A former third-round pick in 2020, Gallimore suffered a gruesome elbow injury in last year’s preseason that cost him all but five games and four starts in 2021, and his absence was keenly felt ahead of his return in mid-December – – the pride of Welland, Ont., instantly reminds everyone what he can do on the football field, shades of what could happen as early as the Cowboys’ regular season opener against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 11 at AT&T Stadium .
The 25-year-old is now 100 percent healthy and is starving to lead the way in defensive plays this season. Tasked with not only improving himself, but leading by example for new signings like rookie fifth-round pick John Ridgway and second-year talents like Osa Odighizuwa, Quinton Bohanna and Chauncey Golston, among others like former second-round pick Trysten Hill (who is coming off a key season), it feels more and more like the interior of the defensive front will go like Gallimore — both in production and as a field general.
Asked after the final non-padded practice at Cowboys camp if he was ready to potentially deliver the breakout season that eluded him a year ago, Gallimore smiled and was unequivocal in his response.
“Yes sir absolutely. Believe it,” he said. “The time is now. We have no intention of playing with him. We’re on our way to it.”
“You’re ready to set the world on fire, and now is the time to do it.”
If the Cowboys can stop the run consistently, from a yardage standpoint, then the edge rushers can make a splash against opposing quarterbacks. For perspective, the club improved on its defense the year before and ranked in the top-10 in rushing touchdowns allowed (13), a mark that was just four more than the league-leading New England Patriots in that category.
That said, their bend-but-don’t-break mentality has led to enough bending to make a yoga instructor blush — a group that ranks 16th in total rushing yards allowed (1,918) and 25th in total yards allowed on the ground (4.5 per carry).
It just won’t do, and especially if the Cowboys hope to keep the heat on a yet-to-be-determined offensive line group and a young receiving corps that’s also trying to figure itself out without the help of four-time Pro Bowler Amari Cooper or, at least early in the season, a veteran game-changer in Michael Gallup.
But as much as Gallimore will and must take a leadership role inside, his supporting cast must also quickly develop into the same game-changing force if they are to take the pressure off (no pun intended) Lawrence and the outside pass rushers. Watching the first week of practice, it’s impressive how Ridgway — essentially a road grader — has been able to move every big man put in front of him with ease, while both Odigizuwa and Bohana look a bit faster than they were in 2021. and without sacrificing physical mass or strength.
The latter could be said for Gallimore, who on more than one occasion unleashed a successful rotation as a defensive end in a three-man front, a hint of how versatile he can be and an early reminder of what defensive coordinator Dan Quinn expects from his assistants: ability to move between multiple positions; be it 0-tech/1-tech (nose tuck), 3-tech, 5-tech or further off center.
Ultimately, they all have to expect both the expected (their starting position) and the unexpected (game-time adaptations) and perform well in both circumstances if they want to be part of a defense that saw Quinn lead them from worst to first in many categories in his first year in Dallas.
It’s something Ridgway isn’t comfortable with.
“It does not matter for me. Whatever front they call, get comfortable,” the rookie said during minicamp, noting he was also asked to move during his college days at Arkansas. ” … It depends on what front we were in. If we were three or four. If we were four, I could play 3-technique, nose [or] shadow. When we were down three, I was 2-run.”
So for Ridgway, his first offseason with the Cowboys is mostly about perfecting technique and getting used to what he says is really the biggest difference at the professional level.
“[It’s] the speed because the NFL is go, go, go, go,” he added. “In college, you can make a few plays and catch your breath. But you’re going up against an All-Pro every day. So you can’t breathe at all.”
As for what the Cowboys need from their defensive interior in 2022 if they want to finally end the long Super Bowl drought that has caused fan hunger, no truer words have been said that they they absolutely cannot breathe except, at all.
It starts with, you guessed it: raining in Southern California. And while it’s still early, it looks like a storm front may be moving in as Gallmore’s prep turns into a bit of a rain dance in Oxnard.
Add Comment