Ezekiel Elliott, Kellen Moore defend Elliott's performance vs Bucs
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott and Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore defended Elliott’s seemingly lackluster performance in the Cowboys’ season-opening loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“Zeke’s a big-picture guy. He sees it,” Moore said. “He did a phenomenal job in pass protection for us. There’s a lot of guys in the box, and we’re going to have other games where people are going to play two-high shell and give us an opportunity to run the football, and Zeke’s going to be ready to rock and roll there.”
Ezekiel Elliott himself spoke out, after gaining just 39 yards on 13 touches.
“If you know football, then you can tell someone had a solid game without having the best statistics,” Elliott said, via Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “I feel if you’re saying that, maybe they should be studying a little bit more.”
Elliott continued.
“Every play I’m given a job,” Elliott said. “It’s my job to do that job to the best of its ability. I take a lot of pride in being well rounded, do a lot of things, and I think it’s big for a running back to keep the quarterback safe, keep him untouched.”
The Cowboys ran just 14 running plays against the reigning Super Bowl Champion Buccaneers. The Cowboys were likely discouraged to run the ball considering the Buccaneers returned every starter from the top rushing defense from 2020 and considering All-Pro right guard Zack Martin missed the season-opener with COVID-19.
The Cowboys managed to throw the ball effectively against the Buccaneers as Dak Prescott threw for 403 yards with wide receivers Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb both going for over 100 receiving yards apiece.
Ezekiel Elliott did shoulder the blame for a failed key third and goal opportunity that would have given the Cowboys their first lead of the game midway through the third quarter.
“That’s on me,” Elliott said via The Atheltic’s Jon Machota. “We’re inside the 5, me vs. a DB. I got to get the ball in my left hand so I got something to fight him off with on my inside hand. I gotta find a way to get in the end zone.”
The play Ezekiel Elliott described came with just under ten minutes left in the third quarter with the Cowboys trailing 21-16. On third-and-goal from just inside the three-yard line, Elliott received a pitch from quarterback Dak Prescott but was unable to reach the pylon as Buccaneers safety Andrew Adams met Elliott at the line of scrimmage to bring him down. After being in a place to take their first lead of the game, the Cowboys were forced to settle for a field goal, to make it a 21-19 game.
Elliott will look to be more productive in the Cowboys’ matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.