Cowboys explain how they'll use Ezekiel Elliott

Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones describes how the team will use rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott to give opposing defensive coordinator’s headaches.

It’s no secret why the Dallas Cowboys drafted Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott with the fourth overall pick in the first round of last month’s 2016 NFL Draft.

Just two seasons ago, the Cowboys ran over it’s competition in the NFL posting a 12-4 record, going undefeated on the road during the regular season and posting it’s first playoff victory since 2009.

They did all of that on the shoulders of running back DeMarco Murray, who led the NFL in carries (392) and rushing yards (1,845) that season.

A renew commitment to the running game combined with a dominate offensive line was a winning formula in Dallas a mere two years ago. And it’s something the Cowboys want to replicate with Elliott now embedded in the backfield.

"“That’s exactly what we’re thinking,” Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones responded when asked by XEPRS-AM in San Diego about a return to power football via NFL.com. “Obviously run the football. The other thing, when you’ve got a veteran quarterback who is a big student of the game, he can certainly move Zeke around and get the right matchups. You put him there in the backfield, they’re going to have to respect the run. They can’t necessarily throw their nickel and dime packages in if he is in the backfield, knowing with our offensive line and what he can do as a runner, that can certainly change the game.”"

More from The Landry Hat

The Cowboys are hoping their offense can control the clock and dominate time of possession, thereby limiting their opponents offensive opportunities while simultaneously keeping Dallas’ suspect defense off-the-field. Again, it’s a formula that’s worked in the recent past.

In 2014, the Cowboys were ranked third in time of possession averaging 32:13 minutes per game according to TeamRankings.com. That ranking dropped to10th in 2015, with drastically different results in the win/loss column for Dallas.

It’s clear the Cowboys suffered without Murray in the backfield last season. Obviously, injuries to quarterback Tony Romo and wide receiver Dez Bryant didn’t aid the situation either. But now Dallas will attempt to catch lightning in a bottle once again with a running back that one draft expert considers to be a far superior player than DeMarco.

"“I think Ezekiel Elliott’s ceiling is higher than DeMarco Murray. I think he is a better running back,” NFL Network draft guru Mike Mayock told The Jim Rome Show last month. “And I think in addition to the run game he catches the football, and he’s the best pass protecting tailback in the draft. When you add it all up, I think he helps Tony Romo at age 36, and all of a sudden they look like the Dallas Cowboys of 2014 that were a 12-4 team.”"

The Cowboys gameplan in 2016 is simple: Run the ball. A commitment to those three little words pulled Dallas out of three straight seasons of 8-8 mediocrity and back into playoff relevance in 2014. The Cowboys are hoping it can do the same after their 4-12 debacle of a season last year.

Next: Cowboys Insider: I expect nothing out of Randy Gregory

Thank you for reading the above article. It’s our sincere hope you’ll visit our site often as we work really hard to provide Cowboys fans with fresh, daily content about their favorite team. Please feel free to take part in further discussions about this topic below in our comment section. All we ask is that each participant is respectful in both their responses and towards others. Thanks again and…Go Cowboys!

Home/Cowboys News

Cowboys explain how they’ll use Ezekiel Elliott

By Steven Mullenax | May 30, 2016

Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones describes how the team will use rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott to give opposing defensive coordinator’s headaches.

More from The Landry Hat