Chargers and the 3rd pick

[erod]

But that's just Toruk's point.

We had the best running attack in the NFL in 2014 and did so because we invested in the OL and turned a run of the mill 3rd rounder into the NFL's leading rusher. And yet despite that, the team came up short largely because their defense just wasn't good enough.

So when Toruk is saying what he's saying, he's saying it with the belief that in order to get over the hump, they need to build the defense, not invest even more into a running game that can probably be elite again given our OL and a 3rd round TB.

No, they came up short because that 3rd-round running back couldn't finish an easy TD run and fumbled, and Dez caught it.

I'm all for a great defense, but that will take 3-4 drafts. And there are six more rounds after Elliott is picked.

 

[Sydla]

Murray was not elite. I saw every game he played in college and the pros. He had one magical year with a great QB and a great offensive line. He didn't do anything like that before, and he never will again.

Elliott will do it every year here. Watch.

It doesn't matter what you think Murray was. Facts are facts.

With Murray, this OL churned out the best rushing attack in football in 2014. They didn't need an "elite" back to do it.

 

[Denim Chicken]

But that's just Toruk's point.

We had the best running attack in the NFL in 2014 and did so because we invested in the OL and turned a run of the mill 3rd rounder into the NFL's leading rusher. And yet despite that, the team came up short largely because their defense just wasn't good enough.

So when Toruk is saying what he's saying, he's saying it with the belief that in order to get over the hump, they need to build the defense, not invest even more into a running game that can probably be elite again given our OL and a 3rd round TB.

If we don't draft Zeke, whoever is our starter will have a better year

 

[erod]

I don't think anyone disagrees that it'd be great to have a legitimate threat at RB.

It's just others don't see him outperforming Demarco from 2014 (in which case we still lost because of defense), and myself in particular think defense is more important in the NFL. Mainly because we don't have one, and mainly because we have all these other elite pieces on offense, like you mentioned.

I don't disagree about the defense, but that will take 3 drafts to fix. Right when Romo retires.

Elliott can do more to help your defense right now than any defensive player in the draft.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

True.....except.

There are lots and lots and lots of pretty good running backs. There are McFaddens dripping off the ceiling.

But there are very few elite ones. Is Elliott elite? If so, take him.

I'm fine with pretty good at RB with our offensive line if I can get an elite defender at 4.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

I've seen every game Murray has played since he was a freshman. He is not even close to the class of Elliott. He was a one-year wonder.

We don't need someone in Elliot's class if it costs us 34M over 5 years and the number 4 pick.

 

[Direwolf63]

Murray was not elite. I saw every game he played in college and the pros. He had one magical year with a great QB and a great offensive line. He didn't do anything like that before, and he never will again.

Elliott will do it every year here. Watch.

With this o-line, you can have an elite running game with a 3rd round running back. Just like we did with Murray. He doesn't have to be the #4 pick in the draft.

 

[erod]

It doesn't matter what you think Murray was. Facts are facts.

With Murray, this OL churned out the best rushing attack in football in 2014. They didn't need an "elite" back to do it.

And if they had an elite back, maybe they would have gone much further than the divisional round.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

I don't disagree about the defense, but that will take 3 drafts to fix. Right when Romo retires.

Elliott can do more to help your defense right now than any defensive player in the draft.

Help us get 1 extra minute of time on offense? Definitely worth the number 4 pick right?

 

[Sydla]

No, they came up short because that 3rd-round running back couldn't finish an easy TD run and fumbled, and Dez caught it.

I'm all for a great defense, but that will take 3-4 drafts. And there are six more rounds after Elliott is picked.

One, anyone with a brain who watched that game knew there was no chance the Cowboys defense could stop Rodgers in that second half. They couldn't stop them from running the clock out. They couldn't stop them from two long TD drives and a FG drive in the previous three drives.

Two, it doesn't need to take 3-4 years to build a defense.

There are 6 more rounds to find a TB too.

 

[erod]

We don't need someone in Elliot's class if it costs us 34M over 5 years and the number 4 pick.

I don't care about the money as long as the impact is there. The cap is a myth anyway that can be worked around at will.

 

[Sydla]

And if they had an elite back, maybe they would have gone much further than the divisional round.

Not with that defense they wouldn't have.

Again, you must have passed out in the GB game. The defense couldn't stop Rodgers and the GB offense in the 2nd half.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Thats just it Toruk ...... I dont want another Murray ...... he showed his true colors away from Romo and this line.

I want a star ....... and I think Zeke is it.

Go grab an Arian Foster or Thomas Rawls in UDFA then.

Or heck a Bell or McCoy in the 2nd.

 

[Sydla]

I don't care about the money as long as the impact is there. The cap is a myth anyway that can be worked around at will.

So is this belief that it takes 4 years to build a good defense.

 

[erod]

Help us get 1 extra minute of time on offense? Definitely worth the number 4 pick right?

In 2014, the Cowboys created turnovers by the bushels. Why?

Because the Cowboys were always ahead. They always had the ball. Opponents HAD to throw and take chances, and it cost them.

With Romo and an elite running game, that can be the case again right now. Especially with a back that can finish runs and doesn't fumble.

 

[ufcrules1]

It doesn't matter what you think Murray was. Facts are facts.

With Murray, this OL churned out the best rushing attack in football in 2014. They didn't need an "elite" back to do it.

Best running game in football by over 500 yards too. Murray isn't some random back though.. he is VERY good.

 

[kevm3]

Murray was a 3rd round pick. If you want to go get a RB at pick 76? I'm all for it. At 4? Insanity.

Kam Chancellor was drafted in the 5th, as was Richard Sherman, as was Josh Norman. You can find extremely talented guys in the later rounds for nearly all positions.

In regards to runningback, if Ramsey isn't on board, I definitely consider Elliott at 4. Not drafting this or that position at such and such is why a lot of highly talented guys end up slipping to the later picks and the top picks end up being unspectacular. If I was a team that wasn't built like the cowboys, then I probably wouldn't get Elliott, but we have arguably the best O-line in the league and we're built for a strong running attack. Most teams aren't built with the running game as the emphasis, but here, a strong running game solves the majority of our red zone problems and significantly helps our defense by keeping them off of the field. It also helps keep Romo upright if Elliott is as great of a blocker as he's touted and it helps out the rest of the offense since opposing defenses have to worry about a guy who can hit a homerun in the run game.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

I don't care about the money as long as the impact is there. The cap is a myth anyway that can be worked around at will.

The cap any individual year can be maneuvered around. But that flexibility is not unlimited.

I know a lot about the cap. It isn't as restrictive as some think....and it isn't a myth like others foolishly assume.

Like most things...the truth lies somewhere int he middle.

 

[Sydla]

In 2014, the Cowboys created turnovers by the bushels. Why?

Because the Cowboys were always ahead. They always had the ball. Opponents HAD to throw and take chances, and it cost them.

With Romo and an elite running game, that can be the case again right now. Especially with a back that can finish runs and doesn't fumble.

In 2014, Dallas held the ball 32 minutes a game. 3rd in the league.

In 2015, Dallas held the ball 31 minutes a game. 10th in the league. And did so with no QB and no threat at WR.

 

[erod]

With this o-line, you can have an elite running game with a 3rd round running back. Just like we did with Murray. He doesn't have to be the #4 pick in the draft.

And that 3rd round back has no clue how to pass protect, and Romo gets plowed in Week 2, and we are drafting 4th again next year.

Running the ball is only 50 percent of the job.