The 25-year-old is now 100 percent healthy and is starving to lead the way at defensive tackle this season. He is tasked with not only improving but also setting an example for new additions like fifth-round rookie John Ridgway and second-year talents like Osa Odighizuwa, Quinton Bohanna and Chauncey Golston, among others, as former second-round pick Trysten; Hill (entering a pivotal season), feels more and more like the interior of the defensive front is going the way Gallimore is going — both in production and as a field quarterback. Asked after the final incomplete practice of Cowboys camp if he’s ready to potentially deliver the season that eluded him a year ago, Gallimore smiled and was emphatic in his answer. “Yes sir, absolutely. Believe it,” he said. “The time is now. We’re not going to play around with this. We’re going to get to it.” “Ready to set the world on fire and it’s time to do it.” If the Cowboys can stop the run consistently, from a gain standpoint, tight ends can then pound opposing quarterbacks. For perspective, the club improved on defense from last year and ranked in the top-10 in touchdowns allowed (13), just four more than the New England Patriots in that category. That said, their bend-but-don’t-break mentality has resulted in enough bending to make a yoga teacher blush — ranking in the middle of the team at 16th in total rushing yards allowed (1,918) and 25th in total yards per permitted ground transfer (4.5 per transfer). That just won’t happen, and especially if the Cowboys hope to keep the heat off an offensive line group to be determined and a young receiving corps that’s also trying to figure itself out without the help of a four-time Pro Bowl. Amari Cooper or, at least to start the season, a veteran game changer in Michael Gallup. But as much as Gallimore wants and needs to take the lead inside, his supporting cast must also quickly develop into the same game-changing force if they are to take the pressure (no pun intended) off of Lawrence and the outside passers. Watching the first week of practice, it’s impressive how Ridgeway — essentially a road grader — was able to move any big man put in front of him with ease, while both Odighizuwa and Bohanna look a bit quicker than they were in 2021, and without sacrificing any physical mass or strength. The latter can also be said for Gallimore who, on more than one occasion, unleashed a successful spin move as a defensive end in a three-man front, a nod to how versatile he could be and an early reminder of defensive coordinator Dan O Quinn expects from his linemen: an ability to flex between multiple positions. whether it’s 0-tech/1-tech (nose tackle), 3-tech, 5-tech or more outside center. Bottom line, everyone needs to expect both the expected (their starting position) and the unexpected (game adjustments) and perform well at both if they want to be part of a defense that saw Quinn lead them from worse as a starter in multiple categories in his first year in Dallas. It’s something Ridgeway isn’t comfortable with. “It doesn’t matter to me. Whatever front they say, be more comfortable,” the rookie said during minicamp, noting he was also asked to move in his college days at Arkansas. ” … It depends on the front we were on. If we were on three down or four down. If we were four down, I could play 3-technique, nose [or] hue. “When we were on three downs, I was a 2-tech.” So for Ridgeway, his first offseason with the Cowboys is mostly about improving technique and acclimating to what he sees 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 play a few games and catch your breath. But you go against All-Pros every day. So you can’t hold your breath at all.” When it comes to what the Cowboys need from their defensive interior in 2022 if they want to finally end the long Super Bowl drought that has starved the entire public, no truer words have been said that they can’t take a breather. far, not at all. This one starts with, you guessed it: making it rain in Southern California. And while it’s still early, it looks like a storm front may be moving in as Gallmore’s prep becomes a bit of a rain dance in Oxnard.
