With the Dallas Cowboys in disarray, it’s time for one of their players to step up and take control. The team has lost two key pieces to injury in recent weeks, which is why they need a new superstar to take over.
The Dallas Cowboys have had a rough start to the season. They were in a good position for a playoff spot, but they lost 2 of their last 3 games. Their offense has been struggling and is ranked 25th in points per game, while their defense has been struggling as well.
The Dallas Cowboys are off to a slow start this season.
Aside from the Week 1 defeat, the team has been hit by a plague of injuries and losses on both sides of the ball. Michael Gallup, a wide receiver, has been placed on injured reserve. La’el Collins, an offensive lineman, has been banned for the next five games. Recently, top pass-rusher Demarcus Lawrence suffered a serious foot injury and is likely to miss 6-8 weeks.
Although it is still early in the 2021 season, things in Dallas are rapidly spinning out of hand. The Cowboys’ highest-paid players will have to start playing better if they want to remain afloat over the next month or so.
Ezekiel Elliott must return to form for the Dallas Cowboys.
Demarcus Lawrence, the Cowboys’ top pass rusher, is gone for the rest of the season. During practicing, I shattered my foot. Lawrence and the Dallas D have had nothing but bad luck.
September 15, 2021 — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet)
Dak Prescott, the Cowboys’ quarterback, is at the top of the list of guys who need to step up. This, though, isn’t a new phenomenon. The success of this year’s Cowboys squad was always predicated on Prescott’s ability to return from a shoulder and ankle injuries. We all witnessed how sluggish their offense was without him last year, so Prescott’s performance is critical.
However, the quarterback position is far from the only one that matters for Dallas in the future. Prescott, in fact, looked excellent in the team’s Week 1 defeat, giving most people confidence in his abilities going forward.
A other, well-paid Cowboy, one who earned a huge six-year, $90 million deal before the 2019 season, merits a closer examination.
In almost a year, Ezekiel Elliott, the No. 4 overall selection in 2016, hasn’t looked like a superstar running back. With so many injuries and absences on the Dallas roster, the moment has come for him to turn the corner and start living up to his contract.
Zeke’s decline began in 2019.
I suppose I’m simply perplexed as to why Dallas is paying Ezekiel Elliot so much money….
September 10, 2021 — Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL)
Elliott was once regarded as one of the greatest, if not the best, running backs in the NFL. He exploded into the spotlight in his first season, running for 1,631 yards and 1,434 yards in 2018. Elliott led the NFL in yards per game for three consecutive seasons after making his debut, and he even exceeded 2,000 scrimmage yards in 2018.
He performed like a true superstar, prompting the Cowboys to pay him $90 million to keep him in town.
The honeymoon period for the two parties, however, was short-lived. Elliott’s average yards per game dropped from the mid 90s in 2016 to 84.8 in 2019, followed by a dismal 2020 season. He only rushed for 979 yards last season, averaging just four yards per carry. Elliott fumbled six times as well.
It’s a worrisome development for Elliott and the Cowboys, particularly when you consider how short a ground-and-pound RB’s shelf life is in today’s NFL. Elliott has an insane amount of wear on his tires, which is unusual for a running back to survive more than a few years. Since his debut, he’s racked up 1,424 carries in only 72 games.
Ezekiel Elliott needs to move on from his problems.
Tom Pennington/Getty Images/Ezekiel Elliott
Elliott looked like a 2019 version of himself during the Cowboys’ Week 1 defeat to Tampa Bay. He had 39 scrimmage yards on 13 total touches, which was abysmal to say the least. Many have said that the Cowboys should do a better job of giving Elliott the ball in the future. Against the Buccanneers, though, his general lack of pace and explosiveness offered them little incentive to do so.
While Elliott’s life will be made more difficult by the departure of La’el Collins, the highly compensated RB must find a way to produce good performances for the Cowboys once again. He’s an important part of their attack. Prescott will be put under an excessive amount of pressure and stress if he is unable to carry the offense week after week.
Elliott is unsure how he would handle such a dramatic change, but it is definitely necessary. Otherwise, the Cowboys will be in big danger.
Pro Football Reference provided all stats.
RELATED: Deion Sanders Takes Aim at Dallas Cowboys’ Chances of Making the Playoffs in 2021: ‘How in the World Do We Expect the Cowboys to Win the Super Bowl Every Year?’
The Dallas Cowboys have been in a downward spiral since their Super Bowl victory back in 2011. Injuries have decimated the team, and they need to find a way to get back on track. Reference: dallas cowboys roster.
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