Ezekiel Elliott’s former Cowboys coach believes he’ll be a ‘good match’ for Patriots

Patriots

Not trying ahead to watching him run towards us, that’s for certain.”

Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys runs with the ball in the fourth quarter a game against the Houston Texans at AT&T Stadium on December 11, 2022 in Arlington, Texas.
Ezekiel Elliott nonetheless managed to attain 12 touchdowns in a down season in 2022. Sam Hodde/Getty Photographs

Regardless of a dip in manufacturing in the course of the 2022 season, Ezekiel Elliott’s former head coach in Dallas believes the 28-year-old operating again has discovered a very good touchdown spot with the Patriots.

Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, who oversaw Elliott throughout his last three seasons in Dallas, thinks that the previous franchise again will slot in properly with Invoice Belichick and Invoice O’Brien’s gameplan in Foxborough.

“He’ll do nice up there,” McCarthy mentioned of Elliott whereas talking with reporters on Tuesday. “Play-style alone, I believe he’s a extremely good match for a way they prefer to play … “Not trying ahead to watching him run towards us, that’s for certain.”

Elliott’s versatility ought to turn out to be useful for a Patriots crew in want of extra reinforcements behind Rhamondre Stevenson on the depth chart.

Together with easing Stevenson’s heavy workload, Elliott remains to be an efficient participant throughout short-yardage conditions. Of his 12 speeding touchdowns final season, seven got here from the 1-yard line.

The previous All-Professional again ought to assist carry New England’s Thirty second-ranked red-zone offense due to his knack for barreling by our bodies of defensive linemen and linebackers close to the purpose line.

With pass-catching operating again Ty Montgomery nonetheless sidelined resulting from harm, Elliott may additionally develop right into a dependable receiving risk for Mac Jones. Regardless of reeling in simply 17 catches final season, Elliott averaged 57.5 catches per season from 2018-21.

Elliott’s repute as one of many higher pass-blocking operating backs within the NFL may even seemingly turn out to be useful given the state of New England’s offensive line.

McCarthy is way from the one employees member in Dallas who believes Elliott can nonetheless be an influence participant in New England.

NFL Community’s Tom Pelissero mentioned on Tuesday morning that he obtained a textual content from a Cowboys employees member who additionally spoke extremely of Elliott’s match with the Patriots.

“New England needs to play a bodily model of soccer,” Peliserro mentioned. “They will use Zeke in go safety in addition to in goal-line conditions. He’s the clear No. 2 behind Rhamondre Stevenson, however a very good slot in New England.”

Former Patriots operating again James White additionally believes that Elliott’s addition makes loads of sense for what Belichick normally values within the trenches.

“These are massive, highly effective, sturdy, quick guys and that’s what you need in a operating again,” White mentioned of Elliott and Stevenson throughout an interview with Sirius XM on Tuesday morning. “I do know Invoice Belichick has talked about among the finest backs within the league and I do know he’s a giant fan of Zeke. Every time we might compete towards these guys, he would discuss how a lot he needed to have him on the roster.”

Elliott has not formally signed his contract with the Patriots, however the expectation is that the three-time Professional Bowler will take part in New England’s joint practices with the Packers this week.