The Dallas Cowboys took a notable step back in 2017 that saw them fail to reach the playoffs after putting a promising campaign the year prior where they reached the divisional round of the postseason.

Dallas has constructed a roster that has seen two of their primary positions offensively led by young talent in quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott. With that in mind, both Elliott and Prescott have voiced their desire to take up more prominent roles as leaders on the team, according to Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk.

“I have been a little more vocal,” Elliott said. “That’s definitely something I’m focusing in on this offseason. Not only leading by example, but coming out and encouraging guys.”

“As we said when we lost those guys, we are not trying to replace those guys,” Prescott said. “Those are guys who are irreplaceable. We can’t say we need you to be the leader Dez was or be the leader Witten was. We have a lot guys and lot of guys who have been in this league that lead, and sometimes they lead by just by example by going out there and not saying a word and giving all their energy, and it pays off and shows. Young guys can look and say that is the way you practice. That is the way you come in and handle your business. Sometimes you don’t have to say anything to do it, and we have those guys. We have the rah-rah guys, the guys who are screaming, the guys who are getting everybody going to make sure the energy is there.”

All of this has placed both Prescott and Elliott in key spots in showing more growth with their maturity level to take on that huge responsibility. These are key roles that the Cowboys have given to proven players with many years of experience playing in the league most notably the recently retired Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten.

He brought the leadership on a daily basis while showing that he displaying that he can be an exemplary example for his teammates to follow both on and off the field. Prescott and Elliott have shown to have the talent on the field, but each will have to continue to show it away from it.

This offseason could be a prime opportunity for each of them to take on a greater role with the team help push the franchise forward to become a constant in the playoff picture and possibly further than that.