Cowboys vs. Texans rookie report: Vander Esch continues impressive

play in Sean Lee’s absence In a weekend that saw the Philadelphia Eagles Youth Ezekiel Elliott Jersey , Washington Redskins, and New York Giants all fall, the Dallas Cowboys were unable to take advantage and stake their claim in the NFC East. Fortunately, their 2-3 record will not keep them out of the hunt, but it was certainly a missed opportunity that leaves a bad taste in the mouths of Cowboys fans.The offense struggled to get into the end zone, which is already a common theme through five games this season. The defense, meanwhile, allowed Deshaun Watson, DeAndre Hopkins, and company move down the field, only to stiffen up in the red zone. While the defense did not play exceptionally well all night, they certainly appeared to have played well enough for a win.Let’s take a look at how the rookies performed on the big stage on Sunday Night Football in week five.Leighton Vander EschLeighton Vander Esch has seemingly been playing with a chip on his shoulder since taking the field for the Dallas Cowboys in his first season. Maybe it is because he remembers the fan reaction when Dallas selected him in AT&T Stadium. Maybe it is because he wants to prove that a former eight-man football player can not only play — but succeed — on the highest level. Maybe he is just good at football?Whatever the case is, LVE has been playing at an exeptional level for this defense since week two, where he played approximately 20 snaps and made seven stops. Vander Esch followed that up with impressive outings in a loss versus the Seahawks in Seattle and again in a victory over the Lions back at home in week four.The talk has been surrounding Jaylon Smith — who had himself a solid game in his own right as he flew all over the field — but Vander Esch did not disappoint against Houston, either. The Boise State Broncos product led the team in tackles with 11 during the Sunday Night Football overtime loss, nine of which were solo. Whatever your feeling was when the Cowboys selected him back in May, Vander Esch appears to be a stud at linebacker for America’s Team.Connor WIlliamsSome Cowboys fans were more thrilled about the Connor WIlliams pick than the LVE pick, as the Texas Longhorns product had some first-round hype with his ability to play different positions across the offensive line. With the hole at left guard, Williams would seemingly be an ideal fit next to Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick.While Frederick has yet to play a regular season snap in 2018 http://www.cowboysauthorizedshops.com/authentic-cole-beasley-jersey , Williams has had to hold his own against quality defensive fronts over the course of his first month on the professional level. Williams had his ups and his downs, allowing sacks and QB pressures, but also beinga solid blocker for Ezekiel Elliott in the run game.Williams was called for a critical (and controversial) holding call on big Zeke run that looked to give Dallas some momentum on Sunday evening. It was a call that hurt the Cowboys offense from gaining traction in an eventual loss.Michael GallupThe need for playmakers, other than Zeke, on the Cowboys offense is evident. Dak has struggled, the play-calling has raised eyebrows, and the offensive line has struggled without Frederick manning the middle. There was a lot of hype surrounding the team’s third-round selection, but Gallup has yet to really make an impact with the Cowboys through five games this season. He drew some PI’s in week one and made that 37-yard grab in week four, but other than that?Gallup grabbed one pass for six yards — but, in fairness, the rookie may have had a little more to his total on this play, had things gone right:Whether it be the quarterback, the receivers, or the coaching staff (or all three), this passing game simply cannot get going. Will Gallup be able to make an impact before season’s end?Dorance Armstrong Jr.Dorance Armstrong Jr. is behind a loaded defensive end unit in Dallas, but the Kansas Jayhawks rookie has shown some potential with the snaps that he has received over his first five games with the Cowboys. Armstrong was able to find his way into the box score during his limited snaps, making one stop on the night. The rookie also saw some snaps at the 3-tech during the game on passing downs. It will be interesting to see how the staff uses the 6-foot-4, 257-pound defensive lineman moving forward. Ezekiel Elliott won't be running off to federal court the week of the season opener the way he did last year, when the star running back of the Dallas Cowboys was fighting the NFL's six-game suspension over domestic violence allegations.While the 2016 NFL rushing leader knew he would suit up for the first game last year as the case played out in court Dak Prescott Jersey , he had no idea beyond that. This time, there's no question about Elliott's availability after Sunday's trip to Carolina."I would never say last year I wasn't engaged with the game," he said Wednesday. "It is a lot more stress free, though. I would say that."Elliott triggered a handful of questions about his motivation after offering the "chip on my shoulder" cliche. One question boiled down to this: Was he trying to prove he's the best back in the NFL?"That's exactly it," said Elliott, who led the league in yards rushing per game last season while finally serving the suspension starting at the halfway point. "I want to prove I'm the best back in the game. That's what my focus this offseason was."Elliott didn't play a snap in the preseason for the first time in his three years as a pro. He says he's ready anyway. Right guard Zack Martin says all anyone needed to do was watch Elliott in training camp in California."Something just feels different," Martin said. "I think he's ready for a big year."The Cowboys are counting on it. Quarterback Dak Prescott, Elliott's fellow rookie standout two years ago, has a revamped group of receivers after the departures of 15-year tight end Jason Witten and franchise touchdown receptions leader Dez Bryant.Dallas isn't making any secret over feeding off the player known for his "feed me" gesture every time he gets a first down. It doesn't seem to matter to the Cowboys — or Elliott — how many defenders will be close to the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped."I mean, we've faced eight, nine, 10-man fronts every week since I got here," Elliott said. "I don't know how many more guys they can throw in the box. Yeah, there's going to be more focus, I believe, on me. I just don't understand how you could say we're going to throw more guys in the box. There's only 11 guys on the field."Elliott's legal drama played out almost week to week last season. During the week before his final game before the suspension, he was forced to be away from the team for several days until getting a legal reprieve two days before the Cowboys beat Kansas City."There was a lot of stuff going around in his life that he had to deal with," coach Jason Garrett said. "For the most part when he was here he was pretty locked in and did what he needed to do. Now that it's behind him, you just see him that much more focused Authentic Travis Frederick Jersey , that much more ready to go."Even with the suspension, Elliott has the most yards rushing through two seasons (2,614) for a franchise that once featured all-time NFL rushing leader Emmitt Smith and another Hall of Famer in Tony Dorsett.There are questions about the offensive line with center Travis Frederick battling a condition that has sidelined him indefinitely, and a rookie starter at left guard in second-round pick Connor Williams.All the more reason for Elliott to apply the focus he tried to carry throughout the offseason."How that carries it over to the field, how that helps the field, is when I get out there, I've taken all the mental reps I need to," Elliott said. "I've taken all the physical reps I need to. Mentally, I know my assignment, I know my landmarks, I know my pace. It's like when I get in the game, I've been there before."And this year, he plans on being there the whole time."I'm young," Elliott said. "Got fresh legs. There's no pacing. Every week in the NFL matters. If they want to give it to me 30, 35 times a game, I'll take that."