Dallas Cowboys Dak and Zeke: Here Comes ‘The 214’
By Reid Hanson
The Dallas Cowboys could be ushering in a new era on Sunday when ‘The 214’ lines up in the backfield together for the first time.
Tomorrow afternoon, the Dallas Cowboys are unveiling their shiny new weapons for the entire world to see. Ezekiel Elliott (#21) and Dak Prescott (#4) represent Dallas in more ways than one. Not only do the young stars represent the future of the Dallas Cowboys, but their numbers combine to form the area code for the city of Dallas
The aptly named rookie duo looks to make an immediate impression on Sunday against their division rival New York Giants. Here’s a breakdown…
Ezekiel Elliott (#21)
Ezekiel Elliott, picked fourth overall in the 2016 NFL Draft, will be the engine that drives the 2016 offense. His talent combined with the run-heavy game plan of Jason Garrett, provide the perfect opportunity for the franchise halfback.
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The Dallas Cowboys rededication to the running game was made clear when the Cowboys invested two draft picks to add Zeke Elliott and Darius Jackson to the running back stable. Even before the draft, the Cowboys signed expert zone runner Alfred Morris to a modest 2-year deal. With all the attention paid, it’s difficult to question the Cowboys’ intentions in 2016.
Zeke is a perfect blend of power, speed, and athleticism. He’s a dominant pass-protector and is as much of an asset without the ball, as he is with the ball. For as much pressure that’s on Elliott to perform big on Sunday, it’s his rookie teammate (and the tail end of the “214” shared moniker) that the true burden rests.
Dak Prescott (#4)
The Dallas Cowboys selected Prescott late in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. The Cowboys well-documented preference for Paxton Lynch (selected in the 1st round) and Connor Cook (selected at the top of the 4th) is now but a distant memory.
Dak Prescott put together one of the most spectacular preseasons in recent memory. Besides the dominant statistics, Prescott showed poise, strength, and playmaking ability. He saw the entire field, read coverage, and moved through progressions like veteran. But the regular season is a whole different animal.
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If Dak Prescott can move the chains on 3rd downs and Zeke Elliott can be the unstoppable force the Dallas Cowboys drafted him to be, “The 214” will be a name the entire league will know very soon. #HereComeThe214