Does anyone know how fast Zeke is at the moment?

[RonnieT24]

I wouldn't be too sure about that. A lot of those DTs and OTs are running 4.7 or 4.8 40s these days. Mazi Smith at 320+ ran a 4.85 40.

I think people significantly underestimate how much speed is in the NFL. This is a big reason why RBs just don't last long in the league. As soon as these RBs lose that elite burst it's hard to stick around. Not saying these are not still elite level athletes and not saying these guys can't move, but the physical demands of what a running back needs to be able to do in todays game is ridiculous.

I remember several years ago when the NFL tried the veteran combine for free agents. There is a reason they only did that once as it shows just how much these guys deteriorate. Michael Bush was a running back who timed in at 4.91 on the 40. Felix Jones a 4.85

I don't think it's really that much about deterioration as it is about emphasis. I have stated many times that 99% of guys who run at the combine and at pro days will never be that fast again as long as they live. Why not? You might ask. Frankly when guys are getting ready for the NFL combine they spend 2-3 months doing nothing else but training to ace that test. Most of them will never train that way again because that stuff is not conducive to playing football. So after that combine day they focus on playing football not excelling in their underwear. It would not surprise me at all that nearly all NFL players are significantly slower than their combine speed after a couple of years in the league. There will be exceptions.. like DK Metcalf and Tyreke Hill who have continued to train as track athletes and even still compete on the track well into their NFL lives. I'm sure there are others but they are far and away the exception not the rule.

All this is to say that there is no way in hell Zeke is as fast now as he was 8 years ago.. And I don't expect him to be. Football players by and large need to be really fast for 15-20 yards tops.. So that's what their bodies acclimate to. Especially running backs. That's why you see so many guys run out of gas after 30-40 yards. They simply don't ask their bodies to do that very often. It's not because they're "out of shape" like softheads will claim. It's because their engines are tuned to put out maximum effort in 5-10 second bursts, rest, rinse repeat. Yes watching guys go coast to coast is really fun to watch. But building your football watching expectations on seeing a lot of that is a fool's errand. At least in the NFL. It doesn't happen that often. Period. So to me dinging a player who doesn't do it is stoopid. There are maybe a hundred 50+ yard runs across the entire NFL in a given season. Probably less than 1%. For that reason it makes almost zero sense to be using the lack of that capability in a guy's game to be of any significance.

 

[thunderpimp91]

I don't think it's really that much about deterioration as it is about emphasis. I have stated many times that 99% of guys who run at the combine and at pro days will never be that fast again as long as they live. Why not? You might ask. Frankly when guys are getting ready for the NFL combine they spend 2-3 months doing nothing else but training to ace that test. Most of them will never train that way again because that stuff is not conducive to playing football. So after that combine day they focus on playing football not excelling in their underwear. It would not surprise me at all that nearly all NFL players are significantly slower than their combine speed after a couple of years in the league. There will be exceptions.. like DK Metcalf and Tyreke Hill who have continued to train as track athletes and even still compete on the track well into their NFL lives. I'm sure there are others but they are far and away the exception not the rule.

All this is to say that there is no way in hell Zeke is as fast now as he was 8 years ago.. And I don't expect him to be. Football players by and large need to be really fast for 15-20 yards tops.. So that's what their bodies acclimate to. Especially running backs. That's why you see so many guys run out of gas after 30-40 yards. They simply don't ask their bodies to do that very often. It's not because they're "out of shape" like softheads will claim. It's because their engines are tuned to put out maximum effort in 5-10 second bursts, rest, rinse repeat. Yes watching guys go coast to coast is really fun to watch. But building your football watching expectations on seeing a lot of that is a fool's errand. At least in the NFL. It doesn't happen that often. Period. So to me dinging a player who doesn't do it is stoopid. There are maybe a hundred 50+ yard runs across the entire NFL in a given season. Probably less than 1%. For that reason it makes almost zero sense to be using the lack of that capability in a guy's game to be of any significance.

Very fair argument. There is certainly a training piece of this where stance and get off technique alone can probably adjust the time a couple tenths of a second.

How these guys move in pads is everything. My fear for Zeke and really any RB is that any sort of regression in speed/burst is going to be a bigger issues than any other position on the field. Not that these guys can't run either, it can be such a small difference that the human eye wont even notice the difference. Not saying that as a knock on Zeke either, I think he's a decent pickup. It really just comes back to the same argument of is he a true 3 down back at this stage in his career or is he more of a specialist. I think there is data out there to support both sides of the argument so we really won't know until the games start.

 

[RonnieT24]

Very fair argument. There is certainly a training piece of this where stance and get off technique alone can probably adjust the time a couple tenths of a second.

How these guys move in pads is everything. My fear for Zeke and really any RB is that any sort of regression in speed/burst is going to be a bigger issues than any other position on the field. Not that these guys can't run either, it can be such a small difference that the human eye wont even notice the difference. Not saying that as a knock on Zeke either, I think he's a decent pickup. It really just comes back to the same argument of is he a true 3 down back at this stage in his career or is he more of a specialist. I think there is data out there to support both sides of the argument so we really won't know until the games start.

What I think is that Zeke is a 3 down back in short spurts. His body will no longer tolerate 65 snaps carrying the ball 20 times, catching it 3-5 times and then pass protecting another 25-30 times. Father Time simply won't allow it. For the Cowboys to get the best out of Zeke they need to manage his use. During his first stint he made it his business to "punish the defense" and soften them up for Pollard. What we learned from that is there was a price to pay for that when it came to his own production, not to mention his health. But we didn't mind because it opened the door for Pollard to do his thing. Yeah it made a lot of people sour on Zeke but those of us who understood the team game appreciated what he was doing. This time around it's going to be trickier to navigate his use. Maybe the #1 and #1a reasons to have him on the team are his pass blocking capabilities and his short yardage prowess. If they continue to use him in those roles we're not going to get the explosive plays from him that fans want and I'm not sure any of the other backs have enough juice to assume the Tony Pollard role and deliver them. None of them is as fast as Pollard was at his peak. I think Dowdle is probably as quick as Pollard but doesn't have Pollard's top end speed or his elusiveness. The Cowboys need to add a sub 4.4 running back to the room if they want that home run ability from a RB.

 

[Starforever]

You’re right. I’m sorry.

Zeke is sooo fast man. You just watch him turn on those burners and take off. Blowing past everyone.

He’s the GOAT. Dallas got a steal resigning him!

Btw, who are my ilk? Those who think Zeke isn’t fast for an NFL RB anymore? That ilk?

No the group that whines, complains, and denigrate certain players daily.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

The video I posted was from last year when he played for the Pats.

Watch the video again, since reading and comprehension isnt your thing.

What are you heeehawing about, luuulz?

His longest run last year was 17 yards. His longest reception was 23 yards.

 

[beware_d-ware]

Threads like this are why teams are turning towards game speed tracking and ways to measure athleticism on the field.

It actually makes a lot of sense. You've got guys literally playing on a numbered-distance grid, with a broadcast camera a fixed distance away. You can convert pixels into yardage and get what you need from there.

 

[Sydla]

Ah...I see what you did there. I missed it the first time.


I find it very interesting people have to make up this stuff to trash zeke. It's fun for a little bit, but doesn;t it get old?

Make stuff up about Zeke?

Nah, the issue here is you guys struggling to accept reality. Zeke is a slower, less explosive version of himself at his height. He's not fast or quick or going to break off 30 yard runs. He's much slower and a between the tackles runner at this point. He's a middling NFL TB at this point in terms of production and athleticism.

It's kind of odd that people think he's somehow going to get better/faster than he's been the last couple of years.

 

[Typhus]

In the 10 yard sprint and the 40 yard sprint? What is his maximum running speed on longer runs?

Doesn't have to be fast at the GL, 4th and inches, pass protection.
He still can complete that role.

 

[Established1971]

a little faster than a one legged frog on a frozen pond

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

Make stuff up about Zeke?

Nah, the issue here is you guys struggling to accept reality. Zeke is a slower, less explosive version of himself at his height. He's not fast or quick or going to break off 30 yard runs. He's much slower and a between the tackles runner at this point. He's a middling NFL TB at this point in terms of production and athleticism.

It's kind of odd that people think he's somehow going to get better/faster than he's been the last couple of years.

Where did i say ges gonna be better faster stronger? Where did i say hes gonna break off a buncga 30 yard runs?

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

a little faster than a one legged frog on a frozen pond

Now there ya go cz....heres a man that knows how to make fun. 1971 is gonna be hard to beat, its a long summer plenty of time.

I think beating fat mike to the cheeseburger should still win...but this one for the most original category. .

 

[RonnieT24]

Make stuff up about Zeke?

Nah, the issue here is you guys struggling to accept reality. Zeke is a slower, less explosive version of himself at his height. He's not fast or quick or going to break off 30 yard runs. He's much slower and a between the tackles runner at this point. He's a middling NFL TB at this point in terms of production and athleticism.

It's kind of odd that people think he's somehow going to get better/faster than he's been the last couple of years.

You may not be old enough to remember Dr. J. at his peak but when the ABA folded and the teams joined the NBA there was talk at that time that Dr. J would never be the high flyer that he had been because his knees were shot. It turned out that his knees simply needed a little cleanup and rest. Once that happened Dr. J went back to being the human highlight film he'd always been and played another 10 years at a very high level.

Point being.. nagging injuries can sap a guy's athleticism and make it appear that they're "done." Then they take a year or two of lighter loads and the injuries heal up and next thing you know they're back to being themselves. I think we saw the beginnings of that with Zeke in New England.. Taking a swing pass 70+ yards, hurdling guys on the way into the end zone. All indicators that the knee was feeling better and he was getting back to himself. Again, I don't think he's going to get back to 2016-2018 Zeke. But I think 2019 pre-Covid Zeke is a realistic possibility.

We all know that as an athlete two things happen when you get older. You get tired/hurt easier and you take longer to recover/heal. Everything else stays about the same as long as you put in the work to keep it there. Zeke can still deliver great plays. He just can't do it in large doses. And he sure as hell can't do it while playing as the 6th offensive lineman like Kellen Moore had him doing. The bottom line is I think Zeke will be fine. He will give us a much more reliable rushing attack than what we had last year and he will almost single handedly resolve our red zone problems. That and the physicality he brings to the offense is reason enough for me to have him back!

 

[Established1971]

Now there ya go cz....heres a man that knows how to make fun. 1971 is gonna be hard to beat, its a long summer plenty of time.

I think beating fat mike to the cheeseburger should still win...but this one for the most original category. .

I got this joke from Beavis & Butthead

 

[Sydla]

Where did i say ges gonna be better faster stronger? Where did i say hes gonna break off a buncga 30 yard runs?

You are pushing back on the fact that people are rightfully claiming Elliott has no real explosiveness or speed at this point. He's a plodder by NFL standards at this point in his career.

 

[Sydla]

You may not be old enough to remember Dr. J. at his peak but when the ABA folded and the teams joined the NBA there was talk at that time that Dr. J would never be the high flyer that he had been because his knees were shot. It turned out that his knees simply needed a little cleanup and rest. Once that happened Dr. J went back to being the human highlight film he'd always been and played another 10 years at a very high level.

Point being.. nagging injuries can sap a guy's athleticism and make it appear that they're "done." Then they take a year or two of lighter loads and the injuries heal up and next thing you know they're back to being themselves. I think we saw the beginnings of that with Zeke in New England.. Taking a swing pass 70+ yards, hurdling guys on the way into the end zone. All indicators that the knee was feeling better and he was getting back to himself. Again, I don't think he's going to get back to 2016-2018 Zeke. But I think 2019 pre-Covid Zeke is a realistic possibility.

We all know that as an athlete two things happen when you get older. You get tired/hurt easier and you take longer to recover/heal. Everything else stays about the same as long as you put in the work to keep it there. Zeke can still deliver great plays. He just can't do it in large doses. And he sure as hell can't do it while playing as the 6th offensive lineman like Kellen Moore had him doing. The bottom line is I think Zeke will be fine. He will give us a much more reliable rushing attack than what we had last year and he will almost single handedly resolve our red zone problems. That and the physicality he brings to the offense is reason enough for me to have him back!

This is basically hope and prayer right here.

There is no proof at all that he can bring a much more reliable rushing attack compared to last year and reverse his clear decline.

PS - Pro Football Reference has his longest reception at 23 yards. Where did he have a 70+ yard catch and TD?

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

This is basically hope and prayer right here.

There is no proof at all that he can bring a much more reliable rushing attack compared to last year and reverse his clear decline.

PS - Pro Football Reference has his longest reception at 23 yards. Where did he have a 70+ yard catch and TD?

He told you that was called back on a meaningless holding call.

 

[Sydla]

He told you that was called back on a meaningless holding call.

I didn't see hold in the post he responded to.

You guys are desperately hoping for something that isn't there. He's a middling NFL TB at this point in his career.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

I didn't see hold in the post he responded to.

You guys are desperately hoping for something that isn't there. He's a middling NFL TB at this point in his career.

Of course I am desperately hoping. And?

 

[Sydla]

Of course I am desperately hoping. And?

And you seem bothered by the fact many others are saying Elliott is nothing more than a middling TB.

Given the track record of this franchise, it would seem those who are saying Elliott isn't a solution, is a JAG, will be a plodder in the run game are likely more correct than those thinking that somehow Elliott presents a solution to our run game issues from a year ago.

 

[RonnieT24]

Where did i say ges gonna be better faster stronger? Where did i say hes gonna break off a buncga 30 yard runs?

Don't know about that other stuff but he will almost certainly be stronger than he ever was previously. That's just a natural part of the aging process of men.