Babe Laufenberg comments on Zeke

[CCBoy]

I wanted AD. I would of traded our late 1st if we had one. And I also wanted Zeke. Yes, most solid backs will run for 1,000 yards behind this OL. But what can great backs do behind this line? I think Zeke is a better overall player than Murray. I expect a much bigger impact than when Murray rushed for 1,800+ in 2014.

I'm looking for diversity offensively, this season. Dez Bryant will be an opponent killer, as will be Ezekiel Elliott. But I see a rounded distribution with as many as five players additionally playing strong roles in toting and catching the ball as well.

 

[TwentyOne]

http://sportsday.***BANNED-URL***/d...ott-potential-something-crazy-special-cowboys

"Elliott has a chance to honestly be something crazy special. When I was talking about Elliott and people said, 'You don't need Elliott because that offensive line would make an average back good.' But I said, 'Why not make a great back a Hall of Famer?'"

This got me thinking and of a few other things I read. I have a question.

How many of you last year was saying you would give up a first for AP...then when the team said RBBC, you disagreed and wanted the likes of Michael from Seattle...then changed to, any RB can run behind OL coming into this years draft, we don't need a RB in the 1st, but yet was willing to trade a first last year for AP....

No this is not a call out thread, I am just curious, if you will be honest and went back and forth between all of this. And there is nothing wrong with it either. Just wondering how fans change their minds and / or opinions over the course of a year.

Like I started out saying go QB, you must go QB up to a few weeks before the draft, I realized Zeke was really more of a possibility, and QB was not. Then pushed for Zeke big time.
Now fast forward to next year, I may push Defense from the get go, then change to needing another WR, or may go QB again.
But picking 32, just BPA....

You compare AP and Elliot like they were in the same class. They are not. Elliot is not even Gurley.

I wanted AP but not for a 1st round pick. I would have paid him 10 mills for a 1 year contract just to see him run behind our OL.

Lets see what Elliot can do. We way overpaid for him. But the draft is over and i am very excited to see him run behind our OL.

 

[percyhoward]

Percy, I'm looking forward to seeing a little pop come to the defensive side of things. I think a black 'n blue zone will be growing in the Cowboy's box area, now.

I hope you're right. Hope is a big part of fandom after all.

 

[YosemiteSam]

We'll see in Gregory. You're right he could turn it around. Trajectory is not good though. It was still a risk to take him in the 2nd.

Or he could crash and burn like Manziel.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

There are a great deal of opinions like yours. And I surely don't discount Romo and Dez sitting and watching. But what made the 2014 season different than any other with Romo under center is he had a running game that was featured, which allowed him to be the counter punch.

And this is significant, because it took the onus off Romo to carry the team. Most of you guys who tout Romo miss that point. I am not taking away from the tremendous things Romo does. But the running game was as potent as the passing game, and that created something most of you armchair quarterbacks either ignore, have no clue about, or leave out on purpose because it blunts your agenda,

Balance on offense!

Surely something this team is trying to replicate now.

It also allowed the team to control the clock.

It was so reminiscent of the early 90's Cowboys on offense. A carbon copy of the championship teams then.

So swing away at your straw man. Build your sandcastles and smash them down. But the thinking of the brain trust is fairly evident in how they utilized the first round pick, and what their target is for the 2016 offense.

 

[Oh_Canada]

http://sportsday.***BANNED-URL***/d...ott-potential-something-crazy-special-cowboys

"Elliott has a chance to honestly be something crazy special. When I was talking about Elliott and people said, 'You don't need Elliott because that offensive line would make an average back good.' But I said, 'Why not make a great back a Hall of Famer?'"

This got me thinking and of a few other things I read. I have a question.

How many of you last year was saying you would give up a first for AP...then when the team said RBBC, you disagreed and wanted the likes of Michael from Seattle...then changed to, any RB can run behind OL coming into this years draft, we don't need a RB in the 1st, but yet was willing to trade a first last year for AP....

No this is not a call out thread, I am just curious, if you will be honest and went back and forth between all of this. And there is nothing wrong with it either. Just wondering how fans change their minds and / or opinions over the course of a year.

Like I started out saying go QB, you must go QB up to a few weeks before the draft, I realized Zeke was really more of a possibility, and QB was not. Then pushed for Zeke big time.
Now fast forward to next year, I may push Defense from the get go, then change to needing another WR, or may go QB again.
But picking 32, just BPA....

Didn't change my opinion one bit, McFadden would have been a top three back if he started every game and by the way he did not have the benefit of Romo. Now do I think they should have drafted an rb this year yes, but for me that would have been third or fourth round. I just don't value backs at all.

 

[CCBoy]

I hope you're right. Hope is a big part of fandom after all.

Percy, for this fan...I'm really believing in the scouting support that Rod Marinelli has been receiving. Hey, from the low positional projection: cornerback - I think that a really motivated pair of Carr and Claiborne will make a difference in the secondary. Plug back in Scandrick, and a continued growth of Jones...and the secondary can now present a reasonable umbrella over the top.

I love what was added with addition of Smith...even if that isn't fully seen in the now. But it does add to an improved progressing. Give a healthy season to both Sean Lee and Rolando McClain, and linebacker will be solid.

Believing in the 'uglies' up front, and how Rod will use them, I have some really positive views on some of the players to still add growth up front on defense...

I'll wait, myself, until the full return of Lawrence and Gregory, to see where that dynamic duo will start off towards. I like them both, and like what they project at outside linebackers.

The defensive line will now project with the likes of Thornton, Benson Mayowa, David Irving, both Jack and Tyrone Crawfords. I even see credible roles for newly drafted Maliek Collins and Charles Tapper.

Yes, I can taste a tough nosed group rising from that nucleus. I'm excited about watching that very growth coming up through today's roster. That group shows youthfulness as well as a physical side with some anger...Yea, I'm optimistic.

 

[CCBoy]

You compare AP and Elliot like they were in the same class. They are not. Elliot is not even Gurley.

I wanted AP but not for a 1st round pick. I would have paid him 10 mills for a 1 year contract just to see him run behind our OL.

Lets see what Elliot can do. We way overpaid for him. But the draft is over and i am very excited to see him run behind our OL.

Sorry, we'll just await the product to come out of the oven before attempting to cut what is baking. Did you think that Murray would hold the all time production for a Dallas running back in a single season? That part is what it is, despite ego driven projections when comparing not equal at points in a career.

 

[alicetooljam]

For the record:
I wanted to keep Murray.
I did not want to pay him what the Eagles did.
I wanted to puke for weeks after it all went down like Brian did above (although I have NO IDEA what TwoDeep said worthy of the Brian puking vid).
I wanted AD.
I did NOT want to give up a 1st for him.
I reallllllly wanted Gurley to fall to us.
I was not happy about rolling with Randle, DMC, or a RBBC.
I wanted Miller in FA.
I wanted a QB with the #4 pick.
I could not care less about the Morris pickup.
After the trades and the QBs were obviously going to be gone I wanted Elliot over Ramsey.
I believed he was/is the player that would make the most impact for us this season.
#4 may have been a bit high to take him.
I would have been very upset had we traded down and lost him.

 

[jazzcat22]

You compare AP and Elliot like they were in the same class. They are not. Elliot is not even Gurley.

I wanted AP but not for a 1st round pick. I would have paid him 10 mills for a 1 year contract just to see him run behind our OL.

Lets see what Elliot can do. We way overpaid for him. But the draft is over and i am very excited to see him run behind our OL.

No, I did not compare them, I asked a simple question.

 

[zrinkill]

Elliot is not even Gurley..

Bull ....... Elliot was graded higher than Gurley during the lead upto the draft even before Gurley's injury.

 

[JoeBoBBY]

I havent seen any signs of Romo breaking down. Broken bones happen when your 16 or 60.

I have noticed a difference in Romo in the last 2-3 years. I have no scientific data, to prove my point , just my overall observation of him. He doesn't seem to have that arm strength anymore. Not on a consistent, game in game out basis.

He gives up on the play , falling down, quickly. And he should be doing that, without question.

He has had back surgery and now has broken his collarbone a few times, in the last 2 years.

He isn't exactly a workout warrior.

He is 36(?) years old? ........................... I wouldn't be surprised in the least if this were his last year. And Im not even sure what this team is, without him......Im going to miss Romo, more so then any other player I think......When he took over for Bledsoe during that Gians game. I was convinced we were going to win a SB with him....But, now, I see Romo as game2game..............

 

[ringmaster]

Bull ....... Elliot was graded higher than Gurley during the lead upto the draft even before Gurley's injury.

I agree that Elliott was graded higher than Gurley last draft had Elliott declared and for this fan to say Elliott isn't Gurley is delusional and Gurley is a star in the making and has a little skin on the wall so Elliott will have to prove his worth and he can with this OL and be a top candidate for OROY some here really hope Elliott doesn't live up to standards just to say I told you so.

 

[zrinkill]

I agree that Elliott was graded higher than Gurley last draft had Elliott declared and for this fan to say Elliott isn't Gurley is delusional and Gurley is a star in the making and has a little skin on the wall so Elliott will have to prove his worth and he can with this OL and be a top candidate for OROY some here really hope Elliott doesn't live up to standards just to say I told you so.

I agree with all of this.

 

[jazzcat22]

I agree that Elliott was graded higher than Gurley last draft had Elliott declared and for this fan to say Elliott isn't Gurley is delusional and Gurley is a star in the making and has a little skin on the wall so Elliott will have to prove his worth and he can with this OL and be a top candidate for OROY some here really hope Elliott doesn't live up to standards just to say I told you so.

Unfortunately they think, and some think, and some are the same people, think of other players in this way also. Then they call themselves fans, no they aren't.

 

[erod]

Because it doesn't help us win more games.

And that Ferrari can pass block, too.

Home run backs don't help win games?

You lost me.

 

[Idgit]

Home run backs don't help win games?

You lost me.

Oh, he's a home run back now? Hey, if he can make the big plays of a receiver, I'm all for it. Those backs are rare, though. Let's see him suit up, first.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Bull ....... Elliot was graded higher than Gurley during the lead upto the draft even before Gurley's injury.

You can cherry pick scouting grades if you like but it's near meaningless in the grand scheme. There is no objective 'grade.'

 

[Irvin88_4life]

I don't really care what Babe thinks. I still hate the pick. Love Zeke and can't wait to see him in action but #4 on a RB was/is too high.

If he helps Romo win a superbowl. .....like Terrell Davis did for Elway would you still think it's too high for a RB?

 

[zrinkill]

You can cherry pick scouting grades if you like but it's near meaningless in the grand scheme. There is no objective 'grade.'

Its not cherry picking just because all of them graded against your opinion.