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Eagles will see NFL's top rusher in Ezekiel Elliott

Before the combine or the predraft visits or the daily mock drafts, Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins shared his own insight with the Eagles front office: Ezekiel Elliott is the best running back in the draft.

Before the combine or the predraft visits or the daily mock drafts, Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins shared his own insight with the Eagles front office: Ezekiel Elliott is the best running back in the draft.

Jenkins was a bit biased - they both went to Ohio State - and far from the only one who concluded that Elliott could be special in the NFL. But what Jenkins saw when watching his favorite college team will be apparent when Jenkins takes the field Sunday against Elliott and the Dallas Cowboys.

With the way Elliott is playing this season, Jenkins might not have needed to say "in the draft." It could be "in the NFL," because Elliott entered Week 8 atop the league in rushing yards (703) and yards per game (117.2). And even though rookie quarterback Dak Prescott has helped the Cowboys to a 5-1 start, the Eagles know Elliott will be the rookie to focus on Sunday night.

"If they're able to run the game on us, it's going to be a long game," defensive lineman Fletcher Cox said. "We have to go in, stop the run, create negative yardage plays - that's what this defense is about - and make them throw the ball. And that gives us a chance to do what we love and get after their rookie quarterback."

The emphasis on stopping the run was echoed by players throughout the defense, but it's been difficult for anyone in Elliott's way. The Eagles have the NFL's 14th-ranked rushing defense, limiting offenses to 102.7 yards per game and 4.5 yards per carry. But the Eagles have not seen a running back of Elliott's caliber, and their worst game of the season came against a scheme similar to the one Dallas uses.

Washington gashed the Eagles for 230 rushing yards and 7 yards per carry in a 27-20 win two weeks ago. That game is a resource this week for the Eagles defense because the Cowboys have concepts from former offensive line coach Bill Callahan, who is now in Washington.

"We did some things that were out of character in that game and some things that we did better," defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said. "Minnesota tried a few of those things and we were able to play some of them better. But every game's different, and different personnel, different situation. Hopefully we learn some lessons from it and that will carry us forward."

Linebacker Jordan Hicks said the key will be the "gap integrity" for the linebackers. In the Washington game, the linebackers were guilty of overrunning their gaps. The defensive line also didn't win one-on-one battles. In this defense, the defensive line needs to attack and the linebackers need to fit their gaps.

The challenge on Sunday is not just Elliott but a Cowboys offensive line that is perhaps the NFL's best at run-blocking. Since 2011, the Cowboys invested first-round picks in left tackle Tyron Smith, center Travis Frederick, and right tackle Zack Martin. All three have reached the Pro Bowl. The Eagles' defensive linemen have experience playing against this group, and, as in Washington, whoever wins the line of scrimmage could determine the game.

"Can our defensive line be better than their offensive line? We've got to accept that challenge," Cox said.

"I feel strong about our defensive line," Schwartz added. "It's going to be a great matchup on Sunday."

The defensive line must play for the second week in a row without Bennie Logan, who is out with a groin injury. Logan's strength is stopping the run, and though Beau Allen has played well in his place, the Eagles will miss Logan. Schwartz likes to rotate linemen, and the two backup tackles are now undrafted rookie Destiny Vaeao and Taylor Hart, whom they claimed off waivers this past week.

But even if the line can win the battle in the trenches, Elliott can still create yards. He is the complete running back who is effective both inside and outside, and Schwartz said that "if one guy is out of place or one guy misses a tackle, he can make a big play." Elliott is 6-feet, 220 pounds, and already has seven runs longer than 20 yards.

"I don't know what you can name that he doesn't do well," Jenkins said. "As a back, he's got great vision. Good patience. He's got the speed to be a home run hitter. He's got the physicality to run through arm tackles and finish runs. It's not much he can't do."

That's why Jenkins felt strong enough to endorse Elliott to the Eagles brass. And before executive Howie Roseman traded up to No. 2 to pick Carson Wentz, he did not extinguish speculation that the Eagles would break a 30-year streak and take a running back in the first round if Elliott was an option at No. 8. The Eagles even brought Elliott to the team facility to gather more information.

What the Eagles saw on film before the draft will be evident in the NFC East for years to come, and whether they can contain Elliott on Sunday could determine the outcome of the game.

zberman@phillynews.com

@ZBerm