Micah Parsons’ comments on Marshawn Kneeland and what they mean
The Dallas Cowboys have been fortunate to have an abundance of edge rushers the past several seasons, but the injury to Sam Williams and the departures of Dante Fowler and Dorance Armstrong to the Washington Commanders are putting Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence’s depth behind them to the test. Marshawn Kneeland, a defensive end selected in the second round, will therefore be crucial to the Cowboys’ defensive success in 2024. Kneeland will need to adjust to the NFL quickly, provide some zip while rushing the passer from the outside, and be able to be a reliable stopper of the run, which is something the Cowboys sorely lack. This is according to new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. Parsons recently addressed the media in Oxnard, California, following a practice.
The perennial All-Pro not only tipped his hat to Kneeland, but he compared him to one of the best edge rushers in the league over the last decade.
“I think he’s a young Cam Jordan. He’s got that dog in him. He’s got unteachable characteristics.”
Jordan has spent his entire 13-year career with the New Orleans Saints, and he’s been a menace. He plays with power, which is something Kneeland gets praised for. They have almost identical arm lengths, and both can stop the run and be disruptive against the pass. Also, Jordan and Kneeland are high motor guys, so this is a pretty good comp by Parsons.
On Wednesday, the rookie had a media interview. Not only did he value Parsons’s nod, but he also brought up another crucial point. “Thank you so much for it. fantastic athlete. Great individual. Micah mentioned that he would like to watch some Cam Jordan footage with me. We will eventually get to that. It is wonderful to have someone like Micah talk so highly of me. If you’re Zimmer, this is precisely what you want to see. Parsons mentioned stepping up his voice and taking on additional leadership-related tasks over the summer. That’s well embodied in this. Kneeland could not be in a better position to learn from someone like Parsons how to translate what they are seeing on film into real life.
Having an All-Pro at his side while he learns is a huge benefit that Kneeland shouldn’t take for granted. With the addition of defensive end Jordan Phillips and edge rusher Carl Lawson, the Cowboys will surely make Parsons even more of a chess piece under Zimmer. Additionally, it implies that Kneeland has a great chance to play a significant part, particularly now that Sam Williams is out for the season. The expectations are beginning to rise for Kneeland because, to his credit, he has seized the opportunity and run with it in camp thus far. Zimmer complimented him profusely on his new tool and described a specific project he is working on. “Marshawn has excelled while at camp.
He’s working real hard on some of the pass rush stuff, because I don’t think he was as efficient in doing that. He’s been great against the run. He’s a worker and I think he’s going to continue to work.”
That’s what Kneeland needs. He’s got the power aspect. If he can get some pass rush stuff down like getting a plan to together if his initial move doesn’t work, Kneeland will be an even more well-rounded player early on, and with a significant workload ahead of him, that just gives him an even better chance to produce out of the gate this season.
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