The Landry Hat
Fansided

Why not the Dallas Cowboys in Houston for Super Bowl 51?

By Michael H. Vu

Oct 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (left) celebrates with cornerback Morris Claiborne (24) during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi
Oct 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (left) celebrates with cornerback Morris Claiborne (24) during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi /
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Fresh off a 5-1 start, the Dallas Cowboys have Cowboys Nation believing in a trip to Houston for Super Bowl 51. It’s time to bet it all on America’s Team.

Oct 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (left) celebrates with cornerback Morris Claiborne (24) during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi
Oct 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (left) celebrates with cornerback Morris Claiborne (24) during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi /

Prior to the 2014 season, I posted an article about how the Dallas Cowboys have turned the corner. Away from mediocrity. A reboot to new beginnings, to new adventures above the .500 landmark that has plagued the organization.

I wrote that this franchise was built to win championships. That’s plural. Championships.

People doubted my selection of words. Maybe even laughed at them.

Doubt those words now.

Entering the 2014 season, it was executive vice president and director of player personnel, Stephen Jones, who orchestrated a juggernaut offensive line. With the help of assistant director of player personnel Will McClay, the Cowboys have a scary offensive line for many years to come.

The Cowboys spent three premium first rounders on offensive lineman between 2011 and 2014. Dallas added La’el Collins to the mix in 2015, another first round rated talent.

2016 is turning out to be a sequel to 2014. The 2016 squad is what the 2015 group was supposed to become. Instead, the Boys finished out the season with a 4-12 mark.

But isn’t it funny: To become the Cowboys they are today they’d have to endure many storms in 2015, which eventually led the organization to grab a pair of rookies that would change the team’s DNA forever. 2015 wasn’t the be-all and end-all for the Cowboys’ 2014 existence — it turned out to be the bridge to the year 2016.

Ezekiel Elliott is loading up in the backfield, and threatening to eclipse the 2,000 yards rushing mark for the year. He is what DeMarco Murray was in 2014, only in this movie version the current running back has a longer and wider career in front of him. He turned 21 last July. His ceiling at this point is unidentifiable.

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