How Best to Use Micah Parsons Upon His Return?

[Fritz]

As you all know, I'm an amateur in terms of my knowledge of the game. I know just enough to be wrong most of the time. So I'd like to get your opinions on how to best use Micah Parsons once he returns.

It seemed to me that Halfley basically never blitzed, putting the entire load on Parsons to get pressure. The guy was getting double and triple-teamed constantly. Yes, Rashan Gary benefitted - got all his sacks before Parsons got hurt. And not a one afterward.

But that seemed to me to become stale and predictable, and QB's like Goff adapted by getting the ball out quickly, or jamming the ball down the Packers' throats ala the Carolina game. It was basically rush Micah from different parts of the field, let everyone else pretty much hang back, and cross your fingers. Even before Wyatt got hurt, the defense still seemed passive as far as the schemes Halfley used.

I wonder if you'd make more opportunities for Parsons and your defense if you blitzed a little more, bringing pressure in different ways, as Gannon has done so far in camp. That way, Parsons either gets triple-teamed less often or you get free blitzers to the QB. The response of course is for offenses to throw quick routes, get the ball out, or run screens.

My fear is that Gannon's going to be a crazy genius with his blitzing schemes in order to generate pressure while Parsons is out, but the minute he returns, it's back to Parsons and two or three other guys rushing and everyone else hanging back, and it'll get stale - again. Halfley's defenses, even when he had Parsons and Wyatt, were great, great, great in the first quarter - and then, well, we all saw how those last three quarters played out. And once Wyatt and Parsons were gone, Halfley stayed in his shell, it seemed.

So: what's the best way to use a generational pass rusher like Parsons? Put it all on him and play conservatively, or help him out with more blitzing?

[Joemailman]

I would move him around. One thing they did a few times last year was line him up right behind the NT and then the offense would have to guess which gap he would go for. Don't let teams settle into a routine against Parsons.

[texaspackerbacker]

Don't sell yourself short, Fritz. You, basically all of us can see what goes on in games and make just about as valid observations as the professionals, more so than the damn media pukes.

I like what I've heard about Gannon probably more than what Hafley did. Outsmart 'em, catch 'em by surprise, Let the system itself get some of the sacks. I also like what I hear about at least some of the personnel in the rotation, especially maybe Sorrell. If, as I hope and sorta predict, Gannon's D is very successful in the four or so weeks without Parsons, I'd say just pretty much do the same and plug him in where he can do the most good. That also should serve to work him in gradually and hopefully preserve good health,

If things are not going so well in the weeks without him, I'd still like to see something less vanilla/more creative than Hafley used.

You also have to factor in the questionable, probably mediocre Corner play which I would think would get picked on less with better pass rush pressure. It also ought to enable turning McKinney loose to have the success he had the year before last, Williams too.