Should Cowboys run Zeke like they did Murray in 2014?

[ItzKelz]

They've drafted RBs to keep this from happening so I certainly do not think that is the plan. We will see what actually happens.

 

[Johnny23]

For sure, that’s Jerry’s MO. If these same things happened to Zeke on another team and they let him walk, Jerrah would be the first to swoop in and get him. I don’t think there’s a snowballs chance in hell they let him go.

IMOF, I think they will give him a huge contract unless he gets suspended or hurt and somehow one of our rookies has success (a la Dak vs Romo, no one saw that coming). Of course the replacement won’t be as good as Zeke but maybe serviceable enough to win games without the contract and headache.

Absolutely. There's some talented backs coming out in 2020 and 2021 that I would draft one to pair up with Tony Pollard if he pans out. I lean towards letting Zeke walk just because of the off the field issues and that he's seems to be the meathead stereotype.

 

[aria]

Absolutely. There's some talented backs coming out in 2020 and 2021 that I would draft one to pair up with Tony Pollard if he pans out. I lean towards letting Zeke walk just because of the off the field issues and that he's seems to be the meathead stereotype.

It would be tough letting him go but I wasn’t a big fan of drafting a RB that high and never will be. A few (e AP, LT) work out in the long run but I’m skeptical. This workhorse nonsense, as if people have that food of an idea after three seasons, can backfire easily. RB’s are notorious for declining quickly and injuries, especially if they keep giving the ball to him as much as they do.

Couple that with his off the field issues, I’d lean towards letting him go as well. Every time he screws up, I get frustrated as hell but think “maybe it will get through his head this time and he’ll change”. That has yet to happen and I’m not one to make excuses or minimize stupid behavior when you’re already on a short leash.

 

[Diehardblues]

I’d give him 500 touches including catches.

Can he throw the ball?

MVP.

 

[gimmesix]

One other big difference between Murray and Elliott- DeMarco Murray was a leader in the locker room. He was one of the most respected guys on the team, had an exemplary work ethic, and was never an off the field risk for behavior.

Zeke works hard but going into year 4 of his time here, because of his lack of maturity, I seriously doubt he would be thought of in this locker room as one of this team’s real leaders. I’m sure his talent is respected and appreciated. And he’s probably a pretty fun guy to hang with when he’s not wasted. But I seriously doubt he’s carrying the respect his teammates have for guys like Tank, T-Fred, Sean Lee, Tyron Smith, Tyrone Crawford and even Dak. Zeke has a long way to go as a man before the word “leader” could be associated with his name.

I think how these players behave when not with the team affects our view of them a whole lot more than the players who are around them every day. Most of us have people we work with where we might not like how they live their lives outside of work, but they are valued in the workplace. From what I've seen, Elliott would fall into that category. He is a vocal leader and a fun guy to be around from what I can observe from just what we've been shown.

Leadership is one of those attributes, though, that is just difficult for us to measure from the outside looking in. so I can't say Murray was one and Elliott isn't. If anything, Elliott is more vocally involved the Murray was since Murray just mainly quietly went about doing his job, at least publicly.

 

[gimmesix]

I’d give him 500 touches including catches.

Can he throw the ball?

MVP.

Did you see him in the Pro Bowl? Add pass rusher to that list.

 

[cern]

the previous year the cowboys made an offer to murray which, at the time, would have made murray the highest free agent rb in history. murray snubbed his nose at the offer. ergo, the cowboys knew there was no way they could sign him and decided to run him into the ground. a wise move on their part. the zeke situation will likely be different. if it becomes obvious a deal can't be made, zeke will probably hold out and not play instead of risk injury and a future megadeal with someone else. problematic at best.

 

[Howboutdemcowboys31]

Simply put feed the man but not to the point where he burns out. He’s hella better than Murray

 

[J12B]

I'd ride his contract out at this point. As the #4 overall pick in his draft, he's already been well compensated from day one. And the fifth-year option isn't cheap either.

The fact is that this team and running game has been built via the offensive line, not any single running back.

That's why Murray led the league and set franchise rushing records, and was allowed to leave.

It's why a bust in Darren McFadden revitalized his career and was the #4 rusher the lone year he started here (after the Randle debacle).

And it's why Elliott has led the league in rushing every full season he's played.

The running game is bigger than any single running back.

This wins "best post of the day"

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Yes run him into the ground. Chew him up and spit him out.

Great value on our highest pick in a decade.

 

[Bullflop]

I think much depends as to how successful Dak and our receivers might be to determine the extent to which Elliott is used. Even then, he should most likely get enough snaps to continue being a major offensive force for the Dallas attack. I'm really hoping the offense is balanced enough between the run and the pass to allow Zeke more rest than what DeMarco was allowed. If memory serves, he was worn down at year's end. We'll see if Kellen Moore is inclined to preserve his health for the playoffs. It's possible if the passing attack is successful enough but that's pretty much anyone's guess, imho.

 

[Melonfeud]

Agreed, and I like the fact that the emphasis has evolved a bit toward paying for blue chip OL.

Zeke is highly talented, but would seek the highest contract (IMO), based on that ego.

So, get what you can, and let him walk.

While I'm a bit fuzzy on the offer sheet they'd slid over to the #29 in 2014 ,it's my understanding it wasn't all that great in disparity ,as to what the CHIPSTER threw at him,and while our #21's on field playing time is of immense value?,,,Personally I'd run his wheels off in the attack mode of the quested Lombardi trophy,,,er,,,that is,should he even be deemed available to play this year by the commissioner,,,a Superbowl ring could be his only life long reminder of a short lived NFL career.

 

[CouchCoach]

This wins "best post of the day"

J12B, did you read all of mine? And 1:15 is too damned early to be handing out "Post of the Day" awards. We got some posters on welfare that don't get up until 2 or 3 in the afternoon.

 

[Big_D]

Sure, run him and get rid of him.

 

[gimmesix]

Absolutely. There's some talented backs coming out in 2020 and 2021 that I would draft one to pair up with Tony Pollard if he pans out. I lean towards letting Zeke walk just because of the off the field issues and that he's seems to be the meathead stereotype.

There are several analysis out there that show that drafting an elite running back is not a sure-bet process.

This one https://www.milehighreport.com/2017/3/23/15025634/success-rates-of-drafting-a-running-back-nfl-draft looked at running backs drafted in the first two rounds for 10 years through 2016 and concluded that at best 11 of 47 running backs (23 percent) taken at best could be considered elite.

While you can find a starting running back anywhere in the draft that doesn't mean that most of the ones teams draft aren't going to turn out to be duds. It's very possible that we could go a while looking for Elliott's replacement even if we draft a first-round running back. That doesn't mean that we shouldn't draft any, because again you can stumble across a great one even in the later rounds. It only means that the idea that you can cast aside a stud RB and easily replace him is fallacious.

 

[DandyDon52]

I’m hoping JJ and Stephen no longer believe in the outdated offensive “Triplets” method of team building where you have long term commitments to QB, RB, and WR. IMO, If Dak and Cooper are signed long term, it makes Zeke’s re-signing less attractive for long term cap management.

lol Bob , I bet that is exactly how they are looking at it.

 

[Bobhaze]

lol Bob , I bet that is exactly how they are looking at it.

If so, they haven’t learned anything. But I’m thinking SJ has moved away from that thinking based on his stance on Dez and Murray in the recent past.

 

[Big_D]

If so, they haven’t learned anything. But I’m thinking SJ has moved away from that thinking based on his stance on Dez and Murray in the recent past.

Everyone talks a bout the triplets, the triplets the triplets, but it's pretty sad because that 90's team was much more than that. A great team not just 3 great players. If you're building a team you need much more than a quality QB, RB, WR combo. Nice to have but just part of the puzzle.

 

[Bobhaze]

Everyone talks a bout the triplets, the triplets the triplets, but it's pretty sad because that 90's team was much more than that. A great team not just 3 great players. If you're building a team you need much more than a quality QB, RB, WR combo. Nice to have but just part of the puzzle.

Especially true in today’s game.

 

[stilltheguru]

Yes run him into the ground. Chew him up and spit him out.

Yall say stuff like this then ask for autographs. Lmao sad/amazing i must say.