How Can Ezekiel Elliott Have a Better Season in 2021?
Ezekiel Elliott's 2020 campaign did not go quite as planned. Honestly, what did for the Cowboys (or anyone for that matter) in 2020? Between debilitating injuries and defensive woes, Zeke's decline in play certainly wasn't the only hardship that Dallas had to deal with last season. After a year of thunderstorms, here are some rainbows […]
Ezekiel Elliott's 2020 campaign did not go quite as planned. Honestly, what did for the Cowboys (or anyone for that matter) in 2020? Between debilitating injuries and defensive woes, Zeke's decline in play certainly wasn't the only hardship that Dallas had to deal with last season. After a year of thunderstorms, here are some rainbows regarding the Cowboys' running back.
Offensive Line Is Returning Starters
The Cowboys often-idolized offensive line simply fell apart health-wise in 2020. By Week 6, La'el Collins, Joe Looney, Zack Martin, and Tyron Smith were all injured in some capacity. Accordingly, this thrusted a guy like rookie Tyler Biadasz and depth guys like Brandon Knight and Terence Steele into meaningful action. Dallas expects all of the big names on the line to be back and fully healthy entering 2021, so that'll be a huge boost for Zeke and the rest of the offense. Adding a couple of pro-bowl linemen and a good blocking tight end in Blake Jarwin back into the fold certainly can't hurt the rushing attack, right?
Dak Is (Hopefully) Back
Dallas will take care of Dak Prescott's contract one way or another this off-season. He could be franchise tagged and traded, but he certainly won't hit the market without Dallas getting something in return. Most have indicated that Dak will remain with the Cowboys, and that would certainly help to get Elliott back to his prior production. Fans and the team alike saw Zeke's statistical output dip this year, especially without Prescott. He only had two games with 100+ rushing yards for the year. Elliott also only averaged over 5 yards per carry in one game during the entire 2020 season. Injuries to his offensive line and Dak definitely were a cause of that. Additionally, defenses were not afraid to stack the box against Andy Dalton at quarterback. With Dak back under center, expect more running room for Zeke and the player I'm about to discuss.
Pollard Helps the Workload
That player is Tony Pollard. Now, you may be asking – how does more carries for Pollard help with Zeke's production? It would help immensely in wear and tear on Zeke. Plus, Pollard has shown some explosiveness and pass-catching ability out of the backfield that still presents a threat for defenses even while Elliott is off the field. Health is certainly the biggest factor because the offense has a very high ceiling, especially with Zeke at 100%. Also, the Cowboys have so many offensive starters returning from injuries, so they should be "in" a lot more games this season. Running the ball more often and as effectively as possible will help control the clock in those games. More of a balance between Elliott and Pollard will help them do that to the best of their abilities. Your clamoring for more touches for "Tony P" should come to fruition in 2021, Cowboys fans.
These are some of the factors that could help Ezekiel Elliott bounce back in 2021. The Cowboys need it from him at his price tag. Even the "doomiest and gloomiest" Dallas fans should be able to be at least somewhat excited for the Cowboys talent on offense for 2021 and beyond.
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Featured Image via USA TODAY-Sports
