Demarcus Lawrence playing light's out

[terra]

No one is really talking about him, but he's playing light's out so far this season. He was one of the forum's whipping boys the last few years. Good to see him playing at a high level.

Almost Anthony's look alike is doing OK and that is all.
Only a football idiot would say he is playing lights out

 

[Denim Chicken]

Almost Anthony's look alike is doing OK and that is all.
Only a football idiot would say he is playing lights out

 

[RonnieT24]

I’m not a fan of drafting RBs early in the first or paying them monster contracts. I like Zeke but he’s essentially a league average back at this point so there you go.

I have to wonder if Zeke is essentially league average back at this point because of himself or because of the change in offensive philosophy. I should also point out that he's finished in the top 10 in rushing these last two seasons despite all the injuries and brain dead play calling. Also top 10 is by definition above league average. Since there are .. you know like 150 running backs in the league. I think Zeke is capable of more carrying the ball but have come to terms with the fact that he won't get the opportunity to do that in Moore's offense.. I think he has accepted that as well and for that he should be commended. A lot of players would not accept being de-emphasized so graciously. I would be curious to see what he could do if he went to a situation where the offensive coordinator didn't think "yards are yards" and actually spent time and energy on the running game.. Moore's play calling betrays his attitude that running plays are only there as placeholders until he can call his next brilliant pass play. These last four weeks with a backup QB notwithstanding. Even with the backup QB Moore still goes 5 wide empty backfield in the red zone. Dude can't help himself.

 

[cnuball21]

I have to wonder if Zeke is essentially league average back at this point because of himself or because of the change in offensive philosophy. I should also point out that he's finished in the top 10 in rushing these last two seasons despite all the injuries and brain dead play calling. Also top 10 is by definition above league average. Since there are .. you know like 150 running backs in the league. I think Zeke is capable of more carrying the ball but have come to terms with the fact that he won't get the opportunity to do that in Moore's offense.. I think he has accepted that as well and for that he should be commended. A lot of players would not accept being de-emphasized so graciously. I would be curious to see what he could do if he went to a situation where the offensive coordinator didn't think "yards are yards" and actually spent time and energy on the running game.. Moore's play calling betrays his attitude that running plays are only there as placeholders until he can call his next brilliant pass play. These last four weeks with a backup QB notwithstanding. Even with the backup QB Moore still goes 5 wide empty backfield in the red zone. Dude can't help himself.

He can't control how dumb his contract is, but dude has fallen off a cliff in production. We can talk about total rushing yards but we both know that partially a volume stat. Sure there is some talent involved, but the RB position in the NFL is about quality OL play, scheme and fresh legs. His legs are no longer a threat at this point he's essentially a quality short yardage back that is great in pass pro.

Dude's last 100 yard game was October of last year...hasn't had an explosive run of 40/50+ in forever. Had little over 400 yards after contact last year (for comparison Chubb is almost already at 300 this year).

Loved Zeke as a prospect and have always like him as a dude...one of the best RB prospects I can remember and he was outstanding his first few years but he is nowhere near the same dude he used to be and his outrageous contract is holding this team back.

 

[ak47kaehu]

The HOT BOYZ are back!

 

[RonnieT24]

He can't control how dumb his contract is, but dude has fallen off a cliff in production. We can talk about total rushing yards but we both know that partially a volume stat. Sure there is some talent involved, but the RB position in the NFL is about quality OL play, scheme and fresh legs. His legs are no longer a threat at this point he's essentially a quality short yardage back that is great in pass pro.

Dude's last 100 yard game was October of last year...hasn't had an explosive run of 40/50+ in forever. Had little over 400 yards after contact last year (for comparison Chubb is almost already at 300 this year).

Loved Zeke as a prospect and have always like him as a dude...one of the best RB prospects I can remember and he was outstanding his first few years but he is nowhere near the same dude he used to be and his outrageous contract is holding this team back.

This may be true.. and if it is, shame on the Cowboys for wasting his best years with crappy coaching. He's not likely to have a lot of 100 yard games averaging 15 carries a game though. Again, he can't call his own number and surely stepping in front oncoming trains to save the QB isn't doing his body any favors either. I submit that the number of times he has to do that takes more of a toll on his body than totin the rock does. But his M.O. has always been to bang on the defense early, wear them down then hit home runs on them late. The shift in offense for the Cowboys doesn't really allow for that and he has been unwilling or unable to change his approach to just basically try to house it on every carry. I can tell you from personal experience it's a bear to try and change your running style.. Zeke spent the first 3-4 years of his career changing his to what the coaching staff wanted him to be.. which was more patient. They demanded that he stopped exploding into the line at 100 mph and wait for the blocks to set up. That works great when there is good blocking.. but over the last 2-3 years the blocking has been spotty at best.. and Zeke is still running like the lanes are going to open up at some point. They aint. At least not with any consistency.

Some claim he does that because he can't run any faster but I reject that because his head coach told us he hit 22.9 mph on the GPS in OTAs. I don't need to tell you that is haulin some serious arse. I think Zeke would generate more explosive plays if he cut loose like that more often.. but for whatever reason he doesn't. My guess is that he doesn't because getting up to that level of speed takes a lot out of you. And you don't recover from doing so as fast at 27 as you did at 21. So for him it's easier just to beat on the defense with his physicality and let Pollard hit the home runs.. Makes him less popular with fans.. but it's good for the team.

 

[cnuball21]

This may be true.. and if it is, shame on the Cowboys for wasting his best years with crappy coaching. He's not likely to have a lot of 100 yard games averaging 15 carries a game though. Again, he can't call his own number and surely stepping in front oncoming trains to save the QB isn't doing his body any favors either. I submit that the number of times he has to do that takes more of a toll on his body than totin the rock does. But his M.O. has always been to bang on the defense early, wear them down then hit home runs on them late. The shift in offense for the Cowboys doesn't really allow for that and he has been unwilling or unable to change his approach to just basically try to house it on every carry. I can tell you from personal experience it's a bear to try and change your running style.. Zeke spent the first 3-4 years of his career changing his to what the coaching staff wanted him to be.. which was more patient. They demanded that he stopped exploding into the line at 100 mph and wait for the blocks to set up. That works great when there is good blocking.. but over the last 2-3 years the blocking has been spotty at best.. and Zeke is still running like the lanes are going to open up at some point. They aint. At least not with any consistency.

Some claim he does that because he can't run any faster but I reject that because his head coach told us he hit 22.9 mph on the GPS in OTAs. I don't need to tell you that is haulin some serious arse. I think Zeke would generate more explosive plays if he cut loose like that more often.. but for whatever reason he doesn't. My guess is that he doesn't because getting up to that level of speed takes a lot out of you. And you don't recover from doing so as fast at 27 as you did at 21. So for him it's easier just to beat on the defense with his physicality and let Pollard hit the home runs.. Makes him less popular with fans.. but it's good for the team.

Maybe they did ask him to be more patient early in his career but it clearly didn’t phase him as he was busting off a ton of explosive runs then…he doesn’t do that now.

I can’t buy that he’s just playing a roll and letting Pollard get all the explosive runs late. If a RB has a hole and sees daylight…it doesn’t matter what quarter it is.

 

[RonnieT24]

Maybe they did ask him to be more patient early in his career but it clearly didn’t phase him as he was busting off a ton of explosive runs then…he doesn’t do that now.

I can’t buy that he’s just playing a roll and letting Pollard get all the explosive runs late. If a RB has a hole and sees daylight…it doesn’t matter what quarter it is.

I think you may underestimate how hard was for him to slow down from his rookie self. And how hard it is to go back to that once you make that adjustment to the more patient style. We saw this a little bit with how Parcells completely altered how Julius Jones ran back in the day. Julius was EXTREMELY explosive early in his career making those instinctive cuts and at times bouncing it outside using his speed to get to daylight when the blocking failed to produce any. But Parcells pounded on him for three years to "run it up inside tougher" and "give the play time to develop." The result was a huge drop off in his explosive plays.. and eventually his being benched and ultimately not re-signed. He basically lost his mojo. It may have also happened to Zeke.. but lord I hope not.. because Zeke was a much higher investment in terms of money and draft capital. Wasting that kind of talent is something this franchise has done far too much of.

 

[cnuball21]

I think you may underestimate how hard was for him to slow down from his rookie self. And how hard it is to go back to that once you make that adjustment to the more patient style. We saw this a little bit with how Parcells completely altered how Julius Jones ran back in the day. Julius was EXTREMELY explosive early in his career making those instinctive cuts and at times bouncing it outside using his speed to get to daylight when the blocking failed to produce any. But Parcells pounded on him for three years to "run it up inside tougher" and "give the play time to develop." The result was a huge drop off in his explosive plays.. and eventually his being benched and ultimately not re-signed. He basically lost his mojo. It may have also happened to Zeke.. but lord I hope not.. because Zeke was a much higher investment in terms of money and draft capital. Wasting that kind of talent is something this franchise has done far too much of.

I mean we can chalk it up to whatever reason we want to but Zeke is not as good as he was and is severely overpaid. Agree to disagree on reasons as I think he no longer has the speed or burst to ever be the player he was.

IMO getting out of his contract as soon as possible should be one of the biggest priorities of the FO.

 

[BleedSilverandBlue]

No one is really talking about him, but he's playing light's out so far this season. He was one of the forum's whipping boys the last few years. Good to see him playing at a high level.

He has always played at a high level. This forum just does not know football and loved to trash him.

DLaw is an absolute man on that defensive front.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

Yeah but where did he acutally took a paycut?

He didn't. They re-structured his contract. Same total money, just shuffled it around...

 

[Nickyd2208]

He didn't. They re-structured his contract. Same total money, just shuffled it around...

His cap hit is $13 million less this year, he 100% took a paycut.

 

[Maxmadden]

All of his stats came in 1 game lol

He is 4th in the NFL in QB pressures with 22 (Parson's 28). He must have had a really good 1 game.

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

He is 4th in the NFL in QB pressures with 22 (Parson's 28). He must have had a really good 1 game.

He did.

 

[Typhus]

D Flaw has been severely overpaid since his contract year. He has been a net negative player every year and has contributed to playing losing defense as much if not more so than anybody but his Hot Boyz buddies T Crawford and J Smooth. IMHO you can be a fan of the player and you can be a fan of the team but you can not be both. I honestly do not know how you can be a fan of this team and not despise players like them.

If you can't see how Tank is a great fit now with Parsons pulling the heat, then I can't help you.

 

[BleedSilverandBlue]

If you can't see how Tank is a great fit now with Parsons pulling the heat, then I can't help you.

It's all about agenda for like 60% of the posters on here. The facts of the situation can be staring them right in the face but they will recite the same worn out fallacies over and over.

DLaw is simply a good player and his price tag is extremely reasonable after the new contract this offseason.

 

[cnuball21]

It's all about agenda for like 60% of the posters on here. The facts of the situation can be staring them right in the face but they will recite the same worn out fallacies over and over.

DLaw is simply a good player and his price tag is extremely reasonable after the new contract this offseason.

#s don’t lie…unfortunately some posters make their kind up about a player and then pride won’t let them change their tune.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

His cap hit is $13 million less this year, he 100% took a paycut.

Cap hit is not his pay, it's what the team has to count for him against the cap. He signed a three-year extension, so he's getting more money than he was originally going to make from the 2019 contract. That is hardly a pay cut.

But you believe what you want...

 

[LACowboysFan1]

He did.

Pro Football Reference lists his numbers for the 5 games at 4,7,6,2 and 2. So it's not "one monster game".

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

Pro Football Reference lists his numbers for the 5 games at 4,7,6,2 and 2. So it's not "one monster game".

It was though.

He has 3 sacks (all in the Giants game), 13 tackles (6 in the Giants game),4 TFL (3 in the Giants game), 5 QB hits (3 in the Giants game)...

You take away that game and everyone here is back to telling everyone what a waste he is for us.