Ezekiel Elliott, how many yards do we really need from him

[RonnieT24]

Dude averaged 5.1 YPC as a rookie. He had 11.3 YPR that year. He was awesome. The offense was awesome. We actually won a play off game. That seems like a life time ago.

The reason it seems like a lifetime ago is that it never happened. The Cowboys lost their first playoff game that year to the Packers.. Memory is the second thing to go they say..

As several folks have already stated.. It's not "how many yards" he gets but "how and when he gets them" that will determine Zeke's effectiveness. 1500 "empty calorie" yards benefit no one. 1200 tough yards with a high first down conversion rate and a good performance in the red zone is how it should be measured.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Let’s talk about production. OK so you’re the league leading rusher. What did those yards do. You start on your own 20 yard line. By the time you get to the red zone. You’re not as fresh. No I’d rather see more balance going down the field. And then use every bit of energy to pound the ball into the end zone. No, this is as much on coaching as it is on anything else. Special teams should be much better the season so we don’t have to start every drive on are side of the field. I guess there’s a reason why there’s only one rushing title leader with the ring . Some fans don’t think an extra game is a big deal. Ask the players at the end of the season how big of a deal it is. Go cowboys

Rushing yards do not correlate to winning so I don't really care how many yards he gets. Attempts, catches, air yards, and TD do count.

If we are seeing 25+ attempts from our RB then we are probably winning. From our backs I want to see 400 carries. Improvement in scores and the passing game are what is more causative.

 

[Rockport]

Let’s talk about production. OK so you’re the league leading rusher. What did those yards do. You start on your own 20 yard line. By the time you get to the red zone. You’re not as fresh. No I’d rather see more balance going down the field. And then use every bit of energy to pound the ball into the end zone. No, this is as much on coaching as it is on anything else. Special teams should be much better the season so we don’t have to start every drive on are side of the field. I guess there’s a reason why there’s only one rushing title leader with the ring . Some fans don’t think an extra game is a big deal. Ask the players at the end of the season how big of a deal it is. Go cowboys

Wouldn't defenses realize that you're saving your running back only for the Red Zone and adjust?

 

[AyeAtey]

Whatever it takes to get that first down or better yet, the TD.

 

[RonnieT24]

Wouldn't defenses realize that you're saving your running back only for the Red Zone and adjust?

Adjust how? Drop 8 into coverage and let Dak audible to a run against a 3 man front? It's the classic example of why it's key to be good at both the run and the pass and have a QB and OC capable of exploiting whichever aspect of the defense is vulnerable given the alignment and situation. If you have that then the defense can never be "right." Their only chance is for the offense to make a mistake. Obviously in most cases the offenses do just that. Penalty, dropped pass, poor throw, missed block.. any of which can blow up a perfectly called play .. But if everybody does their job the play succeeds, you move the chains. There is no defense which can defend the entire 100x53 yard space. They can only hope that they can rush the QB into a mistake or beat your line up to disrupt a run play.. or jam the receiver to disrupt the route. Or just fool the QB into making the wrong audible and running a play that has no chance against the current defense.

 

[DandyDon52]

Zeke only had TWO more carries last year then he did in the season in which he was suspended 6 games.

Kellen Moore clearly wants to be pass happy and that has proven to be a losing formula for us since he took over in 2019.

That confirms kellen is a passing OC, he doesnt understand or value the run game. He was a passing qb, so it is influencing him as a OC.
Sadly the jones boys like pass plays so they extend kellen and pay dak elite money.
part of this comes from fans and media , back in 2016 going on about how dak couldnt pass for 200 yds a game, and later it was 300 yds per game.
People said elliot was carrying dak and the team lol. So now dak is doing 4-500 yds per game and they lose, but everyone loves those stats,
and the pass plays.

I didn’t read thru all of these but the only times we’ve made the playoffs with this current core of talent is when Elliott led the league in rushing both times.

If we need Dak to lead the league in passing it probably means we are having to come back in games throwing the ball.

If Zeke leads the League in rushing it probably means we are getting out to early leads and controlling TOP which is probably a more favorable scenario for success.

exactly, and now if we could only tell this to kellen and the jones boys .

 

[zerofill]

With the receiver group we have, including the RBs... it seems we have been molded into a pass first team. Whether we can actually do that or not, remains to be seen lol.

 

[fivetwos]

If we can get back to where Elliott carries this team, I promise all of you we are in great shape.

Control the ball, the clock and the game.

 

[Rockport]

Adjust how? Drop 8 into coverage and let Dak audible to a run against a 3 man front? It's the classic example of why it's key to be good at both the run and the pass and have a QB and OC capable of exploiting whichever aspect of the defense is vulnerable given the alignment and situation. If you have that then the defense can never be "right." Their only chance is for the offense to make a mistake. Obviously in most cases the offenses do just that. Penalty, dropped pass, poor throw, missed block.. any of which can blow up a perfectly called play .. But if everybody does their job the play succeeds, you move the chains. There is no defense which can defend the entire 100x53 yard space. They can only hope that they can rush the QB into a mistake or beat your line up to disrupt a run play.. or jam the receiver to disrupt the route. Or just fool the QB into making the wrong audible and running a play that has no chance against the current defense.

You missed my point.

 

[Whirlwin]

Wouldn't defenses realize that you're saving your running back only for the Red Zone and adjust?

Not if we’re spreading the ball around properly . And what are they going to adjust. Stopping to in the. And what are they going to adjust. They’re stopping the run as it is.

 

[Whirlwin]

Im not buying that nonsense. Zeke averaged 59 yards per game last year. Where were the 80 yards drives that were all Zeke?

I never said they were all Elliot running for the ED yards. But he’s in on every single play of the 80 yards. Are you getting old

 

[Whirlwin]

Burden of evidence is on you. You are the one that made the outlandish claim. To imply that Moore doesnt have or doesnt call plays over the middle is absolutely laughable.

But since you asked......................here ya go.

This one was easy. Notice all the GREEN DOTS over the middle there genius?

Anything else? Your turn!

No burden of evidence is what you see during the game. No we do not hit the middle of the field maybe one pass play per game if that.

 

[Rockport]

I never said they were all Elliot running for the ED yards. But he’s in on every single play of the 80 yards. Are you getting old

Of course but the person who I was responding to said save Zeke until the red zone and then keep pounding him away.

 

[Whirlwin]

Burden of evidence is on you. You are the one that made the outlandish claim. To imply that Moore doesnt have or doesnt call plays over the middle is absolutely laughable.

But since you asked......................here ya go.

This one was easy. Notice all the GREEN DOTS over the middle there genius?

Anything else? Your turn!

There’s like four dots in the middle of the field. That were completedDownfield. No 5 yard line

 

[Whirlwin]

average of 80 a game.=1360 lol that isnt very good.

I would say 100 avg per game, but with Kellen as OC, no way he gets more than 1400

No I think we need more balanced than that You forget we have another running back on the team

 

[Whirlwin]

average of 80 a game.=1360 lol that isnt very good.

I would say 100 avg per game, but with Kellen as OC, no way he gets more than 1400

It’s only 40 more yards than I predict. Whether it’s very good or not . Only matters if it turns into points. I’m looking for balance that’s my point

 

[blueblood70]

Rushing yards do not correlate to winning so I don't really care how many yards he gets. Attempts, catches, air yards, and TD do count.

If we are seeing 25+ attempts from our RB then we are probably winning. From our backs I want to see 400 carries. Improvement in scores and the passing game are what is more causative.

apparently neither do empty calorie passing yards, receiving yards etc etc how about instead of trying late game comebacks, we get up early, not turning it over is good start, limit getting behind the chains etc then the run game can be more effective...

works both ways whatever they say about Zeke can be said about Dak...yards dont lead to wins quality scores and playing with leads and not shooting yourself in the foot would be nice..

 

[blueblood70]

The reason it seems like a lifetime ago is that it never happened. The Cowboys lost their first playoff game that year to the Packers.. Memory is the second thing to go they say..

As several folks have already stated.. It's not "how many yards" he gets but "how and when he gets them" that will determine Zeke's effectiveness. 1500 "empty calorie" yards benefit no one. 1200 tough yards with a high first down conversion rate and a good performance in the red zone is how it should be measured.

apparently neither do empty calorie passing yards, receiving yards etc etc how about instead of trying late game comebacks, we get up early, not turning it over is good start, limit getting behind the chains etc then the run game can be more effective...

works both ways whatever they say about Zeke can be said about Dak...yards dont lead to wins quality scores and playing with leads and not shooting yourself in the foot would be nice..

 

[Whirlwin]

Of course but the person who I was responding to said save Zeke until the red zone and then keep pounding him away.

Thanks for the clarification but I Thought I was talking to someone else. I think he’s getting old and doesn’t understand what’s happening LOL

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

apparently neither do empty calorie passing yards, receiving yards etc etc how about instead of trying late game comebacks, we get up early, not turning it over is good start, limit getting behind the chains etc then the run game can be more effective...

works both ways whatever they say about Zeke can be said about Dak...yards dont lead to wins quality scores and playing with leads and not shooting yourself in the foot would be nice..

Apparently nothing. This is not a simple system with a single input. Defense plays a part too ie how many rushing attemtps passing yards and such we give up.

Scoring 30 ppg is top 5 point production. You still end up losing more than you win when you give up 35 ppg or worst in the league.