Elliott's going to average 4.5 YPC

gimmesix

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I've said this multiple times so I apologize.

The primary issue with the run game last year wasn't Pollard or the linemen. It was the blocking scheme and the plays. The run plays are too slow in developing and intentionally leaves weak side defenders unblocked. All of those times where Pollard got tackled in the backfield weren't missed assignments. That was intentional. They hope that the opposing DE stays on contain or stays in his gap and just ignore him while his blocker pulls or comes down inside.

Unless Solari and Schottenheimer change the offense, no one is averaging 4.5ypc for the Cowboys let alone Zeke.
It was a little of all three, if you ask me. We ran an inside zone scheme with an outside running back. The scheme failed for multiple reasons, but if we are going to run it, we need a back whose strength is between the tackles.
 

gimmesix

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In a few months we'll be inducting Beebe and Guyton into the HOF with how well those two as rookies will transform the offensive line. The seas will part like Zeke is Moses everytime he runs the ball
There you go. That's the shooting for the moon we need around here. Too much gloom and doom.
 
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gimmesix

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2019 is accurate, I don't personally believe it but maybe he gets motivated by the way he's been written off. I always thought his decline was premature. That's based on age though, not usage including college.
Yeah, it's just a prediction. I can't say it's what I expect, but I'm sticking with it. Frankly, I don't believe his body can hold up to it even if he started out at the 4.5 level. His last two years here his knees slowed him down. Some fans just see the 3.8 and 3.5 averages and say he sucked those years, but he actually started both years strong. In 2021 in particular, he suffered several injuries, including multiple knee injuries that included a PCL tear, and his averaged dropped, but he still finished that season with a 4.2 average. In 2022, he suffered another knee injury and his average dropped below 4. I'm not sure if he had any injuries last year to account for his 3.5 average in New England or if that was just the toll on his body showing.
 
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Roadtrip635

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Should work well since rookies making position changes never have any issues or growing pains. I'm sure Zeke will also be in the "best shape of his life" and maybe Belicheck helped find that extra gear he never knew he had.
 

gimmesix

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Bold prediction and really hope you are right because it would mean at the very least another division title.

Also would mean the OL would be healthy the whole year.

It would make the Dak haters very angry since he probably passes for some 3500 yards and 30 TDs and Jerry (if he doesn't do it before hand) would extend Dak for some $60 plus million average per year for 4 or 5 years.

Even if the prediction hit it on the money, we better hope/pray/wish the DL stops the run like Jimmy Johnson defenses did. Then all would be right in Cowboy world.
I don't think the offense or team is going to be nearly as bad as some want to believe. We may slip back behind Philly because the Eagles have done more to improve, but it will surprise me if we have a losing season. Unfortunately, we did nothing to improve our playoff chances.
 

gimmesix

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look zeke does not have to average 4.5 FYI Najee Harris ,is 3.9 yards per carry CAREER AVG and he's much younger.. PB seems to be ok as long as he moves the chains and scores tds..zeke in a limited roll, that all we ask block, short yardage and goal line. Eddie George 6 of his 9 years under 4YPC rarely broke 4 seems like people don't remember him like that they think he was a great running back..Power backs especially those with mileage should not be expected to have high average.

You know DeMarco Murray career ave 4.5 not bad but zeke at 4.3 but he has 300 more carriers was more used in college BUT hares the kicker he has 21 more tds and a beter blocker..yup those 12 tds 2 years ago dismissed and anyone can do it and welp TP failed at it.. 800 yards and 8-10 tds is pretty darn good for an aged, washed backup splitting carries.. TP in fulltime starter duty was barely better with half the mileage and younger and made 10mil to boot.. hmm

yes, it was necessary to cut him at the money he was making, but but veteran seven years plus in the NFL makes 1.65 million min.. its a 2mil guarantee, not a big deal IMHO

here's my take it's not a big deal unless this coaching staff once again doesn't utilize our stable of backs properly. They literally made so many mistakes last year of which backs to use in certain situations never use deuce Vaughn not correctly I mean they they were more responsible for our run game issues then the actual players were the scheme the play calls and the utilization of the talent was just really bad last year.

So if they could just get this figured out pick three of the best running backs on this roster right now and use them properly and create the scheme and the blocking for this revamped offensive line we will be fine..IMO THE RBBC can work if the coaches get it get it together!!

Last year the should have used Rico in all the obvious run downs with shorts and GL and let TPO do what hes always done , more FB with hunter, mnore under center olay calls and for the love of god used DV like you used lamb, Turpin, and TP behind the LOS type motion plays.. I do not wanna see our prized possession in lamb running all those run plays behind the line of scrimmage to try to create a run game...

They have guys that can do this and yet our coaching staff is blind to how to do it...
McCarthy's strength isn't using the running game well IMO. He's a really good passing game coach but seems to view the running game as an afterthought.

This from Blogging the Boys:

From 2006-2017, McCarthy’s 12 full seasons with the Packers, Green Bay was almost always a bottom-half offense with its run game. They ranked 20th or worse in six of those seasons, averaging just 110.1 yards over the full 12-year run. And while some of that was due to the deserved focus on Aaron Rodgers and the passing attack, rushing also proved inefficient at just 4.2 yards per carry.
 

Bullflop

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While wistfully hoping for the best, my expectations of Zeke are, and will be, humble ones. He's capable as a blocker for Dak -- I'm quite confident in that much. If he manages to contribute decent efforts in the run game, it'll be a pleasant surprise. As of now, he's a safety net, but little more.
 
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Manster_Mash

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Since this is complete fantasy, why limit him to 4.5 ypc? Zeke is going to average an NFL record 10.1 ypc. That's right, double-digits baby!
 

gimmesix

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Should work well since rookies making position changes never have any issues or growing pains. I'm sure Zeke will also be in the "best shape of his life" and maybe Belicheck helped find that extra gear he never knew he had.
Although I am being a little facetious about Zeke, I do believe that Beebe will play center and prove to be an improvement over Biadasz. He had a fantastic college career and he's considered to be a very smart player who has some practice experience snapping the ball. I think having Martin next to him will help since Martin has been helping our centers with the line protection, snap count, etc., since Frederick retired.

Guyton at left tackle is another question. If he can't get there this year, then we have to move Tyler out and that weakens that interior group. I like Bass, but he doesn't bring the power to LG that Tyler provides. I think Tyler-Beebe-Martin will be people movers in the run game. I don't know what the result of that will be with the backs we have, but I do look forward to some smash-mouth from them.

And yes, I do expect to hear at some point that Elliott is in the best shape of his life.
 

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Yeah, it's just a prediction. I can't say it's what I expect, but I'm sticking with it. Frankly, I don't believe his body can hold up to it even if he started out at the 4.5 level. His last two years here his knees slowed him down. Some fans just see the 3.8 and 3.5 averages and say he sucked those years, but he actually started both years strong. In 2021 in particular, he suffered several injuries, including multiple knee injuries that included a PCL tear, and his averaged dropped, but he still finished that season with a 4.2 average. In 2022, he suffered another knee injury and his average dropped below 4. I'm not sure if he had any injuries last year to account for his 3.5 average in New England or if that was just the toll on his body showing.
Two offensive lines that weren't at top levels internally...make a difference?
 

gimmesix

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Since this is complete fantasy, why limit him to 4.5 ypc? Zeke is going to average an NFL record 10.1 ypc. That's right, double-digits baby!
Come on, man. It's a prediction. I'm not defying the laws of physics here.
 

CCBoy

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Although I am being a little facetious about Zeke, I do believe that Beebe will play center and prove to be an improvement over Biadasz. He had a fantastic college career and he's considered to be a very smart player who has some practice experience snapping the ball. I think having Martin next to him will help since Martin has been helping our centers with the line protection, snap count, etc., since Frederick retired.

Guyton at left tackle is another question. If he can't get there this year, then we have to move Tyler out and that weakens that interior group. I like Bass, but he doesn't bring the power to LG that Tyler provides. I think Tyler-Beebe-Martin will be people movers in the run game. I don't know what the result of that will be with the backs we have, but I do look forward to some smash-mouth from them.

And yes, I do expect to hear at some point that Elliott is in the best shape of his life.
He'll be committed to just that, any doubts?
 

CCBoy

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While wishfully hoping for the best, my expectations of Zeke are, and will be, humble ones. He's capable as a blocker for Dak -- we all know this. If he somehow manages to contribute decent efforts in the run game, it'll be a pleasant surprise. As of now, he's a safety net, nothing more.
I won't be the fan to put him a step below the Bus at his conclusion also.
 

gimmesix

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Two offensive lines that weren't at top levels internally...make a difference?
Offensive lines can certainly make a difference in a back's performance, but it's hard for me to blame the line for Elliott's 2022 performance when Pollard averaged 5.2. Now, I posted elsewhere where Spagnola blamed the line, particularly losing Steele for several games. I think there's some truth to that since both Elliott and Pollard's averages went down at that point, but I think it has been the knee injuries that caused his decline in 2021 and 2022. There's a direct correlation there if you look at the numbers. Of course, injuries aren't something that get better with age. They are likely just part of who he is as a player at this point in his career. So even if he does manage to start out strong, I wouldn't be surprised to see an injury bring him back down to the level he's been at the last couple of years (and really since the latter half of 2021).
 
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