Is Zeke a top 3 running back?

CowboyRoy · Jun 23, 2019

Hawkeye0202 said:
OK .......I'll concede Barley, maybe, but no way in hell I'm putting Bell or Kamara over Zeke.

https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/201...acks-across-the-league-and-left-ezekiel-ellio

NFL.com ranked running backs across the league and left Ezekiel Elliott out of the top three
171
The Cowboys getting disrespected.

By RJ Ochoa @rjochoa Jun 18, 2019, 4:30pm CDTSHARE

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
Ezekiel Elliott is perhaps the best running back in football. This is a common assumption.

Zeke has been in the NFL for three seasons now and has two rushing titles decorating his mantle. He may very well have a third if not for his much-debated suspension in 2017, but still, two out of three is very good. In fact, it’s elite.

To many, Elliott is the gold standard at the running back position. He excels in every way that a running back should, his lone weak spot is contributions via the passing game, and that’s more Scott Linehan’s fault than anything else.

Barkley is better. A healthy Gurley is better. I would also take Bell over Zeke as he was before last year.

Those guys all seem to have better overall skills then Zeke and they are not total idiots like Zeke.

But honestly, its splitting hairs on those last 3 with Zeke. The total idiot factor on Zeke drops him below those guys for me.

Kamara is another story. He is a completely different back then Zeke. It would all depend on what kind of offense you had. To me, Kamara is more skilled and makes many more big plays. He scores TD's. Zeke is a battering ram. Not sure Kamara can take the pounding of 350 touches. IF he can, I would take Kamara all day.

CowboyRoy · Jun 23, 2019

ThatJerryKid said:
Barkley is terrific but reminds me of Barry. Loses too many yards trying to dance around everybody. Lower your head and take the 2 yard gain when nothing is there, don't lose 3 yards trying to make something out of nothing....

Terrific, but reminds you of Barry Sanders? LOL As if that is some kind of insult. Hilarious.

armadillooutlaw · Jun 23, 2019

Between Zeke and Barkley, though I'd give Zeke the advantage since he has a three-year sample size.

beware_d-ware · Jun 23, 2019

Criticizing Saquon for mixing stuffs with 40 yard runs feels as shortsighted to me as criticizing Zeke for never having 40 yard runs. At the end of the season, Barkley ended up totalling 2000 scrimmage yards just like Zeke, and those boom and bust runs averaged out to a very healthy 5.0 YPC. That's All-Pro production no matter how you slice it.

Factor in that Barkley put up those All-Pro numbers without his OL, QB, and coaches doing him any favors, and I think he's got a strong case to already call himself the best back in the game. I'll still die on the Zeke hill, but I'm not going to disparage Barkley to do it; dude's a stud.

keysersoze · Jun 23, 2019

beware_d-ware said:
Criticizing Saquon for mixing stuffs with 40 yard runs feels as shortsighted to me as criticizing Zeke for never having 40 yard runs. At the end of the season, Barkley ended up totalling 2000 scrimmage yards just like Zeke, and those boom and bust runs averaged out to a very healthy 5.0 YPC. That's All-Pro production no matter how you slice it.

Factor in that Barkley put up those All-Pro numbers without his OL, QB, and coaches doing him any favors, and I think he's got a strong case to already call himself the best back in the game. I'll still die on the Zeke hill, but I'm not going to disparage Barkley to do it; dude's a stud.

I just posted each run Barkley had against us on 12/30/18. If you believe that’s an All World stud back performance then you’re hopeless. It’s funny how you guys can slice and dice Zeke’s or Dak’s performances by removing a play or two. But when it comes to Barkley you refute average his yardage without that 8 yard run. SMDH. He had 107 yards on 17 carries. One which was. a 68 yarder on 2nd and 20. A down and distance situation we expected a pass on.

Cowboysheelsreds053 · Jun 23, 2019

Just like when Sanders was in the league he was a beast but I would still take Smith. The same here, yes Barkley is good but still going with Zeke. Just my 2 cent. I think Zeke is the better blocker and know some will say Barkley is the better pass catcher but Zeke can do that but our crazy coaches did not call his number. Let's not forget the catch against the stealers his rookie year. Zeke is a beast my friends.

beware_d-ware · Jun 23, 2019

keysersoze said:
I just posted each run Barkley had against us on 12/30/18. If you believe that’s an All World stud back performance then you’re hopeless. It’s funny how you guys can slice and dice Zeke’s or Dak’s performances by removing a play or two. But when it comes to Barkley you refute average his yardage without that 8 yard run. SMDH. He had 107 yards on 17 carries. One which was. a 68 yarder on 2nd and 20. A down and distance situation we expected a pass on.

That's one game; you could take Zeke's one playoff game vs the Rams and prove he sucks as well. Look at the bigger picture.

kskboys · Jun 23, 2019

beware_d-ware said:
That's one game; you could take Zeke's one playoff game vs the Rams and prove he sucks as well. Look at the bigger picture.

It's not unusual at all for a RB to average 2-3 YPC vs good D's.

beware_d-ware · Jun 23, 2019

kskboys said:
It's not unusual at all for a RB to average 2-3 YPC vs good D's.

Yup. Sometimes there is just nowhere to go.

And using that with the example of Saquon above: that game was put up against a top 5 run defense, both in yardage allowed and YPC. It's more of a testament to Barkley that he finished with 100+ yards and cracked a 68 yarder anyway, a bunch of stuffs against an elite run D are expected.

keysersoze · Jun 23, 2019

beware_d-ware said:
Yup. Sometimes there is just nowhere to go.

And using that with the example of Saquon above: that game was put up against a top 5 run defense, both in yardage allowed and YPC. It's more of a testament to Barkley that he finished with 100+ yards and cracked a 68 yarder anyway, a bunch of stuffs against an elite run D are expected.

Excuses are like buttholes. Everybody has one. And they’re all full of crap.

keysersoze · Jun 24, 2019

It’s funny how the same people here who dismiss Dak’s contributions and claim that Zeke carries this team and is absolutely the most dynamic player on this team are some of the same people who are now giving more credence to running backs who are obviously unable to carry their teams to winning records and make the immediate impact Zeke has so far in his career. Hypocrisy here is out of control.

northerncowboynation · Jun 24, 2019

Hawkeye0202 said:
OK .......I'll concede Barley, maybe, but no way in hell I'm putting Bell or Kamara over Zeke.

https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/201...acks-across-the-league-and-left-ezekiel-ellio

NFL.com ranked running backs across the league and left Ezekiel Elliott out of the top three
171
The Cowboys getting disrespected.

By RJ Ochoa @rjochoa Jun 18, 2019, 4:30pm CDTSHARE

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
Ezekiel Elliott is perhaps the best running back in football. This is a common assumption.

Zeke has been in the NFL for three seasons now and has two rushing titles decorating his mantle. He may very well have a third if not for his much-debated suspension in 2017, but still, two out of three is very good. In fact, it’s elite.

To many, Elliott is the gold standard at the running back position. He excels in every way that a running back should, his lone weak spot is contributions via the passing game, and that’s more Scott Linehan’s fault than anything else.

IMO, which ain't worth a fiddlers fart, Zeke is #1!! Always open to debate tho

northerncowboynation · Jun 24, 2019

northerncowboynation said:
IMO, which ain't worth a fiddlers fart, Zeke is #1!! Always open to debate tho

Who was better? Emmitt or Barry? Same conversation

G2 · Jun 24, 2019

Toruk_Makto said:
Have you ever heard the exception that proves the rule?

Of course, silly question.
That "rule" doesn't apply when there are multiple running backs who produce behind mediocre offensive lines.
You've clearly and obviously made it seem that the vast majority need it. They just don't.

G2 · Jun 24, 2019

QuincyCarterEra said:
Then those backs, including Zeke, suffer. Look at Zeke in 2017 with the oline regression.

He missed 6 games and still had 1,000 yards.

Cowboysheelsreds053 · Jun 24, 2019

northerncowboynation said:
Who was better? Emmitt or Barry? Same conversation

Emmitt, was the better all around back, whom you did not have to take off the field on 3rd downs. Barry had the better junks but that can also get you in trouble and that is what some are saying about Barkley.
Now for Barry if you happen to be the defender that missed you knew it was going to be on dspn for sure.

StuckMojo · Jun 24, 2019

anyone who doesn't think Zeke is a top 3 back is an idiot!!

QuincyCarterEra · Jun 24, 2019

Streetwise said:
He missed 6 games and still had 1,000 yards.

Street you of all people should know better than to use a bulk stat like that.
Yoi thought Zeke played well in 2017?

mcmvp · Jun 24, 2019

Zeke is too 3 for sure, and so is Barkley. They should be since they were top 5 overall picks. The fact that 2 other RBs in this conversation were drafted in the 2nd and 3rd rounds tells you everything you need to know about where you should and shouldn’t draft RBs...that’s what I get out of this topic.

big dog cowboy · Jun 24, 2019

mcmvp said:
Zeke is too 3 for sure, and so is Barkley. They should be since they were top 5 overall picks. The fact that 2 other RBs in this conversation were drafted in the 2nd and 3rd rounds tells you everything you need to know about where you should and shouldn’t draft RBs...that’s what I get out of this topic.

Same story at other positions not just RB.

Is Zeke a top 3 running back?

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