Ezekiel Elliott isn’t the fastest back I’ve seen, nor is he
the quickest (in the sense of change of direction). And he’s by no means the
most powerful runner. He’s excellent in all those categories, but not in the
elite group.
In fact, there are a number of active running backs who have
the combination of all three of those abilities and are better than Elliott in
two or three.
What sets Elliott apart, I’ve decided after watching him as a
pro, is his burst. He has an amazing ability to accelerate over about a three
stride stretch. He’s better than anyone I’ve seen in this.
Elliott’s burst explains why he often gets through the line
untouched. It also explains why he can often turn the corner – an almost
impossible task in the pros and even in high level college competition where
defenders are simply too fast to outrun if they have an angle.
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He has the potential to be a great back over a reasonably
long career – if Dallas gives him fewer carries.
