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Dallas Cowboys: Realistic Expectation of Ezekiel Elliott

By Lauren Draper-Wood

May 6, 2016; Irving, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys number one draft pick Ezekiel Elliott (21) during rookie minicamp at Dallas Cowboys headquarters at Valley Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
May 6, 2016; Irving, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys number one draft pick Ezekiel Elliott (21) during rookie minicamp at Dallas Cowboys headquarters at Valley Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 3, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Washington Redskins cornerback Will Blackmon (41) and Dallas Cowboys running back Darren McFadden (20) during the game at AT&T Stadium. The Redskins defeat the Cowboys 34-23. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Washington Redskins cornerback Will Blackmon (41) and Dallas Cowboys running back Darren McFadden (20) during the game at AT&T Stadium. The Redskins defeat the Cowboys 34-23. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

1,000 Yard Cowboys

Many arguments against drafting Elliott focus on the fact the Cowboys had a 1,000-yard back already in Darren McFadden. Somewhat surprisingly, he’s only the fourth Cowboy to manage that feat in the past fifteen years.

  • 2015: Darren McFadden, 1089 yards, 3 touchdowns (4th overall rusher in NFL)
  • 2014: DeMarco Murray, 1845 yards, 13 touchdowns (1st overall rusher in NFL)
  • 2013: DeMarco Murray, 1121 yards, 10 touchdowns (10th overall rusher in NFL)
  • 2006: Julius Jones, 1084 yards, 4 touchdowns (17th overall rusher in NFL)
  • 2001: Emmitt Smith, 1021 yards, 3 touchdowns (15th overall rusher in NFL)

Perhaps the most interesting statistic as far as the Cowboys are concerned though, is that from their five Super Bowl wins, three times their running back was the league’s leading rusher. Even Tony Dorsett and Duane Thomas for the 1971 and 1977 championship runs were highly productive in league rankings.

  • 1995 – Emmitt Smith, 1773 yards, 25 touchdowns (1st overall rusher in NFL)
  • 1993 – Emmitt Smith, 1486 yards, 9 touchdowns (1st overall rusher in NFL)
  • 1992 – Emmitt Smith, 1713 yards, 18 touchdowns (1st overall rusher in NFL)
  • 1977 – Tony Dorsett, 1007 yards, 12 touchdowns (7th overall rusher in NFL)
  • 1971 – Duane Thomas, 793 yards, 11 touchdowns (11th overall rusher in NFL)

The point? That the Cowboys success has come when they’ve had a dominant rusher in the backfield.

Next: Elliott Expectations - Emmitt Smith

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