Storyline: When you lose your starting QB, then conventional wisdom says: “Oh, no!” Not in Dallas this year. Rookie Dak Prescott is playing brilliantly and Zeke Elliott, another rookie, is turning heads. Written by Luke Stapleton, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
The situation in Dallas is mindboggling.
Two rookies–that’s right, two rookies–are hogging sports headlines. Rookie phenom Dak Prescott is singlehandedly confining QB Tony Romo to the pages of obscurity, while rookie Ezekiel “Zeke” Elliot is on his way to having the best season in history for a rookie NFL running back.
Courtesy: WAOW.com
The mixture of Elliott, the NFL’s best offensive line, and the ever present talent of Dez Bryant on the outside–with Dak at the helm–has propelled the Cowboys back into the national spotlight.
But what’s most interesting is just how little debate there is about a topic that usually garners maniacal interest — a QB controversy. Elliot, instead, is getting most of the attention.
The prevailing thinking is that the Dallas O-line makes Elliott look better than he actually is. While there may be some truth to that, one can also argue that Elliot is doing as much for his linemen as they are doing for him.
But what’s new about that? Nothing, actually. The situation in Dallas this year is reminiscent of the same controversy that occurred there over 25 years ago when Emmitt Smith was gaining so many yards as rookie. (See Mark Morthier’s recent article for details.)
So what do statistics tell us about this year? First of all, Zeke is getting the most yards, before contact, than anyone else in the league. How many? He has more yards before first contact than the Jaguars have had in total rushing yardage, as a team, all season! Elliott also catches the ball well and pass protects like a veteran.
And while the Dallas O-line got RB Darren McFadden over 1000 yards last year, McFadden never changed the way his offense was run. Elliott is. McFadden also earned a negative grade from Pro Football Focus for yards he left out on the field. Not so with Zeke.
Last year the way to defend the ‘Boys was straightforward: stack the box, send extra blitzers, and double Bryant. Defenses don’t find it that easy this year. Elliott upsets gap alignments. That opens up the offense for Prescott to run read options, especially in the Red Zone where he has run for four touchdowns already this year. OC Scott Linehan is also able to call play-action passes that utilize Cole Beasley’s route-running abilities.
Russell Wilson hands off to Marshawn Lynch against the Vikings in the first half of an NFL football game, Nov. 2012 (photo, AP Photo/John Froschauer)
My take is this: Zeke makes the offense tick. The O-Line and Prescott’s production levels are boosted exponentially by his presence.
Have we seen this situation before? Yes. It’s curiously similar to what Russell Wilson did in his first two years as a Seahawk with Marshawn Lynch in the backfield. Teams were wary of Wilson’s deep ball, his running ability, and overall football IQ. Lynch was a devastating runner. The two, together, went all the way to a Super Bowl crown.
Can the Cowboys do this year what Seattle did then?
It’s hard to tell because the NFC is highly inconsistent this year. Both of the teams in last year’s championship game–Carolina and Arizona–are well out of the picture already.
What about other teams? Atlanta is scary good offensively with QB Matt Ryan and a cast of high-quality receivers in Mohammed Sanu, Julio Jones and Devonta Freeman. Seattle has the best secondary in the league and the Seahawks may be the toughest team to beat at home. Minnesota, which had been high flying, is now a question mark. The O-line can’t QB protect and OC Norv Turner just resigned his job.
Courtesy: Insider the Star
Dallas? It has a strong running game, an accurate short passing game, and clutch defensive play–despite the lack of a big-time pass rush. Even though Rolando McClain and Randy Gregory haven’t been able to get on the field because of suspensions, Morris Claiborne, Barry Church, and Sean Lee have stepped up.
All of that doesn’t mean the ‘Boys are locked into Houston in February. The fly in the ointment (the thing that could upset those plans_ is none other than owner-GM Jerry Jones. He could intervene to disrupt the momentum of his young team.
But no matter what happens this year, Elliott and Prescott should be backfield mates for years to come. They’re both good and Elliott may be great.
Great article Luke. Thanks for mentioning my name. You are 100% correct with what you said about a great running back contributing to better play by the offensive line. People always talk about how a great offensive line makes a running back better, but they never talk about how a great running back makes his offensive line play better. There is nothing that an offensive line likes better than to play smash mouth football, and they can’t do that without a great back like Zeke Elliot, or in years past, Emmitt Smith, to pound that rock. Thanks again! Mark C. Morthier