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There is plenty of hype surrounding the return of Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott. He has made it clear that he is looking to bounce back from a suspension-riddled 2017 campaign.
Elliott recently gave some insight on what he added to the repertoire over the offseason. According to David Moore of the Dallas Morning News, he has been studying game film of Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk to improve his skills in the passing game:
Article Continues Below“I think it’s just an opportunity to elevate my game, an opportunity to show that I can do more,” Elliott said. “I’m excited. I’m just here to do what the coaches ask me. Whatever they put on my plate, I’m going to do the best I can to go out there and execute and do my best. I mean, yeah, they’re asking me to do a little more, a couple of different things. But it’s just kind of developing myself more as a route runner. In the past, I really wasn’t asked to run as many complex routes but now I have a couple of more routes to add to my route tree.”
It is encouraging to see that Elliott is putting in the extra work on and off the field. It is further proof of how serious he is about having a strong 2018 campaign. Needless to say, he could not have picked a better player to study.
Faulk is one of the most dynamic running backs of all time thanks to his prowess as both a runner and a receiver. The Rams' legend was the driving force behind the “Greatest Show on Turf” which established itself as the best offense of its time. He is also one of only two players in NFL history to register 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season.
Like Faulk, Elliott possesses a versatile skill set. However, being a great receiver is more than just being able to run routes and catch. It is about reading the defense's coverage and knowing where the void is going to open up. Given the current state of the Cowboys' receiving corps, there is a very good chance Elliott winds up being among the team leaders in targets.
