The defending NFL rushing champion is back to run behind the best offensive line in the league again, as Ezekiel Elliott is set to rejoin the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas Eve against the Seahawks. Having served his six game suspension, Elliott played in the Cowboys’ first eight games of this season – totaling 783 rushing yards on 191 carries.
An average of just under 24 rushing attempts per game, there is no doubt the Cowboys are excited about adding Zeke back to an offense that is still leading a team in contention for an NFC playoff berth.
Much has been made about Elliott’s playing weight heading into these final two regular season games, as downtime spent in Mexico has the 2016 first round pick looking like he did at Ohio State. With this in mind, I decided to look at the film from Elliott’s early season contributions and highlight what the Cowboys are getting back on Sunday.
As I wrote about in my Sean’s Scout piece following this team’s win in Oakland last week, the Cowboys did not utilize both of their RBs in Alfred Morris and Rod Smith as effectively as they could have. Thus, the first thing the Cowboys are adding with Elliott is a dynamic player that combines the strengths of every back below him on the depth chart while adding his own special talents in a rare mix of physical traits.
Ezekiel Elliott was drafted to punish defenses on the second and third level, and if he has truly committed to playing with less weight that he did earlier in this season, the Cowboys’ running game is going to be as explosive as ever.
Running behind an offensive line that essentially grants any back a free pass to the second level, Elliott reads blocks in front of him with elite vision and quickness. In the above play against the Packers,watch as Elliott picks up speed to the outside and commits to his path up the field with Travis Frederick and Tyron Smith out in front.
The angle Elliott takes allows Smith to reach the only defender with a chance to limit the gain on this play, as Zeke uses his block to cut back to the sideline and finish the run.
Having a player that can break you for a big play on every snap completely changes a defense’s perspective, but one that can take the angle on all eleven guys and score is the definition of a “match up nightmare”.
Jonathan Cooper and La’el Collins’ blocks pave the path for Elliott to spring into the end zone here, but the burst he cuts through the hole with is enough to completely change the dynamic of this Dallas offense upon his return.
Alfred Morris and Rod Smith did a fine job in Ezekiel Elliott’s absence at keeping Dak Prescott ahead of the chains, but he still faced tough passing situations on later downs as Dez Bryant and Cole Beasley were routinely double covered.
Dez Bryant on Ezekiel Elliott returning and the impact it'll have on how teams defend Dez: "Double all you want, he's gonna rush for 350."
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) December 18, 2017
Now, a Cowboys passing game built around winning individual match ups can once again thrive off of using Zeke Elliott as a rusher, pass catcher, and blocker.
This play from all the way back in week one may not be the longest gain of Elliott’s season, but it was one of my favorite plays to see on film. With the Giants creating good penetration here, Elliott amazingly squares his shoulders to the sideline with the backside pursuit on him.
Still able to find his way out to the pulling blocks of Zack Martin and La’el Collins, Elliott’s patience and vision is rewarded as he extends the play through a small crease for a first down – delivering a big blow at the end of the run.
Paired with the expectation that Elliott will carry the ball with even more elusiveness moving forward, preparing for a Seahawks defense that was just shredded for 244 yards on the ground via the LA Rams, the Cowboys offense should quickly remind people in week 16 that they won 13 games with this same unit just last year.
Ground plays like these were simply missing in Dallas without Ezekiel Elliott, and a 3-3 record through the games they played without him is likely all Cowboys Nation could have asked for. It may have them in a precarious position for the playoffs, and two games of Zeke will surely do little to fill our appetite for Scott Linehan’s unit pouring on points, but ending the season with continuity on this side of the ball is so important.
Should the Cowboys sneak into the playoffs with a fresh and motivated Ezekiel Elliott? A season mired in controversy and disappointment could have the sweetest of endings thanks to this generational talent being given the early Christmas gift of fresh legs in must-win games.
For those that continue to bemoan and place blame at the feet of the loss of Elliot for our 3-3 record let me draw your attention to the loss of Sean Lee and Tyron Smith in those 3 losses. Against Atlanta we trailed 10-7 at the half, against Philly we trailed 9-7, and against the Chargers we trailed 3-0. In all cases their offenses made adjustments at halftime that our Lee-less defense could not handle and our offense was unable to play from behind because we did not have an offensive game plan to counter. Clearly Elliot is a special back and could have been a difference maker that perhaps could have overcome Smith’s absence those first two losses, but we have been unable, historically, to overcome Lee’s absence. Had Lee been healthy we would have been no worse than 4-2 in those games and we would be in the catbird sat instead of staring up at it. For this very reason LB should be a strong consideration in the first round and Roquan Smith should be on the radar!