We're days away from finally getting a glimpse as to what the Dallas Cowboys plan to do with the running back room. The team lost Tony Pollard in free agency and to replace him, head coach Mike McCarthy has preached about the idea of using a committee instead of having a clear-cut No. 1. Going into the 2024 regular season, said committee is likely to feature Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott as the top dogs.
The latter has been quite controversial among fans as he's beloved by the fanbase, yet few can ignore the fact that Zeke has seen his play decline in the last few years. That includes a career low 3.5 yards per attempt in 2023, his second year under the 4-yard mark. It's been perceived as one of the biggest risks the team took on this year
Doubts are mounting for Elliott, who was given RB1 treatment in the preseason by being the only one who didn't play and was listed as the starter in the team's unofficial depth chart, which was approved by McCarthy.
Despite concerns from many about Elliott's seemingly gone explosiveness, All-Pro right guard Zack Martin is confident that the veteran will still contribute in a "huge" way.
“Oh absolutely, I think (Elliott) is going to be a huge part of what we do offensively and all those guys in the backfield," Martin told reporters on Thursday . "I'm really looking forward to seeing those guys run Rico, him, Deuce and then if Dalvin's number is called but Zeke's a big physical runner, he has been that way his entire career and I don't see that changing”
Specifically, Martin expects Elliott to be a legitimate force in short-yardage situations, where the Cowboys could've been much better in 2023, pointing out that defenders don't even want to tackle Zeke on the field.
"Oh yeah, that's his bread and butter, right?," Martin added. "It's short yardage situations from the moment he got here, guys don't want to tackle him over and over again so that's definitely an edge that we get back here with him”
Martin is firmly bullish on his teammate mostly due to his well-known physicality. Elliott will need to show he's got some burst left in him, having been one of the least explosive backs in 2024 with the New England Patriots.
Asked if he had a different mindset now that's he's not expected to be the workhorse RB1 he was earlier in his career, Elliott claimed he's always had the mindset of doing whatever the team needs him to do.
"I feel like I've always had that mindset so I don't think it's really a change from anything," Elliott told reporters . "Since I've been here, whatever the team needs me to do, I'll go out there and do it and I think I've done that, I mean I love football, I love this game, every time I get a chance to strap it up I'm going to go give my best."
Related: 10 Cowboys predictions for the 2024 NFL season: Three-year starter goes crazy on contract year
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