Better Year: Zeke Or Saquon?

Thomas82 said:
I just ran across this article on Cowboys Wire. Feel free to check it out and give your opinion. I see this turning into the new Emmitt Smith/Barry Sanders debate soon if it already hasn't.

https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/20...BU7kAGYFOzh1L-GliY4bq_gaUZGeDFqpyl9GP4A5GFB00
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For many years I have said that comparing current running backs to the top rushers early in their career is a complete waste of time.

It does not matter how great they are in season 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5. What matters is what they are doing in season 9, 10, 11, etc. It is not only what they are capable of doing but what their teams (if they have one then) are allowing them to do.

Most teams move on from running backs once they hit 30 either for salary cap reasons, increased chances of injury reasons or simply production reasons.

So many players were "on pace to catch and beat Emmitt Smith's rushing record" that never got close. Others got close but either no team would sign them, or they were relegated to just a few carries per game, or they decided they had made enough money and it wasn't worth putting their body through an NFL season of injuries and wear.

Emmitt was not just special because he was good. He was special because he stayed on the field and stayed productive (albeit not as much as earlier) toward the end of his career. Barry Sanders would have likely had more yards than Emmitt but he chose the walk away from the game. LaDanian Tomlinson was supposed to pass all of them and didn't. Curtis Martin? Jeome Bettis? Supposed to catch and pass Emmitt but are now gone.

The only two still playing that are even remotely close are Adrian Peterson and Frank Gore. Adrian Peterson was supposed to pass all of them and hasn't. He's being praised for topping 1,000 yards this season but is still far away from the record. He got 90 yards on one carry in fact in a game that he didn't even break 100 yards rushing in. Frank Gore would have a chance if he could play 4-5 more years but he is 35 and its hard to fathom a team giving him the carries he needs over those years.

There have been many great running backs including many that had better seasons than those all-time top rushing leaders, but just because they start out great doesn't mean they will ever come close to that record.

The game has changed considerably and the NFL more than ever is a young man's sport. Either through the CBA, the salary cap or potential for injury and/or slow recovery reasons, teams have shifted away from proven veterans to younger, cheaper players with potential.

Players like Elliott, Gurley, Barkley, etc. will most likely have shorter careers, but they may all indeed be better than the all-time top rushers when compared year to year.

My point is appreciate these players for what they are now and let the history books sort out where they end up on various record rankings.
 
Reality said:
For many years I have said that comparing current running backs to the top rushers early in their career is a complete waste of time.

It does not matter how great they are in season 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5. What matters is what they are doing in season 9, 10, 11, etc. It is not only what they are capable of doing but what their teams (if they have one then) are allowing them to do.

Most teams move on from running backs once they hit 30 either for salary cap reasons, increased chances of injury reasons or simply production reasons.

So many players were "on pace to catch and beat Emmitt Smith's rushing record" that never got close. Others got close but either no team would sign them, or they were relegated to just a few carries per game or they decided they had made enough money and it wasn't worth putting their body through a NFL season of injuries and wear.

Emmitt was not just special because he was good, he was special because he stayed on the field and stayed productive (albeit not as much as earlier) toward the end of his career. Barry Sanders would have likely had more yards than Emmitt but he chose the walk away from the game. LaDanian Thompson was supposed to pass all of them and didn't. Curtis Martin? Jeome Bettis? Supposed to catch and pass Emmitt but are now gone.

The only two still playing that are even remotely close are Adrian Peterson and Frank Gore. Adrian Peterson was supposed to pass all of them and hasn't. He's being praised for topping 1,000 yards this season but is still far away from the record. He got 90 yards on one carry in fact, in a game that he didn't even break 100 yards rushing in. Frank Gore would have a chance if he could play 4-5 more years but he is 35 and its hard to fathom a team giving him the carries he needs over those years.

There have been many great running backs including many that had better seasons than those all-time top rushing leaders, but just because they start out great doesn't mean they will ever come close to that record.

The game has changed considerably and the NFL more than ever is a young man's sport. Either through the CBA, the salary cap or potential for injury and/or slow recovery reasons, teams have shifted away from proven veterans to younger, cheaper players with potential.

Players like Elliott, Gurley, Barkley, etc. will most likely have shorter careers, but they may all indeed be better than the all-time top rushers when compared year to year.

My point is appreciate these players for what they are now and let the history books sort out where they end up on various record rankings.
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Facts. Peterson was the only one I thought might have had a shot. But injuries and suspension robbed him of the chance. He can still ball and is one heck of an athlete. Gore never had the talent. He's a good runner, but not great. But I would rather take zeke than Barkley. Zeke is a better blocker and can get the dirty yards when nothing is there. Barkley is feast or famine just like in college.
 
Hennessy_King said:
But I would rather take zeke than Barkley. Zeke is a better blocker and can get the dirty yards when nothing is there. Barkley is feast or famine just like in college.
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I have said and agree with this completely!

I would rather have a running back who gives me 3-7 yards on most carries than one that gives me 0-2 yards most of the time and one 60 yard run per game. The goal of the running back position is to move the chains first and foremost. Long runs are great and a really nice bonus, but receivers can gain 30+ yards much easier and more often than a running back can. A player like Elliott who gains 3-7 yards every time and moves the chains keeps you moving toward a score and keeps the ball out of the other team's hands. Throw in Elliott's blocking ability and its like having an extra lineman on the field.
 
Reality said:
I have said and agree with this completely!

I would rather have a running back who gives me 3-7 yards on most carries than one that gives me 0-2 yards most of the time and one 60 yard run per game. The goal of the running back position is to move the chains first and foremost. Long runs are great and a really nice bonus, but receivers can gain 30+ yards much easier and more often than a running back can. A player like Elliott who gains 3-7 yards every time and moves the chains keeps you moving toward a score and keeps the ball out of the other team's hands. Throw in Elliott's blocking ability and its like having an extra lineman on the field.
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Are you saying we agree on something? :clap:
 
Reality said:
I have said and agree with this completely!

I would rather have a running back who gives me 3-7 yards on most carries than one that gives me 0-2 yards most of the time and one 60 yard run per game. The goal of the running back position is to move the chains first and foremost. Long runs are great and a really nice bonus, but receivers can gain 30+ yards much easier and more often than a running back can. A player like Elliott who gains 3-7 yards every time and moves the chains keeps you moving toward a score and keeps the ball out of the other team's hands. Throw in Elliott's blocking ability and its like having an extra lineman on the field.
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Emmitt vs Barry - all over again?
 
Reality said:
I have said and agree with this completely!

I would rather have a running back who gives me 3-7 yards on most carries than one that gives me 0-2 yards most of the time and one 60 yard run per game. The goal of the running back position is to move the chains first and foremost. Long runs are great and a really nice bonus, but receivers can gain 30+ yards much easier and more often than a running back can. A player like Elliott who gains 3-7 yards every time and moves the chains keeps you moving toward a score and keeps the ball out of the other team's hands. Throw in Elliott's blocking ability and its like having an extra lineman on the field.
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Zeke is great at moving the chains from between the 20's. Once we're in the red zone, it all falls apart. :(
 
This will be met with boos, but I think Barkley is the better talent.

That's not to say Elliott isn't an elite back, but talent wise, Barkley is a bigger freak than Elliott IMO.
 
Eddie said:
Zeke is great at moving the chains from between the 20's. Once we're in the red zone, it all falls apart. :(
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Because they run him ragged lol. More than likely he’s the reason we got down there and is gassed from carrying the team on his back. Mix in terrible play calling and that’s why we struggle in the red zone.
 
spook930 said:
Because they run him ragged lol. More than likely he’s the reason we got down there and is gassed from carrying the team on his back. Mix in terrible play calling and that’s why we struggle in the red zone.
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Running game supposed to tire out the opposing defense. It only wears down Zeke. Dude needs some energy packs.
 
greatness is greatness. matters not to me whether it's a players first year of 10th year. zeke is greatness. he takes a beating. but continues to move the chains. now he's showing his skills as a pass receiver. he's a good blocker. a true 3 down back. just not sure what more anyone could want from their running back. imo, he's better than saquon. we're in the playoffs. the giants aren't. zeke is the most important, singular reason we're in the big dance.
 
these debates while interesting are MOOT, if SB doesnt out perform Zeke then thats failure, correct, by these fans thinking RBs arent supposed to be taken that high and Zeke was 4th overall, SB 2nd..either way they both are playing well, and id worry more about whos stopping them, who will have the better defense to slow these guys down going forward? we have the younger more talented D where the Giants took the FA approach..they are both nightmare to stop and have to be game planned…

IMO just talking about 3 backs all the time is slap in the face to guys like that UNDFA Rook over in Denver who wasn't drafted and looks pretty dang awesome give early in the year they ran 3 back system until he emerged, next year he will be a force.. you cant count out Bell when he comes back, Fournette is in this argument if he didnt get hurt, no talk on Melvin Gordon is still pretty good emerging of late before his injury, James Conner, and on and on..there are a lot of good young backs in this league and its attributed to the resurgence of using a great back again..

Id say Zeke and Barkley are different backs like sanders vs emmitt and it will be way to hard to say whos better but at 4 vs 2 overall pick, im happy with Zeke..if we took him at 2 how much fatter and slower would this board accuse him of lol

Better this year is Easy.

Zeke wins rushing title, goes to playoffs, and won division title in the same division SB is in.. Zeke wins
 
Eddie said:
Zeke is great at moving the chains from between the 20's. Once we're in the red zone, it all falls apart. :(
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That's because the Cowboys change their offense in the red zone. They try to overpower them with a memory of an offensive line they no longer have.
 
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