Good Reads and Downhill Tackling
Ezekiel Elliott is a big-play threat every time he touches the ball, and if the Bucs are going to slow him down it’s going to take good reads and downhill tackling from two players more than any others: Kwon Alexander and Lavonte David.
The two Pro-Bowl caliber linebackers are going to have their hands full at the second level trying to make first level plays as the Cowboys’ top-shelf offensive line will look to dominate the Bucs’ talented defensive front.
Missed tackles against a running back of this caliber simply won’t get the job done and the third-level defenders will have quite the uphill climb to overcome if they are forced to stop Elliott consistently.
The Bucs’ defensive line is overmatched on paper, but games are played on the field and big games with strong tackling from this linebacker duo will surely help contain the soon to be Offensive Rookie of the Year.