Football is officially back for the Los Angeles Rams as they face the Dallas Cowboys in their preseason opener. While the Rams have had plenty of question marks involving Matthew Stafford’s status, it’s been more eventful for the Cowboys lately given the Micah Parsons situation.
Ahead of Saturday’s matchup, I spoke with David Halprin from Blogging The Boys, where he discussed Parsons, new head coach Brian Schottenheimer, and more.
Q – Let’s address the Micah Parsons-sized elephant in the room since the All-Pro announced a trade request on Aug. 1. How do you see this situation playing out?
A – The fact that we are even here is just ridiculous. Jerry Jones is being stubborn because he thought he had negotiated a deal directly with Micah Parsons, but when Micah said contact my agent to do the actual deal, Jerry decided he wasn’t going to do that. It is just absurd and another way that Jerry is hurting the franchise.
In the end, I think the Cowboys and Jerry will have to cave and give Parsons a deal, probably right before the season starts. They are not going to trade him, according to them, and they shouldn’t. And it is obvious that Parsons is the kind of guy who will hold this against management if he doesn’t get a new deal. A holdout at the start of the season might be in the cards, but in the end, I think the Cowboys give him a deal.
Q – With Mike McCarthy no longer on the sidelines after five seasons in Dallas, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer was promoted to head coach in January. What are your initial impressions of the Cowboys’ new lead man?
A – At first this was a disappointing hire. It felt like the Cowboys just settled. But honestly, listening to Schottenheimer talk about what he wants to do with the offense, and the way he is trying to change the culture has many Cowboys fans, including me, slightly impressed and a little hopeful.
He is talking, and showing in training camp, that the Cowboys will run a more modern offense with plenty of pre-snap motion, an effort to disguise run and pass plays so they look the same at the start, and putting the ball in the hands of playmakers in space. A lot of that was missing from the McCarthy years. He also shows full command of the team and players really are buying into what he is selling. So I am a little optimistic about what he is doing so far.
Q – Who are some rookies or young players that have stood out during training camp on offense? And what about defensively?
A – On offense, rookie running back Jaydon Blue has shown some of the speed and creativity that you need in offensive playmakers. He’s one to keep an eye on during the game to see if he can produce on a bigger stage. We’re also excited about rookie Tyler Booker at offensive guard; hopefully, he will help us resurrect the running game.
On defense, all eyes are on second-rounder Donovan Ezeiruaku. He has been unblockable at times as an edge rusher and has created havoc all training camp. Seeing him in live action is something we are all waiting for. Kaiir Elam is a younger player that we traded for and he has been very impressive at cornerback. He was a bust in Buffalo, but he might be resurrecting his career.
Q – With the Cowboys playing the Rams in their first preseason game, what are three things you’d like to see from the team Saturday?
A – 1) An ability to stop the run. The Cowboys’ defense has been awful at containing the running game in recent years, and it has really hurt them at times. They have to be better at that in 2025.
2) Discipline and fewer penalties. This team is constantly shooting themselves in the foot with some really dumb penalties and undisciplined play. It would be nice to see some of that cleaned up.
3) The play of the offensive tackles. The Cowboys interior line should be solid, but there are question marks at tackle, and starting LT Tyler Guyton is out for another month with injury. We need to see guys step up at that position.
Q – What are your realistic expectations for the Cowboys this season?
A – As long as Micah Parsons is playing for the team, getting back to the playoffs is a realistic expectation. The addition of George Pickens on offense has fundamentally changed that side of the ball. A healthy Dak Prescott with those weapons should be able to score. The defense is a bigger question, but the elements are in place to reach the playoffs. Doing anything after has always been the Cowboys’ problem.
