Down playing Zekes importance

[Outlaw Heroes]

Let’s look at the past two Super Bowl champs. The more balanced team won and I would say still relied heavily on the running attack.

Eagles
27 attempts for 6.1 yards per rushing attempt
29/44 for 8.5 yards per pass attempt

Patriots
32 attempts for 4.5 yards per rushing attempt
21/35 for 7.5 yards per pass attempt

Two games is just too small a sample size from which to draw useful conclusions. AdamJT's analysis looked at 3 years' worth of first halves (2016-2018). It found that our TD% has almost doubled in the last five minutes of the first half, when we become a much more pass-heavy team.

My whole argument is you have a running back better than everyone elses. The time to win is now. All of a sudden, 2 rookies and an Alfred Morris is all it takes? Pass what you guys are smoking!!

Some people want to pitch in Jay Ajayi (still in the market for a reason) and Duke Johnson (who has never rushed more than 500 yards in a season).

Let’s split the time between 4 rbs/1fb. How many running backs do you plant to take into a game?

After over 20 years we have a good thing going and some of us want to put our chances on the “potential” of 2 rookies + Alfed Morris because it’s better than Ezekiel Elliot. lol like what!?

There's no question that Zeke is a better RB than anyone else we have or could reasonably be expected to get. The only question in my mind is how good a running back we need when the historic evidence is that, no matter how good your RB, he's not likely to make much difference to team success. Passing efficiency is what wins in the NFL.

 

[HellCrowe]

Two games is just too small a sample size from which to draw useful conclusions. AdamJT's analysis looked at 3 years' worth of first halves (2016-2018). It found that our TD% has almost doubled in the last five minutes of the first half, when we become a much more pass-heavy team.





There's no question that Zeke is a better RB than anyone else we have or could reasonably be expected to get. The only question in my mind is how good a running back we need when the historic evidence is that, no matter how good your RB, he's not likely to make much difference to team success. Passing efficiency is what wins in the NFL.

I like seeing end results and that’s the only kind of success really worth mentioning. I could pull more information on Super Bowl teams but I’ll wait and put it in my back pocket for now. One thing I do believe, if any of those two past suberbowl teams have Zeke, the league would be in trouble! But we can’t wait to replace that kind of talent.

 

[Flamma]

Don't care about contract talk right now, but I keep reading how Murray, Randle, McFadden and Morris were just as good as Zeke with our line.
First off, Murray played with Romo and Dez and a prime Witten where Romo was the player teams game planned for.
The other backs mentioned were never the focus of the offense and never commanded an extra man on the box they got the yards against 7 or 8 in the box.
Zeke goes against 8 or 9, allowing receivers to play man to man. Our receivers this year and Dak should flourish with Zeke and when they pull that extra man Zeke will tear them a new one.
No doubt our other backs will play well with our stud line, but will defenses respect our play action against them like they do against Zeke?

The answer is most likely no. Of course not. The Cowboys would have to yet again go through the process of establishing a dangerous run game in order to gain that respect. But I have to ask, when do the Cowboys use play action? When Dak is under center with Zeke in the backfield I rarely see play action. I have seen it, but very rarely. And that quick play action from shotgun really doesn't have the same effect. Hopefully we'll see much more of it this upcoming season. But unfortunetly, Zeke may not be there.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Posters/fans who think we can lose a player responsible for 2000 yards of offense THIS LATE in offseason and not miss a beat. Said before and will say it again, we are 500 or below team w/o Zeke, at least this year.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Posters/fans who think we can lose a player responsible for 2000 yards of offense THIS LATE in offseason and not miss a beat. Said before and will say it again, we are 500 or below team w/o Zeke, at least this year.

It's an odd number year. We should be used to it.

 

[Jake]

I think he's a fantastic player but let's also remember the team was still 3-5 even with him at the break last season.

You're a DC, and the Cowboys receiving "threats" are Allen Hurns, Cole Beasley, and Deonte Thompson, are you letting Zeke beat you?

"Yeah, but we went 7-1 the second half because of Amari."

Zeke was playing, too. If you think Zeke's presence didn't help Amari you're kidding yourself - one complements the other, and Dak benefits as well.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Don't care about contract talk right now, but I keep reading how Murray, Randle, McFadden and Morris were just as good as Zeke with our line.
First off, Murray played with Romo and Dez and a prime Witten where Romo was the player teams game planned for.
The other backs mentioned were never the focus of the offense and never commanded an extra man on the box they got the yards against 7 or 8 in the box.
Zeke goes against 8 or 9, allowing receivers to play man to man. Our receivers this year and Dak should flourish with Zeke and when they pull that extra man Zeke will tear them a new one.
No doubt our other backs will play well with our stud line, but will defenses respect our play action against them like they do against Zeke?

Murray was close, but he was considered an elite back too

 

[starfan1]

Posters/fans who think we can lose a player responsible for 2000 yards of offense THIS LATE in offseason and not miss a beat. Said before and will say it again, we are 500 or below team w/o Zeke, at least this year.

Perhaps your right zeke is the best player on offense but he’s not the most important that distinction belongs to #4.

Zeke ****ed this team and I’ve lost respect for him. He deserves a raise as do the other 2 but how he’s going about it is all wrong.

There’s a part of me that hopes this team does well without him so he sees that this team lives and dies with the big uglies up front

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Perhaps your right zeke is the best player on offense but he’s not the most important that distinction belongs to #4.

Zeke ****ed this team and I’ve lost respect for him. He deserves a raise as do the other 2 but how he’s going about it is all wrong.

There’s a part of me that hopes this team does well without him so he sees that this team lives and dies with the big uglies up front

No problem at all how you feel about Zeke but I'm speaking purely from a football perspective. Love him, hate him, wish he was dead, I don't care but at the end of the day, this offense, this team, as it stands now is built around Zeke. Next year/offseason, the can catch their breath and find a quality replacement but not now, too late IMO. Like I just said in another thread the ripple effect could be Garrett and entire coaching staff losing their job.

 

[starfan1]

No problem at all how you feel about Zeke but I'm speaking purely from a football perspective. Love him, hate him, wish he was dead, I don't care but at the end of the day, this offense, this team, as it stands now is built around Zeke. Next year/offseason, the can catch their breath and find a quality replacement but not now, too late IMO. Like I just said in another thread the ripple effect could be Garrett and entire coaching staff losing their job.

Call me the optimist but I feel like this team is built around the line. I believe analytics will say that the cowboys are a game and half worse if having to replace zeke.

I do believe you have a point that this late in the game it’s a hard thing to adjust too.

I also wonder if the boys drafting 2 backs because they feel insecure about Elliott’s maturity has prompted this hold out

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

Posters/fans who think we can lose a player responsible for 2000 yards of offense THIS LATE in offseason and not miss a beat. Said before and will say it again, we are 500 or below team w/o Zeke, at least this year.

We won't know until Pollard/Weber show in preseason. Our OL will open holes.

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

We do not have jags on our oline. We do not have jags in our backfield. So as long as we maintain a balanced offense with 24 rushes a game (minimal) we should be alright.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Call me the optimist but I feel like this team is built around the line. I believe analytics will say that the cowboys are a game and half worse if having to replace zeke.

I do believe you have a point that this late in the game it’s a hard thing to adjust too.

I also wonder if the boys drafting 2 backs because they feel insecure about Elliott’s maturity has prompted this hold out

Actually, Star if you think about it, our OL hasn't exactly been top-shelf the last 2-3 years. What's interesting now that some fans/posters ( no, not you ) are pissed off at Zeke, we suddenly have the great OL that ANY RB can run behind. Let's forget this OL has it's own question marks; Martin MRI on his back, Fredbeard returning from a year off, how many games will Tyron Smith miss, is one off-season strengthening enough to take C William game to another level. Even have a few posters saying just grab a couple of RBs of the street and we'll be fine. Never mind those players are STILL on the for reason. Guess when one believes something, it's human nature to talk yourself into an alternative agenda that fits. No way in hell I'll ever be convinced you instantly remove an RB responsible 2000 yards and not miss a beat as some are suggesting. Can't the number head coaches/defensive coor who's clearly our offensive starts and ends with Zeke but suddenly he's not an impact player coz fans are pissed off with negotiating tactic. Honestly, I get that and frankly have no problem with it but to say his value/impact to this team between the line now means nothing is misguided.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

I think he's a fantastic player but let's also remember the team was still 3-5 even with him at the break last season.

They didn't have a Cooper with a full camp and pre-season and 9 regular season games, they need each other for either to flourish...

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

Actually, Star if you think about it, our OL hasn't exactly been top-shelf the last 2-3 years. What's interesting now that some fans/posters ( no, not you ) are pissed off at Zeke, we suddenly have the great OL that ANY RB can run behind.

OL's problem has been pass blocking, not run blocking. We get a stronger Conner Williams at LG, return of Frederick at C.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

Zeke's absence can be partly mitigated by spreading the ball around, and having a few more designed runs by Dak (if Stephen doesn't tell Moore/Garrett not to do that, as he's intimated before).

But at some point, like late in games, you need that quality of back that can get you the tough yards/first downs/touchdowns. Zeke is special, no doubt about it, there's a reason he was drafted number 4 overall, and the top rated back in the 2016 draft. Don't care how good the line is, you pit 5 guys against 7-8 and you're going to need the back to be special.

Don't see anybody on the roster or anybody they could pick up that is another Zeke, or close to it.

We could very well see a repeat of the Emmitt holdout, lose the first game or two, or 2 of the first 3, and Jerry will have to pay whatever it takes...

 

[LACowboysFan1]

OL's problem has been pass blocking, not run blocking. We get a stronger Conner Williams at LG, return of Frederick at C.

And Witten is back for Dak's safety valve, he's open so much, even if the line still struggles in pass blocking Dak can dump off the ball to Witten and/or Cobb (though I don't see Cobb as a big improvement over Beasley, some probably but not that much, mainly due to his size).

I'm still looking at McGovern, he was a guard and center in college, won't have to learn the guard position like C. Williams, 28 reps in the bench at the combine so he's already probably stronger than Williams was last year. Needs technique work on pass protection, but playing between Smith and Frederick will minimize that problem, won't have to be worried much about players going around him...

 

[starfan1]

Actually, Star if you think about it, our OL hasn't exactly been top-shelf the last 2-3 years. What's interesting now that some fans/posters ( no, not you ) are pissed off at Zeke, we suddenly have the great OL that ANY RB can run behind. Let's forget this OL has it's own question marks; Martin MRI on his back, Fredbeard returning from a year off, how many games will Tyron Smith miss, is one off-season strengthening enough to take C William game to another level. Even have a few posters saying just grab a couple of RBs of the street and we'll be fine. Never mind those players are STILL on the for reason. Guess when one believes something, it's human nature to talk yourself into an alternative agenda that fits. No way in hell I'll ever be convinced you instantly remove an RB responsible 2000 yards and not miss a beat as some are suggesting. Can't the number head coaches/defensive coor who's clearly our offensive starts and ends with Zeke but suddenly he's not an impact player coz fans are pissed off with negotiating tactic. Honestly, I get that and frankly have no problem with it but to say his value/impact to this team between the line now means nothing is misguided.

There’s no question it’s a step back. Zekes a baller it’s how much back that can debated

He appears ready to sit year out according to reports so we’ll see.

If the cowboys have given him a legitimate offer and I hear it’s top 5 so that’s somewhere between 1 and 5 and he’s still refusing it then I’m ready to move on from him sign the other 2 and let the chips fall where they may

If Jerry is lowballing him then he gets what he deserves.

I know this zeke appears to be a pain in the tush odd the field and that plays a role in these negotiations as there’s a trust level the cowboys need for their investment

I still think we’re good enough without him to make playoffs he just may be difference maker to get them over the edge