Zeke is going to have a monster, MVP type season!

aria

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As always, Zeke will only be as good as as the O line and the older he gets he’s even more dependable on the O line than ever. Put him behind 90% of the O lines in the league and he would be lucky to have had one rushing title.

Total waste of a draft pick and salary cap space.
 

Diehardblues

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Zeke is capable of a MVP season. I’m not sure with all of our offensive weapons he’ll be used in that capacity though.

And that’s assuming we have a full or any kind of season resembling normalcy.
 

acr731

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Sure...………..he is a noted troll that has gotten it wrong in regards to Dak since the beginning. My stance on Dak since the beginning as been about as spot on as you can get.

My opinion is backed up by facts, statistics, and knowledgeable experts while he has little backup other than some cherry picking and an eye test that is about as worthless as tits on a bull.

If he was a poster that had a history of knowing what he was talking about, that would be different.

Some people have a history of being more accurate than others.

I get it, so (in your mind) no one else is allowed to offer his or her opinion if it isn't backed up by facts, statistics, or information from knowledgeable experts. And if they don't they are a meritless troll?

Cool........ I'm sure glad I have choices when I go to the donut shop and no one if forcing me to eat only plain glazed.
 

SackMaster

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I hate to say this, but if anyone on the Cowboys is going to win MVP, it will be Dak. It has nothing to do with how good or bad Dak is, but he plays the position that is virtually a lock to win it every year, Quarterback.

Other things going against Zeke:
  • Not a big "highlight"/"Big Play" runner
    • Zeke's 40+ yard runs in his career = 4 (I was legitimately shocked it was that low)
    • Compared to Saquon Barkley, he has has 10 in his career on 691 less rushing attempts
  • Zeke is not that prominent in the passing game
    • Zeke has 189 receptions, 8 TDs and 2 40+ yard receptions in 56 games
    • Barkley has 143 receptions, 6 TDs and 4 40+ yard receptions in just 29 games
  • Zeke plays for the Cowboys
    • Any mistake he makes will be magnified 10x over most other RBs
    • And he runs behind "one of the best" o-lines in the NFL
I will not say Zeke is the best player on the Cowboys, but I am comfortable saying he is in the conversation.

But for him to win MVP would take a 25+ TD like season, and I just don't see that happening as there are quite a few weapons on this office that will take away opportunities for Zeke.

JMHO
 

QuincyCarterEra

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Zeke is capable of a MVP season. I’m not sure with all of our offensive weapons he’ll be used in that capacity though.

And that’s assuming we have a full or any kind of season resembling normalcy.

2016 was the closest Zeke will ever get to MVP. Had the best line of the decade, a great offense around him, the highest volume in the league, and he was at his highest performance.

He finished 4th in MVP voting. That's the closest he'll ever be, so no he is not capable.
 

CowboyRoy

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I get it, so (in your mind) no one else is allowed to offer his or her opinion if it isn't backed up by facts, statistics, or information from knowledgeable experts. And if they don't they are a meritless troll?

Cool........ I'm sure glad I have choices when I go to the donut shop and no one if forcing me to eat only plain glazed.

Nope, you don't get it, wrong again.................people can say whatever they want. However, when it cant be backed by credible evidence it sounds ridiculous.

Now the troll part comes in when you simply go around saying the same ridiculous things over and over again for years despite the facts and statistics proving you dead wrong.
 

CowboyRoy

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I hate to say this, but if anyone on the Cowboys is going to win MVP, it will be Dak. It has nothing to do with how good or bad Dak is, but he plays the position that is virtually a lock to win it every year, Quarterback.

Other things going against Zeke:
  • Not a big "highlight"/"Big Play" runner
    • Zeke's 40+ yard runs in his career = 4 (I was legitimately shocked it was that low)
    • Compared to Saquon Barkley, he has has 10 in his career on 691 less rushing attempts
  • Zeke is not that prominent in the passing game
    • Zeke has 189 receptions, 8 TDs and 2 40+ yard receptions in 56 games
    • Barkley has 143 receptions, 6 TDs and 4 40+ yard receptions in just 29 games
  • Zeke plays for the Cowboys
    • Any mistake he makes will be magnified 10x over most other RBs
    • And he runs behind "one of the best" o-lines in the NFL
I will not say Zeke is the best player on the Cowboys, but I am comfortable saying he is in the conversation.

But for him to win MVP would take a 25+ TD like season, and I just don't see that happening as there are quite a few weapons on this office that will take away opportunities for Zeke.

JMHO

Zeke had his best season of his career his rookie year and who won rookie of the year? Dak.
 

Doomsday101

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I would not be surprised to see a few less carries but higher yardage by Zeke. I think Cowboys open up the passing game more using more play action in early downs will do more to get defense to back off on Zeke and in turn open up running lanes. In past games defense knew, hell I knew 1st down run the ball and based on the success or failure of that 1st down run would determine run or pass on the next down. Cowboys must mix things up better and given McCarthy past he tends to thrown more on 1st down than we have in the past even when he had quality running game.
 

Future

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Its going to be hard to have a 'monster' year if he continues to take himself out of the game every third play. He also needs a lot of work on his quickness. Maybe take a queue from Rocky and chase chickens?

ShadySelfassuredEquine-size_restricted.gif
This nonsense again? Zeke played 83.3% of offensive snaps, second amongst RBs.
https://www.footballoutsiders.com/s...-4xWJzL1xos&form_id=fo_stats_snap_counts_form

Fans should be EMBARRASSED to have an opinion this distanced from reality.
 

Doomsday101

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2016 was the closest Zeke will ever get to MVP. Had the best line of the decade, a great offense around him, the highest volume in the league, and he was at his highest performance.

He finished 4th in MVP voting. That's the closest he'll ever be, so no he is not capable.

Yes great OL but when you have 7 to 8 defensive players playing the run vs 5 OL that makes running the ball damn hard. Cowboys must be less predictable and in doing so those break away runs will happen more often, right now Zeke has to fight for a lot of yards he gets, get those defenders backing off those big runs will happen more often
 

TheMarathonContinues

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I don't think so. I could be wrong but I think he's going to have the same role as he had last year.....
 

SackMaster

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Zeke had his best season of his career his rookie year and who won rookie of the year? Dak.
In today's NFL, a QB having a very good year will beat out almost anyone else that is not having a historical year.

So not impossible, but betting on a non-QB to win MVP is not a safe bet.
 

Idgit

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He needs to. He didn’t look like the difference maker he was his first three seasons last year to me. Part of that was his ill-timed holdout, which also hurt the team. I hope a full offseason gets him to return to form. With our other weapons, he should have matchups to be productive.
 

glimmerman

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250 carries for Zeke and 150 for Pollard would be how I would do it.

1200 yards for Zeke and 800 for Pollard for a nice 2000 yard rushing year.

Both fresh for the playoffs.
Then a heavy does of both in the playoffs. Out of the back field in that flats and dump offs across the line. Should open up that pass game. Or the other way around. I would try not to come to each team the same way like JG did for 10 years.
 

quickccc

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Zeke in my opinion, is without a doubt the team's best player. Highly productive, highly durable (never missed a game due to an injury). Opposing teams game plan to shut him down.

Last year was the first season, he legitimately lost the rushing title, finishing with over 1,300 yards and 12 td's. Many will argue his holdout affected his play early on, no matter, it will fuel his motivation for this upcoming season.

Zeke is the most balance RB in the entire league, he doesn't have a weakness on the field, but he has been vastly underused as a receiver by the former coaching staff. We have seen what he can do in space and he is deadly on screens passes. MM and is WCO will incorporate Zeke far more in the team's passing game. We are going to finally see the Zeke Elliot at his full potential. He has a LaDanian Tomlinson type of ceiling as an all-around back. The return of the zbs and a new RB coach who oversaw Gurley's success in it, will only help Zeke get better. In my opinion, he is going to have a monster season!!

Zeke actually does seem to have a weakness now, IMO, ,.. he is no longer explosive and a legit home run threat,.. no longer do teams need to fear a single hand off of quick screen pass and ZKE and instantly hitting fifth gear to a 60 yard TD.

those are the kind of backs that defensive coordinators fear the most .. when we play Sasquon Barkley he keeps us n egg shells with every single carry or touch he gets.

Zeke does not have elite elusiveness and feet.such as Barry sanders, thurman thomas , marshall faulk Ladanian Thomplison, Jamal Charles...or even Saquon Barkley, those are start-stop-and re-start type backs, multiple cut backs.

Zeke is not gonna make a lot of one on one dazzling whiff misses in the open field.
But with his natural instincts and one cut style and build up burst (once upon a time) he didn't have to be a multi-cut, highly elusive runner.

Eric Dickerson was also a one cut runner ,,..Adrian Peterson is a one cut runner.
Neither were highly one on one elusive either, but both were instant home run splash runners, Both scared the hell outta of you when going against him, because you could not afford to lose containment for an instant because they would zoom it to a 50-60 yd TD run .
Some can point to the number of 10 and 20 yard runs,but i don't consider ta threatening home run hitter- a tall tale is more how many 40+ big runs has zeke had.

Something simply happened to zeke prior to 2018, because he seem to become more bell cow grinder pounder... and less of the instant feared splash runner that entered the NFL and took the world by storm n 2016.

He is still an "angry" runner. the violent power, the leg drive, punishes tacklers moving forward - and several defenders have said that zeke " punishes' you, he puts pounding upon you and can wear you down. And what some overlook is how zeke not only has a great knack for the goal line but many times he just overpowers and carries multiple defenders with his strength and awesome leg drive.

But i would not think after just 4 years and averaging 20.4 carries per his career, ZKE body would already be wearing down from his own pounding.
Otherwise that's gonna be a Chris Johnson like early career and soon average player ending.

o_O
 

conner01

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His touches will go down this year. So unless he gets back to breaking off some long runs, he won't even get as many yards as he did last year.

I'd be happy if he played like he did his rookie season. That would also put him in the discussion for best player on the team. Which he currently is not.
I don’t think Zeke has declined but I don’t think he will be having a MVP type season
I expect his touches to be less but the scheme will help his production
But the days of leading the league in carries is over
 

MonsterD

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But i would not think after just 4 years and averaging 20.4 carries per his career, ZKE body would already be wearing down from his own pounding.
Otherwise that's gonna be a Chris Johnson like early career and soon average player ending.

o_O

Good point and the last 4 or 5 games Zeke looked like his burst was much better in explosiveness. I think it was somewhat a mental thing for most of the year but for sure he is not the same as 2016 and he lost his long speed.
 

cern

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he will have another great year. he's a chain moving machine.
 

quickccc

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The run game was so ineffective last season. Whether that was because of coaching, play calling, execution I don't know. We were supposedly rated #2 offensive run blocking last season but zeke barely ever ran against loaded boxes. If my memory serves me correctly didn't it take him forever to have a run over 20 yards or something. I'm hoping he returns more explosive this season I'm blaming it on the holdout in cabo.

But he isn't the best player on the team. Last season the 2 best players on the team were Zach Martin and Dak Prescott.

between zeke being more of a bloated up ball control runner and less feared home run threat, i didn't like the run scheme and design between run game coordinator Marc Columbo and X's and O's play caller Kellen Moore.-i thought the run scheme was so simplistic, bland and predictable, we ran way too many
plays out of RPO's which zeke was more of a draw-play runner so he couldn't get the momentum and downhill vision he gets best when he can get a deeper
hand off with QB under center - ala Derrick Henry.
- and don't forget how Kellen Moore abandoned the run in critical moments.

i think Zeke is gonna have to be re-conditioned physically ..and schemes are gonna have to be better designed in both run and pass game better involving the RBs. This is where i hope new coaches Mccarthy, OL Joe Philline and RB Skip Peete will be a bigger help than what Moore, Columbo displayed.
 
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