Micah Parsons, the standout edge rusher for the Dallas Cowboys, has faced injuries for much of the 2024 season, a significant setback for a team that had Super Bowl aspirations last August. After finishing with a 12-5 record in 2023, the Cowboys aimed to improve in 2024, but they now find themselves missing the playoffs.
On the latest episode of his podcast, *The Edge*, Parsons and teammate Trevon Diggs expressed their frustration over the Cowboys’ sluggish start to the season, trying to identify the root of the team’s struggles. They seem to attribute part of the issue to new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer.
Parsons and Diggs long for their former defensive coordinator
Parsons and Diggs reflect on their former coordinator, Dan Quinn. In 2023, the Cowboys had one of the top defenses in the league, though they were ultimately exposed by the Green Bay Packers in the wild card round. This season, however, the Dallas defense has plummeted to one of the worst in the NFL, contributing to their bleak playoff outlook. Owner Jerry Jones has also faced criticism for not aggressively seeking to bolster the roster.
Currently, the Cowboys rank 31st in points allowed per game under Zimmer, who took over when Dan Quinn left to coach the Washington Commanders. Parsons and Diggs seem to long for Quinn, whose leadership has propelled Washington to the top of the NFC East.
“Confidence, that’s what Dan represents,” Parsons remarked. “People don’t realize how high the morale he had on our team. The spirit he gave the defense. The energy he kind of gave all the players. Shark week. Fight night. Showing us boxing clips. And I see it in that Commanders team now.”
Diggs echoed this sentiment, stating he would have “run through a wall” for Quinn and highlighting how the 6-2 Commanders are filled with players who play hard for each other, contrasting sharply with the current atmosphere in Dallas.
With the season’s end approaching and the margin for error narrowing, the Cowboys must begin accumulating victories, particularly against the Commanders and the Philadelphia Eagles. As their hopes in the NFC East dwindle, tensions within the team appear to be rising.
