As the preseason concludes on a high note, Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Mike McCarthy has seen different position groups mold right before his eyes.
They’ve added talent, upgraded personnel, and continued to develop players that will significantly impact this season.
To some degree, McCarthy could be experiencing a case of Deja vu. His wide receiver position group looks eerily similar to the unit that helped him and Aaron Rodgers reach the football pinnacle all those years ago.
This sports piece isn’t a declaration for Dallas to toss the ball all over the field – not in the slightest.
However, Green Bay had a very efficient offense in 2010.
Our wideouts stack well against them and can produce that same efficiency level.
CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup give me Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson vibes
Greg Jennings never garnered the same hype as other receivers in his era. He was never considered the top wideout during his career.
Mostly, that distinction belonged to either Andre or Calvin Johnson during that time.
However, he was an effective receiver and one that Aaron Rodgers could trust in the big moments.
In 2010, he had 125 targets, snagged 76 receptions for 1265 yards, and, more importantly, 12 touchdowns.
That’s what I envision for CeeDee Lamb. He is Dak Prescott’s safety blanket, and we all see why.
#Cowboys CeeDee Lamb is set to elevate his performance even more this season, leaving even Jaire Alexander of the Green Bay Packers unable to restrain him last season. Neither the Eagles nor the Giants had a solution to counter his impact last season. Look out for CeeDee Lamb… pic.twitter.com/4o5StsTiyV
— Law Nation Sports (@LawsNation) August 23, 2023
I couldn’t care less about Lamb leading the league in yardage or receptions.
The touchdowns do it for me, and he is clearly in the stratosphere of Greg, if not higher, at this point in his career.
CeeDee is only 24 years old, and Jennings was already 27 when he logged those stats.
I believe Lamb still has another level to get to, but the point I’m making is he is the Greg Jennings of this offense during their Super Bowl run.
Michael Gallup is ready to regain his stride in 2023
Who would I consider as Jordy Nelson if Lamb is the Jennings in this position group? Short answer: It would be Michael Gallup.
In Green Bay’s succession plan, Jordy had begun his elevation above Donald Driver or at least was in the process of becoming the man. He was in his third season, and everyone knew he would be different.
Regardless of the pecking order, he, Jennings, Donald Driver, and James Jones were a heck of a foursome.
From a play standpoint, I love that Gallup and Nelson could deceptively take the top off a defense. Neither was the Tyreek Hill type of speed threat, but somehow, they got behind their defenders.
Surprisingly enough, Michael Gallup’s yards per catch for his career thus far has been 14.3. For Nelson, it was 14.0.
When healthy, both guys forced the other team to play honestly. You could double their partners in crime, but they would make you pay.
Let’s be honest: Gallup will probably never reach the ceiling that Nelson touched, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
This group is in an excellent position for Dallas because the expectations around Gallup will be to carry the third receiver spot with the potential to be the number two.
That’s a great asset to have and one that Green Bay had in 2010.
Brandin Cooks isn’t quite long in the tooth as Donald Driver was in 2011
This comparison is a bit different, but hang in there with me.
Brandin Cooks was a receiver Dallas desperately wanted to trade for last year. Houston decided to play hardball, and it eventually backfired on them.
Now, Cooks is a member of America’s team and the elder statesman for this position group. That’s a funny statement, considering the guy will only be 30 years old when the season starts.
Nevertheless, he and Donald Driver represent the veteran, a teacher, but a guy who can still produce.
In 2010, Driver gave the team 51 receptions, 565 receiving yards, and four touchdowns as the third option.
Nowadays, Cooks can put up much more than that, but it’ll be more about situational effectiveness than numbers.
If you remember anything about Green Bay, you’d remember how many clutch grabs Driver came down with. That’s what we needed from Brandin Cooks last year, and we’ll finally get it now.
Doesn't matter what team he's on, Brandin Cooks gets it done. 🏹 pic.twitter.com/MdKO2HdyoN
— NFL (@NFL) August 27, 2023
Late in his career, Driver played quite a bit of slot receiver, but it wasn’t exclusive. Last year, Cooks spent about 75% of the time lined up wide and 25% in the slot.
So, he’ll be able to give this team that variety in the same fashion but with an added bonus of the speed element.
Jalen Tolbert gives the team a young gun for the now and future
McCarthy and that Green Bay team in 2010 ended with a 10 and 6 regular season record. They got hot at the right time and blazed their way to glory.
Dallas has learned their lesson and improved their receiving personnel. Now, their top three receivers are as formidable as any team in the NFL.
For the Packers in 2010, they were much more than a three-person band. They had depth and young talent.
James Jones was the fourth man in the receiver totem pole.
For Jones, he was slowly but surely taking snaps away from Driver, which ultimately became a sticking point in 2012.
Regardless, in that Super Bowl year, he grabbed 50 catches for 679 yards and five touchdowns. If McCarthy knows what is good for him, he’ll employ the same plan for Jalen Tolbert.
Get the kid on the field as part of the game plan rather than waiting for someone to get injured. He doesn’t have to match Jones’ stats, but he should be allowed to carry that momentum he has built up in the preseason into the bright lights.
Cowboys 2nd-year WR Jalen Tolbert putting the skillset on display 🔥 @Jalen8Tolbert
📺: #DALvsSEA on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/L9mPiySmuK pic.twitter.com/gX5IzNuFsT— NFL (@NFL) August 20, 2023
As long as Tolbert continues to ascend when the regular season begins, Dallas could be looking at its future running mate with Gallup and Lamb, similar to how Jones pushed Driver out the backdoor.
Like it is not, McCarthy has inherited and put together talent in this group similar to the one he had in Green Bay.
They eventually won the Super Bowl that year, the ultimate comparison this team wants.
