Elliott Won Rushing Title But Feels He “Left A Lot Of Yards On The Field”

[Idgit]

You act like it was a touches issue, just in pure numbers.

I don't know about anyone else, I had more of a problem with the situational touches, not the overall volume.

If it was 3rd down and 7 at a crucial point in the game, I wanted Elliott on the field not Dunbar.

It was not just about raw touches. Him getting spelled by Alfred Morris on a garbage down to get a few yards late in the game or even to close out a half is totally different.

You can't run him into the ground, but putting an inferior player into the game at a crucial time as a result of touch management is not smart either.

Dunbar had 9 rushes, and 24 targets as a receiver the entire season last year. All of the targets from the shotgun.

6 of those rushes on first downs, and 5 of them on first and 10 because there were 1st down packages where they put him in in the shotgun.

He had 11 3rd-down passing targets all year (3 receptions for first downs), almost entirely on 2nd and 10+ or 3rd and intermediate/long (he had 1 target all year on 3rd and short).

This is a normal distribution for a backup player who primarily plays in shotgun situations for you because he's got the ability to line up outside and can run the entire route tree. The player you want in his place not only lead the entire league in rushing attempts from the RB position, but also had more targets than he did (both overall and from the shotgun).

You're complaining about a non-issue.

 

[haleyrules]

Nowhere to hide for opposing defenses

 

[MileyDancer]

Zeke led the NFL in regular season rushing attempts.

Criticizing the coaches for subbing him too much last season makes zero sense.

Zeke was a large part of why we got to the playoffs in the first place. NOT using him, especially on those 3rd downs makes zero sense. The game plan was terrible.

 

[Idgit]

Zeke was a large part of why we got to the playoffs in the first place. NOT using him, especially on those 3rd downs makes zero sense. The game plan was terrible.

You're talking specifically about the playoff game here? Or you just don't like using a change-of-pace back in the shotgun, period?

 

[MileyDancer]

You're talking specifically about the playoff game here? Or you just don't like using a change-of-pace back in the shotgun, period?

No, just the playoff game. Taking Zeke out as much as red did was stupid.

 

[Idgit]

No, just the playoff game. Taking Zeke out as much as red did was stupid.

Elliott played in 67.39% of offensive snaps in 2016 regular season. 81% of offensive snaps in the playoff game. In a game where we were down 21-3 early because we can't stop the pass on defense. This stuff about taking Zeke out at crunch time really is all nonsense.

If I were going to criticize anything, it'd be that he only caught one ball on one target for -2 yards in that game.

 

[Biggems]

I feel our coaches wussed out with Zeke, limiting his carries, especially down the stretch in the 2nd half of games. Also, I feel that we did not utilize Zeke in the passing game enough. I feel he could have been a lethal threat catching the ball on screens and wheel routes. I hope Garrett and Linehan will use Zeke more this season. I honestly feel, if the OL comes together, that there is no reason why Zeke can't have about 1900 yds rushing and 3-400 yds receiving on the year.

 

[dallasdave]

Zeke is the new and improved beast mode. Can't wait to watch another season of this kid running the ball!

ZEKE 2 point 0