MMQB - Dallas Draft: Looking Back

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http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/11/23/dallas-cowboys-draft-nfl-ezekiel-elliott-dak-prescott

The Cowboys being the most interesting story in football right now, I thought I’d go back to draft weekend—I was in Dallas for the draft—and revisit exactly what happened with Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott, and how those picks have transformed the team for the short- and long-term.

First, remember why the Cowboys picked Elliott. They loved the running back from Ohio State, and they didn’t love a single defensive player in the draft. They didn’t think their needy front seven could get refurbished with any single player in this draft. Owner Jerry Jones told me two hours before the draft that the reason Elliott made sense is that he would be able to take pressure off the defense by making sure it stayed on the field for less time in 2016.

Let’s see if Jones was right, as it looks today.

• INSIDE THE DALLAS DRAFT ROOM: Back in early May, Peter King chronicled his time with the Cowboys during the selection process

Dallas, last season, held the ball for 30:59, on average, in games. That was 11th in the league in time of possession. This season, with Elliott, the Cowboys are first in time of possession, at 33:27 per game … a full two-and-a-half minutes more than last year. Foes averaged 10.9 possessions per game last year. They’s averaging 9.9 possessions this year.

So Elliott has helped keep Dallas’s defense off the field for a full possession per game and for 2.5 per game. We don’t say this often in the football media business about the football decisions of Jerral Wayne Jones, but it should be said now: Through 10 games of the 2016 season, Jerry Jones made a smart move by picking Ezekiel Elliott—who leads the NFL with an average of 139.4 scrimmage yards per game—over any defensive player on the board.
 
"Cleveland took picks 114 and 154 from Oakland, and the Raiders jumped Dallas and picked Cook. Dallas people were shocked. Why Oakland? Oakland had a star quarterback of the future, Derek Carr; this made no sense."

Oakland did that because they're smart. I mean, I have no idea about the player, but if you believe in the talent at the price, you take him, no matter what your current situation at the position is. The Patriots are always drafting QBs. The Vikings thought they had the position covered and found themselves scrambling this season. We had the same thing happen last season. If it's true that "Dallas people were shocked," I'm a little concerned.
 
Owner Jerry Jones told me two hours before the draft that the reason Elliott made sense is that he would be able to take pressure off the defense by making sure it stayed on the field for less time in 2016.
Limiting your opponent's possessions works as long as you outscore them on each possession. Against playoff teams, this strategy puts a lot of pressure a) on your defense to play over their heads, or b) on your offense to finish every drive with a score.

The strategy backfired on us in Green Bay in 2014 because we didn't do either. Even though we outrushed them and won the TOP battle, they outscored us on each possession.
 
"Cleveland took picks 114 and 154 from Oakland, and the Raiders jumped Dallas and picked Cook. Dallas people were shocked. Why Oakland? Oakland had a star quarterback of the future, Derek Carr; this made no sense."

Oakland did that because they're smart. I mean, I have no idea about the player, but if you believe in the talent at the price, you take him, no matter what your current situation at the position is. The Patriots are always drafting QBs. The Vikings thought they had the position covered and found themselves scrambling this season. We had the same thing happen last season. If it's true that "Dallas people were shocked," I'm a little concerned.

what do you think of patrick mahomes?
 
Limiting your opponent's possessions works as long as you outscore them on each possession. Against playoff teams, this strategy puts a lot of pressure a) on your defense to play over their heads, or b) on your offense to finish every drive with a score.

The strategy backfired on us in Green Bay in 2014 because we didn't do either. Even though we outrushed them and won the TOP battle, they outscored us on each possession.

I think the ability to limit # of possessions is what is useful.
Limit it if you are ahead.
But if behind, then obviously dont.
However a balanced attack at least is needed so our QB does not get killed.
Though if you have Elliott and our OL, then it can be the tip of the spear.
 
http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/11/23/dallas-cowboys-draft-nfl-ezekiel-elliott-dak-prescott

The Cowboys being the most interesting story in football right now, I thought I’d go back to draft weekend—I was in Dallas for the draft—and revisit exactly what happened with Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott, and how those picks have transformed the team for the short- and long-term.

First, remember why the Cowboys picked Elliott. They loved the running back from Ohio State, and they didn’t love a single defensive player in the draft. They didn’t think their needy front seven could get refurbished with any single player in this draft. Owner Jerry Jones told me two hours before the draft that the reason Elliott made sense is that he would be able to take pressure off the defense by making sure it stayed on the field for less time in 2016.

Let’s see if Jones was right, as it looks today.

• INSIDE THE DALLAS DRAFT ROOM: Back in early May, Peter King chronicled his time with the Cowboys during the selection process

Dallas, last season, held the ball for 30:59, on average, in games. That was 11th in the league in time of possession. This season, with Elliott, the Cowboys are first in time of possession, at 33:27 per game … a full two-and-a-half minutes more than last year. Foes averaged 10.9 possessions per game last year. They’s averaging 9.9 possessions this year.

So Elliott has helped keep Dallas’s defense off the field for a full possession per game and for 2.5 per game. We don’t say this often in the football media business about the football decisions of Jerral Wayne Jones, but it should be said now: Through 10 games of the 2016 season, Jerry Jones made a smart move by picking Ezekiel Elliott—who leads the NFL with an average of 139.4 scrimmage yards per game—over any defensive player on the board.
:clap:
 
Limiting your opponent's possessions works as long as you outscore them on each possession. Against playoff teams, this strategy puts a lot of pressure a) on your defense to play over their heads, or b) on your offense to finish every drive with a score.

The strategy backfired on us in Green Bay in 2014 because we didn't do either. Even though we outrushed them and won the TOP battle, they outscored us on each possession.
The strategy was working fine until Murray fumbled and they ruled Cobbs catch a catch to set them up for a field goal. Still trying to figure that one out.
 
So we would have lost J. Smith and Collins in an attempt to get Lynch, and would have lost Tapper and Brown in an attempt to get Cook. I'm assuming that Smith and Tapper (less hopeful) amount to something, but I think that hitting on Collins and Brown plus landing what appears to be one of the best or the best QB in the draft as a byproduct is about as glorious as it can get.

I guess one could argue that we might have taken Brown in the spot we drafted Dak, but still...
 
So we would have lost J. Smith and Collins in an attempt to get Lynch, and would have lost Tapper and Brown in an attempt to get Cook. I'm assuming that Smith and Tapper (less hopeful) amount to something, but I think that hitting on Collins and Brown plus landing what appears to be one of the best or the best QB in the draft as a byproduct is about as glorious as it can get.

I guess one could argue that we might have taken Brown in the spot we drafted Dak, but still...

Yep, the most important loss is Dak because it does not sound like they would have drafted 2 QBs...
 
Limiting your opponent's possessions works as long as you outscore them on each possession. Against playoff teams, this strategy puts a lot of pressure a) on your defense to play over their heads, or b) on your offense to finish every drive with a score.

The strategy backfired on us in Green Bay in 2014 because we didn't do either. Even though we outrushed them and won the TOP battle, they outscored us on each possession.

No Demarco Murray's fumble backfired on us because we were about to put them away at that point.
 
Tweeted to MMQB:

re: what you reported, DAL draft WOULD HAVE lost either Collins (2nd gone to obtain Lynch) or Brown (6th gone for Connor Cook). (Lucky>Good)
 
So we would have lost J. Smith and Collins in an attempt to get Lynch, and would have lost Tapper and Brown in an attempt to get Cook. I'm assuming that Smith and Tapper (less hopeful) amount to something, but I think that hitting on Collins and Brown plus landing what appears to be one of the best or the best QB in the draft as a byproduct is about as glorious as it can get.

I guess one could argue that we might have taken Brown in the spot we drafted Dak, but still...

Jury is still out on both Collins, Smith, and Tapper. Brown I think you can book as a success considering what he cost.
 
The strategy was working fine until Murray fumbled and they ruled Cobbs catch a catch to set them up for a field goal. Still trying to figure that one out.
No Demarco Murray's fumble backfired on us because we were about to put them away at that point.

Against playoff teams, this strategy puts a lot of pressure a) on your defense to play over their heads, or b) on your offense to finish every drive with a score.
 
Jury is still out on both Collins, Smith, and Tapper. Brown I think you can book as a success considering what he cost.

At the minimum, I think Collins has proven to be a solid rotational guy. He's playing on a DL with almost no playmakers. Does anyone out there scream double team? If Collins were playing in Denver with Ware on one side and Miller on the other, he'd probably be salivating over a Malik (ha!) Jackson future payday with the Jags.
 
Yea we may have planned Zeke, Brown, Collins, etc all along. But Dak, we got incredibly lucky on.
I think they planned on taking him regardless of who else they drafted. Atleast, that's what I've read somewhere... Hopefully it wasn't here.. lol
 

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