Micah Parsons offers fired-up response about Packers’ defense after being called out by media figure
Star edge rusher knows what he’s done and how the defense has performed over the past few games.
The Green Bay Packers have had a tough sequence, with two home losses to the Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles. But if there’s one area that does not deserve blame, that’s the defense. In the three losses the Packers have had this year, the unit has allowed 16 points or fewer.
Fox Sports analyst Colin Cowherd criticized Micah Parsons because of his run defense, though. And, well, Parsons himself said everything that needed to be said.
Micah Parsons knows how effective this defense has been
Saquon Barkley had only 60 yards in 22 rushing attempts — a 2.7 average. That evidently wasn’t the reason why the Packers lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 10-7. So Micah Parsons went on social media and shared his perception about Cowherd’s comments.
Parsons is not necessarily a great run defender, but he’s been more than fine for the Packers. He’s had an average 64.7 PFF run defense grade — and while that’s below Kingsley Enagbare (74.2), Rashan Gary (71.2), and Lukas Van Ness (68.3), it’s still pretty respectable. He’s not a star run defender, but he doesn’t need to be one.
Through 10 weeks in the NFL season, the Packers’ defense is seventh in rush EPA and 12th in rush success rate. It has actually been better against the run than against the pass — 16th in dropback EPA and 10th in dropback success rate.
Outside of one bad performance versus the Dallas Cowboys, where the defense gave up 40 points, the unit has been excellent this season — and individually, Micah Parsons has been exactly what the Packers hoped for when they traded for him back in August.
Colin Cowherd wants engagement, and he got it. But Micah Parsons is right to make things clear: If the Packers haven’t won these last few games, it’s not because of the defense.
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