the field.

That play would've been a sack. Havoc.

Said Parsons: “I was able to come free, use my speed to come off the edge and do what I do best. I would say it’s just another play and another down.”

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But for this particular defense, among the NFL's poorest last year? This sort of explosive promise is not just "another down.'' It has a chance to be something special - something Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence noticed on film.

“You pass-rush like that, rook?” Tank asked Micah.

"Yeah,'' Parsons responded. "I used to be a defensive end.”

This doesn't mean Lawrence "discovered'' this talent in Parsons; the Cowboys were already aware of the Penn State product's multiple skill set. But it does mean Lawrence is now spending extra time teaching the kid some of his moves.

👀👀 @MicahhParsons11 x @EzekielElliott pic.twitter.com/gRdPJpJZ88

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) June 9, 2021

If this works the way Dallas plans it, the 6-3, 245-pound Parsons will start at middle linebacker (flanked by Leighton Vander Esch at WILL, with Jaylon Smith in a lesser SAM role) and will work as a run-stuffer, as a speedster who drops into coverage (he has fun this week chasing around the "untouchable'' Ezekiel Elliott), and yes, maybe as a chess-piece pass-rusher in new coordinator Dan Quinn’s defensive scheme.

Otherwise said, in a word? "Havoc.''

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