Mel Kiper's Rookie Big Board (ESPN Insider)

[MichaelWinicki]

We agree.
There is another possible explanation.
May be they are trying to send a message to tell DC's that you cannot stop our run...

I think they've accomplished that by the 3rd quarter in most games.

 

[waldoputty]

I think they've accomplished that by the 3rd quarter in most games.

Agreed, I wonder why they kept running Zeke in the last drive.
He did get that big run, so perhaps they want to serve notice by demolishing the #1 rushing defense.
Hope that will not keep repeating itself.
Teams will have to play in the box but have to deal with Dak's short/mid range passing.
I noticed that we are in a 3WR or 4WR formation very often now.
Hard to play too many in the box when we are spreading out the defense
We really have the right personnel (OL, QB and RB) to play Kelly's spread offense that is run-first

 

[Aven8]

But giving the guy 22-24 carries a game is simply going to take its toll, and if not this season then next. NFL history has shown that guys getting 1,800+ yards are going to wear out.

History does suggest that. But this is a 21 year old kid. This should be his senior season at Ohio St in fact. I'm also not sure I but into the history any more as well. Today's athletes are machines. Look at Demarco...he's doing great this year for a crummy team and looks just the same as 2014.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

History does suggest that. But this is a 21 year old kid. This should be his senior season at Ohio St in fact. I'm also not sure I but into the history any more as well. Today's athletes are machines. Look at Demarco...he's doing great this year for a crummy team and looks just the same as 2014.

For a guy who's such a big part of the success... I'd rather not see him get worn down in a single season.

There's no doubt in my mind that he does not need to have 1,800 yards for this team to be successful. I doubt it has to be 1,600 yards.

Morris is a 3-time 1,000 yard rusher and with this offensive line, he should be getting 10 carries a game.

Emmitt averaged 15 carries a game his rookie season.

I don't want to be competitive just this season... I want the playoffs to be a solid possibility every season.

Murray was shot last season. He looked slow and looked to avoid shots. It took him a year to recuperate.

 

[T-RO]

I don't recall Dorsett being moderated..
nor Emmitt Smith..

Dorsett's most carries were 305 in '85
Zeke is on pace for 364 carries

On top of that Zeke catches a lot of balls which of course leads to collisions and he's a (awesome) high impact pass protector.

There is only so much tread on a tire, and every single carry comes with risk.

Why should he be getting carries or be in the game with a two touchdown lead and 1 minute remaining? Why?

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Dorsett's most carries were 305 in '85
Zeke is on pace for 364 carries

On top of that Zeke catches a lot of balls which of course leads to collisions and he's a (awesome) high impact pass protector.

There is only so much tread on a tire, and every single carry comes with risk.

Why should he be getting carries or be in the game with a two touchdown lead and 1 minute remaining? Why?

You bet Dorsett's carries where moderated.

It was a gripe of his against Landry that he wasn't allowed to carry the ball more, but Landry's methods kept a 190lb back in the league (and productive) for a very long time.

You're right, it's not just the carries, it's the pass receptions and the blitz pickups on top of everything else.

364 carries on top of everything else is too much IMO. And league history supports that.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I don't recall Dorsett being moderated..

You better believe that Dorsett was moderated. Landry was trying to extend his career by limiting his carries. That isn't anywhere close to being a secret.

 

[Thomas82]

My insider ran out in the summer and I haven't renewed.
Could list the players without the write-ups?

1. Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys
2. Carson Wentz, QB, Eagles
3. Jack Conklin, OT, Titans
4. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Cowboys
5. Jatavis Brown, ILB, Chargers
6. DeForest Buckner, DE, 49ers
7. Keanu Neal, S, Falcons
8. Hunter Henry, TE, Chargers
9. Yannick Ngakoue, DE, Jaguars
10. Joey Bosa, DE, Chargers
11. Karl Joseph, S, Raiders
12. Michael Thomas, WR, Saints
13. Cody Whitehair, C, Bears
14. Sterling Shepard, WR, Giants
15. Rashard Robinson, CB, 49ers
16. Deion Jones, ILB, Falcons
17. Cody Kessler, QB, Browns
18. Will Fuller, WR, Texans
19. Jarran Reed, DT, Seahawks
20. Jalen Ramsey, CB, Jaguars

 

[AsthmaField]

1. Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys
2. Carson Wentz, QB, Eagles
3. Jack Conklin, OT, Titans
4. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Cowboys
5. Jatavis Brown, ILB, Chargers
6. DeForest Buckner, DE, 49ers
7. Keanu Neal, S, Falcons
8. Hunter Henry, TE, Chargers
9. Yannick Ngakoue, DE, Jaguars
10. Joey Bosa, DE, Chargers
11. Karl Joseph, S, Raiders
12. Michael Thomas, WR, Saints
13. Cody Whitehair, C, Bears
14. Sterling Shepard, WR, Giants
15. Rashard Robinson, CB, 49ers
16. Deion Jones, ILB, Falcons
17. Cody Kessler, QB, Browns
18. Will Fuller, WR, Texans
19. Jarran Reed, DT, Seahawks
20. Jalen Ramsey, CB, Jaguars

Thanks man.

 

[Thomas82]

Thanks man.

Not a problem!!

 

[FiveTime]

1. Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys
2. Carson Wentz, QB, Eagles
3. Jack Conklin, OT, Titans
4. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Cowboys
5. Jatavis Brown, ILB, Chargers
6. DeForest Buckner, DE, 49ers
7. Keanu Neal, S, Falcons
8. Hunter Henry, TE, Chargers
9. Yannick Ngakoue, DE, Jaguars
10. Joey Bosa, DE, Chargers
11. Karl Joseph, S, Raiders
12. Michael Thomas, WR, Saints
13. Cody Whitehair, C, Bears
14. Sterling Shepard, WR, Giants
15. Rashard Robinson, CB, 49ers
16. Deion Jones, ILB, Falcons
17. Cody Kessler, QB, Browns
18. Will Fuller, WR, Texans
19. Jarran Reed, DT, Seahawks
20. Jalen Ramsey, CB, Jaguars

Thank you!

 

[AsthmaField]

1. Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys
2. Carson Wentz, QB, Eagles
3. Jack Conklin, OT, Titans
4. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Cowboys
5. Jatavis Brown, ILB, Chargers
6. DeForest Buckner, DE, 49ers
7. Keanu Neal, S, Falcons
8. Hunter Henry, TE, Chargers
9. Yannick Ngakoue, DE, Jaguars
10. Joey Bosa, DE, Chargers
11. Karl Joseph, S, Raiders
12. Michael Thomas, WR, Saints
13. Cody Whitehair, C, Bears
14. Sterling Shepard, WR, Giants
15. Rashard Robinson, CB, 49ers
16. Deion Jones, ILB, Falcons
17. Cody Kessler, QB, Browns
18. Will Fuller, WR, Texans
19. Jarran Reed, DT, Seahawks
20. Jalen Ramsey, CB, Jaguars

Broaddus will say this list can't be right because Myles Jack isn't on it.

 

[Thomas82]

Thank you!

You got it!!

 

[Yuma Cactus]

1. Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys
2. Carson Wentz, QB, Eagles
3. Jack Conklin, OT, Titans
4. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Cowboys
5. Jatavis Brown, ILB, Chargers
6. DeForest Buckner, DE, 49ers
7. Keanu Neal, S, Falcons
8. Hunter Henry, TE, Chargers
9. Yannick Ngakoue, DE, Jaguars
10. Joey Bosa, DE, Chargers
11. Karl Joseph, S, Raiders
12. Michael Thomas, WR, Saints
13. Cody Whitehair, C, Bears
14. Sterling Shepard, WR, Giants
15. Rashard Robinson, CB, 49ers
16. Deion Jones, ILB, Falcons
17. Cody Kessler, QB, Browns
18. Will Fuller, WR, Texans
19. Jarran Reed, DT, Seahawks
20. Jalen Ramsey, CB, Jaguars

Wow, Jalen Ramsey at # 20. I mean Cody Kessler is higher than him.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

I wonder where someone like Anthony Brown would rank if you re-slotted the entire draft. That dude is playing lights out at a really high value position.

 

[Swanny]

Anybody else here think that if the Cowboys were giving Elliott fewer carries, they'd be criticizing them for not using the player they spent the fourth overall pick on?

I know Zeke has gotten some big workloads this year (Bengals game excluded), but he's getting so many yards prior to contact behind this line he's probably not going to wear down.

Even if he wears down just use Morris.

 

[DogFace]

Morris is not some bs back. He deserves carries on talent alone. Keeping Zeke fresh is an added bonus and smart. He's used to playing 10 or so games a year. I hope they're smart about this to have him ready for that second weekend of playoffs after the bye.

 

[CVN68_Cowboys]

Morris is not some bs back. He deserves carries on talent alone. Keeping Zeke fresh is an added bonus and smart. He's used to playing 10 or so games a year. I hope they're smart about this to have him ready for that second weekend of playoffs after the bye.

If this was his fourth year in the league, I'd agree. 20-25 is more ideal than 25-30 per game, but use it while you've got it. Better that than makin Prescott air it out 45 times a game right now. Higher % play.

 

[Gaede]

Even though I understand his aversion to ranking two Cowboys at the top, he's got to be honest. Dak and Zeke should be 1 and 2. I really don't think there's any doubt that Zeke has had a bigger impact on his team than Wentz and Conklin.

 

[DogFace]

If this was his fourth year in the league, I'd agree. 20-25 is more ideal than 25-30 per game, but use it while you've got it. Better that than makin Prescott air it out 45 times a game right now. Higher % play.

Or you could give it to Morris. A former 1600 yard rusher with a career 4.4 avg.

Not many backs make it thorough 350 carries a season. Dickerson was special.

Let's take the long term view on this player and team.