The Dallas Cowboys appear to have evolved from a run first offense to a more pass oriented philosophy. Despite that trend, one Dallas Cowboys running back, Ezekiel Elliott, remains one of if not the best player on the roster. Elliott is without a doubt the feature back but second year standout Tony Pollard emerged as a superb complimentary weapon in his rookie season last year. Beyond those two, there is an open competition for roster spots and value on special teams will likely determine which backs make the roster beyond Elliott and Pollard.
Elliott has been dominant ever since he was drafted 4th overall in 2016 but his yards per game has dipped steadily in each of his four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. In addition to that, he appears to have become less explosive as the years wear on and some feel as though his heavy workload is taking a toll. Elliott has led the league in carries during the last four seasons and has seen a substantial uptick in receptions the last two years. The overuse is cause for concern but his apparent decline in explosiveness may also simply be attributed to Elliott missing training camp last season and having to work his way into shape or a product of the offensive play calling. Elliott does appear to be in great shape heading into the 2020 season. He also has a new head coach with novel concepts and potentially more creative uses in the passing game. The combination of all these things could lead to more explosive plays for Zeke in 2020 and the silencing of some of his critics who feel he should not have received his lucrative contract extension last year.
I fully expect Elliott to be a more explosive back in 2020 but I also expect a lighter workload for the bell cow back. Jason Garrett was a proponent of getting Elliott the ball but the new coaching staff is likely to utilize Tony Pollard more. Keeping Zeke fresh in the regular season will pay dividends for the Dallas Cowboys if they do make the playoffs which increases their chances of making a deep playoff run. Pollard ran the ball extremely well last season but wasn’t used nearly enough in the passing game based on the expectation generated from his college production. Hopefully, this is one area that the coaching staff will look to improve upon from last season.
The last two seasons, the Dallas Cowboys running back position was very thin. Last year it was composed of Elliott, Pollard, and FB Jamize Olawale. Olawale opted out for 2020 and it is unclear whether or not the new coaching staff will look to carry a fullback on the roster at all. If they do, undrafted free agent Sewo Olonilua has an opportunity to make the team. As do Rico Dowdle and Darius Anderson, two more undrafted free agents. Those two are more traditional running backs Dowdle being more of a power back and Anderson more elusive. Regardless of their natural skill sets, any of the undrafted free agents that wish to make the roster as a Dallas Cowboys running back will have to show that they can contribute on special teams. The Dallas Cowboys will also bring back 2018 undrafted free agent Jordan Chunn to compete for a roster spot and he too would have to prove himself on special teams in order to make the team.
The Dallas Cowboys running back group is certainly a strength on the roster because Ezekiel Elliott is a very special player. The biggest things needed for this group to really excel are:
- Ezekiel Elliott must stay healthy.
- Tony Pollard must be utilized more, especially in the passing game.
- Significant special teams contribution from the depth pieces at the position.
Elliott has proven to be durable throughout his career and I fully expect the new coaching staff to prioritize the other two things. That said, I am confident and optimistic about the Dallas Cowboys running back position for 2020.
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All Data and statistics obtained and verified from https://www.pro-football-reference.com/