Former Cowboy says everything at OTAs has been centered around Ezekiel Elliott

[cowboys2233]

That would be a waste of his talent. 18-19 touches a game? They didnt draft him 4 overall to be a RBC type of player.

If he doesnt avg atleast 20 carries a game what was the point?

He will get the amount of carries necessary to win the game but make no mistake, we didn't hold onto McFadden and pick up Morris for the fun of it. I think we are going to be the most run-focused team in the league and those other two guys are going to be a significant part of that. What is the point of limiting his touches? To keep him fresh. Specifically, to keep him fresh for the playoffs. I believe the team has taken the view that if they can get Romo and Elliott to the playoffs as fresh as possible, they are in great shape for a title run, perhaps even the favorites. To do so, they are going to save Romo by having him hand off about 500 times, and they are going to save Elliott by giving about half of those to the other two guys.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

He will get the amount of carries necessary to win the game but make no mistake, we didn't hold onto McFadden and pick up Morris for the fun of it. I think we are going to be the most run-focused team in the league and those other two guys are going to be a significant part of that. What is the point of limiting his touches? To keep him fresh. Specifically, to keep him fresh for the playoffs. I believe the team has taken the view that if they can get Romo and Elliott to the playoffs as fresh as possible, they are in great shape for a title run, perhaps even the favorites. To do so, they are going to save Romo by having him hand off about 500 times, and they are going to save Elliott by giving about half of those to the other two guys.

That's how I see it.

500 total carries for the team.

Elliott will get 1/2 of those.

McFadden/Morris will split the rest.

 

[TheCount]

Well Dez was technically a while ago. 6 years ago qualifies as awhile.

Time flies.

Right, I just noted Dez is 27. In a few more years, he'll be out of him prime.

That aside, people were even excited about Gregory last year, although he's not a skill position guy.

 

[robbieruff]

Going RBBC last year was the biggest idiotic move Dallas made and once Romo and Dez got hurt, it was a lost season. This team flourishes with a bell cow RB, dominating OL and opportunistic passing attack to keep defenses honest.

And speaking of Zeke, he reminds me of Duane Thomas running style-----smooth and no wasted motions. Always going forward, deceptive power and speed. Let's just hope he lasts longer than Duane and talks a little bit more. This will be fun to watch.

Duane T. Comparison is the most on point I've seen so far. I've been struggling with a reference point cuz a lot of draft breakdowns have him being compared to LT. But having seen footage of Duane and Zeke I'd say that comparison is spot on. And they both share a high intelligence level. Obviously expecting things to go a lot differently on the whole team-player relationship front though!?! Lol.

 

[robjay04]

That's how I see it.

500 total carries for the team.

Elliott will get 1/2 of those.

McFadden/Morris will split the rest.

I'll agree to disagree on that. You spend the 4 on Elliott because he is a 3 down player, if you want a player to take half the carries...you take him later in the draft. Elliott can do it all and it is beneficial for a team to have one back they can rely on and not take off the field.

The running game is so vital to the team so if Elliott goes down, we have options as well as options to spell him for a couple drives a game but the guy is going to play and play a lot. Since Linehan has came here, we have preferred to use one back...even Randle was shaping up to be the bellcow last season before he messed up. I can't see this team ever alternating series between Zeke and McFadden/Morris.

The team may go into the season thinking like you are thinking but if Zeke is too good and productive to take off the field, he won't leave the field. I don't believe we purposely ran Murray to the ground in 2014, he was just too product and versatile to take off the field.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I'll agree to disagree on that. You spend the 4 on Elliott because he is a 3 down player, if you want a player to take half the carries...you take him later in the draft. Elliott can do it all and it is beneficial for a team to have one back they can rely on and not take off the field.

The running game is so vital to the team so if Elliott goes down, we have options as well as options to spell him for a couple drives a game but the guy is going to play and play a lot. Since Linehan has came here, we have preferred to use one back...even Randle was shaping up to be the bellcow last season before he messed up. I can't see this team ever alternating series between Zeke and McFadden/Morris.

The team may go into the season thinking like you are thinking but if Zeke is too good and productive to take off the field, he won't leave the field. I don't believe we purposely ran Murray to the ground in 2014, he was just too product and versatile to take off the field.

I think the term "half" as in "half the carries" needs to be taken in context of the total number of carries for the team.

Certainly a difference between the Cowboys having 500 and New England that had like 390 carries last season.

 

[cowboys2233]

I think the term "half" as in "half the carries" needs to be taken in context of the total number of carries for the team.

Certainly a difference between the Cowboys having 500 and New England that had like 390 carries last season.

And the other point is, he gets half during the regular season to keep him fresh for the playoffs. If they can do that, I see his ratio going much higher for any playoff games, up to 75-80% of the carries.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

And the other point is, he gets half during the regular season to keep him fresh for the playoffs. If they can do that, I see his ratio going much higher for any playoff games, up to 75-80% of the carries.

Agreed.

If folks think Elliott is going to average almost 25 carries a game like Murray did– they're out of there minds.

Even Marshawn Lynch, who is as much a main-back as anyone in the NFL for the last 1/2 dozen years was only averaging 17.76 carries a game for the Seahawks.

These folks that think a back carrying the ball 20 times a game is the "norm" need to take a look around the NFL and see how many carries the running backs are actually getting.

And then they ought to review those threads that gave the figures for the backs that gained 1,800-2,000 yards a season and see how long they lasted in the NFL after doing that.

They simply do not have a clue.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Lots of people here. Thinking its going to be RBBC. You dont invest over 20 million for a RBBC. Hes the bell cow. Its that simple.

I haven't heard one person say anything like this. I've heard posters say that he will be used in a way that saves him as much as possible in his first year. I think that's wise. All said and done, he's still a Rookie and most Rookies don't last an entire year in the NFL. I'd like him around on the off chance that we do have a chance to make the playoffs. JMO

 

[Verdict]

I think he'll get around 20 total touches. 15-18 carries and a couple of passes.

I think that is a pretty good guess. 15 touches per game minimum, on average. They might start him off slow to get used to the pro game.

 

[casmith07]

I think that is a pretty good guess. 15 touches per game minimum, on average. They might start him off slow to get used to the pro game.

And then if it turns out that he's a world-beater, he'll get touches commensurate with his effect on the field.

 

[DandyDon52]

They went overboard with Murray for sure. But only playing Zeke for half the game is silly.

it isnt if they win the games ??
and in Dec or last 3-4 games EE would then play more, and when playoffs start he could play most of the game.
The nfl is 16 game season, longer than college, bigger guys, tougher.
It is hard to come in as rb and play 16 games and not be beat up at end of season.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I don't know why anybody wouldn't want to get excited. Some people are just sticks in the mud!

Anointing oil already? Open mind is my way of life. I get excited about things that happen not on wishcasting.

 

[ghst187]

Yup.... PERIOD

Makes you wonder if jalen Ramsey was ever really a serious consideration at four.....

 

[jobberone]

They won't and he'll most likely be toast before his 2nd contract is over. I do think that between Morris and DMC, they have more trust, more bodies, and thus will have more snaps than Randle did in 2014.

I personally would like to see a 50/50 split on running downs with Zeke and the other two and then give Zeke the lion's share on passing downs. He would still get >75% of the snaps and not run into the ground.

I don't think Garrett will abuse him on purpose. But there may be games when he just is going to get the ball if he and the offense are balling.

Mac and/or Morris will get 20-40% of the snaps most games. Injuries will have an effect.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I don't think Garrett will abuse him on purpose. But there may be games when he just is going to get the ball if he and the offense are balling.

Mac and/or Morris will get 20-40% of the snaps most games. Injuries will have an effect.

If he does it, he likely won't consider it abuse.

 

[jobberone]

If he does it, he likely won't consider it abuse.

No he'll want the ball like any other competitor but it's in his best interest to stay around 300 maybe a tad less if he catches 40-60 passes. I don't know how feasible the latter is but I suspect its not out of the question.

If he can be used that much as a receiver it will allow us to go long at two other positions IMO.

 

[casmith07]

Anointing oil already? Open mind is my way of life. I get excited about things that happen not on wishcasting.

Anointing oil is my way of life. Crown everything early! Be happy!

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Anointing oil is my way of life. Crown everything early! Be happy!

Until you're wrong.

 

[casmith07]

Until you're wrong.

Nope - I don't hinge my happiness on a sports team.