Dallas Cowboys: 5 Players who need more playing time in 2019
By Randy Gurzi
3. Rod Smith, RB
It’s not often that a player who averaged just 2.9 yards per attempt is said to deserve more snaps, but that needs to be the case in 2019 if Dallas once again uses Rod Smith as the primary backup to Ezekiel Elliott. Looking at what Smith did last year — 44 carries for 127 yards a and one touchdown — doesn’t scream success, but he has had some good moments in his career.
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During Elliott’s suspension in 2017, Smith — who also backed up Zeke at Ohio State — had 232 yards and four touchdowns on the ground and another 202 yards and a score through the air. His highlight from that stretch was an 81-yard touchdown reception that helped put away the New York Giants.
Even saying all that, Smith being on the field more isn’t all about him or what he can do. It’s about preserving Elliott. While Zeke did continue to push through it all, the running back was beat up as the year went on. There were times he was visibly limping and that’s to be expected when you carry the ball 304 times while adding 77 more receptions — not to mention the countless blitz pickups he’s had.
Getting him off the field a few more times each game will only make Elliott more effective down the stretch. Surely there are big moments where you have to have your superstar on the field, but there are also drives where it would make sense to place the 230-pound Smith out there for a few plays and allow him to ease Elliott’s burden. It would pay dividends the next time they’re looking for Zeke to eat in the playoffs.