OXNARD, Calif. – Running back Rod Smith is continuing to progress at Training Camp, coming off his breakout year in 2017. During the season he impacted the ground game in Ezekiel Elliott’s absence, amassing 232 rushing yards, a 4.2 average, and four touchdowns. In the running back core at Oxnard, Smith and Elliott have had the most reps and function in Gary Brown’s game plan for the running game in the Cowboys’ offensive scheme for 2018. Smith will help take some of the pressure off Elliott and add another option of depth.
At the press conference concluding practice today, Garrett remarked to D210 on Smith’s growth as a player and his relationship with former Ohio State teammate, Ezekiel Elliott “ I know they are buddies and Rod was one of Zeke’s mentors when he got there. I think they have a good relationship and that is a positive thing. I think they like working together. Rod is a good success story for us. Practice squad player, and step-by-step makes the team and is a special teams guy and in the offense in a lot of different roles. He has worked very hard to get himself to this point. Both of those guys (Smith and Elliott) will play a huge role in our football team.”
Rod is continuing to learn and grow as a player, and has the constant support of his brother, Jaylon Smith, on the opposite side of the ball for the Cowboys. His energy is contagious and his work ethic is the kind that will evolve him into one of the elites. Big things ahead for the Cowboys bread and butter: the running game!
