I thought you guys said Zeke lost a step

[BourbonBalz]

I really thought Carolina would eventually commit to stopping the run.

They did. It just didn’t work.

 

[FalseStart75Pozderac]

Well, he was in a foot race to the end zone again (finally) and was clocked at 20.66 MPH. As a rookie he was clocked at 21.8 MPH. No excuse today for not getting to “top speed” with the room he had. Sorry, 2016 Zeke scores 6 on that play. That is “losing a step”.

20.66 is actually pretty good for a RB who had to make moves and fight through a little contact before getting into a footrace. Question - was that 21.8 speed on the 60 yard TD against the Bengals? Seems like he was untouched until he got into footrace and split the DBs.

 

[Sydla]

I still think young Zeke takes that 47 yarder to the house. He has his quickness, but that extra burst he used to have doesn't seem to be there. If you go back to his rookie season, he could take and turn the corner at will.

Yep.

He's not an explosive back anymore. Doesn't mean he can't still be good, but a guy like McCaffery or Barkley, for example, score on that run.

 

[RonnieT24]

20.66 is actually pretty good for a RB who had to make moves and fight through a little contact before getting into a footrace. Question - was that 21.8 speed on the 60 yard TD against the Bengals? Seems like he was untouched until he got into footrace and split the DBs.

I have been trying to explain to these people for weeks that the best sprinters in the world do not reach full speed until they have run at least 60 yards. Therefore until Zeke is able to run untouched for at least 60 yards he is simply NOT going to reach full speed. On the run yesterday he stiff armed a tackler at the 35 yard line and then hit the accelerator. The guy who would eventually make the tackle was already sprinting over and was about 2-3 yards AHEAD of Zeke at that point. If you watch the replay you can see the pursuer is about to cross the 30 yard line when Zeke steps over the 35. So both the assertions that "Zeke reached full speed" and "Zeke got run down" are patently false. I'm not sure why it's so important for these people to "prove" Zeke has lost a step. Maybe he has.. but who cares? The dude is averaging 5.4 ypc and is beatin fools. If he was getting as many carries as Henry is getting he'd be closing in on 600 yards already and would probably top 1000 by midseason.

 

[RonnieT24]

Yep.

He's not an explosive back anymore. Doesn't mean he can't still be good, but a guy like McCaffery or Barkley, for example, score on that run.

LMAO.. did ya happen to see Barkley get chased down on that 41 yard run two weeks ago? Or on the pass reception this week? If Zeke has lost one step Barkley has lost two. He's a shell of himself to this point in the season. 3.6 ypc.. Can you imagine what this fan base would be saying if Zeke was averaging that? They sure as hell wouldn't be talking about how he would be making big plays .. McCaffery looks really explosive in his sweat suit on the sideline.. Over the past two seasons he has spent more time in that look than he has in pads.. So just stop it.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

LMAO.. did ya happen to see Barkley get chased down on that 41 yard run two weeks ago? Or on the pass reception this week? If Zeke has lost one step Barkley has lost two. He's a shell of himself to this point in the season. 3.6 ypc.. Can you imagine what this fan base would be saying if Zeke was averaging that? They sure as hell wouldn't be talking about how he would be making big plays .. McCaffery looks really explosive in his sweat suit on the sideline.. Over the past two seasons he has spent more time in that look than he has in pads.. So just stop it.

Oh, you mean this one?

[we have the dumbest fanbase in sports]

 

[Sydla]

LMAO.. did ya happen to see Barkley get chased down on that 41 yard run two weeks ago? Or on the pass reception this week? If Zeke has lost one step Barkley has lost two. He's a shell of himself to this point in the season. 3.6 ypc.. Can you imagine what this fan base would be saying if Zeke was averaging that? They sure as hell wouldn't be talking about how he would be making big plays .. McCaffery looks really explosive in his sweat suit on the sideline.. Over the past two seasons he has spent more time in that look than he has in pads.. So just stop it.

Zeke isn't an explosive TB. He just isn't. I am not sure why it bothers you so much. It doesn't mean he isn't a good TB, he is. He's just not a game changing back that can make a play or two that changes a game (like he could as a rookie).

 

[AKATheRake]

I for 1 have always said Zeke is still a dynamic player and the 1st offensive player teams still game plan for.

 

[RonnieT24]

Zeke isn't an explosive TB. He just isn't. I am not sure why it bothers you so much. It doesn't mean he isn't a good TB, he is. He's just not a game changing back that can make a play or two that changes a game (like he could as a rookie).

Get back to me when Barkley and McCaffery pass Zeke on the rushing list.. Either in this season or on the all time list..

I can wait.. I got a whole closet full o Snickers.. By the way, has either of those more explosive backs ever been to the playoffs? Has either of them ever even been on a team with a winning record? Asking for a friend.. Maybe you should pay more attention to winning football rather than highlight reels. What Zeke does is more conducive to winning plain and simple. You can have the SportCenter spots.. Getting Zeke going wins games for us.. Those other two? Well .... you tell me.

 

[RonnieT24]

Running back comparison.. Names removed to protect the innocent.

Running Back A: 52 attempts 186 yards 2 TD long of 41 yards 3.6 ypc
Running Back B: 52 attempts 201 yards 1 TD long of 18 yards 3.9 ypc
Running Back C: 64 attempts 364 yards 4 TD long of 47 yards 5.3 ypc


Quick.. which one you want on your team?

 

[FalseStart75Pozderac]

I actually like this thread, but we are splitting hairs here. Simply put.

1) 20.66 mph is a very good speed for an RB. I really don't care if he didn't hit 21.8 mph, he had to show elusiveness, and quickness just to get in the open field anyways. I'm curious to see which how many great Cowboy RB's hit 20.66, I don't know, probably Dorsett, maybe Murray on the 91 yarder, but we would never know about anyone else.

2) Most of today's starting DB's have very good speed to be able cover receivers. Personally I expect a DB to be as fast as most WRs and faster than than most RBs. Although it would be nice but I don't think there isn't any shame in not being able to separate from a DB in a footrace.

3) What about the jump cuts yesterday? To me that what stands out the most - The quickness and elusiveness at the LOS, not 20 yards downfield. Cant get to the second level without that shiftiness at the first level.

4) Zeke is in great shape, and now it clearly shows. The OL is clearly performing better. Working in tandem. Complementary football. The OL is giving Zeke more creases, and a lighter, quicker Zeke doesn't need a "Red Sea" opening to get to the second level.

 

[Sydla]

Running back comparison.. Names removed to protect the innocent.

Running Back A: 52 attempts 186 yards 2 TD long of 41 yards 3.6 ypc
Running Back B: 52 attempts 201 yards 1 TD long of 18 yards 3.9 ypc
Running Back C: 64 attempts 364 yards 4 TD long of 47 yards 5.3 ypc


Quick.. which one you want on your team?

C

But I also know that C is playing on a better team than A or B. You think Player C would match those stats playing for the same team as Player A?

Frankly, two of those teams are stupid in what they are paying Player B and C.

 

[Sydla]

Get back to me when Barkley and McCaffery pass Zeke on the rushing list.. Either in this season or on the all time list..

I can wait.. I got a whole closet full o Snickers.. By the way, has either of those more explosive backs ever been to the playoffs? Has either of them ever even been on a team with a winning record? Asking for a friend.. Maybe you should pay more attention to winning football rather than highlight reels. What Zeke does is more conducive to winning plain and simple. You can have the SportCenter spots.. Getting Zeke going wins games for us.. Those other two? Well .... you tell me.

McCaffery was on the 2017 Panthers playoff team.

Zeke has only been to the playoffs twice. Hardly a big difference.

 

[RonnieT24]

McCaffery was on the 2017 Panthers playoff team.

Zeke has only been to the playoffs twice. Hardly a big difference.

McCaffery was the 3rd leading rusher on that team behind Cam and Stewart. He was a bit player.. and you know it.. BTW as I'm sure you also know.. He had 6 carries for 16 yards in that one playoff game against the Saints.. but he did get a nice garbage time 56 yard TD catch late in the game. That's when he displayed his receiving skills.. which I still say is his best position. He's not built to be an every down back in this league.. Neither is Pollard.

 

[CowboyFrog]

These people say a lot of things but never admit when they are wrong.

BUt BUT BUT if that would have been Pollard he wouldve scored Rocy...right?? ...It's crazy why anyone wants this offense to change what they are doing....you stack the line Dak gonna blow up..you play back Zeke gonna pound you into ground then you get to chase Pollard while your tired....DONT CHANGE A THING KM!!!! (well maybe dont throw a pass out the endzone) but other than that dont change a thing!

 

[khiladi]

People actually were comparing Barkley to this guy.

Barkley is a home run hitter, but he doesn’t move forward like Zeke in everyday situations, which is why, even in college he was racking up multiple negative yardage runs. For every explosive play of Barkley, oftentimes on meaningless games, you’ll get multiple 1 or 2 or negative yard runs. This criticism even goes back on college.

He was actually drafted to force teams to stop defending the Giants in cover 2 zone, but that didn’t work. Defenses just continued to do it. There were articles about this and they even asked Barkley why.

On the other hand, Zeke from day 1 was basically giving this offense man looks over and over again and it continues today and when you see him running against cover 2 zone, these last two weeks he basically dominated up the middle imposing his will on defenses.

People were arguing his numbers against an extra man in the box were just mediocre, but again, none of that indicates how much these teams are forced into man coverage and when we throw, meaning of Zeke and this OL are on the field, man is the look you’re most often going to get.

This is what it means when an offense can dictate it’s terms to the defense, when it has so many weapons.

The only way it looks like you can beat is consistently is if you get out to a quick lead and force us to pass. This will only happen with a good QB.

 

[RonnieT24]

Oh, you mean this one?

[we have the dumbest fanbase in sports]

Great play.. but did you happen to notice how quickly the two dudes closed on him.. Three years ago he doesn't need to cut back to the middle on that play..

 

[Ken]

Doesn’t look like he’s lost a step to me. He just needs touches to get going.

A blind person could see he was woefully out of shape the last couple of years. That same person could also see he finally took an offseason seriously this past offseason. It is no coincidence that he is playing well right now.

Having said that, old zeke takes that long run to the house.

 

[Sydla]

McCaffery was the 3rd leading rusher on that team behind Cam and Stewart. He was a bit player.. and you know it.. BTW as I'm sure you also know.. He had 6 carries for 16 yards in that one playoff game against the Saints.. but he did get a nice garbage time 56 yard TD catch late in the game. That's when he displayed his receiving skills.. which I still say is his best position. He's not built to be an every down back in this league.. Neither is Pollard.

LOL, he led the Panthers in receptions in 2017, with 80 catches. He was hardly a "bit player".

 

[khiladi]

And Callahan essentially built our RG anyways, which is still our foundation. Bill Callahan turned the Browns around immediately, the impact of an excellent RG evident on even a team led by QB Baker Mayfield.