Veteran defensive finish DeMarcus Lawrence used to say he didn’t care about sacks so long as he felt he was being productive — till Micah Parsons led the Dallas Cowboys in that class en path to changing into the 2021 NFL Defensive Rookie of the 12 months.
"I let a rookie present me up final 12 months," Lawrence advised the Related Press. "Shout-out to my boy Micah. However restate my dominance. Let all people know that I’m coming, how I really feel, and the kind of respect I’m going to demand after I step on that subject."
Parsons, the previous Penn State star and No. 12 general choose within the 2021 draft, dazzled on the sphere final 12 months, main Dallas with 13 sacks, 20 tackles for loss and 30 QB hits.
The 23-year-old appreciates that his membership rookie report would possibly assist encourage Lawrence, who notched a career-best 14.5 sacks in 2017, however that does not imply he is planning on letting off the gasoline this upcoming season.
"I need D-Regulation to be who he's," Parsons mentioned. "I’m not taking that away from him. However sorry to inform him, he’s by no means getting that again. I need him to get all of the enjoyment that he probably can ... so he could be a 10-sack man, nice. But when 10 [is] the quantity, I’m going for 20."
Lawrence, 30, by no means had an opportunity to be as productive as Parsons in 2021. By the point Lawrence returned from a damaged foot that price him 10 video games, Parsons had yet another sack than DeMarcus Ware’s eight from 2005, which have been essentially the most for a Dallas rookie since sacks grew to become official in 1982.
Quickly after, Parsons grew to become the primary Cowboys rookie in franchise historical past to achieve 10 sacks, and simply the thirteenth linebacker in NFL historical past to take action as a rookie. These big-time stats led him to being each a Professional Bowler and first-team All-Professional choice — a rarity for any rookie.
In the meantime, Lawrence completed final season with three sacks in seven video games, leaving him in single digits for a 3rd consecutive season since signing a $105 million, five-year contract.
The necessity for each Lawrence and Parsons to supply might be even larger in 2022 with Randy Gregory signing with the Denver Broncos in free company. One factor is for positive, and that's that Lawrence has a milestone to chase.
"I believe him getting another person that challenges him and performs the identical manner as him on this protection might even spark the D-Regulation you noticed from manner again when," Parsons mentioned. "I’m simply excited. He has one thing in him that I don’t see many individuals have, and that’s only a canine."
Head coach Mike McCarthy is all for having a younger participant like Parsons assist Lawrence recapture these days.
"I believe that’s wholesome, and that’s actually a part of the competitors," McCarthy mentioned. "D-Regulation has received numerous pelts on the wall. And I believe as gamers transfer by means of their careers, they’re at all times searching for a solution to be challenged."
Reporting by the Related Press.
