Video: Ezekiel Elliott Not The No. 1 Running Back Yet | First Take | June 27, 2017

[JD_KaPow]

I understand, but Johnson was targeted 120 times, only catching 80 of them.

I believe Zeke could catch at a higher rate, and he did that with the few opportunities he had last year.

Sure, but Johnson runs a lot of deep routes that will naturally have lower completion percentages. Most of Zeke's catches were of the dump-off or screen variety.

It's interesting, though, that Football Outsiders has Johnson as the 4th-best receiving back on a rate basis and Zeke as the 5th-best. Of course, Johnson kept up that rate over many many more passes.

Zeke, Johnson, Bell: they're all pretty spectacular. None of us know which one will end up having the best career. But I'm thrilled we have a vested interest in the outcome, unlike 29 other teams.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

Sure, but Johnson runs a lot of deep routes that will naturally have lower completion percentages. Most of Zeke's catches were of the dump-off or screen variety.

It's interesting, though, that Football Outsiders has Johnson as the 4th-best receiving back on a rate basis and Zeke as the 5th-best. Of course, Johnson kept up that rate over many many more passes.

Zeke, Johnson, Bell: they're all pretty spectacular. None of us know which one will end up having the best career. But I'm thrilled we have a vested interest in the outcome, unlike 29 other teams.

Yeah, I guess I would just put my chips on the youngest one (by far) of those 3.

Zeke does have a birthday coming up to be 22 (on the 22nd), no news for the media will be good news cause who knows what he could be planning.

Typing that has already given me a headache.

 

[AsthmaField]

Johnson didn't have a coach taking him off the feild on 3rd downs like Zeke did. Zeke doesn't have Johnsons receiving stats because he didn't have passing plays called to him. I'll take Zeke's blocking and blitz pick up over Johnsons also.

Exactly.

Elliott is the better back by a bit. I do like Johnson and he is a well rounded back... but c'mon.

 

[CCBoy]

Exactly.

Elliott is the better back by a bit. I do like Johnson and he is a well rounded back... but c'mon.

There is a reason why Zeke Elliott doesn't catch nearly as many passes in a well balanced passing attack.

 

[Silver N Blue]

I didn't feel a new thread was necessary....strange this hasn't come to an end.

Speaking with SiriusXM Fantasy Sports, ESPN's Adam Schefter said he would be "hesitant" to draft Ezekiel Elliott in fantasy leagues because of uncertainty about the NFL's ongoing investigation.

Schefter is an avid fantasy player as well as the best reporter in the business, so his opinion carries some weight. Schefter said he has spoken to some people who gave him a "sense some form of discipline could happen" and others who do not think anything will come of the investigation. Schefter also added he expected a news dump to come before the July 4th weekend, but the decision may have been pushed back as the NFL deals with "more information" and holds "more meetings." This investigation is seemingly never ending, and the fact the NFL has not cleared Elliott already suggests they are considering some discipline. That concern is not enough to push Zeke out of the first round, but it is worth considering before selecting him in the top five.


Source: SiriusXM
Jul 3 - 11:50 AM

 

[CowboyStar88]

I didn't feel a new thread was necessary....strange this hasn't come to an end.

Speaking with SiriusXM Fantasy Sports, ESPN's Adam Schefter said he would be "hesitant" to draft Ezekiel Elliott in fantasy leagues because of uncertainty about the NFL's ongoing investigation.

Schefter is an avid fantasy player as well as the best reporter in the business, so his opinion carries some weight. Schefter said he has spoken to some people who gave him a "sense some form of discipline could happen" and others who do not think anything will come of the investigation. Schefter also added he expected a news dump to come before the July 4th weekend, but the decision may have been pushed back as the NFL deals with "more information" and holds "more meetings." This investigation is seemingly never ending, and the fact the NFL has not cleared Elliott already suggests they are considering some discipline. That concern is not enough to push Zeke out of the first round, but it is worth considering before selecting him in the top five.


Source: SiriusXM
Jul 3 - 11:50 AM

Saw that and was like huh? Sounds like there just trying to plug headlines during the slow time.

 

[lukin2006]

He lead the league as a rookie getting hand offs from a rookie QB, he is a 3 down back, who is an excellent receiver and blocking back...all as a rookie. Pretty hard to make a case against him being the best already,

 

[FiveTime]

I didn't feel a new thread was necessary....strange this hasn't come to an end.

Speaking with SiriusXM Fantasy Sports, ESPN's Adam Schefter said he would be "hesitant" to draft Ezekiel Elliott in fantasy leagues because of uncertainty about the NFL's ongoing investigation.

Schefter is an avid fantasy player as well as the best reporter in the business, so his opinion carries some weight. Schefter said he has spoken to some people who gave him a "sense some form of discipline could happen" and others who do not think anything will come of the investigation. Schefter also added he expected a news dump to come before the July 4th weekend, but the decision may have been pushed back as the NFL deals with "more information" and holds "more meetings." This investigation is seemingly never ending, and the fact the NFL has not cleared Elliott already suggests they are considering some discipline. That concern is not enough to push Zeke out of the first round, but it is worth considering before selecting him in the top five.


Source: SiriusXM
Jul 3 - 11:50 AM

It won't happen. The Mara influence is dwindling away and Jerry's is growing. ;-)

 

[Silver N Blue]

Saw that and was like huh? Sounds like there just trying to plug headlines during the slow time.

Let's hope.

 

[dallasdave]

Without listening to all of this, I think the operative word is "yet".

People will just point to his line as a reason to discredit Elliott just like they did with Emmitt back in the 1990's. It can't be helped.

People trying to throw rocks at the Cowboys !!!

 

[dallasdave]

Zeke is the best RB in the league.

Pretty simple to say.

Don't fight it.

YOu said it, and said it well my friend.

 

[Trouty]

YOu said it, and said it well my friend.

 

[Proximo]

He's already a better pure runner and his receiving ability will go as far as Dallas lets him. He was a great receiver in college and he was fine last season...we are just a run first team with a lot of mouths to feed at receiver.

Johnson played on a team playing from behind quite a bit with a QB that was struggling most the year. I'm not taking anything away from him but that can inflate receiving numbers for a running back quite a bit.

Bell on the other hand...he is on another level as far as being a receiver. He is a better pure runner as well at this point. Zeke has only been playing for one season but I believe Zeke is a more durable back though.

I think you nailed it. Our offense is too deep to have Zeke put up absolutely gaudy numbers.

It's the same for Dez.

And I like our offense this way. Not completely reliant on one or two "big star" types.

 

[dallasdave]

As Rick Flair would say " To be the man you have to beat the man " WHOOOooooooooo!!!!! Trouty you and ZEKE are the man

 

[Trouty]

As Rick Flair would say " To be the man you have to beat the man " WHOOOooooooooo!!!!! Trouty you and ZEKE are the man

Dave, you are the man!!!

WHHHOOOooooooooo!!!!!

 

[dallasdave]

Dave, you are the man!!!

WHHHOOOooooooooo!!!!!

Thank you --Thank you very much

 

[JoeKing]

It will always be a point of contention about Zeke's greatness as long as the Cowboys have that great O-line. It's a built in excuse for the haters to never give him the respect that is due to him. It's the same thing that was done to Emmitt, so considering how his career went, we can project that this disrespect will continue with Zeke. Some may make excuses like its just showing respect to Walter Payton or Barry Sanders who didn't always have the best O-line. But in the end... it's hate for a player that deserves much more credit for what he does. Zeke, never pay attention to the haters, just do what you do.

 

[lqmac1]

Thanks for the update, first take. We will just completely ignore the fact that his fellow peers voted him as the best running back in the league. You know, the people who actually played against him and tried to tackle him.

 

[Proof]

What exactly is incorrect?

Ehh rereading it, it’s a lot of opinion so I retract my statement. DJ was definitely talked amongst the best rbs in the league after his rookie season though, and that’s with only taking over starting duties midway through. He gets his touches because they scheme for him and lean on him heavily because he’s so talented. It’s not just circumstance or bad qbing, he’s a beast. And as far as the Cole hypothetical, he had more catches than Cole! Lol. That should tell you all you need to know.

 

[Nova]

Currently I have it as:

Bell
Johnson
Zeke

But despite Bell's production, I just don't like him on my team over Zeke. It's not about suspensions or anything like that, he just doesn't to bring the same kind of energy that Zeke does to the team.

Nothing but respect for David Johnson.

You can't go wrong with any of them though.