RISING STARS
Dak Prescott not the only impressive Dallas Cowboy rookie
The Dallas Cowboys, led by rookies QB Dak Prescott, left, and running back Ezekiel Elliott, got a big win over the Chicago Bears. Read Berry
Tramel’s take on the game.
A RLINGTON, Texas — Ezekiel Elliott veered outside and, as he’s prone to do, found open space. But Elliott wanted more on the second play of the fourth quarter.
So as Chris Prosinski approached, Elliott leapt. Cleared the Chicago Bears safety, before linebacker Jonathan Anderson popped Elliott to the ground.
Wasn’t the only hurdle Elliott cleared Sunday night.
Elliott carried 30 times for 140 yards, impressive numbers for a rookie tailback, especially when accompanied by no fumbles. Elliott, who fumbled twice in Washington a week ago and spent crunch time on the bench, held onto the ball as the Dallas Cowboys dominated the Bears 31-17.
“When you can hand the guy as much as we did tonight, and he can handle the burden, that’s line one,” Cowboy coach Jason Garrett said. “Lot of tough, dirty, NFL-type runs. That’s a responsibility, to carry the ball 28, 29, 30 times.”
Tony Romo’s understudy, Dak Prescott, was excellent at quarterback again, completing 19 of 24 passes for 248 yards, with his first NFL touchdown pass (17 yards to Dez Bryant). And still no interceptions as a pro.
But Prescott isn’t the only impressive Cowboy rookie. Elliott came at
a high price, the overall third pick in the draft last May, but Sunday night made you think he might be worth it.
Elliott carried seven times for 51 yards in the first quarter alone, sparking the Cowboys to a 10-0 lead. Then Elliott carried 12 times in the fourth quarter alone as Dallas milked the clock.
“Great way to just respond,” said Prescott. “We talked before the game. He said he really wanted to step up and make some good runs. He definitely did that.”
Not to get too carried away, but Emmitt Smith didn’t reach 140 yards until his 20th Cowboy game. Tony Dorsett ran for 141 yards in his fourth NFL game, back in 1977.
In three games, Elliott now has 274 yards on 71 carries, figures which rank second and third, respectively, in this young NFL season. New England’s LeGarrette Blount is the rushing leader, with 298 yards.
The Cowboys used Elliott’s backup, Alfred Morris, sparingly, after Morris became the feature back in the fourth quarter against the Redskins. Morris played just one series.
Dallas rushed for 199 yards. You won’t lose too many NFL games with 199 yards rushing. The only Cowboy turnover came from flanker Terrance Williams, a fumble at the end of a 47-yard pass play.
Garrett claimed that Elliott had nothing to prove, despite the fumbles in Washington.
“Didn’t learn a whole lot,” Garrett said. “That’s one of the reasons we drafted him. The mental toughness, the physical toughness. He’s gotten better each week. Lot of good runs, lot of tough runs, lot of NFL runs.”
Elliott repeatedly broke outside when the middle was packed. His legs kept churning for a yard or two extra when the Bears had him wrapped. He found a crack that seemed undetectable. And when necessary, Elliott took to the air.
Best yet, through all those runs, he held on to the ball. Looks like he’s got a future in Dallas.