Are you okay with Zeke getting 25+ carries a game?

[tyke1doe]

That's actually not accurate. The fact that rookies simply don't get 370+ carries, with the exception of Dickerson, means the sample size isn't there. There's really nothing that suggests 22 YOs handle it better than 26 YOs. If rookies could handle 370+ carries over the first 3 years, we'd see examples of that in the data, and we simply don't.

Maybe my tone didn't quite get transmitted in my post, but I don't know what the conclusion to my observation is. You could be right. I don't know.

And I don't think I said 22 year olds handle it better than 26 year olds.

I just noticed that after the fourth and fifth years in the league, running backs tend to get more than 370 carries, and then after those years, they tend not to duplicate that many carries.

I don't know if players in their first, second or third year can handle 370-plus carries. But I would suspect that since they don't have as much wear and tear, they would be better toting that much earlier than later in their careers.

But, again, I don't know this for sure.

 

[Vanilla2]

I'm the kind of guy who buys a corvette and drives it once a month.

What do you think?

 

[landroverking]

Heck yeah

 

[Verdict]

I think they are giving Zeke more carries than normal to get him experience and also to protect Dak. Dak is getting less heat and less complicated reads because the defense is selling out to prevent the run with Zeke.

 

[jday]

So how would you distribute the load between the two?

First of all, you have to understand that snap count is not a term actual coaches throw around when putting together a gameplan; that is more so fan and media speak. For coaches, it's more about situation and putting your best 11 out for the specific play called. That said, a series or two and to give Zeke the occasional breather on long drives is likely the goal going in to every game...then allow situation to dictate. If the very presence of Zeke, for instance, helps Dak's passing lanes, thats a hard situation to pass up on...at any point in the game.

 

[Trouty]

First of all, you have to understand that snap count is not a term actual coaches throw around when putting together a gameplan; that is more so fan and media speak. For coaches, it's more about situation and putting your best 11 out for the specific play called. That said, a series or two and to give Zeke the occasional breather on long drives is likely the goal going in to every game...then allow situation to dictate. If the very presence of Zeke, for instance, helps Dak's passing lanes, thats a hard situation to pass up on...at any point in the game.

I didn't mention snap count, but thanks for explaining how the load could be distributed

 

[Trouty]

First of all, you have to understand that snap count is not a term actual coaches throw around when putting together a gameplan; that is more so fan and media speak. For coaches, it's more about situation and putting your best 11 out for the specific play called. That said, a series or two and to give Zeke the occasional breather on long drives is likely the goal going in to every game...then allow situation to dictate. If the very presence of Zeke, for instance, helps Dak's passing lanes, thats a hard situation to pass up on...at any point in the game.

What do you think about getting Zeke involved in the passing game? Are you itching to see him get some passes and open it up a little bit? He was touted as having hands as soft as Faulk with the vision to do the same kind of damage to opposing D's. Are you disappointed that we haven't seen that yet, do you suspect that we're in store for some of that in the future?

 

[jday]

I didn't mention snap count, but thanks for explaining how the load could be distributed

My bad. That was the OP. But load distribution and snap count are similar, I think, in this case. At any rate, I would do what I think the coaches are trying to do: a series or two and the occasional breather for Zeke, as needed. Let him close late in the fourth in games that are put away.

 

[Trouty]

My bad. That was the OP. But load distribution and snap count are similar, I think, in this case. At any rate, I would do what I think the coaches are trying to do: a series or two and the occasional breather for Zeke, as needed. Let him close late in the fourth in games that are put away.

I think load distribution is very much a part of coach speak. But I'm not here to argue with you. You're an amazing poster, and I just want the last word

 

[jday]

What do you think about getting Zeke involved in the passing game? Are you itching to see him get some passes and open it up a little bit? He was touted as having hands as soft as Faulk with the vision to do the same kind of damage to opposing D's. Are you disappointed that we haven't seen that yet, do you suspect that we're in store for some of that in the future?

Yes to everything you asked with "please" sprinkled in where appropriate. I starting calling for the drafting of Zeke in early April. I would have started sooner, but the need for a pass rusher and/or backup QB had me looking elsewhere. But ultimately I came to the conclusion at fourth overall behind our OL, he could help the entire team more than any other single player drafted.

 

[haleyrules]

Elliott is now progressing nicely. He is very young and needs some breathing room. He will make catches and he will be the NFL's leading rusher. He just needs a little time to find his way. That is also true of Prescott. Too high expectations. Take it just a little easy and history will unfold as expected.

 

[ConceptCoop]

I should have said 400 carries on the season. The difference between 20 and 25 doesn't seem like a lot on a per game basis, but it certainly adds up. And as it adds up, history clearly shows, it takes a physical toll that impacts future production.

 

[haleyrules]

I think load distribution is very much a part of coach speak. But I'm not here to argue with you. You're an amazing poster, and I just want the last word

LOL. Everyone does!! You are OK in my books!!

 

[haleyrules]

Yes to everything you asked with "please" sprinkled in where appropriate. I starting calling for the drafting of Zeke in early April. I would have started sooner, but the need for a pass rusher and/or backup QB had me looking elsewhere. But ultimately I came to the conclusion at fourth overall behind our OL, he could help the entire team more than any other single player drafted.

Amen. He will, in time, like Emmitt make not only the offense great...but hughly help the defense. The running game is vastly more important than a sizzle WR.

 

[WarDaddy]

I wish we would give Morris 10+ carries per game. Zeke should peak at about 20 if we want him around more than 5 years.

The only way to justify giving him 30 carries in a three score game is if you're trying to get him in a groove with his line. Even that is very short sided. The carries he got on the last two drives of the Chicago game were unnecessary and easily second guessed as bad coaching.

 

[jday]

I think load distribution is very much a part of coach speak. But I'm not here to argue with you. You're an amazing poster, and I just want the last word

PS.

 

[kevm3]

Give him around 20. There's no reason to burn the dude out, especially when you have an RB like Morris right behind him.

 

[Sasquatch]

Absolutely!

Ride him until he drops.

Until the end of his rookie contract and then move on if need be.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Slightly off topic, but what surprises me is that the league leaders in rushing yards have pretty awful YPC. They just get the ball a lot.

LeGarrette Blount - 25.0 Att/G - 4.0 YPC
Lamar Miller - 24.7 Att/G - 3.6 YPC
Ezekiel Elliott - 23.7 Att/G - 3.9 YPC
Matt Forte - 22.3 Att/G - 3.9 YPC
DeAngelo Williams - 22.0 Att/G - 3.9 YPC
Todd Gurley - 21.0 Att/G - 2.9 YPC

It isn't until you get to the 11th most attempts per game that you get over 4 yards per carry (LeSean McCoy at 16.0 Att/G for 4.7 YPC).

 

[jday]

Slightly off topic, but what surprises me is that the league leaders in rushing yards have pretty awful YPC. They just get the ball a lot.

LeGarrette Blount - 25.0 Att/G - 4.0 YPC
Lamar Miller - 24.7 Att/G - 3.6 YPC
Ezekiel Elliott - 23.7 Att/G - 3.9 YPC
Matt Forte - 22.3 Att/G - 3.9 YPC
DeAngelo Williams - 22.0 Att/G - 3.9 YPC
Todd Gurley - 21.0 Att/G - 2.9 YPC

It isn't until you get to the 11th most attempts per game that you get over 4 yards per carry (LeSean McCoy at 16.0 Att/G for 4.7 YPC).

Is it surprising, though? Consider how the top carriers are being used...in every situation, especially short yardage. I don't know because I don't follow him, but I doubt McCoy is being used in need-a-inch situations all that often. This is one of those places where stats can be misleading. If your going to do that you have to segregate situations from each other, determine YPC, and then conduct side-by-side comparisons.