Being a professional football player takes a great deal of talent and dedication. Rookies can have an incredibly difficult time adjusting to life in the NFL, but Ezekiel Elliott doesn’t seem at all concerned.
The Dallas Cowboys have the best offensive line in football. Elliott has already gotten a feel for how effective the unit can be, and he had some very high praise for the big men on Tuesday.
“I think I probably have one of the easiest jobs in America,” the former Ohio State star said, per Kate Hairopoulos of The Dallas Morning News. “I get to run behind the best O-line in America, run through those huge holes, they make your job easy.”
While “easy” may be a bit of an exaggeration, Elliott has a point. DeMarco Murray ran for an eye-popping 1,845 yards behind the Cowboys’ offensive line two seasons ago, and he was largely ineffective last year with the Philadelphia Eagles. Darren McFadden, who previously had not rushed for more than 1,000 in a season since 2010, finished with 1,089 in 2015.
Elliott was taken with the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, which is rare for a running back in today’s NFL. The expectations surrounding him are astronomically high, and one of his former Buckeyes teammates recently raised them even more. As long as he stays healthy and runs with decisiveness, Elliott will be the favorite to win NFL Rookie of the Year all season long.
