Ezekiel Elliott went into the 2021 NFL period balancing 19.9 lugs per game throughout his five-year NFL occupation. He twice led the league in total hurrying efforts as well as rushing lawns, as well as in each of his very first 3 seasons, he led the league in hurrying lawns per game.
That stated, Elliott’s statistics through two weeks in 2021 have raised some eyebrows. The Cowboys’ star has averaged just 13.5 carries per video game, as well as he has actually delivered snaps to his teammate Tony Pollard.
Taking into consideration that Elliott is going into the first season of a six-year, $90 million extension he authorized with the Cowboys back in 2019, the timing of his decrease in contact is getting examination. However, Elliott chuckled off criticism of Dallas’ use of him with 2 games.
“You hear it, yet what truly matters is what’s taking place in this building. They’re not the ones authorizing the checks, they’re not the ones sending out the cables, so I do not believe it matters,” Elliott said with a laugh Thursday, per.Elliott is right,
however why have his touches lowered so greatly? And also exists a course for Pollard to overtake him in a bigger function? Right here’s whatever you require to understand about the Cowboys’backfield via two weeks of the 2021 NFL season.Why Ezekiel Elliott as well as Tony Pollard are dividing lugs Elliott and Pollard sharing touches as well as playing time is all part of the Cowboys
‘backfield plan, as Elliott clarified. The group wishes to keep both gamers “fresh “, and Elliott doesn’t appear to mind the little added remainder.”We feed off each various other. We maintain each other fresh, “Elliott claimed, per.”We want to see the very best in each other.
We do whatever we can to push each various other, to test each other, to make each other far better, perhaps if there’s something I can help him that’s mosting likely to help his video game or something he can help me that’s going to aid my game. We just press each to end up being much better players.”That freshness must aid Elliott. He revealed some indications of decreasing last season, as he taped a career-low 4.0 lawns per carry and 6.5 backyards per function. Several of that resulted from the Cowboys ‘abysmal quarterback situation after Dak Prescott’s injury, but even when Prescott was healthy and balanced, Elliott was balancing simply 4.1 backyards per carry.So much in 2021, Elliott has averaged just 3.9 lawns per carry, yet that consists of a video game against the Buccaneers’fourth-ranked run defense.
In a bigger example size, that number must improve.Elliott additionally recognized that his downhill style is various than Pollard, that he described as “much faster” and also “tricky.”As such, mixing them up helps the Cowboys
‘offense give opposing defenses various looks.”I assume it aids a lot simply since we have different run designs, “Elliott stated.”We’re mosting likely to run various runs differently and the protection is mosting likely to need to fit
those runs in a different way. If they get made use of to me pounding it for 10 plays as well as then TP comes in and they’re made use of to suitable the runs that means.”Yet TP is a faster, more shifty back, so he could fit a run a little various. It keeps the protection thinking. It changes it up. It’s a modification of speed, and as you individuals saw, it works well
.”Indeed, it has actually benefited the Cowboys, and also Pollard’s statistics with 2 games have been especially impressive.Tony Pollard’s stats vs. Ezekiel Elliott’s stats Much, Pollard has been the much more reliable of the two Dallas backs. He ranks No. 1 in the NFL in yards per bring among running backs with 10 +lugs. He likewise qualities out as the NFL’s No. 1 running back, per(though he hasn’t fulfilled the minimal snap limit
to qualify for PFF’s main leaderboard). Elliott has been less efficient than Pollard, however he has still been productive in Dallas’ crime. He has actually likewise played a key role in pass protection, as he has actually officially played 9 pass-blocking breaks compared to simply 4 for Pollard.Here’s a take a look at just how both running backs compare in each major statistical category.Player Percent of breaks played Brings Hurrying lawns Backyards per lug Rushing TDs Functions Getting backyards Receiving TDs Ezekiel Elliott 78.1 27 104 3.9 1 4 32 0 Tony Pollard 28.1 16 123 7.7 1 7 60 0 Once again, this is a little sample dimension and it’s worth keeping in mind that 11 of Elliott’s brings came versus a stout Buccaneers’run protection while Pollard had