Bill Polian on Zeke

[erod]

Not in cover 3 it doesn't.

You can't play Cover 3 with 8 or 9 in the box.

 

[Everson24]

That's become apparent to me even during the games. At the beginning of the season, I was happy to see Alfred Morris get his opportunities. Now I dread it when I see him on the field. Not that's he's a bad player, but the difference between he and Zeke is huge. The offense doesn't look close to itself without Elliott out there.

I'd love to see what the productivity numbers for the offense have been with and without Elliott on the field. I think the differences would be stark.

The fact that every defense is totally focused on slowing down Zeke must kill Tony Romo when he knows he could light them up with record numbers. As much as I love Dak Prescott there is a part of me that thinks the only way we get to the Super Bowl this year is if Dak gets hurt before the regular season ends.

 

[Thomas82]

Keep in mind that Polian was the first national media guy who had us taking Zeke at #4 overall. Before the draft he said we would take Zeke and not look back as if it was a foregone conclusion, and obviously he was right.

Now he says that Elliott is far and away the NFL MVP. Polian says second place isn't even close. He says all of this team's success starts and stops with Elliott, and that without him as a difference maker we are a vastly different team.

I have been behind Bill Polian ever since he first had us taking Zeke.

 

[Stash]

I remember posters saying Morris and Lamar Miller would be a fitting running back for this offense, more so than taking Zeke at #4. Miller has essentially disappeared in Houston. He's more anonymous than he was in Miami. Morris is a good back. But it's clear he's not Zeke.

I was a Lamar Miller guy, and I still believe he would have been good in this offense. But it's obvious he wouldn't have been as good as what we're getting from Elliott. But he's definitely not Zeke.

 

[Stash]

Good point. Me too. In fact, Zeke has spoiled me so much that it's hard to watch MOST NFL RBs these days. Outside of McCoy, Johnson, Bell and Murray, everyone else looks so average compared to Zeke.

Totally agree.

The future's so bright!


And the present is pretty sunny too!

 

[Stash]

The fact that every defense is totally focused on slowing down Zeke must kill Tony Romo when he knows he could light them up with record numbers. As much as I love Dak Prescott there is a part of me that thinks the only way we get to the Super Bowl this year is if Dak gets hurt before the regular season ends.

Someone called in to the Talkin' Cowboys/Break show and said the same thing. I don't give it a thought as I prefer to enjoy what is happening over spending time and effort on speculation. I find it liberating.

 

[tyke1doe]

I was a Lamar Miller guy, and I still believe he would have been good in this offense. But it's obvious he wouldn't have been as good as what we're getting from Elliott. But he's definitely not Zeke.

And he's killing me on my fantasy team. He's really had only one great game this year.
So, naturally, I'm a bit peeved at him and his overall production.

 

[DC Cowboy]

Elliot is MVP IMO

The problem may be, he and Dak split votes.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

It was laughable. Romo won't allow teams to be so nosey at the line of scrimmage. He's a much bigger threat to beat teams down the field. It would only enhance Zeke's impact.

I agree with this still but unless Dak gets hurt no one is ever going to see it.

Which I understand.

 

[fishspill]

Good point. Me too. In fact, Zeke has spoiled me so much that it's hard to watch MOST NFL RBs these days. Outside of McCoy, Johnson, Bell and Murray, everyone else looks so average compared to Zeke.

You listed the only backs I think are either near Zeke's level or just a little better than him right now.

I can't see the league giving MVP to anyone other than a vet QB this year. They have a chance to acknowledge and promote the future of the QB position without going rookie.

 

[WoodysGirl]

 

[Kaiser]

Footnote: Ezekiel Elliot was 5'8 and 150 pounds in the Third Grade.

 

[gmoney112]

You can't play Cover 3 with 8 or 9 in the box.

Wrong.

Single high cover 3 by nature creeps the SS back into the box, especially when you play a press bail scheme like Seattle. They don't necessarily run 8 in the box because their front 7 is good, but the nature of Cover 3 single high is the roaming ability of the SS, most of the time to the box.

And Polian is just using confirmation bias. He loved Zeke and wasn't that high on Dak. Zeke is #2, but it's not a stretch to assume the guy having one of, if not the best, rookie campaign in NFL QB history might just be the MVP.

Why is that so hard for some to accept? Is it because he was a 4th rounder no one predicted?

 

[Stash]

And he's killing me on my fantasy team. He's really had only one great game this year.
So, naturally, I'm a bit peeved at him and his overall production.

At least you're honest about it!


I'd be more peeved about Osweiler bringing nothing to the offense at quarterback.

 

[Dre11]

Zeke would likely be less successful than he is now if Romo was the QB, which is probably one of the reasons that factored into Cowboys decision to go with Prescott. Romo's lack of mobility is a liability that limits the options available to the offense. We have seen during the last 2 games just how valuable Dak's runs can be. Those runs force the defense to play honest instead of just crashing down on Zeke. Dak's presence causing a slight hesitation to the defense can make a huge difference with a player as talented as Zeke, as the announcers pointed out during the Vikings game.

You're crazy for thinking that. Zeke would get so many more favorable boxes, it's not even close. And when they would crowd Romo would thread them.

 

[65fastback2plus2]

He's right.

He's keeping teams up on the line of scrimmage, making almost every play man coverage for Dak. Rookie quarterbacks can throw against man coverage much easier than NFL zones.

That actually hurts Zeke to a degree. If Romo was playing, they'd have to back off, and Zeke would probably have a couple hundred more yards.

nailed it!

 

[JJHLH1]

You're crazy for thinking that. Zeke would get so many more favorable boxes, it's not even close. And when they would crowd Romo would thread them.

Then why did the Cowboys decide to go with Dak if he's hurting both the rushing and passing game as you suggest?

 

[erod]

Wrong.

Single high cover 3 by nature creeps the SS back into the box, especially when you play a press bail scheme like Seattle. They don't necessarily run 8 in the box because their front 7 is good, but the nature of Cover 3 single high is the roaming ability of the SS, most of the time to the box.

And Polian is just using confirmation bias. He loved Zeke and wasn't that high on Dak. Zeke is #2, but it's not a stretch to assume the guy having one of, if not the best, rookie campaign in NFL QB history might just be the MVP.

Why is that so hard for some to accept? Is it because he was a 4th rounder no one predicted?

You can't run Cover 3 all crowded up in the box with 8 to 9 players. That leaves single man outside on at least one side. They can't drop off fast enough to double a wideout.

 

[waving monkey]

I think teams have figured out Dak, stop Zeke and play the playaction. Double Dez and we have trouble moving the ball

so to stop zeek you put eight in the box? then you double dez?thats 10 players then you have ten defensive players accounted for.
there you have a WR one on one and a TE [or WR] one on one plus the FB
Im I counting right?

 

[tyke1doe]

At least you're honest about it!


I'd be more peeved about Osweiler bringing nothing to the offense at quarterback.

Fortunately, I wasn't that stupid in my draft strategy.