Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott is setting Eric Dickerson as the standard for his rookie season.
Elliott isn’t planning to sport goggles and jheri curls. He wants to break Dickerson’s rookie rushing record of 1,808 yards.
Eric Dickerson ran for 1,808 yards as a rookie in 1983. Ezekiel Elliott’s goal is 1,809 this year https://t.co/YaEpQqcJR0
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) September 8, 2016
“He told me through his agent that he was going to break my record,” Dickerson said. “I just laughed and said, ‘Good luck.’ Many have said that; all have failed.”
Dickerson’s Hall of Fame career began with his 1,808-yard season as a Ram in 1983. He went on to rush for 13,259 yards, seventh all-time. His 90.8 rushing yards per game are fifth all-time.
Breaking a 33-year-old record is a lofty goal for Elliott, chosen with the fourth overall pick in the draft. If any offensive line can pave the way for a such a season, however, it’s the Cowboys’. Pro Football Focus ranks the Cowboys’ line the best in the NFL. The Cowboys averaged 4.6 rushing yards per game last season with Darren McFadden as their lead running back.
McFadden is no Dickerson, and Elliott has a long way to go before he can prove worthy of comparisons to Dickerson.
[ESPN.com]
