Dallas Cowboys second-year Wide Receiver Michael Gallup had a pretty solid rookie season in 2018, but it’s looking as if it could be nothing compared to what’s in store for him in 2019.
The Dallas Cowboys first-team offense has only played a handful of snaps in each of the first two preseason games, but WR Michael Gallup’s play has stood out in both games. With Amari Cooper still sitting out with a foot injury, Gallup has climbed the depth chart and become the Cowboys No. 1 receiver in the meantime. Surprisingly, he doesn’t look out of place.
In Week 1 against the 49ers Gallup caught two passes for 19 yards and in Week 2 against the Rams he had one reception for 31 yards. A combined three receptions for 40 yards isn’t all that impressive on the stat sheet, but it is if you take into account the entire first-team unit didn’t play more than 10 offensive snaps in either game.
Michael Gallup has proven to me he’s more than capable of picking up the slack as the Cowboys WR1 thus far with his preseason play. Quarterback Dak Prescott also has made it pretty obvious Gallup is his “go to” receiver in the passing game right now and the chemistry they are showing on the field is much improved from a season ago.
You may have forgotten, but Prescott and Gallup failed to hook up on a handful of potentially big plays last season. Those failed connections would’ve likely added a couple hundred receiving yards to his 507 total yards from 2018 and quite possibly a few more touchdowns as well. That was then though and this is now.
Both Prescott and Gallup have had an entire offseason to improve both individually and as more of a cohesive unit. As a result, we are seeing a much improved chemistry between the two and it’s already paying off on the field. Now No. 13 is looking like WR1 material, which when added with Amari Cooper gives the Cowboys two such receivers.
How exciting is that!? For the Dallas Cowboys and Dak Prescott to have two receivers capable of being the “go to” guy is a luxury any team or QB would love to have at their disposal. To have someone with that kind of talent available if one of the other had to miss any amount of time due to an injury is invaluable. But, to have both of them on the field at the same time is almost unfair.
Opposing defenses around the league will have to pick their poison as to who they want to try to limit the most in the Cowboys passing game. If they try to limit Cooper that opens up things for Gallup and vice versa. Then throw in Randall Cobb and Dallas has a pretty formidable WR trio that should give them the advantage over just about any secondary in the NFL.
I don’t know about you, but I’m really excited to see what Michael Gallup is going to do in 2019. Personally, I think he’s going to have a breakout season.
