Zeke cannot do what Pollard does

kskboys said:

And Pollard cannot do what Zeke does.

Zeke is a very good chain moving pile driving RB. He gets the tough yards between the tackles. Often gets yards when there's nowhere to go.

Pollard is an explosive 3rd down back. He explodes through the hole and makes big plays.

This is one of the best combos in the NFL. Zeke takes the majority of the carries and softens 'em up, Pollard takes the top off.

Why is it whenever Pollard has a longer run people start screaming that he should get all the carries? It's just silly. How do you not see that it's the combo that's awesome?

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Great post. Yes you need 2 backs for sure.

gjkoeppen said:

There has been way to many times I've seen Elliott just run straight ahead and run into a pile of bodies but if he cut and went one gap over there looked to be more room to run and get more yardage.
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There isn't any doubt but what Zeke lacks the same level of "shake and bake" quickness that he had as a rookie. That isn't to say that the straight-ahead power isn't still there, though. The quickness and speed will deteriorate in time, while the power remains intact. That's Zeke in a nutshell, imho.

Any RB who has withstood the punishment that goes with the number of carries that Zeke has had will be prone to this gradual deterioration that I've just described. There's no doubt that the quality of run blocking isn't what it once was years back and that's a viable factor, also.

Asklesko said:

I would not mind seeing what pollard can do as the workhorse.

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More than likely, it wouldn't serve him well. The more carries a RB gets, the more he'll gradually deteriorate.

Zeke is built to absorb punishment. Injuries can take a toll much sooner, on the lighter RBs, like Pollard.

Unfortunately, that is especially the case with the lesser level of O-line that the Cowboys employ, at present.

kskboys said:

And Pollard cannot do what Zeke does.

Zeke is a very good chain moving pile driving RB. He gets the tough yards between the tackles. Often gets yards when there's nowhere to go.

Pollard is an explosive 3rd down back. He explodes through the hole and makes big plays.

This is one of the best combos in the NFL. Zeke takes the majority of the carries and softens 'em up, Pollard takes the top off.

Why is it whenever Pollard has a longer run people start screaming that he should get all the carries? It's just silly. How do you not see that it's the combo that's awesome?

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It wasn't that long ago that running back by committee was a real thing. It works for us if we use it correctly. I think what gets most people upset is the fact that Zeke is paid as much as is.

True. Zeke gets more carries b/c he makes 20x more money. Pollard has earned more playing time and a bigger role. But, Jerry has get his money's worth out of Zeke's contract and that pretty much dictates the offense.

If you are worried about how much money a guy makes then you're missing the point entirely. Zeke makes more money than you want him to.. who cares? He earned it with a 4 year stretch as the best back in football. Even taking a step back this year he's probably going to end up in the top 10. Might even crack the top 5 if the line and the QB play stays at least at a decent level. That is an amazing achievement given the trash that has been going on in front of him and at QB.. to say nothing of all the games where we fell behind and abandoned the run. If you can't just sit and watch this guy pound the defense, crashing his body into the pile and getting positive yards when really were none to be had, sacrificing himself to do so.. Stepping in front of guys like Aaron Donald to protect his QB... If you can't appreciate that then I don't know what to say to you. You and I see the game differently and we always will. Maybe it's because I've done it.. not at the NFL level but in college.. and I know just how difficult, and how painful it is to do what he does.. and I only played 9-10 snaps a game.. I never had to do it for 60 snaps week in and week out. I wasn't big enough .... I was Tony Pollard.. somebody else a lot bigger and stronger had to be Zeke.

kskboys said:

You must hate Emmit.

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I dislike Emmitt because he dissed the Cowboys after he went to Arizona. Emmitt wasn't THAT fast but he could still score from 60+ yards out. Something Zeke is no longer capable of.

kskboys said:

And still averages well over 4 YPC. Dammmmm, he must be even more studly than I thought!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Until Sunday's game when he FINALLY rushed for more than 100 yards that pushed him to an even 4 YPC, he was sitting at 3.7 YPC. That's not setting the world on fire. Pollard though is at 5.1 this season and he was 5.3 last season.
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Batman1980 said:

I dislike Emmitt because he dissed the Cowboys after he went to Arizona. Emmitt wasn't THAT fast but he could still score from 60+ yards out. Something Zeke is no longer capable of.

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LMAO.. Emmitt had better blocking for most of his career.. but he was also more elusive .. because he had to be.. Zeke is 20-25 pounds heavier than Emmitt was.. Emmitt 2 runs of over 50 yards after his 5th season. Dissed Dallas? Dallas dissed Emmitt a helluva lot more when they cut him. I still believe that first Parcells team would have been a LOT better with Emmitt in the backfield instead of Hambrick.. but Parcells' ego couldn't handle having a guy in the locker room who would probably have more cachet than he.

Batman1980 said:

I dislike Emmitt because he dissed the Cowboys after he went to Arizona. Emmitt wasn't THAT fast but he could still score from 60+ yards out. Something Zeke is no longer capable of.

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"Could" score from 60 yds out? Any RB in the NFL "can" score from 60 yds out.

CATCH17 said:

When discussing Zeke his contract vs what he provides is always a talking point.

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Yeah but you discuss everyone and their contract. lol.

RonnieT24 said:

I have never once said Zeke was the same guy as the 2016 version. He's a far more patient runner now than that guy ever was. He's more powerful now and he runs more intelligently. Big runs are nearly always a product of defensive lapses and good blocks more than they are of the back.

Very few backs can get to the second level on their own and unless there is a missed tackle of in the case of Jones yesterday on Pollard using the infamous "ole' tackle" runs of 40+ yard runs are extremely rare. I don't put nearly as much stock in them as some. After all I got to watch every snap of Emmitt's career and I know long runs were only an occasional feature in Emmitt's game.

Yet he was the most productive runner in NFL history. You guys are looking for something that frankly just isn't all that important. If Zeke breaks off a couple of 40 yarders in the next two or three games will that change anything about the quality of runner he is? It might for some but it won't mean squat to me. It's what he does on the other 99% of his runs that matter more to me than what happens on the 1%. Way more.

Those runs are nice for Sportscenter.. but if they were key to winning games Barry Sanders would have retired with a couple of rings ..and Adrian Peterson would have played in more than 5 playoff games in his entire career. and Saquon Barkley would not still be seeking his team's 9th win EVER with him in the lineup. Don't get me wrong.. I love highlight reel runs.. after all I was a running back almost my whole life growing up. But I understand just how unimportant they are in the grand scheme of things. If people disagree that's fine.. We all don't have to see thing the same way... Life would be boring if we did.

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I was making reference to 2016 version of Zeke, because it was that time era period when he toook the NFL by storm with his ability to break away
the 2016 version is what many of us still hear in reference from fans and media alike when zeke had that impact speed.
I noticed how every time Zeke makes a 15 yard " angry" run, someone is insisting that he is back to the 2016 version.

but from you statements, you seem convinced that zeke still has some burst - that even makes him somehow faster than Pollard.
" zeke runs more patient, .runs more powerful and more intelligent " ..but with all that, he's sacrificed speed for mere 15 yard runs. and when and if he ever does
have rare 20+ yrd runs, it's become celebrated.

Frankly nowadays, he's become far more easier to defend and far less of a fear factor. It's all about workhorse mode than big long runs now - since he's become top heavy.
and his 100 yard rushing is unusual rare now, that's it's welcome to see him finally get that.

- Wins ? I've had to address wins per team vs individual with the Zeke haters, and i guess i'll have to re-address that here as well.
this is not boxing, it's not a solo sport, Wins comes in what the team does, and it's other factors than just one man running the ball.
Rushing champs can only do their part.
Team Defense still has to be played, turnovers have to be eliminated per the offense, and turnovers have to be captured/gained on the defensive side.
QB has to step up, and frankly speaking a supporting cast and coaching has to be in placed.

- Big long runs are important. Not every RB can create them. Emmitt wasn't a homerun hitter but he of course had other factors in making him one of the more historic HOF runners ever.
But the big thing is Zeke Elliott was drafted so high as one of the top five overall, because long run breakaway skills was within his ability.
Then all of sudden after 2017 season, he doesn't have that ability anymore.

gjkoeppen said:

Until Sunday's game when he FINALLY rushed for more than 100 yards that pushed him to an even 4 YPC, he was sitting at 3.7 YPC. That's not setting the world on fire. Pollard though is at 5.1 this season and he was 5.3 last season.
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Sooo, you really don't understand reading the stats of your 2nd RB? This is really simple stuff, G. When a scatback gets fewer carries, he'll often have a much higher or lower YPC. I mean, c'mon, this is simple stuff. Unless someone is living under a rock, they've seen that scatback get a really high YPC many many times, and when a team was stupid enough to try him as the bell cow, he failed. Almost every time.

It's also shocking to me how many didn't even notice that when Pollard is met at the LOS, he goes down. He simply doesn't get the tough yds. Which is fine, that's not what we have him for.

phildadon86 said:

Yeah but you discuss everyone and their contract. lol.

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Because it’s important.:

Teams that win Superbowls have shown everyone a blueprint and there is a pattern..

Ignoring it would be stupid and will keep us mediocre.

CATCH17 said:

Because it’s important.:

Teams that win Superbowls have shown everyone a blueprint and there is a pattern..

Ignoring it would be stupid and will keep us mediocre.

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Right. We just shouldnt pay anyone then. Good idea.

Does anymore still believe Zeke is a legitimate home run hitter? I mean, we are well past the time for even a blind squirrel finding a nut.

atlantacowboy said:

True. Zeke gets more carries b/c he makes 20x more money. Pollard has earned more playing time and a bigger role. But, Jerry has get his money's worth out of Zeke's contract and that pretty much dictates the offense.

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There is nothing that proves this other than conjecture. Pollard isn't an every down RB.

phildadon86 said:

Right. We just shouldnt pay anyone then. Good idea.

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My gosh..

You don’t build your team around expensive RBs, 20 million dollar receivers, and give QBs elite money that aren’t elite while letting a top 5 NFL corner just walk.

You do things the secret sauce way and you get secret sauce results.

There is a pattern of how to spend that championship teams have and what we’re doing is basically the opposite.

We’ve built a team that is made to put on a good show and that’s it.

endersdragon said:

Reminds me of Barber/Jones

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That is my second favorite combo behind Dorsett/Springs.

CATCH17 said:

My gosh..

You don’t build your team around expensive RBs, 20 million dollar receivers, and give QBs elite money that aren’t elite while letting a top 5 NFL corner just walk.

You do things the secret sauce way and you get secret sauce results.

There is a pattern of how to spend that championship teams have and what we’re doing is basically the opposite.

We’ve built a team that is made to put on a good show and that’s it.

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So. Dont pay anyone on offense? Alright then. Im happy you arent building a team. This isnt madden. No matter how bad you want to pretend you know what you're talking about. You dont.