If no one on this board knows what this team looks like without Zeke, then

PA Cowboy Fan

Well-Known Member
Messages
25,354
Reaction score
51,350
I'm less worried about losing the RB than I am demoralized by how it went down. When the league office railroads players for a misguided PR campaign and it hurts your team, it makes it pretty hard to support the league.

The Cowboys still have a lot of offensive weapons. And we've got backup RBs who can be effective. We'll get to see how good Dak really is, and that will be interesting. But it's still tough to watch when you feel the process was a sham.
I hope the team isn't as dejected as some of us are. They're going to have to pull together and have an us vs them mentality.
 

Alexander

What's it going to be then, eh?
Messages
62,482
Reaction score
67,294
I know exactly what it looks like.

The first two games of 2015. And it was not exactly a well oiled machine.
 

Ranched

"We Are Penn State"
Messages
34,885
Reaction score
84,325
True, but we know what the fans look like.
1yk7qa.jpg
 

noshame

I'm not dead yet......
Messages
14,933
Reaction score
13,419
CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
I see you all missed Emmett's hold out LOL

Does it matter who the running back is when it's 2nd and 4 or 5 we're going to pass the ball anyway:rolleyes:
 

robbieruff

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,709
Reaction score
5,108
Why all the doom and gloom? Is this team really going to start losing because of a missing running back? And if they do then that means we have a coaching problem.

No team should lose because of a running back. Now QB i can see because they are in more control of the offense like what happened to us in 2015. But this team is 4-3 with zeke not 7-0 so why is everyone panicking when they have not played a game without him yet?
I hear the theory of what your saying but how were we without Zeke in 2015 (since we're limiting the discussion to this one variable)? How did that RB by committee approach work out then? Sure, the 2015 rushing stats were "decent" but a lot of it came during meaningless times of the game with nothing really at stake (e.g., needing to impose will to run out the clock, etc.). I would also argue we didn't have Zeke truly being Zeke until a few games ago...he certainly wasn't in his peak form out the gate this year, obviously.

I do agree that it'll be a major indictment of this staff if we do a 2015 implosion with Zeke gone (even if we're entering the toughest part of the schedule). Garrett and co. got a pass in 2015 even though other teams were able to scratch together a few wins after losing key players. Let's see if he gets that same luxury this time. I hope not.
 

Idgit

Fattening up
Staff member
Messages
58,971
Reaction score
60,826
CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
I hope the team isn't as dejected as some of us are. They're going to have to pull together and have an us vs them mentality.

I'm not even dejected about the team. It's just no fun watching when you feel the competition is rigged for entertainment purposes. It's one thing to structure the rules to get competitive results. Another when games and seasons are decided by penalties and suspensions and the story about the league is about everything but the product on the field.
 

TwoDeep3

Well-Known Member
Messages
14,506
Reaction score
17,339
CowboysZone LOYAL Fan
Consider this. The defensive approach to the Cowboys has been stop Zeke, make Dak beat you. Early in the year when the offensive line wasn't gelling after losing 40% of the starters from last year, the team struggled to move people out of the way and Zeke wasn't able to showcase his talent. The notion Zeke was fat amused me when it was floated here.

It might be observed the team lately has been moving people, perhaps the line has come together along with playing teams who were more suspect at defense. In any event the offensive line has been beasting and Zeke was once again the best running back in the league. Because of the events that caused the line to struggle in the beginning, early stats don't matter that much, more because of the line finding its groove. Kind of like Whose line is it anyway. The stats don't matter.

But to be certain, with this line and Zeke, I feel pretty confident he would lead the league again this season. (There may be Cowboy colored glasses in that prediction on my part)

So what is the focal point of the defenses Dallas will face now, without Zeke?

Stop any one of three backs who are less talented than Zeke, and make Dak beat them.

There is a new wrinkle this year from last. On passing downs the defenses are concentrating on Beasley, and taking him away. The Beas was the safety valve for manageable third downs last year. If that is taken away, what now?

With Witten coming into the time in his career where he is clocked with a sun dial, and Dez is either not being used correctly, or disappearing as he has done in so many games, where in this passing game is the beef?

It has been argued the running game protected the defense because of time management. There are those who will toss out stats and say that is not the case.

But one factor that is the case is the team stays in front of the chains. Not to the success of last year by any means. But with the potent running game making the passing game easier, Dallas moves the ball.

And they score touchdowns!

I cannot impress how important that is to score touchdowns and not field goals. The pressure that puts on the opposing team is phenomenal since they can expect Dallas to score a bunch of points. This trickles down through their play calling on both sides of the ball.

The Commander game was an anomaly because of the torrential rain and the passing game being too risky once a lead had been established. Now review what I said. The Commanders could not stop the Dallas passing attack if it were not for the rain because Dallas chose to play it safe.

So going forward expect teams to push eight in the box and shut down the running attack. Teams will not play Dallas straight up in the next four games. They will force the passing game to carry the day. And as we have seen when facing teams with a good secondary, this Dallas team doesn't fare well if they cannot get the run attack ginning.

Coaching will need to bridge the gap here. I believe in Linehan, that he is clever enough. But I also believe deep down that coaching reflects talent. You can tell a player all day long where to be on a certain play that will reap success, and if that player cannot get to that spot, for whatever reason, coaching has gone as far as it can go.

This also speaks to next season in that with a healthy Zeke, and the offensive line still well within its prime, the team needs to look for a special receiver. I am still all about fixing the defense, but the team needs a deep threat that forces teams out of the single high safety because Dallas struggles to stretch the field. This is not Dak's fault. This is speed.

Because the truth about football is you cannot coach speed.
 

dragon_mikal

Fire Garrett
Messages
10,452
Reaction score
7,135
CowboysZone LOYAL Fan
Why all the doom and gloom? Is this team really going to start losing because of a missing running back? And if they do then that means we have a coaching problem.

No team should lose because of a running back. Now QB i can see because they are in more control of the offense like what happened to us in 2015. But this team is 4-3 with zeke not 7-0 so why is everyone panicking when they have not played a game without him yet?

So we lost our best player but it doesn't matter because he happens to be a RB?

Anyone who thinks losing Zeke is no big deal hasn't been paying attention.
 

BoysfanfromCanada

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,997
Reaction score
6,474
I think people would be less concerned if they had faith the head coach could scheme around his absence.

But considering that in 7 years, we still haven't figured out how to get Dez consistently involved, there's not much to go on faith wise.


This. They will ask Morris and Co to take over his snaps and try to replicate what he did with same gameplan. When this fails and Dak has to deal with 3rd and 8 every time people will be on Dak, rather than the high school level gamplanning these coaches use.

Did you hear Dak say they didn't practice any different for the expected rain in Washington? Like how? Why wouldn't you get the players used to playing with a soaked ball?
 

calicowboy54

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,864
Reaction score
1,402
Yeah cause replacing arguably the best back in the league and best player on this team doesn't warrant a cause for concern...I will raise your 4-3 stance and claim had he not been here for six of those games they probably only beat the giants...:huh::facepalm::huh:

And back to my Dak cannot carry a team... we need Tony or a QB that can carry a team *** Snickering lets see how much hate replies this gets ***
 

Silver N Blue

Well-Known Member
Messages
8,342
Reaction score
8,982
And back to my Dak cannot carry a team... we need Tony or a QB that can carry a team *** Snickering lets see how much hate replies this gets ***
Agree and I would be lying if I didn't say I was concerned about this as well. If this team doesn't have a reason to stack the box..and they won't w/o Zeke in play, teams will stack up elsewhere. So Dez/Witten and Twill/Butler will have more focus on them. Look no further to 2015 when Dmac had his 1k year. No team stacked the box to stop him they sat back gave him his yards and let all the QBs (Moore, Weeden, Cassel) beat them with that pass...yep turned out great. I hope young Dak is up to the challenge.
 

CWR

Well-Known Member
Messages
25,426
Reaction score
37,044
Why all the doom and gloom? Is this team really going to start losing because of a missing running back? And if they do then that means we have a coaching problem.

No team should lose because of a running back. Now QB i can see because they are in more control of the offense like what happened to us in 2015. But this team is 4-3 with zeke not 7-0 so why is everyone panicking when they have not played a game without him yet?

Probably because hes our best player and not simply "a running back."
 
Top