The Dallas Cowboys have had their struggles along the interior of their defensive line for several years now. Dating back to 2018, when the Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Rams exposed a flaw in the system, the Cowboys have failed to shore up the middle of their defense despite making investments at the position. Dontari Poe, Gerald McCoy, and Trysten Hill were each brought in over the last year and a half to provide a solution to the problem that plagued the Cowboys defense. However, each of them left more questions in their wake.
It seems they may have found an answer in rookie third-round pick from the 2020 NFL Draft, Neville Gallimore.
Gallimore had a breakout day in the Dallas Cowboys loss to the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. There were snaps when he was downright dominant facing a Steelers interior offensive line that featured All-Pro Center Maukice Pouncey. The rookie defensive tackle finished with three tackles, a tackle for loss, and a quarterback hit.
He was disruptive and was a huge part of the solution that held a Pittsburgh Steelers running game that had been averaging 118 rushing yards per game and 4.1 yards per carry to just 46 yards and 2.6 yards per attempt on Sunday. Even when he wasn’t making the tackle, he was providing the interior push to allow others along the defensive line or in the linebacker corp to bring down the ball carrier.
It was a performance that provided a spark of optimism for the future at defensive tackle. Gallimore, who the Cowboys will pair with second-year defensive tackle Trysten Hill next year to provide a pretty nice tandem on the interior. Prior to his injury, Hill was arguably the team’s best interior defensive player.
Now with an extended look, Gallimore, who was considered a project player when taken in the 2020 NFL Draft, is proving that he can be a fixture in the Dallas Cowboys defensive front. His play on Sunday against a pretty good offensive line for the Steelers should serve as a springboard for his future in the NFL.
