Galian Beast
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I was born in Ohio and when I was a kid I really liked College Football. I moved to Massachusetts when I was five, but I still always liked Ohio State. I also liked Michigan oddly enough. My two favorite players in college were Charles Woodson and Eddie George. I always envisioned Woodson joining the Cowboys. I would always trade for him in Madden. I also thought after Emmitt Smith went to Arizona that we would somehow get Eddie George, and while we did, it was too late.
One player that I was the most excited about coming out of College was Steven Jackson. I thought he was an absolute beast, but given our position in the draft, we would never get him. Well, he fell to us, and the Cowboys screwed up and traded out of the pick. It to me was the worst decision since not drafting Randy Moss. I think either of those two drafts would lead us to a Super Bowl.
The Cowboys continued to squander Romo's years, year after year playing with a terrible offensive line. But finally, there was this ray of hope. We started investing in the offensive line. I called early that I wanted us to get Frederick as he was the best center in the draft and would be a good addition to Tyron Smith. I had him on my mock draft in the 3rd round. There was a run on offensive linemen and so we drafted him at the end of the first instead of in the 2nd or 3rd, where we probably wouldn't have gotten him. People were furious, but I saw what was going on. We were putting together a stud offensive line for Romo. We were extending his chances to win a Super Bowl. When we drafted Martin over Manziel I thought I couldn't be happier, until the Cowboys landed 1st round graded La'el Collins in free agency. This is after failing to get David DeCastro or Chance Warmack, or Jonathan Cooper (who I expect will turn his career around in New England).
But we needed to get a running back again. I had hoped we could get Gurley, but when we failed to do so, I was upset, but I remembered the player I really wanted to get. It wasn't Gurley as much as I liked him.
I don't watch college football anymore, but I remember the media storm around a player who was taking over college football: Ezekiel Elliott. He had just run for 230 yards and 2 touchdowns against the best defense in college football. A defense that barely ever lets a running back get 100 yards, let alone 200. I was really impressed and instantly thought of what he might look like with a star on his helmet. But what happened the week after? He runs for 246 yards and 4 touchdowns winning a national title. Back to back milestone games... 476 yards, 6 touchdowns, in two weeks... against two of the best teams in football.
The Cowboys went on to have a great 2014 season where we were actually Super Bowl contenders, and we did so on the heels of DeMarco Murray. Elliott became a distant thought until the playoff run was stolen from us. I did not think we were going to be able to sign Murray and Bryant, and Bryant was much more important than Murray. We got McFadden, who I knew was only a stop gap. After a terrible year, we found ourselves in position to get that player who I thought could transform the Cowboys. A franchise cornerstone player. We could get Elliott.
It was with amazement that I saw people even consider other players ahead of him. This kid is a clear hall of fame caliber player behind this offensive line we've built, I thought to myself. He can do for us what Randy Moss did for the Patriots and turned that offensive into something entirely unstoppable. How could that be compared to a cornerback/safety hybrid who wouldn't have nearly the impact on the defense compared to a running back who would keep them off the field? How could that be compared to a defensive end who wasn't ever a pass rush specialist? How could that be compared to a couple QBs no one ever heard of until draft talk started?
Ezekiel Elliott was the obvious choice. It was a no-brainer to me. In 2006 the Patriots had a good offense. They were 7th in the league in points scored with 24.1 points per game. Definitely a good offense. They didn't need much help there. But they still traded for Randy Moss. The next year they were 1st in the league with 36.8 points per game. 8.4 points per game more than the next best team (The Tony Romo lead, Terrell Owens fueled, Marion Barber backed, Dallas Cowboys). The Patriots were only one of three teams to beat us that year in the regular season. They were a juggernaut who beat up on a smaller juggernaut. It's because you couldn't stop their offense.
That is what Elliott brings to the table. A complete transformation of our offense to not just good, but great. It makes us an offense that is truly terrible to deal with. Joey Bosa or Jalen Ramsey or Wentz or Goff wouldn't have done that. They would just be another guy. We had DeMarcus Ware here for years, a player infinitely better than Bosa or Ramsey, and he couldn't get us over the hump.
People want to argue that the offense did fine with McFadden and expect it would do better once Romo and Bryant are paired up with him. This is a bit ridiculous. McFadden doesn't fit this offense. Why would we cheap gas in a Ferrari? Even Alfred Morris doesn't take us to the next level. The answer is and always was Ezekiel Elliott. He is our Randy Moss addition that takes us to another level of play. Short of getting Adrian Peterson, this was the best thing we could have done, and it might even be better given the difference in age.
If this team is going to win, it's going to be on the strength of the Offensive Line doing what it can do best. And that is run blocking. And you want to put the best piece possible back there. And while people might think Gurley or Fournette are better runners than Elliott, I'm not sure any back in the country is a better fit for a zone scheme blocking offensive line that gives running backs opportunities if they have the vision to take them.
Elliot isn't only better than Alfred Morris and Darren McFadden. He is better than Todd Gurley and Leonard Fournette. He is better than Eddie George. He is a cornerstone franchise player, who every fan should be excited about. We got another shot at a player like Steven Jackson and we have the tools on offense to make best use of him. We have the chance to create an Emmitt Smith like beast. Nothing we could have done this year to help Romo compares to this.
One player that I was the most excited about coming out of College was Steven Jackson. I thought he was an absolute beast, but given our position in the draft, we would never get him. Well, he fell to us, and the Cowboys screwed up and traded out of the pick. It to me was the worst decision since not drafting Randy Moss. I think either of those two drafts would lead us to a Super Bowl.
The Cowboys continued to squander Romo's years, year after year playing with a terrible offensive line. But finally, there was this ray of hope. We started investing in the offensive line. I called early that I wanted us to get Frederick as he was the best center in the draft and would be a good addition to Tyron Smith. I had him on my mock draft in the 3rd round. There was a run on offensive linemen and so we drafted him at the end of the first instead of in the 2nd or 3rd, where we probably wouldn't have gotten him. People were furious, but I saw what was going on. We were putting together a stud offensive line for Romo. We were extending his chances to win a Super Bowl. When we drafted Martin over Manziel I thought I couldn't be happier, until the Cowboys landed 1st round graded La'el Collins in free agency. This is after failing to get David DeCastro or Chance Warmack, or Jonathan Cooper (who I expect will turn his career around in New England).
But we needed to get a running back again. I had hoped we could get Gurley, but when we failed to do so, I was upset, but I remembered the player I really wanted to get. It wasn't Gurley as much as I liked him.
I don't watch college football anymore, but I remember the media storm around a player who was taking over college football: Ezekiel Elliott. He had just run for 230 yards and 2 touchdowns against the best defense in college football. A defense that barely ever lets a running back get 100 yards, let alone 200. I was really impressed and instantly thought of what he might look like with a star on his helmet. But what happened the week after? He runs for 246 yards and 4 touchdowns winning a national title. Back to back milestone games... 476 yards, 6 touchdowns, in two weeks... against two of the best teams in football.
The Cowboys went on to have a great 2014 season where we were actually Super Bowl contenders, and we did so on the heels of DeMarco Murray. Elliott became a distant thought until the playoff run was stolen from us. I did not think we were going to be able to sign Murray and Bryant, and Bryant was much more important than Murray. We got McFadden, who I knew was only a stop gap. After a terrible year, we found ourselves in position to get that player who I thought could transform the Cowboys. A franchise cornerstone player. We could get Elliott.
It was with amazement that I saw people even consider other players ahead of him. This kid is a clear hall of fame caliber player behind this offensive line we've built, I thought to myself. He can do for us what Randy Moss did for the Patriots and turned that offensive into something entirely unstoppable. How could that be compared to a cornerback/safety hybrid who wouldn't have nearly the impact on the defense compared to a running back who would keep them off the field? How could that be compared to a defensive end who wasn't ever a pass rush specialist? How could that be compared to a couple QBs no one ever heard of until draft talk started?
Ezekiel Elliott was the obvious choice. It was a no-brainer to me. In 2006 the Patriots had a good offense. They were 7th in the league in points scored with 24.1 points per game. Definitely a good offense. They didn't need much help there. But they still traded for Randy Moss. The next year they were 1st in the league with 36.8 points per game. 8.4 points per game more than the next best team (The Tony Romo lead, Terrell Owens fueled, Marion Barber backed, Dallas Cowboys). The Patriots were only one of three teams to beat us that year in the regular season. They were a juggernaut who beat up on a smaller juggernaut. It's because you couldn't stop their offense.
That is what Elliott brings to the table. A complete transformation of our offense to not just good, but great. It makes us an offense that is truly terrible to deal with. Joey Bosa or Jalen Ramsey or Wentz or Goff wouldn't have done that. They would just be another guy. We had DeMarcus Ware here for years, a player infinitely better than Bosa or Ramsey, and he couldn't get us over the hump.
People want to argue that the offense did fine with McFadden and expect it would do better once Romo and Bryant are paired up with him. This is a bit ridiculous. McFadden doesn't fit this offense. Why would we cheap gas in a Ferrari? Even Alfred Morris doesn't take us to the next level. The answer is and always was Ezekiel Elliott. He is our Randy Moss addition that takes us to another level of play. Short of getting Adrian Peterson, this was the best thing we could have done, and it might even be better given the difference in age.
If this team is going to win, it's going to be on the strength of the Offensive Line doing what it can do best. And that is run blocking. And you want to put the best piece possible back there. And while people might think Gurley or Fournette are better runners than Elliott, I'm not sure any back in the country is a better fit for a zone scheme blocking offensive line that gives running backs opportunities if they have the vision to take them.
Elliot isn't only better than Alfred Morris and Darren McFadden. He is better than Todd Gurley and Leonard Fournette. He is better than Eddie George. He is a cornerstone franchise player, who every fan should be excited about. We got another shot at a player like Steven Jackson and we have the tools on offense to make best use of him. We have the chance to create an Emmitt Smith like beast. Nothing we could have done this year to help Romo compares to this.
