Does Zeke Need More Carries?

[Chuck 54]

Nope....I've seen a lot of complaints about Zeke being taken off the field, and yesterday, though it quieted down a little after the win, there was a lot of unrest over Zeke's carries and our passing so much, even on the goal line.

Here's a thought: It's all part of the game plan.

• Playing the #1 defense
• Game plan called to take advantage of secondary
• 3 games in 12 days, including the hated rival on Thanksgiving

It won't surprise me to see Zeke get 30+ carries on Thursday if that's what it takes to keep that hot and talented Commanders offense off the field, but we couldn't pound our RB all day against those brutes up front for Baltimore, knowing their offense wasn't a huge threat, and then come back and hope he's up to an even bigger pounding 3 days later.

Do we really care whether Zeke leads the NFL in rushing? Or whether he gets rookie of the year? Or that we run him every week until he has 300 yards?

We have 6 games left with a two game lead over NY and a 2.5 game lead over Washington....3 more division games, the most important ones sandwiched around the Vikings in a hurry.

Zeke's stats aren't important. What's important is that he's fresh and hungry and ready to tote the rock 30 times in any given game if needed....so when we can win without that, be happy.

 

[Doomsday101]

Nope....I've seen a lot of complaints about Zeke being taken off the field, and yesterday, though it quieted down a little after the win, there was a lot of unrest over Zeke's carries and our passing so much, even on the goal line.

Here's a thought: It's all part of the game plan.

• Playing the #1 defense
• Game plan called to take advantage of secondary
• 3 games in 12 days, including the hated rival on Thanksgiving

It won't surprise me to see Zeke get 30+ carries on Thursday if that's what it takes to keep that hot and talented Commanders offense off the field, but we couldn't pound our RB all day against those brutes up front for Baltimore, knowing their offense wasn't a huge threat, and then come back and hope he's up to an even bigger pounding 3 days later.

Do we really care whether Zeke leads the NFL in rushing? Or whether he gets rookie of the year? Or that we run him every week until he has 300 yards?

We have 6 games left with a two game lead over NY and a 2.5 game lead over Washington....3 more division games, the most important ones sandwiched around the Vikings in a hurry.

Zeke's stats aren't important. What's important is that he's fresh and hungry and ready to tote the rock 30 times in any given game if needed....so when we can win without that, be happy.

I think Dallas should continue to use him as they have. Dallas does have 6 games left and we have wrapped up nothing as of yet and he is a key part of it. As far as any records go, if the all time record is well within reach at the end of the season, sure I would let him achieve it

 

[gimmesix]

No, but he needs for his coach not to take away a 4-yard run for a first down just to gain an extra yard by penalty. If Garrett had not done that, Elliott would have finished with 102 rushing.

Of course, that wouldn't have helped him much in his rookie record pursuit. He needs to average 118 yards rushing per game over the final six to pass Dickerson. 150-plus against the Commanders would certainly help.

 

[cowboys1981]

I really don't think he'll be slowed down physically. The kid is a monster. He wears you down!!

 

[CATCH17]

No but our backups need to do something when they are in there.

I'd rather give Dunbar carries than watch Morris be a cloud of dust.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Just need the back ups to step up and produce more when they do happen to get in there.

 

[aikemirv]

No, but he needs for his coach not to take away a 4-yard run for a first down just to gain an extra yard by penalty. If Garrett had not done that, Elliott would have finished with 102 rushing.

Of course, that wouldn't have helped him much in his rookie record pursuit. He needs to average 118 yards rushing per game over the final six to pass Dickerson. 150-plus against the Commanders would certainly help.

Yeah that ticked me off as well.

 

[lqmac1]

I think Dallas should continue to use him as they have. Dallas does have 6 games left and we have wrapped up nothing as of yet and he is a key part of it. As far as any records go, if the all time record is well within reach at the end of the season, sure I would let him achieve it

I think we are limiting his carries right now because he's probably going to get fed 30+ carries a game in the playoffs.

 

[JD_KaPow]

We're not limiting his carries any more than we should be with any back. He had 25 yesterday and has been between 20 and 30 in every game that wasn't a blowout this year. It's crazy to give any running back more than 22 carries a game on average, unless it's his contract year and you're not planning on signing him.

 

[Chuck 54]

No, but he needs for his coach not to take away a 4-yard run for a first down just to gain an extra yard by penalty. If Garrett had not done that, Elliott would have finished with 102 rushing.

Of course, that wouldn't have helped him much in his rookie record pursuit. He needs to average 118 yards rushing per game over the final six to pass Dickerson. 150-plus against the Commanders would certainly help.

You think the 102 yards rushing is more important than the extra yard? I think taking what's best for the team, even a yard, is the better message to send, but I hear you.

 

[bark]

I would like to see him catching a few more passes in space

 

[erod]

I really don't think he'll be slowed down physically. The kid is a monster. He wears you down!!

Zeke taps out of games frequently. Emmitt never did that, ever.

His carries need to be limited. He's never played more than 13 games before, and most of those were against powderpuffs. There are none of those in the NFL.

If he's going to play 18 or 19 games, you've got to save him.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

I really don't think he'll be slowed down physically. The kid is a monster. He wears you down!!

He slowed down yesterday. Don't be fooled. Zeke is feeling the effects of his workload this year. We have 6 more games plus playoffs. He needs help.

 

[TheRomoSexual]

He slowed down yesterday. Don't be fooled. Zeke is feeling the effects of his workload this year. We have 6 more games plus playoffs. He needs help.

He didn't slow down yesterday -- he faced the #1 rushing defense in the NFL and gained 20 more rushing yards than the average team.

 

[gimmesix]

You think the 102 yards rushing is more important than the extra yard? I think taking what's best for the team, even a yard, is the better message to send, but I hear you.

Yes, I do. If he didn't have the first down, then the extra yard was more important. If he had gained a yard for the first down, then you take the four extra yards. However, I don't take away what my players accomplish unless there's a decent benefit. I believe in rewarding the players for their efforts unless the benefit outweighs that.

 

[Proof]

It's difficult to argue with success, and the team is winning so who am I to second guess, but.....

It's maddening the manner in which they spell him. It seems like it's consistently after he hits a groove, in situations where the team most needs some momentum, and in the red zone. At least a handful of times a game it's like wait, what? Alf? Here? Empty set? Now? Don't understand.

 

[gimmesix]

Zeke taps out of games frequently. Emmitt never did that, ever.

His carries need to be limited. He's never played more than 13 games before, and most of those were against powderpuffs. There are none of those in the NFL.

If he's going to play 18 or 19 games, you've got to save him.

Elliott runs hard so I'm glad that he taps out. It's the smart thing to do to take a breather and then get right back in there. This should give us confidence that he isn't just pushing through to show what a team player and tough guy he is.

 

[thunderpimp91]

It should also be noted that Zeke has only played 70% of offensive snaps for us this year which is 443 snaps. Compare that to the top 3 RBs in the category you have David Johnson at 572 (84%), Melvin Gordon at 551(78%), Demarco Murray at 542(81%).

 

[robbieruff]

Nope....I've seen a lot of complaints about Zeke being taken off the field, and yesterday, though it quieted down a little after the win, there was a lot of unrest over Zeke's carries and our passing so much, even on the goal line.

Here's a thought: It's all part of the game plan.

• Playing the #1 defense
• Game plan called to take advantage of secondary
• 3 games in 12 days, including the hated rival on Thanksgiving

It won't surprise me to see Zeke get 30+ carries on Thursday if that's what it takes to keep that hot and talented Commanders offense off the field, but we couldn't pound our RB all day against those brutes up front for Baltimore, knowing their offense wasn't a huge threat, and then come back and hope he's up to an even bigger pounding 3 days later.

Do we really care whether Zeke leads the NFL in rushing? Or whether he gets rookie of the year? Or that we run him every week until he has 300 yards?

We have 6 games left with a two game lead over NY and a 2.5 game lead over Washington....3 more division games, the most important ones sandwiched around the Vikings in a hurry.

Zeke's stats aren't important. What's important is that he's fresh and hungry and ready to tote the rock 30 times in any given game if needed....so when we can win without that, be happy.

Zeke had 7 touches in the first half and our offense struggled with inconsistency...as was the case against Pittsburg. It's not a mystery that we flipped the script and became dominant in the 3rd when we got back to the formula that makes us great...particularly when we get the ball to him in space in the passing game instead of Dunbar.

I am certainly not jonesing for him to break 200+ per game or have the rushing record, but we know what our formula for success is. When we are emphasizing him in our scheme the offense rolls and Dak is precise and efficient. When we go away from him and limit his touches is when our offense gets choppy and Dak struggles with his accuracy. When he's an consistent threat because he's featured, our offense is unstoppable.

I am all for keeping him fresh (I certainly don't cry foul when Morris comes in to spell him in the right situations), but we can't go for stretches of totally ignoring him either.

 

[JD_KaPow]

It should also be noted that Zeke has only played 70% of offensive snaps for us this year which is 443 snaps. Compare that to the top 3 RBs in the category you have David Johnson at 572 (84%), Melvin Gordon at 551(78%), Demarco Murray at 542(81%).

And Zeke has more carries than any of them, or any RB in the league. The title question is exactly backwards. The right question is, "Does Zeke need fewer carries?"