Ezekiel Elliott will lead NFL in rushing yards again
By Nick Wright
After leading the NFL in rushing yards as a rookie, Cowboys’ superstar Ezekiel Elliott is primed to repeat the feat.
In the 2016 draft, the Cowboys ignored adding a much-needed defensive star with the fourth overall pick. Instead, they went for an offensive standout. Ezekiel Elliott proved to be one of the smartest draft selections Dallas has made in quite a while. In his rookie season, Elliott gained over 1,600 yards and found the end zone 15 times as he claimed the NFL rushing title in 2016.
Even with a rookie quarterback in Dak Prescott, and everyone knowing the Cowboys wanted to run the ball, Elliott continued to make plays. With his elite combination of speed, blocking, and pass-catching abilities, he proved the complete package. The Cowboys wanted to revive the formula that led them to a 12-4 record in 2014. That season, the team relied on power running behind a dominant front wall and DeMarco Murray. With their continued play up front and Elliott carrying the rock, they were able to do so.
With the key pieces all returning to Dallas’ offense, Elliott will again lead the NFL in rushing in 2017. He’s fallen into the perfect situation. A powerful and consistent offensive line, numerous offensive weapons, and a quarterback that demands respect. As long as the key players around him stay healthy, and he receives a solid number of touches, Elliott will continue to rack up yardage.
His patience as a runner have developed nicely as he’s adjusted to the NFL. His ability to read the defense and time his bursts behind Tyron Smith, Travis Fredrick, and Zack Martin make him uniquely tough to tackle. They deserve a great amount of credit for the Cowboys’ success and any future success on the ground.
On the outside, Dez Bryant forces defenses to stay honest and respect the passing game. By extension, Elliott sees lighter boxes and can continue to face the prospect of making only one man miss.
Lastly, Prescott has developed into an accurate passer with nice touch. He’s a natural leader and his ability to make big throws aids to Elliott’s game as well. Relating back to Bryant, defenses must respect Prescott’s ability to make throws and fool them on play fakes. An efficient and effective quarterback will always help the running back have more success.
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For these key reasons, Elliott will lead the NFL in rushing in 2017. He’s in a great offense that is a true run-first system, and is one of the only offenses to run the ball with efficiency.