There is no doubt that the Cowboys offense is shaping up to be one of the most dangerous for the 2021 season. With Dak Prescott back, as well as a corps of high-level receivers, running backs and tight ends, the Cowboy team has great potential. annotator. However, that does not mean that some of these players do not have areas to improve.
In fact, two of Dallas’ top offensive players had recurring problems in the 2020 season. And, in some cases, those problems cost the Cowboy team games. Of course, we’re talking wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and running back Ezekiel Elliott.
CeeDee Lamb, a good year overshadowed by fallen passes
Although Dak Prescott’s injury absence stunted his potential, CeeDee Lamb had a strong 2020 season. In his rookie year, Lamb had 74 receptions for 935 yards and five touchdowns. However, the receiver also stood out negatively in a statistical section: that of dropped passes.
In the past season, Lamb dropped nine passes in total. In fact, Oklahoma’s product was the second receiver with the most dropped passes in the 2020 season, tying on that list with Jerry Jeudy (Denver). This statistic was led by Diontae Johnson (Pittsburgh), with 10 drops in total.
— All22Hype (@All22Hype) June 5, 2021
CeeDee Lamb bad drop pic.twitter.com/rIujNXzhc2
— Slightly Biased (@BiasedSlightly) October 25, 2020
According to Dallas Morning News analyst John Owning, this figure for Lamb in his rookie year is somewhat alarming. Even more so, considering that the young receiver only had 12 drops during his entire college stage in Oklahoma. However, Owning attributes this to the fact that Lamb was still adjusting to the NFL.
Of course, the question will remain as to what would have happened in 2020 if CeeDee Lamb had not dropped so many passes. First, he would have surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in his rookie year. On the other hand, Dallas may have fared better in some games. In fact, one of Lamb’s dropped passes in 2020 cost the Cowboy team a potential playoff spot.
This occurred near the end of the week 17 game against the Giants. With Dallas trailing 23-19, Lamb dropped a pass from Andy Dalton in second place and a goal with 17 yards ahead. If that pass was completed, things would have been different, since on the next play Dalton’s pass was intercepted, thus sentencing the match in favor of New York.
So far, CeeDee Lamb has made very good impressions during the Cowboys’ Organized Team Activities (OTAs). The young catcher is showing more confidence in the catches, which is already a good sign. And while there are still a few months to go, Lamb is determined to get better heading into his second season in Dallas.
Best offensive play during today’s OTA practice: Dak Prescott rolled out to his right and then found CeeDee Lamb on a deep ball
(Video: @dallascowboys) pic.twitter.com/0ELlUc1ioA
– Jon Machota (jonmachota) June 3, 2021
Ezekiel Elliott and his problem with fumbles
Ezekiel Elliott, on the other hand, will have a lot of stares on your performance. The Cowboys running back is coming off his weakest season as a professional in several quarters. In 2020, Elliott recorded 244 carries for 979 yards and six touchdowns. This performance, remember, was due in large part to the numerous injury casualties on Dallas’ offensive line.
However, Zeke also equaled his worst professional records elsewhere: fumbles. In the past season, Elliott lost the ball six times, emulating the number recorded in the 2018 season. The most critical point occurred during the first six weeks of the campaign, since in them Zeke registered five of those six fumbles.
— All22Hype (@All22Hype) June 5, 2021
Several of those fumbles put the cowboy team in serious trouble. Such was the case in the week 6 game against the Cardinals, where two consecutive fumbles by Elliott led to offensive scoring drives for the Arizona team. Zeke was even relegated to the bench in that game after those mistakes.
Now, heading into the 2021 season, Ezekiel Elliott is determined to get back to his best. The running back has been training this offseason with private trainer Joshua Hicks, called the “running back guru.” Due to his work with Hicks, Elliott has been seen to be thinner and faster. And that was noticed during the Dallas OTAs last week.
However, there are divided opinions regarding Elliott’s possible performance in 2021. Some analysts believe that the running back will return to his best level and that he will be the NFL racing champion again. Meanwhile, others believe that Zeke will already go into decline, even though he is about to turn 26 years old. Therefore, Elliott will have a lot to prove in the upcoming season.
Ezekiel Elliott looked really quick/explosive during his work in today’s OTA practice pic.twitter.com/wIOQeSAJZv
– Jon Machota (jonmachota) June 3, 2021
.@EzekielElliott wants that rushing title back ????
(via @ 3hunnidGuru) pic.twitter.com/RyEERDk8qu
— The MMQB (@theMMQB) May 6, 2021
Much of the Cowboys’ preparation for this season will focus on correcting last year’s flaws. And, as we can see, this includes his offensive pieces. If CeeDee Lamb and Ezekiel Elliott manage to put these failures behind us, we can witness a great performance from both in 2021. There is still a long way to go before this becomes a reality, but with what we have seen in practice, expectations will remain high.
