Bringing Zeke back actually makes us a worse team!

[Chasing6]

Don't think they are done adding to the RB room.

June 1st cuts and more cap room is coming.

Not sure about the more cap room.

 

[HungryLion]

Maybe that’s the point?


Jerry and Stephen are team tank

 

[OmerV]

This move baffles me to no end. I loved Zeke back during his first few seasons but the time has passed him by. He’s acceptable at best and I think signing him actually makes us a worse team. This gives us no advantage and he doesn’t have any upside. He wasn’t that good for us two years ago and now he’s even older and slower.

This was an abysmal move. Guarantee you Dak tossed an idea for management to sign his former friend or something.

While I agree he doesn't provide a dramatic upgrade, I still think there is value AS LONG AS the team thinks of him as a role player rather than a lead dog. I suspect the team will view him as a role player because it wouldn't have made sense to let him walk last year if they still thought of him as a lead dog, but I can't claim the Cowboys always do what makes sense to me

 

[Silverstar]

Not sure about the more cap room.

I'm no cap guru but I believe Gallup was a June 1st cut that will add approx 9.5M

 

[zekecowboy]

Like you, I was all in on the Cowboys drafting Zeke out of OSU, but today's Zeke is not the same Zeke as the one we drafted. But truthfully, I doubt that Zeke was hired to save the day for the Cowboys, I think they were just trying to buy a little time. A little time, as in 1 year. We just drafted some serious help for the OL and DL, but it's probably going to take those rooks a year to grow up. Meanwhile, some were pretty unhappy that we didn't draft a RB, but I think they had to pull a balancing act between drafting the help they felt they needed and what part of that were they willing to sacrifice for a late round chance at a RB that might not be that good anyway. They opted to sacrifice the late round RB for what I feel were some strong picks for the trenches.
Those picks will be ready to play with a year of experience for 2025 at the same time when we have a better shot at drafting a quality RB in a higher round. Like I said, I think signing Zeke was just buying time till next year's draft of a better RB and we'll have a better OL to block for him.
Just a thought, but I think it'll work out better this way in the long run.

Zeke is a very effective running back blocker who will protect Dak when the defense penetrates the offensive line.

 

[Chasing6]

Maybe that’s the point?


Jerry and Stephen are team tank

The Jones' have no idea what they are doing. One is half in and the other one is half out.

One wants to rebuild, the other wants to make Dak, CD and Micah the richest players in their positions.

This is what you call a soup sandwich.

 

[Mikexike]

Hopefully Peat works out, Seems like a decent udfa.

 

[Whiskey Cowboy]

Zeke's mere presence on the roster makes us weaker because he's washed up and has been for years. Plus, he's a classic progress stopper. Any UDFA RB would be a better investment for those carries. Zeke has no upside at all. RBs don't get better with age. They never have.

A progress stopper for who? I look at the RB room and I don't see anyone worth trying to develop into a lead back. Zeke is insurance in case the other guys can't get it done. His contract isn't prohibitive towards bringing another guy in, and it's value certainly doesn't dictate that he receive substantial playing time. He's the safety net they had in place in case they failed to bring in a younger back.

Dude, I'm pissed that they didn't address running back in this draft, just as I was pissed they didn't grab one last year. I've made this clear, to the point where I became annoyed reading my own words about the subject...but come on. He's the best player in that room right now. I know that isn't saying much, but I'm sure everyone can agree that having a guy like Deuce in on third down in pass pro is a terrible, terrible idea. Zeke fills that role. Would you rather have Dowdle taking that carry on the goal line, playoffs on the line, 4th and 1, 4th quarter with under a minute for the win?

Zeke fills a role. Nothing more. If they roll into the season with 15 as RB1, they're idiots, and failed to secure a younger veteran with some juice left. I'm seeing that as worst case scenario, which is still far better than going with the 3 D's, and Freeman at RB.

 

[Established1971]

lets get the best RB from the UFL and pretend its a preseason battle, all the while knowing Zeke will be a short yardage guy only

 

[BoysfanfromCanada]

I feel like adding Zeke at his current cost is fine, his pass blocking and goal line work make it worth it. Buuuttt, and its a big but, the team can't be naive and think just because they're replacing Biadisz/Smith another year as a G/Steele being longer removed from ACL that the line will automatically start pushing people out of the way and make it easy for Zeke to get going. That is not realistic. I feel like Zeke running the ball will simply make it 2nd and 8 or 9. He should only be used on 3rd and 1 or obvious passing situations

 

[MyFairLady]

Zeke is a good teammate and locker-room guy. He's a good example to follow in terms of training and remaining available.

But as a RB? What kind of morons ignore the RB position for 2+ years?

I would say he is a bad teammate and terrible example. He was incredibly selfish when he was here. He would get suspended letting his team down. He would hold out early for more money. He got fat and lazy. IMHO he was everything a quality team should look to avoid. For his first 3 years he was so incredible and electric that he could get away with whatever. Since then he has been a complete albatross.

 

[DenCWBY]

I would say he is a bad teammate and terrible example. He was incredibly selfish when he was here. He would get suspended letting his team down. He would hold out early for more money. He got fat and lazy. IMHO he was everything a quality team should look to avoid. For his first 3 years he was so incredible and electric that he could get away with whatever. Since then he has been a complete albatross.

This. Fans have short memories. This team needs new, young, highly motivated, team players. Zeke is just one step slower and not a significant locker room presence this team needs.

 

[gtb1943]

This. Fans have short memories. This team needs new, young, highly motivated, team players. Zeke is just one step slower and not a significant locker room presence this team needs.

yawn

 

[G2]

I would say he is a bad teammate and terrible example. He was incredibly selfish when he was here. He would get suspended letting his team down. He would hold out early for more money. He got fat and lazy. IMHO he was everything a quality team should look to avoid. For his first 3 years he was so incredible and electric that he could get away with whatever. Since then he has been a complete albatross.

Sure

 

[gimmesix]

Austin Ekeler 3.51 Y/A
Ezekiel Elliot 3.49 Y/A
Josh Jacobs 3.45 Y/A
AJ Dillon 3.44 Y/A

Not saying Elliott was the signing I wanted, but why does it seem that the Packers are being praised for signing Jacobs when he averaged worse than Elliott?

 

[gimmesix]

It's not a reach at all.

It's reality. One of the bigger complaints coming out of the 2023 season was that the running game was just not good enough. That the OL had to be fixed and that they needed more out of their RBs. It was a two part solution. No, we didn't need to go sign Jacobs for a bazillion bucks but we probably needed to do better than what we did. But we knew Pollard wasn't good enough for the role asked to play.

To try to now sell Elliott as a viable option to fix part 2 of that equation is laughable but expected from some here, and especially, the Cowboys.

Elliott, Dowdle, Vaughn is basically Hurns, Thompson, Gallup, Austin and Beasley all over again. The Cowboys aren't going RB by committee led by Elliott because they think it will work. They are doing it because they are cheap. Just like in 2018.

There can be a vast difference in 4.0 averages. The hope with Elliott is that he's get 3.5/4 yards more consistently than Pollard did. Pollard was not a between-the-tackles runner, which is where our team wanted to run for some reason. If you get 1 yard and your next carry gets 9, that first carry is going to set up second-and-9 or third-and-9 and you are more than likely going to be trying to pass for a first down before the back is going to get that next carry. If your back gets 3.5 on first down, there's a 50/50 chance that the next play is a run too.

The running game was not good enough last year because it too often put us behind the eight-ball. Elliott doesn't have to average more than Pollard did to not do that, he just has to more consistently pick up positive yardage. I don't know if he can, but I believe this is what they are seeking from him. 4 yards can be effective when it is second-and-4 or third-and-4 and defenses can't just ignore the run. If it's second-and-10 or third-and-6, then defenses know a pass is most likely.

 

[morasp]

Not saying Elliott was the signing I wanted, but why does it seem that the Packers are being praised for signing Jacobs when he averaged worse than Elliott?

and for quite a lot bigger contract.

 

[gimmesix]

and for quite a lot bigger contract.

Right. Other than him being younger than Aaron Jones, I can't see why that move is being cast in a positive light after Jones averaged 4.6 per carry and ran over us in the playoffs. I mean, I applaud them for at least drafting a back to go with him and Dillon.

I guess, their justification for what they gave Jacobs was his 2022 season, but frankly, that's been the outlier in his career. He's been a 4.0 or under back the other three years.

 

[Buzzbait]

The Jones' have no idea what they are doing. One is half in and the other one is half out.

One wants to rebuild, the other wants to make Dak, CD and Micah the richest players in their positions.

This is what you call a soup sandwich.

 

[EPL0c0]

Best RB on the roster though.

that's like being the skinniest kid at fat camp.