3 critical observations from Cowboys' Week 1 win over the Browns
2. The Cowboys' RB room is a true committee
The Cowboys' running back room looked thin following Tony Pollard's departure to Tennessee. Expected to be led by Rico Dowdle and potentially Deuce Vaughn, Dallas brought back Ezekiel Elliott on a one-year deal and signed vet Dalvin Cook to the practice squad.
Week 1 was regarded as a tough matchup for the Cowboys' rushing attack as the Browns have one of the best front seven units in the league. With a rejuvenated Ezekiel Elliott, it was expected that Zeke and Dowdle would split the lion's share of snaps, with a sprinkle of Vaughn in on schemed-up plays.
In his first three years, Dowdle was utilized on special teams and as a power back to complement the speedy Pollard. Now, according to head coach Mike McCarthy, he is expected to take a more significant role in the offense thanks to his improvement as a runner and in pass-protection.
On Sunday, fans got a glimpse of how the running back usage will look throughout the season. Zeke did get most of the carries with 10 and the lone touchdown run, but Dowdle was not far behind with eight carries. CeeDee Lamb was sprinkled in with three carries, and Deuce Vaughn only got one carry.
While most of the carries were split, it's critical to note that it was Zeke who started the game and appeared to get most of the red zone snaps. How that changes week to week and if Dowdle slowly takes more of a role as the season goes on will be something to monitor.
The run game did not have a ton of success, but it was serviceable against a vaunted Browns defensive line. There were some flashes, like Zeke hurdling Denzel Ward on the first offensive play of the game, and Dowdle picking up blitzers to give Dak Prescott more time with the ball.
The improvement in pass-blocking is notable, as the passing game is the clear priority of the offense. However, we are curious to see how the run game plays against a weaker defense in New Orleans.
Regardless, expect the Cowboys backfield to be split based on the hot hand. So far, Zeke is that guy, but with a lot of wear and tear on his body, who knows how long he will last. Dowdle should see more snaps as the veteran gets worn down throughout the season.