Reinforcements for the Dallas Cowboys defense are on the way. Defensive End DeMarcus Lawrence made his return on Thursday against the New Orleans Saints and looked like he never missed a beat with two tackles, two pass breakups, six pressures, and a near sack-fumble. When the Cowboys take on the Washington Football Team in Week 14, Lawrence will be joined by Defensive End Randy Gregory and Defensive Tackle Neville Gallimore, giving the defensive line a much-needed boost.
Gregory was having his best season in the NFL before he suffered a calf injury and landed on injured reserve just days before the Cowboys’ Week 10 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons. He’s amassed five sacks (led the team before his injury), two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and 12 quarterback hits in the seven games he’s played in.
With the aforementioned Lawrence back in the starting lineup, adding Gregory back in the mix gives the Cowboys two bonafide studs that can not only rush the passer but can defend the run. Gregory’s bend on the edge is the best on the Cowboys defense and the more havoc he causes getting pressure the more one-on-one opportunities Lawrence will get and vice versa. Also, Lawrence and Gregory creating double teams for opposing offensive lines will free up rookie Linebacker Micah Parsons who has 10 sacks in the first 12 games (7.5 in his last five games).
Gallimore suffered an elbow injury during the preseason and hasn’t played yet in 2021. He returned about a week ago and began his 21-day practice window, and with Brent Urban out for the season after having triceps surgery, Gallimore being a force on the interior with rookie Osa Odighizuwa and Trysten Hill will be vital for the Cowboys as they push for the playoffs.
The Cowboys have been atrocious against the run over their last seven games. They are giving up 133 yards per game on the ground over that span with each team hitting the 100-yard mark. Gallimore along with Odighizuwa and Hill need to get a great push on running plays to force them outside for Lawrence and Gregory as well as Parsons and the rest of the linebacker group to create negative results.
Gallimore being a force on passing downs will create more one-on-one chances for Lawrence and Gregory also seeing as teams will have to double team him and won’t be able to double them as often.
It’s playoff push time for the Cowboys and they have three NFC East games to close out the month of December. Getting Gregory and Gallimore back to bolster an already opportunistic Cowboys’ defense couldn’t have come at a better time.
