If LA Rams stop Ezekiel Elliott, they stop the Cowboys

The LA Rams open against the Dallas Cowboys. But it’s the same ole story. Stop Elliott, and you stop the Cowboys.

The 9-7 LA Rams face the 8-8 Dallas Cowboys to open the 2020 NFL season. The Cowboys defeated the Rams in 2019, effectively knocking them out of the NFC Playoff picture. But the Cowboys lost eight games, not a very good track record for a team that many predicted would compete for the NFL Super Bowl.

The Cowboys lost three games at home, and five games on the road. They lost to some very good teams, and to some not so good teams. But the common thread to all the losses? Running back Ezekiel Elliott failed to rush for over 100 yards in seven of the eight losses. It’s the same story that NFL teams should know by heart.  As much as Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is showered with praises and accolades, stop Elliott and you stop the Dallas Cowboys. Period.

Easier said than done

Of course, saying it and doing it are two very different things. So how will 2020 be any different for the Rams? Simply stated, the Rams are relatively healthy this year. Keep in mind that the Rams defense was about stopping the pass, and bending but not breaking around the run.

That was defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ calling card. But this year, the Rams have toughened up on the run. ILB Micah Kiser is fully healthy for this one.  The Rams have added OLB Leonard Floyd, who is adept at both run and pass defense. And of course, All-Pro Aaron Donald is hitting like a wrecking ball this year.

Some trouble in Cowboy town?

But on the Cowboys side, some things have changed as well. Longtime star center Travis Frederick is retired, now playing center Joe Looney. The Cowboys have a completely new coaching staff, and that means a lot of new wrinkles. They are coming off an 8-8 season. And they are entering an NFL season where many have the entire team winning it all, or at least one of the favorites to appear in the Super Bowl this year.

With all of the struggles to get to the season, a welcome mat that reads “You’re going to the Super Bowl!” seems a bit over the top for a team with their brand new coaching staff. In the end, I believe that the Dallas Cowboys will, once more, be about a .500 team. They may have a good offense, but their 2020 defense is much weaker, particularly on pass defense.

Rams stop Elliott

Can the Rams stop Elliott? I think they will attack the middle of the Cowboys offense relentlessly. Aaron Donald will see most of his snaps against Joe Looney, and the Rams will test the Cowboys offensive line with an occasional blitz over the center. With the Cowboys entering game one with the expectation for an easy win,

Keep in mind that Prescott is as dependant upon a strong running game as any quarterback in the NFL.  And with that in mind, the idea that he will find his receivers against the Rams solid secondary is an assumption many are making that won’t prove to be true. Even in last year’s game, the Cowboys’ receivers who burned the Rams were the fourth reads: Tavon Austin, Jason Witten.

The Rams’ defense will only be respected by showing up and exceeding expectations. Nobody believes that the Rams can stop the Dallas Cowboys running attack.  They do.