DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - The Dallas Cowboys established an identity last season as one of the NFL's most prolific offenses, and on Tuesday morning in a visit with 105.3 The Fan's Shan and RJ, team owner Jerry Jones revealed a little bit of what things could look like in the upcoming season.
And according to Jones, the running game, and Ezekiel Elliott's role will likely be increasing.
“With our plan and our personnel, we hope to be able to run the football more than we ran it, let’s say, in the last few years," Jones said. "And Zeke will be critical to that.”
Last season, the Cowboys running game finished No. 9 overall in the league in terms of rushing yards per game, averaging 124 yards per contest.
However, despite that number, Elliott finished the season with one of his most disappointing years as a Cowboy in terms of yardage, averaging a career-low 58.9 per game.
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Elliott also rushed for just 1,002 yards - the second lowest total of his career, despite two extra games on the schedule.
Elliott was able to reach the end zone 10 times, however, as well as adding two touchdowns in the passing game.
That said, the Cowboys offense will look a bit different either way this coming season, with La'el Collins - one of the team's best run blockers - now gone, and Tyron Smith out for a good portion of the season with injury.
The Cowboys will also be trying to replace the veteran Smith with rookie Tyler Smith in the mean time, as they look to find the combination of the best five offensive lineman possible before the start of the season.
Not to mention, Dallas will be without both Amari Cooper, who is now with the Cleveland Browns, and Michael Gallup, who will miss time to start the season while recovering from his knee injury.
The Cowboys will kick off the season on September 11 against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.