Throughout its history, the Dallas Cowboys franchise has strongly preferred to utilize duos at the wide receiver position.
Football fans have witnessed some iconic playmakers in their time, such as Drew Pearson and Bob Hayes, Michael Irvin, and Alvin Harper, and Dez Bryant and Terrance Williams.
This season, we have the exciting pairing of CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup to look forward to.
While Gallup is on the list, it's worth noting that last season he had as many Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde moments as any player on the offense.
He was drafted from Colorado State University. Despite being a rookie, Gallup entered a challenging situation due to a group of underwhelming receivers.
Two weeks before the 2018 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys released Bryant citing irreconcilable differences, whatever that means.
Signing Allen Hurns and Deonte Thompson to pair with holdovers Williams, Cole Beasley, and Tavon Austin was a band-aid approach that wouldn't stick long.
The front office salvaged the season by parting ways with their 2019 first-round pick for Amari Cooper.
As we look towards 2023, it's great to see that Gallup has completely recovered on two fronts — firstly, from the turbulence of 2018 and, secondly, from his torn ACL.
He's looking outstanding physically and is excited to show off his skills to all his fans in Dallas again.
Michael Gallup has now had the appropriate time to recover
On January 2, 2022, Michael Gallup suffered a torn ACL. Fortunately, he had a successful surgery on February 10, 2022, to address the injury.
It remains to be seen if Jerry and his team provided any motivation for a quicker return to the field.
One day, the self-appointed general manager may divulge that information over a beverage of his choice.
Nevertheless, in August 2022, Gallup was already preparing for the upcoming season by running routes.
Yes, the date is correct, and your math is accurate. That was less than 6 months since the operation.
Michael Gallup on last year coming back from a torn ACL: “I was thinking too much. My knee was feeling sore and it was just different. I never really had it like that last year.”
And this year: “It's different. I feel springy again.”
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) May 17, 2023
I don't want to sound unappreciative, but upon reflection, it didn't really benefit anyone, particularly Michael to expedite his return.
His burst was not as intense as expected.
There needed to be more rapport with Quarterback Dak Prescott.
It typically takes athletes with torn ACLs around 9 to 12 months to recover and return to their sport.
Initially, he wasn't given the time needed, but now he'll have it. It has been 19 months since Michael was under the knife.
He should regain his explosive power and jumping ability, which he heavily relies on. Gallup will complement Lamb's skills perfectly, like the Ying to his yang.
With all the attention on CeeDee Lamb, Gallup will be free to shine
During the season, defensive coordinators dedicate their time to developing strategies that can restrict the effectiveness of NFL offenses.
When you're trying to stop the other team from making a big play, it's usually best to focus on keeping those wide receivers contained.
If you ask a wide receiver what an offense requires aside from a quarterback, they'd probably suggest adding another receiver.
Well, at least the smart ones would answer with that.
This is where CeeDee Lamb comes into play. He understands the importance of Gallup and what he brings to the table.
CeeDee Lamb on Michael Gallup's debut:
“Very eager. That's my brother I cannot wait… He's been as consistent as its gets (in practice) – He's ready.” https://t.co/fS91ryrcY1 #dallascowboys #cowboysnation @fishsports pic.twitter.com/5B7XqSIZXN
— Bri Amaranthus (@BriAmaranthus) September 29, 2022
With the attention focused on Lamb, Gallup now has free reign to showcase his skills and shine on the field.
Brandin Cooks will bring the speed element in the 3 wide-out sets for Dallas.
That alone will improve Michael Gallup's chances of facing a less challenging cornerback at the start of the season, potentially benefiting the team's overall performance.
The field of play will be wide open. Gallup can continue running his deep routes while adding to his repertoire.
Even better, slants and crossing routes will be there for the taking.
Having multiple guys who play the same position typically sounds like a negative. In this case, it will set Gallup up for success.
Dak Prescott gets his guy back
In 2021, Dak Prescott missed the special connection he shared with Gallup.
Although he attempted to replicate it with T.Y. Hilton the following year, it was different.
It's important to note that Gallup was present on the field but differed from the player that Prescott is used to working with.
The 2020 version of Michael Gallup is the player that Dak has been eagerly awaiting.
An improbable completion helped fuel the Cowboys' improbable comeback. This 38-yard connection from Dak Prescott to Michael Gallup was the NFL's third-unlikeliest completion in Week 2, per Next Gen Stats. A 17.7% chance of completion. Good protection. Ezekiel Elliott with chip. pic.twitter.com/Dx3IrVDJhm
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) September 22, 2020
Despite missing three games, Gallup received the third-highest number of targets at 74 by the end of the season.
Even with Amari Cooper and Dalton Schultz on the roster, there is proof that he was one of Dak's guys, even as the fourth option.
Cowboys Target Per Route Run % in seven games with CeeDee Lamb, Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and Dalton Schultz all available last year:
CeeDee Lamb 24.7%
Amari Cooper 18.6%
Dalton Schultz 17.4%
Michael Gallup 17.3%— John Daigle (@notJDaigle) June 5, 2022
Nonetheless, the quarterback made every effort to connect with his experienced receiver.
Once the trust is built between quarterback and receiver, it's hard to break as long as both players are physically at the top of their game.
Both individuals are present. Gallup is prepared to reintroduce himself to the football community and compensate for the unsatisfactory performance that is currently on his record.
