Dallas Cowboys: Diggs and Parsons are the new defensive cornerstones

After last season’s disastrous 6-10 season, the Dallas Cowboys have renewed their winning ways and have finally given Cowboys Nation something to feel good about. Heading into this season, the most concerning issue for the Cowboys was their anemic defense, and the Cowboys wisely addressed that issue by drafting several defensive players.

But the beauty of going defense first is that the Dallas Cowboys drafted the best defensive player in the draft when they picked linebacker Micah Parsons in the first round. Even better, this is two years in a row that the Cowboys have hit the jackpot on an elite defensive player. The other player is rising star, Trevon Diggs, of course.

The Dallas Cowboys finally landed two defensive studs in Trevon Diggs and Micah Parsons, clearly the cornerstones for this defense.

With Diggs and Parsons already playing at a Pro Bowl level, the Cowboys have found two brand new defensive cornerstones for their franchise to build the defense around.

It’s been a very long time since the Dallas Cowboys have had two dynamic defensive players of this caliber playing at a championship level. You have to go back to the dynasty years of the 1990’s to find the same elite players. Just think of Hall of Famers Deion Sanders, Charles Haley, and Darren Woodson. That’s legitimately the last time this storied franchise had anything closely remotely to be dominant on defense.

Let’s take a look at the precious players the Dallas Cowboys have at their disposal and why they will be the difference makers for the defense.

Parsons, DROY candidate

To say the Cowboys got a steal in the draft is a major understatement. Dallas got not only one of the best players in the draft, but they received a talented and versatile player that can play two positions: linebacker and defensive end.

My Gawd!

Parsons is fast, quick, a  great tackler, has a high football IQ, can play two positions effectively, and has the closing speed like a lion. Ladies and gentleman that’s only a gift the Man in the sky can hand out

Through four games, Parsons already leads rookies in quarterback pressures with 17, has tallied 2.5 sacks, 17 combo tackles, 11 solo tackles, three TFL (tackle for loss), and seven quarterback seven hits. And against the Carolina Panthers, Parsons played in 99 percent  of the Dallas’ defensive snaps, a career-high for the budding superstar.

Parsons is so versatile that he played defensive end against the San Diego Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles because regular edge rushers Demarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory were out. Parsons did more than hold his own as he was crucial in making a game-saving touchdown against the Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, and chasing /harassing Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts throughout the game.

Understand that Parsons reeked havoc on two athletic signal callers playing defensive end. If you need more proof, go back and watch the film on how Parsons out ran Hurts on a RPO (Read Pass Option) and tackled Hurts out of bounds for no gain. As fast as Gregory and D-Law are, they don’t possess that type of speed.

So right now Parsons is fast, quick, a  great tackler, has a high football IQ, can play two positions effectively, and has the closing speed like a lion. Ladies and gentleman that’s only a gift the Man in the sky can hand out.

Parsons’ versatility is allowing defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to be creative and cause matchup issues for opposing offenses. I’m sure Herbert, Hurts, and Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold would agree.

Parsons has the potential to be like perennial Pro Bowler and like Chicago Bears defensive end Khalil Mack-who made the Pro Bowl as a linebacker and as a defensive end for the Oakland Raiders. That’s elite company baby.

Trevon Diggs, DPOY candidate

Diggs picked up where he left off in 2020 with stellar defensive back play and now leads league in interceptions with five. FIVE. Oh, and Diggs has shut down most of those receivers along the way, like Mike Evans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, DeVonta Smith of the Eagles, and held his own against  Chargers Keenan Allen.

Diggs is the first Dallas Cowboys player to ever record five interceptions in the first four games of an NFL season. That puts him in a category all by his lonesome and speaks volumes about Diggs’ talent because this historic franchise has featured a Hall of Famer named Deion Sanders, outstanding corners/safeties in Everson Walls, Dennis Thurman, Cliff Harris, Charlie Waters, Woodson, Kevin Smith, and too many more to name.

The last time Dallas had a corner of this magnitude in terms of collecting interceptions was with Sanders, and no I’m not comparing Diggs athletic ability to the ultra-talented Sanders ball-hawking abilities. Simply saying Dallas has a corner that knows how to get interceptions, and this trait will eventually force quarterbacks to stay away from Diggs side of the field. That’s a blessing  because now Dallas can put Diggs on the opposing team’s WR#2 and double team WR#1.

HELLO! Now let’s see how the rest of the NFC East deals with that scenario!

Just like with Parsons, Diggs allows Quinn to get even more creative and play chess with his defense because now  Quinn has a corner that is a threat to intercept a pass and take it to pay dirt. Having the ability to take away half the field or making a quarterback second guess a read is a win in itself.

Historically, the Dallas Cowboys have won Super Bowls when they had defensive cornerstones to match their offensive cornerstones. Diggs and Parsons are definitely the cornerstones on defense, lets hope that history repeats itself soon! BOOM!