Dallas Cowboys: Can Ezekiel Elliott Take Team Worst To First?

ABQCOWBOY

ABQCOWBOY

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He could but It's unlikely IMO. If this team goes from worst to first, Elliott will probably get the credit for that but the truth will be that it's because Tony stayed Healthy and the OL improved dramatically.

I know it's a popular position, on this board, to point to our OL and think that they are the best in the league. Talent wise, projection wise, they might be but from the standpoint of actual execution, they were not last year. They could have been better and they probably will be better this year but they still have to do that. If we flip the switch this year, that is why it will happen IMO. Elliott, thou he may get the credit, will not be the guy that does it IMO. He will be the benefactor of those two things.
 
FaSho

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ABQCOWBOY said:
I know it's a popular position, on this board, to point to our OL and think that they are the best in the league. Talent wise, projection wise, they might be but from the standpoint of actual execution, they were not last year.
Click to expand...

PFF grades say they were...

How else do you explain the running game still being as good as it was? And how do you explain all of our QBs having days to throw? The only thing they were worse at, was penalties.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2016/01/20/pro-ranking-all-32-offensive-lines-this-season/
 
ABQCOWBOY

ABQCOWBOY

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FaSho said:
PFF grades say they were...

How else do you explain the running game still being as good as it was? And how do you explain all of our QBs having days to throw? The only thing they were worse at, was penalties.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2016/01/20/pro-ranking-all-32-offensive-lines-this-season/
Click to expand...

Early in the season, the running game was not as good and I don't believe that they are as good a pass blocking unit as some of the other OL's in the league. I think they could be and probably will be but they aren't yet.
 
Dhragon

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ABQCOWBOY said:
He could but It's unlikely IMO. If this team goes from worst to first, Elliott will probably get the credit for that but the truth will be that it's because Tony stayed Healthy and the OL improved dramatically.

I know it's a popular position, on this board, to point to our OL and think that they are the best in the league. Talent wise, projection wise, they might be but from the standpoint of actual execution, they were not last year. They could have been better and they probably will be better this year but they still have to do that. If we flip the switch this year, that is why it will happen IMO. Elliott, thou he may get the credit, will not be the guy that does it IMO. He will be the benefactor of those two things.
Click to expand...

I think the Oline gets a bad rap for last year but in reality they helped a JAG RB break out and become pretty good (McFadden). So much in fact, some think ANY RB can run well behind them and thus devalue the importance of how a very good/great RB would do behind them. That being said, a healthy Romo/Dez is what will get them from last to first. Zeke will just make it a little easier to do so.
 
Dhragon

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FaSho said:
PFF grades say they were...

How else do you explain the running game still being as good as it was? And how do you explain all of our QBs having days to throw? The only thing they were worse at, was penalties.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2016/01/20/pro-ranking-all-32-offensive-lines-this-season/
Click to expand...

Correct - there is a huge difference in Murray and McFadden running behind that line even if the average yardage seemed similar. McFadden is a JAG but our line made him look like a very good RB. I think the lesser RB made the Oline seem worse in 2015 than in 2014. Barring injury, I think we'll be amazed at how much "better" the O-line is once Zeke is the bell cow now. The Zeke haters will then point to how our improved line is the reason for his success, lol. It takes both an elite line and an elite RB to optimize the running game. I think we'll finally see that in 2016.
 
ABQCOWBOY

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Dhragon said:
I think the Oline gets a bad rap for last year but in reality they helped a JAG RB break out and become pretty good (McFadden). So much in fact, some think ANY RB can run well behind them and thus devalue the importance of how a very good/great RB would do behind them. That being said, a healthy Romo/Dez is what will get them from last to first. Zeke will just make it a little easier to do so.
Click to expand...

I think they are a very good Run Blocking unit but if you just look at the stats of how many sacks they gave up and how many hits on QB they gave up, it's easy to see that they were not the best Pass Blocking unit in the NFL.
 
Denim Chicken

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ABQCOWBOY said:
I think they are a very good Run Blocking unit but if you just look at the stats of how many sacks they gave up and how many hits on QB they gave up, it's easy to see that they were not the best Pass Blocking unit in the NFL.
Click to expand...

28th in QB hits (67 vs the best team at 58)--that's top 5 in the category.
 
Denim Chicken

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ABQCOWBOY said:
Yep. Tied for 11th (or 14th depending on how you look at it) in fewest Sacks given up with 33. 10 teams were better and 3 others were tied with us.
Click to expand...

Of course, we be be remiss to not mention the lack of mobility at QB as well as the WR issues that factor into these stats. It's not all on the line.
 
Risen Star

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Stupid premise. The team that went 4-12 last year isn't the team on the field this year. Even without Elliott.
 
Daillest88

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Weeden and Cassel didn't have a clue what to do with the ball. There were times when they had all day to throw and still look lost. players were open too. They took Alot of unnecessary sacks
 
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