This disappointing addition decided to confront the coaching staff ahead of Week 6.
The Dallas Cowboys are 3-2 as they roll into Week 6. They are on a two-game win streak, but everything hasn’t been smooth sailing.
The Cowboys are 31st in the NFL in rushing offense (82) with a putrid 3.5 yards per carry. This group hasn’t been able to establish any type of ground attack, and now Ezekiel Elliott decided to confront the coaching staff.
Cowboys News: Ezekiel Elliott Speaks to Coaching Staff About His Role
Elliott talked to reporters on Thursday and revealed he approached the coaching staff about his role. The Ohio State product said he “remains dumbfounded” by his lack of reps in the red zone especially.
Elliott returned to Dallas on a one-year deal in May, hoping to become the lead workhorse in the backfield. That obviously hasn’t been the case so he wanted to take things into his own hands.
The Ohio State product has seen his snaps constantly go down. Week 1-32 snaps, Week 2-28 snaps, Week 3-15 snaps, Week 4-10 snaps, and Week 5-23 snaps.
Over five games, he’s logged 30 carries for a measly 98 rushing yards and one score. To make matters worse, Elliott is averaging 19.6 rushing yards per game. Shocked by his lack of production, Elliott decided it was time to speak with coaches but that likely won’t help much.
The 29-year-old doesn’t look like the same player and running back Rico Dowdle has picked it up lately. In the win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dowdle rushed for a season-high 87 rushing yards and had 27 receiving yards.
If someone is going to get more carries, it’ll be Dowdle, not Elliott. That won’t bode well for the 2016 first-round pick and his time in Dallas could be running out.