Twitter: He's having a historically great career

TheMarathonContinues

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I think it's his declining last few years and not his career as a whole as he obviously rushed for a lot of yards in a few of his seasons....but his rushing yards per game average has dropped from 108.7 down to 65.3 with a decline every year of his career.
No doubt his production has decreased but its not all solely because of his inability....the league overall is less dependent on rushing. Last year IMO, was one of his better seasons based on the offensive line he had to work with and lack of QB.
 

TheMarathonContinues

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Just take a look at that list right there. Who doesnt belong as one of the greats? Sticks out like a sore thumb.
I mean......its not a prediction list or a opinion piece....he's on there because its factual which means he belongs there. All those overrated guys who are around his age should be there that y'all boost up right? Shouldn't Derrick Henry be there? Or did Demarco take his carries?
 

RonnieT24

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No doubt his production has decreased but its not all solely because of his inability....the league overall is less dependent on rushing. Last year IMO, was one of his better seasons based on the offensive line he had to work with and lack of QB.

I don't know if you recall but I did an analysis of how playoff teams stack up rushing wise vs passing wise and the difference was staggering. I believe in the years 2017-2019 the top 10 rushing teams made the playoffs 27 of a possible 30 times.. Meanwhile the top passing teams were below half as I recall. Meaning being a good running team made you twice as likely to make the playoffs as being a good passing team. Which says to me that though you are correct that the league overall is less dependent on rushing... the league is overall is wrong to do so. I didn't include 2020 in my analysis because the season was still in progress when I did it and frankly there was too much goofiness last year to include it in any meaningful statistical analysis.
 

CowboyRoy

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I mean......its not a prediction list or a opinion piece....he's on there because its factual which means he belongs there. All those overrated guys who are around his age should be there that y'all boost up right? Shouldn't Derrick Henry be there? Or did Demarco take his carries?

Zeke had a few good years in the beginning. He ran behind a great line and got lots of carries. Cant dispute that. However, if anyone made a list of great RB's Zeke wouldnt be anywhere near those guys.

Can you even remember ONE game where Zeke came up big in a big moment? I cant. Emmitt was known for leading his team when it mattered most. Its actually pathetic you try to imply that Zeke is anything close to those other backs.
 

USArmyVet

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No doubt his production has decreased but its not all solely because of his inability....the league overall is less dependent on rushing. Last year IMO, was one of his better seasons based on the offensive line he had to work with and lack of QB.

While one can say last season with Dak and the o-line injuries it impacted Zeke but it's the average yards per game decline since his rookie season that is what is alarming, made even more so seeing as how JJ gave him that stupid extension when there were 2 years remaining on his rookie deal.
 

phildadon86

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Zeke had a few good years in the beginning. He ran behind a great line and got lots of carries. Cant dispute that. However, if anyone made a list of great RB's Zeke wouldnt be anywhere near those guys.

Can you even remember ONE game where Zeke came up big in a big moment? I cant. Emmitt was known for leading his team when it mattered most. Its actually pathetic you try to imply that Zeke is anything close to those other backs.
His first year. Against Pittsburgh. Walked the dog to seal the game
 

CowboyFrog

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I don't know if you recall but I did an analysis of how playoff teams stack up rushing wise vs passing wise and the difference was staggering. I believe in the years 2017-2019 the top 10 rushing teams made the playoffs 27 of a possible 30 times.. Meanwhile the top passing teams were below half as I recall. Meaning being a good running team made you twice as likely to make the playoffs as being a good passing team. Which says to me that though you are correct that the league overall is less dependent on rushing... the league is overall is wrong to do so. I didn't include 2020 in my analysis because the season was still in progress when I did it and frankly there was too much goofiness last year to include it in any meaningful statistical analysis.


"when you throw a forward pass three things can happen and two are bad" I'll let someone else date themselves by saying who said that. But your right if you can run the ball it is the single most destructive thing you can do to the other team. If they can get back to a solid run game with how Dak has progressed as a passer, they would be lethal.
 
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CowboyRoy

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While one can say last season with Dak and the o-line injuries it impacted Zeke but it's the average yards per game decline since his rookie season that is what is alarming, made even more so seeing as how JJ gave him that stupid extension when there were 2 years remaining on his rookie deal.

Zeke is a product of two things................the # of carries and the quality of the Oline.
 

johneric8

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Lets be honest in our assessments of Zeke here.. When he was posting videos from cabo trying to get his big contract while he was sipping margaritas and getting fat. He showed up and didn't live up to his contract. In 2020, he was out of shape and didn't do much to motivate or help the team, so based on factual evidence, he has slipped since getting paid. Call it what you will, but I saw a guy who lost his edge after the money came.

Lets fast forward to the present. He looks better in terms of his physical appearance, but none of us really know how this is going to translate until the season starts. As of right now he is a once great running back with a ton to prove. Having said all of that, I do believe our best chances to win is to wear other teams down with our running game, but I also believe that not all games are equal and sometimes the gameplan needs to shift to a dominant passing attack and this is something that Jasson Garrett couldn't figure out. As much heat as Big Mike takes, I think he is much better at adjustments and gameplans, so with a full training camp and pre season games, I think you're going to see first hand a big change in how our offense installs gameplans, or shifts it accordingly.

If Zeke is in shape and motivated, we have a little bit of luck with health, this offense should be one of the best the NFL has ever seen, but on the flipside, the defense needs to ball out and learn to stop other teams. If the offense believes in the defense, and they all start rallying together, we have a great shot at getting to a super bowl. Hell, Tom Brady won a few Super Bowls because his defenses came to play, wasn't it not long ago where he won a Super Bowl by scoring three field goals and zero touchdowns? Lets face the facts, it's been a long long time since we've had great coaching and a well rounded team, lets hope that Big Mike is on track to get this going!
 

USArmyVet

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Zeke is a product of two things................the # of carries and the quality of the Oline.

Agreed but would you agree that the o-line quality was its worst in 2020 regarding Zeke's career and the rest of the years it was Top 10 quality?

If so, his carries and yards per game average by year:


2016: 322 carries 108.7 YPG

2017: 242 carries 98.3 YPG

2018: 304 carries 95.6 YPG

2019: 301 carries 84.8 YPG

2020: 244 carries 65.3 YPG

So in spite of just 18 fewer carries from 2016 compared to 2018 his YPG dropped an average of 13.1 YPG....and in spite of just 3 fewer carries from 2018 compared to 2019 his YPG dropped an average of 10.8 YPG.....and when comparing 2016 to 2019 with just 21 fewer carries his YPG dropped an average of 23.9 YPG.

Also of note his Zeke's longest run per season decline:

2016: 60 yard long
2017: 30 yard long
2018: 41 yard long
2019: 33 yard long
2020: 31 yard long


So in addition to his yards per game impact, his busting the long run ability has declined.....both concerning statistics.
 
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CowboyRoy

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Agreed but would you agree that the o-line quality was its worst in 2020 regarding Zeke's career and the rest of the years it was Top 10 quality?

Yes. I have always maintained that it was more about the line than Zeke and Zeke is overrated. The Olines decline and direct decline of Zeke is proof of that.
 

TwistedL0g1k

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Zeke is a very good RB.

The problem is the draft capital, and salary cap space devoted to the position.
 

Ken

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But, But, But...I seen it on here, he is in decline....oh, wait...that is the hater loser mentality...never mind....
He certainly is in decline. Now...his new found work ethic gives me hope but anyone who says he wasn't declining is blind.
 

TequilaCowboy

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While I do not dispute that he is having a very good career up to now... if his career ended today, he would be nowhere near consideration for HOF status. He would be just a footnote in NFL history books. Which means he needs to have an even better second half of his career, which in today's RB standards is not expected. Today's backs decline in their late twenties and especially hitting thirty years of age. Offenses going more pass happy also diminishes their carries and yardage. So i do not expect him to match that kind of consistency for the next six years.
Enmitt Walter and Barry played at the right time and were very consistent late in their careers. Hate to burst your bubble, but Zeke ain't gonna be in the HOF.
 
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