For a second consecutive season, Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys will be learning a new defense.
The coaching change in Dallas pushed Mike Zimmer out after one season, with coach Brian Schottenheimer hiring former Chicago Bears coach Matt Eberflus as his new defensive coordinator.
For Parsons, who played his first three seasons under Dan Quinn, getting to know a third scheme is the most challenging part of the offseason overhaul.
"It's just learning a new system and getting another coach's adjustments to how I like to play, what I like to do… and implicate me," Parsons said last week, via the team's official website. "Obviously, it is challenging with a third [defensive coordinator] and [another change] is obviously not the greatest thing in the world but, I mean, that's part of being a pro. You've got to make adjustments."
Change came semi-slow last season, with Parsons netting one sack in his first four games under Zimmer. An injury then wiped out a quartet of tilts. Upon his return, however, Parsons dominated, generating 11 sacks in the final nine games. He also earned 49 QB pressures after returning, per PFF. Once Parsons was immersed into the scheme, there was no better defender in football down the stretch.
The key for Dallas in 2025 will be Eberflus unleashing Parsons from the jump. Things didn't go well in Chicago, but few should question Eberflus' ability to scheme a defense. Parsons can thrive in any system, so the transition for the star player is less of a concern than the defensive holes surrounding him in 2025.
Parsons noted that he hopes to add power to his game this offseason.
"I wanna get a little stronger," he said. "I get a little more powerful. There are some things that I wanna work on that I'm implementing into my offseason program. I always try to ask some new things, so I'm gonna try to bring back a little bit more power."
The first order of business for the Cowboys is inking Parsons to a long-term deal to ensure he's in Dallas well beyond the 2025 changes.
