Dallas Cowboys Studs And Duds: Rookies Riding High in 2016
By Shawn S. Lealos
When Tony Romo went down with an injury in the preseason, many Dallas Cowboys fans worried that a repeat of the 2015 NFL season was coming. In 2015, the Cowboys couldn't win with their backup quarterbacks. However, behind a new rookie in quarterback Dak Prescott, the Cowboys are 5-1 and share the best record in the NFC with the Minnesota Vikings. Here is a look at the studs and duds for the 2016 NFL season so far for the Dallas Cowboys.
Rising: Dak Prescott, Quarterback
The Dallas Cowboys were just hoping to survive with rookie Dak Prescott starting for the team. The idea was to have a decent enough record that the Cowboys could claw their way back when Tony Romo returned. Something happened that no one expected when Prescott not only exceeded all expectations but has made some fans question if Romo should return at all.
Dak Prescott was a fourth-round draft pick by the Dallas Cowboys this year, a Mississippi State quarterback that was seen as a work-in-progress. The Cowboys actually considered Carson Wentz, but stuck to their guns and settled on Prescott. To repay the Cowboys, Prescott has won five straight games, thrown for 1,486 yards with seven touchdowns and only one interception, and has a passer rating of 103.9. Prescott broke the NFL record set by Tom Brady for the most passes to start a career without an interception. The future has arrived in Dallas.
Rising: Ezekiel Elliott, Running Back
It almost seems amazing that the Dallas Cowboys are riding their five-game winning streak on the backs of two rookies. The second rookie is first-round draft pick, Ezekiel Elliott. Many Monday morning quarterbacks felt Dallas reached too high for a running back when they needed defensive pass rushers. However, Elliott leads the entire NFL with 703 rushing yards and looks like DeMarco Murray did two years ago in Dallas when he won the NFL rushing title.
Elliott is the first rookie running back in NFL history to run for over 130 yards in four straight games and is on pace to break Murray's Dallas Cowboys rushing record. He also has a chance to break Eric Dickerson's rookie rushing record as well.
Falling: Dez Bryant, Wide Receiver
Dez Bryant held out of camp in 2015 demanding a new contract. He then showed up in the first game of that season, cramped up in the opening week and then broke his foot. He finished last season with only 31 receptions and three touchdowns. This season, it is more of the same. Bryant has only played in three games, catching 11 balls for 150 yards and one touchdown. He injured his knee against Chicago, refused to get it X-rayed, and skipped practice, picking up a fine.
Dez Bryant is supposed to be back next week for the Cowboys' divisional game with the Philadelphia Eagles. This past week, he cut his hand open while chopping up carrots. It just seems like it is one thing after another and Bryant has yet to prove he is worth the big money contract he signed last season. With Dallas at 5-1, some fans might wonder if Bryant is worth keeping around at all for the price he costs the team.
Falling: Randy Gregory, Defensive End and Rolando McClain, Linebacker
The Dallas Cowboys are clicking on all cylinders this season so there are very few players on the field who deserve a "dud" classification. However, there are two players who should be on the field that are hurting Dallas. They are middle linebacker Rolando McClain and defensive end Randy Gregory. Both men opened the season suspended because of drug issues. Both men got long 10-game suspensions because they are repeat offenders.
For Rolando McClain, there is a great chance that Dallas just lets him go when his suspension ends. He has proven that he doesn't care about the team by continuing to break the rules. As for Randy Gregory, Dallas was taking a gamble when they drafted him in the second round last year. He never really played up to his skill level in 2015 and won't get on the field until after 10 games this season. He might be a lost cause, but after just part of one season on the field, Dallas might want to help him. The problem will come if Gregory is more like McClain and doesn't accept the help.