The speed of Ezekial Elliott

Aviano90 said:
I guess you can't prove a negative. How about a different approach? Can you provide a recent example of Zeke being as fast now as he was in 2016? Maybe he hasn't lost a step and he's just been holding it back for some unknown reason, but he hasn't demonstrated that speed on the field in quite some time. He had two opportunities this past Sunday to open it up and he got up to 20.23 MPH. His 19 yard run with the gaping hole through the line didn't make the fastest ball carrier list so that means it had to be less than 20 MPH since that was the speed of the 20th fastest ball carrier from week 2 (only the top 20 are published).

https://nextgenstats.nfl.com/stats/top-plays/fastest-ball-carriers/2021/REG/2
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Just last week he recorded running over 20 mph during the Chargers game.
 
RaZon said:
I goofed in putting it the way I did, my bad. I talked about Zekes lack of speed, so that was me backing that claim up. I know....huh?
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With the amount of money he’s making per season a lot is expected of him. His production has been down and he hasn’t been the game changer everyone wants him to be. Some of the problem has been the OL. It’s not nearly the same run blocking unit he played behind as a rookie. Our offense has changed since Kellen Moore took over. We went from a run first team that revolved around Zeke to a pass first team that revolves around Dak. We pounded Zeke his rookie year behind arguably the best OL in the league and now we’re a happy team. Backs like Nick Chubb and Derek Henry seem to break long runs every week but Zeke has become more of a 4-12 yard push the pile back. He doesn’t seem to have the best vision and lacks burst and shiftiness. However I do think he’s looked a little quicker this season with the weight loss.
 
Aviano90 said:
Yes, but as a rookie he was running at 21.8 and 21.5 mph. Wouldn't you consider that losing a step?
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I would think that this would be obvious but most human beings can't reach top speed until they have run between 50-60 yards.. Given that Zeke has not had a play of that length in 3 years it should come as no surprise that he had not hit top speed since.. I know announcers often claim a guy "can get to top speed in a couple of strides" but they're all lying.. Nobody can get to top speed that quickly.. That's not the way it works.. Zeke could very well be FASTER at top speed than he was as a rookie but now he doesn't get the chance to get out and heat it up because of the deterioration of the offensive line and the changes in how he is being used.
 
Aviano90 said:
you don't think a 1.5 mph difference is significant in a game of inches?
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If your answer is yes then I concede he ran 1.5 mph faster in 2016. However, when the argument is "Zeke has lost a step" they aren't usually being that nit-picky. Only world-class sprinters can run 20 mph. That equates to a 45 sec 400-meter run.
 
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RonnieT24 said:
I would think that this would be obvious but most human beings can't reach top speed until they have run between 50-60 yards.. Given that Zeke has not had a play of that length in 3 years it should come as no surprise that he had not hit top speed since.. I know announcers often claim a guy "can get to top speed in a couple of strides" but they're all lying.. Nobody can get to top speed that quickly.. That's not the way it works.. Zeke could very well be FASTER at top speed than he was as a rookie but now he doesn't get the chance to get out and heat it up because of the deterioration of the offensive line and the changes in how he is being used.
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Maybe so, but we have not witnessed him reach that speed in years. We do know that.

And I've heard all the excuses for why Zeke hasn't been able to get into the open field to demonstrate his top end speed to include the offensive line, the play calling, the defense stacking the box, safeties taking good angles, Dak sucks, etc. but I look at other RBs around the league hitting big plays with the same types of limitations. So despite lack of objective data proofing Zeke is just as fast and despite many people's eyeball test he is slower we are supposed to just take it on faith that he hasn't lost a step?
 
Zeke’s speed during the combine is ancient history.

what’s next. We going to start a thread talking about the cowboys linebackers back in the 60’s?
 
RonnieT24 said:
I would think that this would be obvious but most human beings can't reach top speed until they have run between 50-60 yards.. Given that Zeke has not had a play of that length in 3 years it should come as no surprise that he had not hit top speed since.. I know announcers often claim a guy "can get to top speed in a couple of strides" but they're all lying.. Nobody can get to top speed that quickly.. That's not the way it works.. Zeke could very well be FASTER at top speed than he was as a rookie but now he doesn't get the chance to get out and heat it up because of the deterioration of the offensive line and the changes in how he is being used.
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You never ever hit your top end until 50ish meters in a 100m.

Never....at full speed in a couple strides....that is BS.
 
RaZon said:
Why is everyone down on Zeke right now, what is he lacking?
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Most ungrateful are some of these fans of ours.
How soon do they forget how 21 carried this team since 2016.
Does anyone remember our offense when he went out for 6 weeks????:huh:
Simply amazing.........
 
Aviano90 said:
Maybe so, but we have not witnessed him reach that speed in years. We do know that.

And I've heard all the excuses for why Zeke hasn't been able to get into the open field to demonstrate his top end speed to include the offensive line, the play calling, the defense stacking the box, safeties taking good angles, Dak sucsk, etc. but I look at other RBs around the league hitting big plays with the same types of limitations. So despite lack of objective data proofing Zeke is just as fast and despite many people's eyeball test he is slower we are supposed to just take it on faith that he hasn't lost a step?
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You can take it however you want.. It has been stated on many an occasion that long runs in the NFL don't happen without good downfield blocking. Because too many NFL corners run 4.3. If nobody blocks them they WILL catch you. What has gone underreported is that since Dez and Witten left town the Cowboys have not had any runs longer than 44 yards. Even that world class speedster Tony Pollard has not put together any 60-70 yard plays .. If you're looking for reasons why we have no coast to coast runs or screens or anything like that you may want to take a look at our downfield blockers.. namely the receivers.. Both Dez and Terrance Williams would hustle downfield and escort a play for 50 yards.. I have not seen this bunch doing that all that much. Pollard's short area burst has enabled him to get more 20+ yard runs.. but the lack of downfield blocking is the reason those stay 20+ yard runs and not 60-70 yarders... Again take it however you like.. but this mph thing is a red herring. I think either of them is capable of running faster if they get out into the open.. But until somebody goes and gets the free safety and the backside corner we're not going to see it.
 
RaZon said:
You never ever hit your top end until 50ish meters in a 100m.

Never....at full speed in a couple strides....that is BS.
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I know.. I cringe every time they say it but they all repeat it like its gospel. Just like that whole "he went up and got the ball at it's highest point" crapola. Even though many times at its highest point the ball was 30 feet in the air.. If a guy could go up that high he's playing the wrong sport.. He could make a lot more money in the NBA..
 
RonnieT24 said:
You can take it however you want.. It has been stated on many an occasion that long runs in the NFL don't happen without good downfield blocking. Because too many NFL corners run 4.3. If nobody blocks them they WILL catch you. What has gone underreported is that since Dez and Witten left town the Cowboys have not had any runs longer than 44 yards. Even that world class speedster Tony Pollard has not put together any 60-70 yard plays .. If you're looking for reasons why we have no coast to coast runs or screens or anything like that you may want to take a look at our downfield blockers.. namely the receivers.. Both Dez and Terrance Williams would hustle downfield and escort a play for 50 yards.. I have not seen this bunch doing that all that much. Pollard's short area burst has enabled him to get more 20+ yard runs.. but the lack of downfield blocking is the reason those stay 20+ yard runs and not 60-70 yarders... Again take it however you like.. but this mph thing is a red herring. I think either of them is capable of running faster if they get out into the open.. But until somebody goes and gets the free safety and the backside corner we're not going to see it.
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I'd say the reason why Pollard doesn't have a TD run longer than 44 yards is the same reason why Zeke doesn't have a TD run over 60 yards. On the play he got beyond the defense for the home run, the goal line was only 44 yards and 60 yards away for Zeke. Had either of those 2 runs been from our own 25 yard line, they would have both been 75 yard TD runs because no one was catching them. What we have seen these in the past couple years is Pollard has been able to hit the big TD run and Zeke hasn't been able to hit any big runs at all.
 
RaZon said:
Why is everyone down on Zeke right now, what is he lacking?
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Because that is the way this place is. A lot of haters.
Once they latch on to something they pile on. Then others need to pile on, to feel accepted and to get likes by other haters.

Soon they will add another player or coach to the list. Or revert back to more about Jaylon or Jerry.

it is a never ending cycle. Even a SB win will not break it.
:lmao:
 
Risen Star said:
Pollard was still recovering from food poisoning when he worked out at the combine. He ran a 4.38 at his pro day.

So basically Micah Parsons is just as fast.

Cowboys!
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Well, didn’t Micah say he was listed 5th on the depth chart at RB.
Makes sense. :laugh:
 
Aviano90 said:
I'd say the reason why Pollard doesn't have a TD run longer than 44 yards is the same reason why Zeke doesn't have a TD run over 60 yards. On the play he got beyond the defense for the home run, the goal line was only 44 yards and 60 yards away for Zeke. Had either of those 2 runs been from our own 25 yard line, they would have both been 75 yard TD runs because no one was catching them. What we have seen these in the past couple years is Pollard has been able to hit the big TD run and Zeke hasn't been able to hit any big runs at all.
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Again this is a bogus statement based on perception. Zeke has I believe 9-10 20+ yard plays over the last 2 years.. Yes down from years prior, but a far cry from "none at all." I also submit you are wrong about your assessment of Pollard's top end speed... Pollard had a 67 yard KO return last year that he got tracked down on. He also had two runs last Sunday when he got into the secondary and the DBs closed on him in short order. He's got decent speed and elite short area burst.. He is not however a true burner. If he was that 67 yard kickoff would have gone 100 yards to the house. Also on his 44 yard run against the Rams two years ago if #83 (who was that guy?) doesn't block #24 Pollard gets pushed out of bounds after a nice 10 yard run.. It also bears noting that the Cowboys were winning 37-15 and there were mostly practice squad guys on the field for both teams at that point. But regardless.. I stand by my assertion.. If receivers don't block downfield there aren't 5 backs in the NFL who can just run away from NFL DBs. Even Henry on all his long runs is having to throw people off who keep catching him .. The beauty of watching him is that he actually is so big he CAN just throw guys off.. It's actually pretty comical..
 
RonnieT24 said:
I know.. I cringe every time they say it but they all repeat it like its gospel. Just like that whole "he went up and got the ball at it's highest point" crapola. Even though many times at its highest point the ball was 30 feet in the air.. If a guy could go up that high he's playing the wrong sport.. He could make a lot more money in the NBA..
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Hahahahaha, that was funny my friend, yep, NBA!

There is "quickness" which is not "speed". You'd never used Herschel Walker as a punt returner, cat wasn't "quick" he was fast.
 
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