Video: And You Would Let 21 Walk

[McKDaddy]

And ever since that first preseason I saw everything I needed to see with Zeke. Instantly became a favorite player.

I hadn't seen much of Zeke til it got the CFP games & he opened a can of whoop tail en route to the championship. That is when i knew.

 

[InTheZone]

But could they not do the same thing with another rookie RB? And let's not forget that the rookie RB and QB stepped into a team with a top 3 rated OL.

If this worked once, could it not work again and not have a top 3 paid RB?

Since I'm not 100% sold on Dak as elite I'd rather pay Zeke and find a "not top 3 salary" QB in the draft since that contract is going to put to shame whatever Zeke gets based on market value. We should have success with Zeke, this oline, and improving defense.

 

[superonyx]

But could they not do the same thing with another rookie RB? And let's not forget that the rookie RB and QB stepped into a team with a top 3 rated OL.

If this worked once, could it not work again and not have a top 3 paid RB?

You may want to look at the last 10 years worth of RB's drafted in the first round and you will realize that you all pro level RB's are not just grabbed in any year you decide you need one. These are not like going out and buying a TV.

How much would this huge gamble save us? Barkely makes about $8M per season. So to save only $7m per year you want to continuously give up a valuable 1st round pick reaching for a RB and hoping the year you want 1 just happens to have a Barkley, Zeke, or Gurley guy sitting and waiting while all the other teams just move over and let you have him. Barkley was the 2nd pick and Zeke was the 4th, Gurley was the 10th. We most likely will not be drafting this high again for the next 5-10 years (we hope). So we are now reaching on a late first round guy to replace Zeke.....and how have these late 1st round backs worked out over the last 10 years? Not good unless you like Jahvid Best.

 

[LittleD]

You may want to look at the last 10 years worth of RB's drafted in the first round and you will realize that you all pro level RB's are not just grabbed in any year you decide you need one. These are not like going out and buying a TV.

How much would this huge gamble save us? Barkely makes about $8M per season. So to save only $7m per year you want to continuously give up a valuable 1st round pick reaching for a RB and hoping the year you want 1 just happens to have a Barkley, Zeke, or Gurley guy sitting and waiting while all the other teams just move over and let you have him. Barkley was the 2nd pick and Zeke was the 4th, Gurley was the 10th. We most likely will not be drafting this high again for the next 5-10 years (we hope). So we are now reaching on a late first round guy to replace Zeke.....and how have these late 1st round backs worked out over the last 10 years? Not good unless you like Jahvid Best.

If you have an "all pro" OL, you should be able to open holes for anyone...Zeke included. Zeke after year five will be hitting that RB wall that comes after age 27.

 

[LittleD]

Since I'm not 100% sold on Dak as elite I'd rather pay Zeke and find a "not top 3 salary" QB in the draft since that contract is going to put to shame whatever Zeke gets based on market value. We should have success with Zeke, this oline, and improving defense.

I'm not sold on either one. I do admit that I feel Zeke is better than Dak but, still not worth a second contract for sure.

 

[superonyx]

I don't think anyone will question whether or not Zeke is a great player. He is one of the best if not the best RBs. The problem is the salary cap and a demonstrated history of RBs diminishing during second contracts. I will also layer in the impact of the RB position in the modern game. If salary cap wasn't an issue - 100% resign him. The problem is you MUST consider the cap.

The impact of RB's in the modern game has been misconstrued. Can a team win without a great RB? Sure. But a team can win without a great QB also. Can a team win without a great LB? CB? WR?

The answer is yes to every position.

The reason more teams dont feature a guy like Zeke, Gurley or Barkley is because these guys are not a dime a dozen like some want to pretend they are.
These are generational HOF level talents and when you have one at any position you keep him. Simple as that.

 

[QuincyCarterEra]

Since I'm not 100% sold on Dak as elite I'd rather pay Zeke and find a "not top 3 salary" QB in the draft since that contract is going to put to shame whatever Zeke gets based on market value. We should have success with Zeke, this oline, and improving defense.

That's the thing. We've seen that we can't plug in any QB behind this line and have success, while we've seen we can plug in any RB behind this line and have success.
Downgrading at the most important position puts you in a very bad position. While downgrading at the least important position has shown throughout the NFL to have almost no effect.

 

[superonyx]

If you have an "all pro" OL, you should be able to open holes for anyone...Zeke included. Zeke after year five will be hitting that RB wall that comes after age 27.

You are either missing the impact a player of Zeke's caliber has on the game or you don't understand it. I'll assume the best.
It's not about a guy being able to get his 4 ypc. This is what people who sit on the couch and play sofa GM like to say.
A guy like Zeke is a player that the defenses need to game plan to minimize. From the first play to the last the defense needs to be watching and defending against him touching the ball. This just doesnt happen with a mid tier jay Ajayi level RB. Zeke is the most impacting non QB in the NFL. The next closest guy is probably Mack.

 

[AmericanCowboy]

Having Zeke is like having an extra all-pro blocker.

Not all RBs are created equal. Rod Smith is exhibit A.

Zeke is the man!

 

[InTheZone]

If you have an "all pro" OL, you should be able to open holes for anyone...Zeke included. Zeke after year five will be hitting that RB wall that comes after age 27.

when he gets that 2nd contract we can patiently wait and see what happens. People were saying Witten was slowing down when he was only 29 and nothing really ever changed. Lets see what Zeke can do, he's shown so far he's not just any other back.

 

[InTheZone]

That's the thing. We've seen that we can't plug in any QB behind this line and have success, while we've seen we can plug in any RB behind this line and have success.
Downgrading at the most important position puts you in a very bad position. While downgrading at the least important position has shown throughout the NFL to have almost no effect.

I heard it was the system, not the line, that was at fault for before. We have a new scheme with the OL, system for the offense, and Zeke. Things have changed.

 

[LittleD]

You are either missing the impact a player of Zeke's caliber has on the game or you don't understand it. I'll assume the best.
It's not about a guy being able to get his 4 ypc. This is what people who sit on the couch and play sofa GM like to say.
A guy like Zeke is a player that the defenses need to game plan to minimize. From the first play to the last the defense needs to be watching and defending against him touching the ball. This just doesnt happen with a mid tier jay Ajayi level RB. Zeke is the most impacting non QB in the NFL. The next closest guy is probably Mack.

I would agree with you if you had referenced Emmitt instead of Zeke. Zeke is no Emmitt. Emmitt was a transitional player who with minimal speed still made players miss. Zeke not so much IMVHO.

 

[LittleD]

when he gets that 2nd contract we can patiently wait and see what happens. People were saying Witten was slowing down when he was only 29 and nothing really ever changed. Lets see what Zeke can do, he's shown so far he's not just any other back.

Zeke is not, nor ever was, an Emmitt clone. Zeke is one brainfart away from another year suspension.

 

[superonyx]

I would agree with you if you had referenced Emmitt instead of Zeke. Zeke is no Emmitt. Emmitt was a transitional player who with minimal speed still made players miss. Zeke not so much IMVHO.

Name some non QB's who have more impact on the game than Zeke does? Not just for the Cowboys but across the league.

 

[big dog cowboy]

People were saying Witten was slowing down when he was only 29 and nothing really ever changed.

That implies he was fast before he was 29.

That simply is not true. JWit was never known for his speed.

 

[QuincyCarterEra]

I heard it was the system, not the line, that was at fault for before. We have a new scheme with the OL, system for the offense, and Zeke. Things have changed.

It was the system in 2015 that failed is what you're saying?
Even though two separate QBs in 2014 and 2016 flourished in that system? If you heard that, then dont listen to them.

I agree that things have changed, that makes it more likely that Zeke has an even smaller impact going forward.

 

[QuincyCarterEra]

Name some non QB's who have more impact on the game than Zeke does? Not just for the Cowboys but across the league.

Odell
Tyreke
Barkley
Donald
Julio
Kelce
Watt when healthy
Wagner
Bahktiari
Harrison Smith

When do I stop?

 

[superonyx]

Odell
Barkley
Donald
Julio
Kelce
Watt when healthy
Wagner
Bahktiari
Harrison Smith

When do I stop?

The better question would be, when do you start?
Anyone who thinks Bobby Wagner has a bigger impact on a game than Zeke Elliott is either biased or lacks any knowledge of this sport at even the most basic of levels.
I'm sure offensive coordinators stay up at night trying to figure out how they are going to stop Wagner.
Harrison Smith? Haha... Bahktiari? Haha...He wouldnt even start for us.

Btw... how much do these guys make you listed?

If this is the best you can come up with then thanks for making my point for me.
Zeke is worth being the highest paid RB in the NFL....and he will still earn less than that group you listed.

Do you have any legit points we can discuss?

 

[QuincyCarterEra]

The better question would be, when do you start?
Anyone who thinks Bobby Wagner has a bigger impact on a game than Zeke Elliott is either biased or lacks any knowledge of this sport at even the most basic of levels.
I'm sure offensive coordinators stay up at night trying to figure out how they are going to stop Wagner.
Harrison Smith? Haha... Bahktiari? Haha...He wouldnt even start for us.

Btw... how much do these guys make you listed?

If this is the best you can come up with then thanks for making my point for me.
Zeke is worth being the highest paid RB in the NFL....and he will still earn less than that group you listed.

Do you have any legit points we can discuss?

Yes, offensive coordinators spend way more time trying to figure out how to contain the best LB in football, more than a top 5 RB.
Is this a serious take? Lmao.

Bahktiari wouldn't start for us? You know abolsutely nothing about football if that's your take.

This is the best you got? Bring up a few of the guys I mentioned and say no? Lmao. That's pathetic.

Do YOU have any legit points to discuss is the real question

EXACTLY Zeke will be paid less than them because he has a way less impact on the game than them. THANK YOU FOR MAKING MY POINT

Let me ask you this, hopefully you're able to conjure up some way to answer. If Zeke was so important, then why in the one game he didnt play last year did we have our best offensive performance of the season. Only one game missed and it was our best one. How important could you possibly be? In our 2nd best offensive performance of the season Zeke didnt even hit his season average yardage. Where is the importance?

 

[Whyjerry]

The impact of RB's in the modern game has been misconstrued. Can a team win without a great RB? Sure. But a team can win without a great QB also. Can a team win without a great LB? CB? WR?

The answer is yes to every position.

The reason more teams dont feature a guy like Zeke, Gurley or Barkley is because these guys are not a dime a dozen like some want to pretend they are.
These are generational HOF level talents and when you have one at any position you keep him. Simple as that.

All true but how many backs thrive in their late 20s? I read a recent report which suggested the peak RB production is 27. The fall off after peak is dramatic and not linear. APs, as an example of a RB that produces past 30, don't grow on trees. They are extremely rare. Plus Elliott's hard hitting style would suggest a big workload is going to produce a significant decline in production. Zeke turns 24 this month. History suggests he has about 3 years of peak production left. He will likely look for 5-7+ years. You will get 3 years of peak production if you are lucky and see a big drop off for about half the contract. I think the guy is great but you can not max him out and still sign Cooper, Smith, etc...If I were king I would try to tag him for 2 years and then move on. His handlers will never let that happen. NE does it better than anyone and they completely devalue the position. That is smart.