Over the first four years of his career, you could pencil in Ezekiel Elliott for 1,300-1,400 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns each year. However, the 2020 season was his worst statistical output since entering the NFL. He failed to reach 1,000 yards for the first time in a full season and looked like a shell of what the football world had known him to be.
NFL.com Senior Analyst Gil Brandt, who spent 29 years as a scout for the Dallas Cowboys, recently put out a piece detailing nine players who he feels will bounce back from disappointing campaigns last season. Ranking fifth on his list was Elliott, and he went into detail about why he sees him getting back to form.
“Elliott’s disappointing 2020 season will hopefully serve as a wakeup call for someone whose first four pro seasons were brilliant. Elliott’s yards-per-game mark of 65.3 was the lowest of his career by almost 20 yards; he also fumbled a career-high six times and recorded eight games in which gained 60 yards or less, by far the most he’s ever had in a season. It can be argued that backup Tony Pollard was a more effective back by season’s end, and he definitely earned whatever increased playing time comes his way this season. That said, Elliott seems to be on the right track, apparently recommitting himself to being one of the league’s best ball carriers. Between that and the return to health of Dak Prescott, I expect a significant upturn in production from Elliott this year.”
Elliott won’t just have his right-hand man Prescott back but also the wall that is meant to block for him. Tyron Smith, Zack Martin, and La’el Collins missed 36 games combined in 2020 which led to 13 different lineups on the offensive line. That didn’t allow any continuity to develop and the unit struggled as a whole. Without Prescott to take attention away from Elliott coupled with inadequate play from the team’s backup quarterbacks, defenses have an easier time focusing on the two-time rushing champion.
The Cowboys are hoping that the injury bug doesn’t find it’s way to Dallas like it did last season. With all the requisite pieces around Elliott intact, the former first-round pick should have no problem eating up defenses like the days of old. Elliott averages 89.9 rushing yards per game for his career. If he hits that mark in 2021 over a 17-game span, which he’s more than capable of, he’ll reach the 1,500-yard mark.
Elliott has been working diligently this offseason to be in peak condition when once the Cowboys take on the defending Super Bowl champions the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 9 to kick off the 2021 season. He’s been seen in a multitude of videos working on his explosiveness and has even looked leaner than he has in the past.
Dallas has a three-headed monster at wide receiver with Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and CeeDee Lamb. There’s little doubt they’ll all have impactful seasons, but if the Cowboys want to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2018, Elliott will need to be a significant figure in their attack on offense.
