Twitter: Elliott speaks on being benched

[tyke1doe]

On the first fumble, he had two hands on the ball....it looked that way on the 2nd one as well. I wonder if he has weak hands.

The first fumble was punched out by Josh Norman. If the ball is not against your body, I don't care how strong you are, you will fumble the ball. Norman used a highly effective, but very rare technique.

I, as a karate student, tried to teach my son that's how you dislodge a football instead of always raking at it. Raking the ball generally forces the player to clutch the ball closer to his body. The force of a punch against a ball not braced against a player's body will dislodge it 9 times out of 10. Also, you can't really feel when someone is punching the ball out of your hand and away from your body until it's too late to react.

Of course, my son - who is a starting corner on his high school team - sees Josh Norman do it and says, "I'm going to do that."

I look at him like, "Son, I've already taught you that technique."

The young never listen to their elders. Sigh.

 

[kevm3]

This is where I think he made a mistake. He thought he can come over from College and be a superstar right off the bat. He said he was going to smash the rookie record etc.. and found out rather quickly that this is not the NCAA. .He has to learn patience and realize that this is not as easy as he thought it was going to be. The injury set him back more than he thinks, and he is probably still struggling with game shape. He will get there, he is too good of a back to fail. He can take a lesson from Dak who is more down to earth, humble and works extremely hard to get to his ultimate goal.

Yeah, he is learning that it's not so easy. The coaches are partly at fault for not giving him more reps in preseason and letting him acclimate to the game. They seemed to go off the notion of "best O-line in football" and amazing college RB, so there's little need to give him more reps. They felt he'll be amazing off the bat. Didn't quite work out like that. We had a very tough NY defense and the O-line wasn't creating holes nearly to the extent we thought.

Zeke is running like he's trying to break a record, meaning he's not really thinking and being patient as much as trying to overpower defenders like he did in college. Him smashing into Kam Chancellor is one example of that. He needs to learn that you can't overpower NFL defenders consistently like you could in the NCAA and he has to avoid unnecessary contact. People warned Marion Barber about that, and Barber seeking contact unfortunately shortened his career.

 

[tyke1doe]

It's too early to judge any rookie, really until mid next season, but like you we were all hoping to see a bit more out of him

I was expecting to see a bit more out of him WITH ROMO. That's the big caveat. With Dak, I expected him to start slow because he's seeing eight-men fronts.

With Romo, he wouldn't be seeing eight-man fronts because Romo would torch defenses setting up in that scheme.

 

[jazzcat22]

He's chomping to go 80. He needs to relax and just play.

Yes, I think he is looking to hit that big run too quick. Still needs to slow it down. Those holes aren't there like they were in college. And if they look like they are, they close quick.
He will be fine. The success of the passing game on hitting those long passes over 20 yards will help loosen up these defenses.

 

[jazzcat22]

On Zeke's response on the fumbles. It was much better than Emmitt's on a fumble in his 2nd year. He just had a long run in OT to set up a game winning FG in Nouton against the Oilers.
But he fumbled. Houston went down and scored and we lost.
I think Emmitt's response was something like...well, it happed, I should have protected the ball...but it was nonchalant ... not a, I'll learn to do better type thing....

 

[CowboyRoy]

I was expecting to see a bit more out of him WITH ROMO. That's the big caveat. With Dak, I expected him to start slow because he's seeing eight-men fronts.

With Romo, he wouldn't be seeing eight-man fronts because Romo would torch defenses setting up in that scheme.

The #4 pick in the draft that was heralded as our savior with the best Oline in football should be able to handle 8 man fronts. And its not like 8 man fronts dont happen with Romo. And its not like EVERY down he is facing 8 man fronts. The kid is just not playing well. Sure there are other factors and Romo not playing does play in. But there is no denying Zeke is playing poorly. And he has admitted as much several times already. You dont bench RB's that are playing well.

 

[tyke1doe]

The #4 pick in the draft that was heralded as our savior with the best Oline in football should be able to handle 8 man fronts. And its not like 8 man fronts dont happen with Romo. And its not like EVERY down he is facing 8 man fronts. The kid is just not playing well. Sure there are other factors and Romo not playing does play in. But there is no denying Zeke is playing poorly. And he has admitted as much several times already. You dont bench RB's that are playing well.

Who said he was a savior?

Maybe that was your interpretation, but I never said that.

My evaluation of Zeke was based on his skills, the offensive line AND having Romo as quarterback. It was more of a pick-your-poison approach.

And with Dak as quarterback, Zeke is seeing more eight-men fronts than usual. Be that as it may, he's not playing poorly. He's just not playing as great as we and the Cowboys think he can play.

I think many of you are still hung up on the notion that a running back shouldn't have been taken #4 overall and, so, you're overreacting to his start - which isn't poor at all even if it's not the greatest - and trying to rub it in the face of fans who wanted Zeke at 4. That's really where this controversy stems from.

I really don't care. We picked him. And there's nothing we can do about it ... well, other than complain when things don't go the way we think they should.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Who said he was a savior?

Maybe that was your interpretation, but I never said that.

My evaluation of Zeke was based on his skills, the offensive line AND having Romo as quarterback. It was more of a pick-your-poison approach.

And with Dak as quarterback, Zeke is seeing more eight-men fronts than usual. Be that as it may, he's not playing poorly. He's just not playing as great as we and the Cowboys think he can play.

I think many of you are still hung up on the notion that a running back shouldn't have been taken #4 overall and, so, you're overreacting to his start - which isn't poor at all even if it's not the greatest - and trying to rub it in the face of fans who wanted Zeke at 4. That's really where this controversy stems from.

I really don't care. We picked him. And there's nothing we can do about it ... well, other than complain when things don't go the way we think they should.

Savior is a bit of an exageration, but there were many many people on here saying that he would impact the team THIS YEAR more than any player in the draft and that he would fix the problem with the defense and keep them off the field, yada yada yada. Jones and Garrett were all saying the same type of things.

But rather then go back and forth here is an article that I completely agree with and it does a great job of diagnosing the problems. Both Oline and Zeke related.

http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2016...me-see-where-the-problems-are-how-to-fix-them

 

[CowboyRoy]

Who said he was a savior?

Maybe that was your interpretation, but I never said that.

My evaluation of Zeke was based on his skills, the offensive line AND having Romo as quarterback. It was more of a pick-your-poison approach.

And with Dak as quarterback, Zeke is seeing more eight-men fronts than usual. Be that as it may, he's not playing poorly. He's just not playing as great as we and the Cowboys think he can play.

I think many of you are still hung up on the notion that a running back shouldn't have been taken #4 overall and, so, you're overreacting to his start - which isn't poor at all even if it's not the greatest - and trying to rub it in the face of fans who wanted Zeke at 4. That's really where this controversy stems from.

I really don't care. We picked him. And there's nothing we can do about it ... well, other than complain when things don't go the way we think they should.

well, other than complain when things don't go the way we think they should.

Yet you have no issues complaining about how Dak and no romo is causing problems for the run game do you?

 

[tyke1doe]

Or maybe guys like you are hung up on him proving he was worth #4 and are unable to admit he is playing poorly. Which actually has no bearing on whether was or not. 2 games in is way too early to talk about that.

Huh?If two games are too earlier to talk about whether he was worthy of the #4 pick, why are you bringing it up as a retort against what I said?
You're confusing me.
My assessment of Elliott being taken with the #4 pick had nothing to do with how he played the first two games. In fact, I said I thought the Cowboys would initially start Morris and then work Elliott into the game and eventually into the starting role.

But getting back to the point of him playing poorly, I don't say it because I'm trying to defend his draft status, I say so because he didn't play poorly. He scored two touchdown in two games. He has helped sustain drives. Yes, he did fumble twice, and he was taken out of the game. But he improved from one week to the next. And everyone, including the coaches, realize he has a higher ceiling than Morris, which is why he's playing ahead of Morris.

I pumped up Zeke and what he could do this year more than anyone. I also didnt like taking the back at 4. None of that changes the fact that he isnt playing well. You dont bench guys that play great.

Well, there you have it. He isn't playing up to YOUR expectations.

Remember, you responded to MY post. I said I expected him to do better with Romo for the reasons I outlined above.
I'm not surprised that he isn't doing better than many thought he was because he's playing with a rookie quarterback. To me, that makes a difference.

 

[tyke1doe]

well, other than complain when things don't go the way we think they should.

Yet you have no issues complaining about how Dak and no romo is causing problems for the run game do you?

I'm not complaining. I'm making an observation.
An observation is not the same as a complaint.

 

[Bullet22]

I'll take the way under...he did nothing to earn the starting job...bring him off the bench and make him earn it...

 

[tyke1doe]

Savior is a bit of an exageration, but there were many many people on here saying that he would impact the team THIS YEAR more than any player in the draft and that he would fix the problem with the defense and keep them off the field, yada yada yada. Jones and Garrett were all saying the same type of things.

First, the year isn't over.

Second, the presumption was that he would help the team WITH ROMO! Many posters referenced 2014, the season we had a healthy Romo and relied upon DeMarco Murray and our offensive line to sustain drives, score and take pressure off our defense.
Few, if any, made their predictions absent Romo. Few, if any, thought Romo would get injured in preseason, and we would have to start Dak. Dak was strictly viewed as a backup who we could groom for three to four years to be ready to take over when Romo retired or got injured again.

We didn't know Dak would be thrust into the starting role the first game of the season, playing with a rookie running back.

That makes a BIG difference.

http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2016...me-see-where-the-problems-are-how-to-fix-them

Thank you for the link.

 

[CowboyRoy]

I'm not complaining. I'm making an observation.
An observation is not the same as a complain.

LOL.......I like that. That is very convenient. Ill have to use that one in the future. Well I am making an observation then as well.

 

[phildadon86]

This is where I think he made a mistake. He thought he can come over from College and be a superstar right off the bat. He said he was going to smash the rookie record etc.. and found out rather quickly that this is not the NCAA. .He has to learn patience and realize that this is not as easy as he thought it was going to be. The injury set him back more than he thinks, and he is probably still struggling with game shape. He will get there, he is too good of a back to fail. He can take a lesson from Dak who is more down to earth, humble and works extremely hard to get to his ultimate goal.

He never once came out and said he was going to smash the rookie record. He joked with Eric Dickerson about it, and when asked by the media said he doesnt care about the record, only winning ball games. Just saying

 

[CowboyRoy]

First, the year isn't over.

Second, the presumption was that he would help the team WITH ROMO! Many posters referenced 2014, the season we had a healthy Romo and relied upon DeMarco Murray and our offensive line to sustain drives, score and take pressure off our defense.
Few, if any, made their predictions absent Romo. Few, if any, thought Romo would get injured in preseason, and we would have to start Dak. Dak was strictly viewed as a backup who we could groom for three to four years to be ready to take over when Romo retired or got injured again.

We didn't know Dak would be thrust into the starting role the first game of the season, playing with a rookie running back.

That makes a BIG difference.



Thank you for the link.

I think you look at two rookies. Dak and Zeke. Both guys have issues they are having to overcome, many of them similar. Dak is playing well, and Zeke isnt.

Dak has to lead the entire team with little experience, Not much of a run game to back him up and not much of a defense. Yet he is overcoming and playing well. NO turnovers as well.

Zeke has the best Oline in football, but they arent playing up to par, they are stacking to stop the run, and Romo isnt there to take some of the pressure off. Yet he is not playing great and fumbling the ball and getting benched.

A simple evaluation backed up by film study.

 

[CowboyRoy]

He never once came out and said he was going to smash the rookie record. He joked with Eric Dickerson about it, and when asked by the media said he doesnt care about the record, only winning ball games. Just saying

Came out publicly? No, he would be stupid to do that. But Dickerson was quite clear that he said it. Play full or not most rookies simply dont do that.

 

[tyke1doe]

LOL.......I like that. That is very convenient. Ill have to use that one in the future. Well I am making an observation then as well.

It's not a matter of convenience. It's a matter of understanding how we use language.

I can ask my son to wash the dishes. He can say, "Okay" but with attitude, and he can say, "Okay" with a smile on his face. The two responses aren't the same even though the words are the same, and that's because of the emotions behind the response.

The difference between observation and complaint is the difference between reading a passage and interpreting a passage. One simply gives you the facts; the other gives you the facts with feelings and emotion and an interpretation.

Observation: With Dak as quarterback, the Cowboys offense is seeing more eight-men fronts, which is hindering Zeke's ability to clear the line and advance into the secondary.

Complaint: With Dak as quarterback, the Cowboys offense is seeing more eight-men fronts, but even a rookie quarterback should be able to deduce this and get the ball to the receiver. That will back the safeties from the line and allow Zeke to get to the secondary. I don't see why the Cowboys aren't smart enough to figure this out.

Do you see the difference?

 

[CowboyRoy]

It's not a matter of convenience. It's a matter of understanding how we use language.

I can ask my son to wash the dishes. He can say, "Okay" but with attitude, and he can say, "Okay" with a smile on his face. The two responses aren't the same because the emotions behind the response.

The difference between observation and complaint is the difference between reading a passage and interpreting a passage. One simply gives you the facts; the other gives you the facts with feelings and emotion and an interpretation.

Observation: With Dak as quarterback, the Cowboys offense is seeing more eight-men fronts, which is hindering Zeke's ability to clear the line and advance into the secondary.

Complaint: With Dak as quarterback, the Cowboys offense is seeing more eight-men fronts, but even a rookie quarterback should be able to deduce this and get the ball to the receiver. That will back the safeties from the line and allow Zeke to get to the secondary. I don't see why the Cowboys aren't smart enough to figure this out.

Do you see the difference?

I see a whole bunch of BS is what I see. LOL

Zeke is playing poorly. It can be both an observation and a complaint.

Now when you cant accept that he is playing poorly, then I can see how you would take that as complaining.

For me I think he will get better. I have no doubts. And when he does I will be saying he is running great. And that will be an observation and could also be a compliment.

 

[Donhyphen]

How is Deion Jr. Going to put that cutoff shirt on his HOF bust?