Machota: What Darren McFadden, Alfred Morris, other RBs can do for Cowboys in Ezekiel Elliott's absence

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What Darren McFadden, Alfred Morris, other RBs can do for Cowboys in Ezekiel Elliott's absence
By Jon Machota , Staff Writer

The Cowboys have been preparing for the possibility of playing without Ezekiel Elliott since training camp.

When the 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals vacated the preliminary injunction that prohibited the NFL from imposing its six-game suspension on Elliott, it opened up the discussion about how the Cowboys will handle the running back position if they are without Elliott until after Thanksgiving.

The simple answer is Alfred Morris, Darren McFadden and Rod Smith will all receive more playing time.

Elliott is the type of do-everything back that never really has to come off the field. The others aren't as versatile. McFadden is the closest to Elliott of the three. The top-five pick in 2008 rushed for 1,089 yards and three touchdowns while starting for the Cowboys in 2015.

However, McFadden has been a healthy scratch for the first five games. Yes, that means he's fresh, but it also shows the coaching staff currently prefers Morris.

Morris, 28, has been Elliott's backup this season. He also has the team's longest run, 70 yards against the Los Angeles Rams two weeks ago. But on his other seven rushing attempts this year, Morris, who had three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in Washington from 2012 to 2014, is only averaging 2.4 yards per carry.

"I'm always ready," Morris said last week. "I'm sure [McFadden] is going to say the same thing. We talk about this all the time since camp, you're always one play away from playing. You always got to be ready whenever an opportunity comes, so you have to prepare and approach every day like we are the starter. You never know what's going to happen."

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett has a reputation of preferring a featured "bell cow" back. That was his philosophy with DeMarco Murray, and that's why the Cowboys invested a top-five pick in Elliott rather than improving a defense desperate for upgrades.

Morris, McFadden and Smith, a third-year back with four career carries, won't command the attention that Elliott did as a group. Instead of stacking the box on most first and second downs, opposing defenses could look to put extra attention on Dez Bryant, Cole Beasley or Jason Witten in the passing game, making things more difficult on Dak Prescott.

Another area Elliott's absence could impact the Cowboys dramatically is in fourth-and-1 or goal-line situations.

One particular example from last Sunday's game against Green Bay would be Elliott's reach on fourth-and-1 late in the fourth quarter. Most backs are likely stopped for a loss or no gain on that play. Elliott has the unique combination of size, strength and athletic ability to bounce off Witten's block in mid-air and reach the ball out to get the yard and keep their final drive alive.

It's unlikely the other backs on the roster will be able to have that type of impact in short-yardage situations.
 
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