Myth: Ezekiel Elliott leads league because of attempts

Galian Beast

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After the 49ers game, Elliott became the league leader in rushing yards and many people sought to qualify it.

Let's quickly put to bed the idea that Ezekiel Elliott leads the league in rushing yards because he also leads the league in attempts.

No player in the top 10 in rushing attempts has a better average yards per carry than Ezekiel Elliott.
No player is anywhere close to him in first downs. He has 27 first downs, while the next two running backs behind him have 18, and the next has 17.

Only Devonta Freeman with nearly half Zeke's carries has a better first down percentage (based on qualified runners).

In 2014, Murray also lead the league in attempts. It's still what you do with them and Elliott is quickly putting himself on a course that others can not follow.
 

windjc

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After the 49ers game, Elliott became the league leader in rushing yards and many people sought to qualify it.

Let's quickly put to bed the idea that Ezekiel Elliott leads the league in rushing yards because he also leads the league in attempts.

No player in the top 10 in rushing attempts has a better average yards per carry than Ezekiel Elliott.
No player is anywhere close to him in first downs. He has 27 first downs, while the next two running backs behind him have 18, and the next has 17.

Only Devonta Freeman with nearly half Zeke's carries has a better first down percentage (based on qualified runners).

In 2014, Murray also lead the league in attempts. It's still what you do with them and Elliott is quickly putting himself on a course that others can not follow.

He is probably ALREADY the best blocking back in the league. He never misses his assignment. Think about that. 4 games played, best blocking back in the league. He catches everything thrown to him.

His burst through the hole is getting faster every game. Thats what my eyes tell me. I wish there was a way to clock him.

The only thing he hasn't shown is the extra wiggle to make the second level miss. He can be taken down around the ankles pretty easily, I'd say he is average in this department. But he is powerful and slippery. And he runs for yardage - the singles, doubles and triples, not for the homerun. Straight ahead north and south, with just enough east and west to create or find the lane.

Oh, and he LEADS the league in yards AFTER contact. Murray led the league in yards before contact. Lol. Wait until he starts getting the holes Murray had.
 

Galian Beast

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He is probably ALREADY the best blocking back in the league. He never misses his assignment. Think about that. 4 games played, best blocking back in the league. He catches everything thrown to him.

His burst through the hole is getting faster every game. Thats what my eyes tell me. I wish there was a way to clock him.

The only thing he hasn't shown is the extra wiggle to make the second level miss. He can be taken down around the ankles pretty easily, I'd say he is average in this department. But he is powerful and slippery. And he runs for yardage - the singles, doubles and triples, not for the homerun. Straight ahead north and south, with just enough east and west to create or find the lane.

Oh, and he LEADS the league in yards AFTER contact. Murray led the league in yards before contact. Lol. Wait until he starts getting the holes Murray had.

No offense intended, but I think people focus too much on that long run. This was never really his game in college, it won't be now. Can he hit home runs? Absolutely, he can, but his strength is moving the chains and getting more yards than most backs would on a given down.
 

TwoDeep3

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They called them the dirty yards. The ones after contact as the running back pushes the pile. The dirty yards was an aspect of Murray's game i liked most. More than the long run, the dirty yards added up, moving the chains and staying ahead of third down. They also wore on the defense because of the constant struggle getting the ball carrier to the ground. There might be an aspect of the mental part where they starting over-thinking it on short yardage that they just can't get this guy to the ground. That is speculation on my part.

But as much as I loved that part of Murray's game, Zeke brings a new and special wrinkle to this. Murray would fall forward on nearly every play. That is meaningful.

But Zeke moves forward. What I suspect is a two yard gain ends up being four after he disappears into a crowd.

And once he gets his shoulders square with the line of scrimmage, he is moving forward and has yet - to these eyes - turned laterally and been knocked off his feet.

I would like to see him utilized in the passing game more. Not just as a blocker, but as a weapon. If you are doing empty backfield, then why would he not be a target? Zeke in space would keep defensive backs up at night.

As far as ankle tackles I agree with Galian Beast that some focus far too much in the home run, and not in the 23 for as buck thirty eight and a TD.
 

viman96

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Zeke also leads the league in yards after contact. He is a bull on short yardage and he is great at getting skinny.
 

John813

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He has just about found the perfect timing on when to go full speed and when to show some patience.
It's crazy to think a guy of his size(6' 225) can have such an array of moves. Burst, wiggle, power and top end.
 

Zekeats

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Lot of short yardage carries will bring your average down. The guy is just coming into his own now and I agree with another poster that his burst is getting better and better which I think is due to him getting into shape. Having said that I haven't seen a whole as big as the one that was made when he almost reached over backwards to try and score on.
 

viman96

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I am not sure how McFadden gets in the rotation when he comes back.
 

NickZepp

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If McFadden comes back before trade deadline I would like to see us maybe try and trade him for a draft pick or two. Maybe a 4th and 7th or something like that. Or possibly someone's DEnd? I'm not sure we can really use McFadden for much but trade bate.
 

Sydla

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After the 49ers game, Elliott became the league leader in rushing yards and many people sought to qualify it.

Let's quickly put to bed the idea that Ezekiel Elliott leads the league in rushing yards because he also leads the league in attempts.

No player in the top 10 in rushing attempts has a better average yards per carry than Ezekiel Elliott.
No player is anywhere close to him in first downs. He has 27 first downs, while the next two running backs behind him have 18, and the next has 17.

Only Devonta Freeman with nearly half Zeke's carries has a better first down percentage (based on qualified runners).

In 2014, Murray also lead the league in attempts. It's still what you do with them and Elliott is quickly putting himself on a course that others can not follow.

Sure but as of last week, he wasn't that high in the per carry average and that's what people were pointing out. So you can't discredit them when, in fact, last week they were kind of accurate.
 
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I cannot wait until Tyron and Collins make it back. Leary and Green have been ok, but imagine when we are healthy and really start to drop the hammer...

And I agree, I no longer see room for McFadden on this club.
 

conner01

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No offense intended, but I think people focus too much on that long run. This was never really his game in college, it won't be now. Can he hit home runs? Absolutely, he can, but his strength is moving the chains and getting more yards than most backs would on a given down.
Hitting homeruns in the NFL is rare but the best backs consistently get yards. One thing I like about zeke is when nothing is there he still gets positive yards. That's big
 
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