Two Dallas Cowboys hungry to show up Giants counterparts

An ugly opening loss has the Dallas Cowboys seeking redemption. Two players have extra motivation to best their hyped Giants counterparts.

It didn’t take long for two eagerly anticipated player showdowns to arrive for the Dallas Cowboys. After a lackluster opening loss, two Cowboys players will have extra motivation to up their game and show hyped Giants counterparts who’s the boss.

New York’s prized 2018 draft picks (#2 and #34 overall) are coming to town on Sunday. Awaiting their arrival are a pair of the Cowboys own draft gems (#4 and #50).

EZEKIEL ELLIOTT VS SAQUON BARKLEY

In the 2016 draft, Ezekiel Elliott was hailed as the best running back since sliced bread and justifiably drafted 4th overall. On Sunday he’ll meet the new RB sensation many call his second coming or better, as Saquon Barkley‘s 2nd overall draft position might indicate.

The recent star Big Ten rushers are different style backs. Elliott is an elite, versatile runner with very good receiving skills. Barkley is a very skilled, yet less complete runner who has extraordinary receiving skills. Both are big, fast, and talented.

Whoever outperforms the other on a weekly basis depends on the style and strength of the defense each is facing. But this is a rivalry game where logic has no place. These two former 2015 college rivals will see this as a dogfight for bragging rights.

The last time they faced off was 2015’s match-up between Penn St. and Ohio St. The fireworks they unleashed were everything Sunday’s showdown hopes to be …

• Barkley: 26 carries,194 yards (7.5 avg)
• Elliott: 27 carries, 153 yards (5.7 avg), 1 TD ; 4 receptions, 21 yards

Barkley won the total yardage count by 20 yards. Elliott owned the points advantage 7-0. But more importantly, Zeke’s Buckeyes rolled to a 38-10 victory. Who will be the round two victor in the RB battle of hyped draft phenoms?

CONNOR WILLIAMS VS WILL HERNANDEZ

Immediately after the 2017 season in early draft speculation, Connor Williams was often predicted as a late first rounder while Will Hernandez lagged behind in the second.

As goes with draft preparation, player film was scrutinized and scouts attended all-star games, the NFL combine, and university pro days.

Eventually the massive (6’2, 327) guard from UTEP began to pass Williams on draft boards. The powerful mauler with a nasty streak was turning heads while Williams’ status was suffering from a down Senior season with lingering injury issues.

In the end, Hernandez (Pick 34) was selected 16 spots before Williams (Pick 50). Connor may have been overshadowed and slid in the draft, but he didn’t disappear. The rookie has started from day one in Dallas and continues to do so.

Both players had their hands full in Week 1 facing stout inside players of the Panthers and Jaguars. All four defensive tackles on those defenses have made Pro Bowls.

While the Cowboys and Giants have formidable DT’s, they’ll be a small step down from last week for the rookies. Only one All-Pro (Damon Harrison) will grace the field. And like the other DT’s, he’s a far less effective pass rusher than last week’s foes.

Which one really deserved higher 2018 draft priority? We shall see on Sunday.