Ask any outside observer who is the most important piece to the Dallas Cowboys' dominant defense, Leighton Vander Esch probably doesn't come up first.
Or second.
Or probably even third or fourth.
But to the players in the Cowboys locker room—most notably Micah Parsons—Vander Esch's presence is vital to keeping things on track.
"He's the most important piece," Parsons told Todd Archer of ESPN. "That's one person I was super excited to have back. You talk about someone that knows and commands the defense inside out, making sure everyone is lined up, attention to detail.