Ezekiel Elliott Last Year

[khiladi]

https://www.___GET_REAL_URL___/s/www.fanragsports.com/ezekiel-elliott-fare-stacked-boxes/amp/

Here is a pretty good article from last year discussing Elliott's running success in regards to formations and downs. Obviously one of the issues is our lack of success running on first down, though I haven't had a chance to watch many games yet.

I think it is good food for thought.

Elliott rushed for 1,100 yards on first down. Elliott’s first down production alone would’ve finished ninth in the league in rushing. And Elliott was able to do that despite averaging more than seven defenders in the box on first down. Teams knew the Cowboys were going to run and it didn’t matter.

 

[Sydla]

OL is a real problem right now but I think something is off with Elliott.

He's missing some holes that he would have exploded through. I am one that buys into the idea that if a player's head ain't right he can't just put it behind him on game days. I think the court/DV issue has really been holding him back.

 

[khiladi]

Is it more logical to assume any RB can beat 8 or 9 men in the box consistently throughout a career or an OL to be continuously successful against these fronts or is it more logical to assume a team has to adjust on other ways, if we assume all factors being the same?

Of course this is if we assume teams are NOT really doing anything differently in the way they are attacking the Cowboys offense?

https://sportsday.**************/da...s-provided-blueprint-stopping-cowboys-offense

Link is getting truncated when posting, but you an just do a quick google search for

Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott don't think Broncos provided blueprint for stopping Cowboys offense

 

[CATCH17]

OL is a real problem right now but I think something is off with Elliott.

He's missing some holes that he would have exploded through. I am one that buys into the idea that if a player's head ain't right he can't just put it behind him on game days. I think the court/DV issue has really been holding him back.

Always a run on 1st down and it's always out of a heavy run formation and we blame the OL...

Always a short pass on 2nd down to Beasley or Witten.

3rd down either repeat 2nd down or throw a 50/50 to Dez.

 

[aria]

OL is a real problem right now but I think something is off with Elliott.

He's missing some holes that he would have exploded through. I am one that buys into the idea that if a player's head ain't right he can't just put it behind him on game days. I think the court/DV issue has really been holding him back.

Whatever happened to all the people saying things like "he's gona be a beast this year, he's gonna run angry" or "Goodell pissed him off now, I can't wait to see him take it out on other teams"?

No offense but I think that's just a convenient excuse. I just don't think his mindset is right anytime he faces adversity. Starting in college, when things don't go his way he acts like a baby. I think he's so used to wining and being dominant he can't handle anything else. Plus, he's probably thinking of partying more than football.

 

[Beast_from_East]

The oline is trash this year, can’t open holes on first down.

 

[mcmvp]

OL is a real problem right now but I think something is off with Elliott.

He's missing some holes that he would have exploded through. I am one that buys into the idea that if a player's head ain't right he can't just put it behind him on game days. I think the court/DV issue has really been holding him back.

Agree on both counts. I posted this in another thread. The running game as a whole is decidedly average.

Cowboys will likely rank 7th in the NFC and 14th in the NFL in rushing offense after week 4 (after tonight's game)

NFC http://www.espn.com/nfl/statistics/team/_/stat/rushing/league/nfc
NFL http://www.espn.com/nfl/statistics/team/_/stat/rushing

 

[Ranching]

OL is a real problem right now but I think something is off with Elliott.

He's missing some holes that he would have exploded through. I am one that buys into the idea that if a player's head ain't right he can't just put it behind him on game days. I think the court/DV issue has really been holding him back.

I'm with you. He's not right, mentally. Hard to focus on film study and preparation with the suspension hovering over him like that.

 

[Section446]

OL is a real problem right now but I think something is off with Elliott.

He's missing some holes that he would have exploded through. I am one that buys into the idea that if a player's head ain't right he can't just put it behind him on game days. I think the court/DV issue has really been holding him back.

Should have never let Leary go, that's what's wrong right now. They basically gave him away and tried to replace him with a scrub and a first round bust.

 

[TheHerd]

Whatever happened to all the people saying things like "he's gona be a beast this year, he's gonna run angry" or "Goodell pissed him off now, I can't wait to see him take it out on other teams"?

No offense but I think that's just a convenient excuse. I just don't think his mindset is right anytime he faces adversity. Starting in college, when things don't go his way he acts like a baby. I think he's so used to wining and being dominant he can't handle anything else. Plus, he's probably thinking of partying more than football.

I am beginning to agree with your first point. Some people thrive and bear down under adversity, some don't.

 

[superonyx]

I am beginning to agree with your first point. Some people thrive and bear down under adversity, some don't.

I think any back would struggle under this type of adversity.

I watch the games and I don't see all these running lanes open for Zeke.
I don't think switching him for any other back in the league would solve any problems so us.
Look at how Gurley had running lanes yesterday. For a combination of reasons we just have not been able to run over people this year. Play calling, OL blocking, TE blocking, ect....its probably all a factor.
I don't judge a QB under constant stress and I don't judge a RB who has defenders always in his backfield.

 

[Section446]

I think any back would struggle under this type of adversity.

I watch the games and I don't see all these running lanes open for Zeke.
I don't think switching him for any other back in the league would solve any problems so us.
Look at how Gurley had running lanes yesterday. For a combination of reasons we just have not been able to run over people this year. Play calling, OL blocking, TE blocking, ect....its probably all a factor.
I don't judge a QB under constant stress and I don't judge a RB who has defenders always in his backfield.

You know what would really help Zeke? A WR that scares defenses out of the box, instead, we have a bunch of guys that can easily be solo-covered.

 

[Chuck 54]

The OL is struggling, and that's not debatable; everyone can see it. We replaced 2/5's of the line, LG with a tackle and a reject and RT with a guy who didn't play last year due to injury after being a LG for two years.

I've said it before....continuity is key. Smith--Collins--Fred--Martin--? At least you have continuity across 4 positions that play beside each other instead of continuity at only 2 (Fred--Martin). If you can cover for Free at RT, you can cover for Green or his backup.

 

[superonyx]

You know what would really help Zeke? A WR that scares defenses out of the box, instead, we have a bunch of guys that can easily be solo-covered.

Agreed. Right now defenses are playing us the way the Vikings and Giants played us last year and its creating defensive players in our backfield on running plays and a shaky pocket for Dak on passing plays.
You know there has to be a counter to allow us to at least be effective. Maybe we do need a speed threat on the outside to keep defenses from crashing the box the way they are.

Unfortunately if this is the problem then I don't see a solution until the offseason and even then I don't know if it will happen.

 

[superonyx]

The OL is struggling, and that's not debatable; everyone can see it. We replaced 2/5's of the line, LG with a tackle and a reject and RT with a guy who didn't play last year due to injury after being a LG for two years.

I've said it before....continuity is key. Smith--Collins--Fred--Martin--? At least you have continuity across 4 positions that play beside each other instead of continuity at only 2 (Fred--Martin). If you can cover for Free at RT, you can cover for Green or his backup.

I agree with you.
The part that seems so strange though is that I am not seeing Cooper/Collins being the guys getting beat....maybe they are. and im focused more on our All Pro players getting beat. But I see Martin, Frederick, and T Smith getting beat on plays as much as the new guys. Its troubling...

 

[TheHerd]

I think any back would struggle under this type of adversity.

I watch the games and I don't see all these running lanes open for Zeke.
I don't think switching him for any other back in the league would solve any problems so us.
Look at how Gurley had running lanes yesterday. For a combination of reasons we just have not been able to run over people this year. Play calling, OL blocking, TE blocking, ect....its probably all a factor.
I don't judge a QB under constant stress and I don't judge a RB who has defenders always in his backfield.

Oh, I didn't say Zeke was getting blocking, or he should be getting 100 yds/game, or he's fat, or any of that garbage. The OL has been putrid this year. Not above average, not good - they've been putrid. And that include Beard and Tyron, sadly. Zeke has been hit behind the LOS over half his carries.

I just don't see Zeke having the attitude that despite all this crap, I'm gonna stay focused and bear down even more. Maybe I'm reading too much into hos body language and/or interviews, but he seems defeated. I don't necessarily blame him given the insanity perpetrated by the league on top of the crappy play of his helpers on the on the field, but he seems dejected.

 

[aria]

I am beginning to agree with your first point. Some people thrive and bear down under adversity, some don't.

It's no secret I can't stand Zeke for several reasons but I'm honestly not "targeting" him here, I just really think he has problems, especially when things don't go his way. There are several players like that...TO, Keyshawn, OBJ, Dez used to be but I think he has made some improvements. They get rattled and they lose their composure or seem to stop playing as hard.

 

[aria]

Agreed. Right now defenses are playing us the way the Vikings and Giants played us last year and its creating defensive players in our backfield on running plays and a shaky pocket for Dak on passing plays.
You know there has to be a counter to allow us to at least be effective. Maybe we do need a speed threat on the outside to keep defenses from crashing the box the way they are.

Unfortunately if this is the problem then I don't see a solution until the offseason and even then I don't know if it will happen.

I like Dak a lot and am not throwing in the towel on him this early in the season but my biggest concern coming into this year (with regards to Dak) is how he would hold up under pressure. You nailed it. Last year, the teams that got pressure on him made him look pedestrian. He benefited greatly from the O line and supporting cast of players. I couldn't stand it when people would talk about how much "poise" he had. Please, he had all day to throw and if he were playing behind the majority of NFL O lines last year he wouldn't even have been in the conversation as a top 15 qb.

For the most part, he did all we could expect of him as a rookie but one thing he couldn't do was handle pressure and make the necessary adjustments at the line. Again, he's still young and is a bright guy with a great work ethic, hopefully he improves and I think he will.

 

[NeonDeion21]

Good article

 

[ActualCowboysFan]

Is it more logical to assume any RB can beat 8 or 9 men in the box consistently throughout a career or an OL to be continuously successful against these fronts or is it more logical to assume a team has to adjust on other ways, if we assume all factors being the same?

Of course this is if we assume teams are NOT really doing anything differently in the way they are attacking the Cowboys offense?

https://sportsday.**************/da...s-provided-blueprint-stopping-cowboys-offense

Link is getting truncated when posting, but you an just do a quick google search for

Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott don't think Broncos provided blueprint for stopping Cowboys offense

It's actually the Giants plan from last year. Keep Dak in the pocket. Crowd the line of scrimmage against run formations. Blitz on third. As much as people want this to be Dak or Zeke or Dez or the OL, it's not the simple. Dallas has had trouble with the blitz with Romo, Murray and peke Dez. It crept into last year at times. Killed 2013, 2015, and now maybe 2017.