News: PFT: Scott Linehan on Ezekiel Elliott: An every-down back is hard to replace

[Reality]

Scott Linehan on Ezekiel Elliott: An every-down back is hard to replace

“We spent the weekend thinking one thing was happening, so we started thinking about the other guys,” Linehan said Thursday. “You know things can happen, and things change daily. You have to be proactive.

“We were certainly glad he is playing, but we were excited for the other guys getting opportunities. We had some guys. We prepared our roster knowing this could happen, too, so we’ve got some good depth at running back.”

...

“But the level of play that 21 [Elliott] presents playing on every down primarily, it’s hard to replace.”

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...lliott-an-every-down-back-is-hard-to-replace/

 

[links18]

Its strange, last year they were taking Elliot out on 3rd down for Dunbar, this year he is an "every down back." I think they should activate McFadden and try to work him in a little in an H-back role--Like Herschel was used in his later years. Line him up in the backfield, then split him wide, look to get a mismatch on a LB or something--or try Rod Smith a little more in that role.

 

[Bullflop]

It's an obvious statement by Linehan that evidently speaks for itself.

For every 3-down back, there are even more who can't fill that role.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Scott Linehan on Ezekiel Elliott: An every-down back is hard to replace

“We spent the weekend thinking one thing was happening, so we started thinking about the other guys,” Linehan said Thursday. “You know things can happen, and things change daily. You have to be proactive.

“We were certainly glad he is playing, but we were excited for the other guys getting opportunities. We had some guys. We prepared our roster knowing this could happen, too, so we’ve got some good depth at running back.”

...

“But the level of play that 21 [Elliott] presents playing on every down primarily, it’s hard to replace.”

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...lliott-an-every-down-back-is-hard-to-replace/

I honestly think this is overlooked by many fans...there's only a few in the league.

 

[tyke1doe]

If he's an every down back, why do we take him out of the game so often?

 

[Ranching]

If he's an every down back, why do we take him out of the game so often?

Because we don't have an every down coach.

 

[tyke1doe]

Because we don't have an every down coach.

Touche!

 

[Alexander]

If he's an every down back, why do we take him out of the game so often?

Better question is why not design more plays for him catching the football.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

No it's not. Just grab one in rounds 3-5 and you'll be fine!

 

[Risen Star]

Its strange, last year they were taking Elliot out on 3rd down for Dunbar, this year he is an "every down back." I think they should activate McFadden and try to work him in a little in an H-back role--Like Herschel was used in his later years. Line him up in the backfield, then split him wide, look to get a mismatch on a LB or something--or try Rod Smith a little more in that role.

The like was for the Zeke every down back hypocrisy not the McFadden/Smith garbage.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Better question is why not design more plays for him catching the football.

Zeke caught about 2 balls a game his final two years of college. He hasn't been a prolific pass catcher here. And he hasn't always looked natural catching the ball. What makes you think Zeke is great out of the backfield? This same offensive staff got Murray thr ball out of the backfield often.

Makes one wonder...

 

[Idgit]

If he's an every down back, why do we take him out of the game so often?

Three other RBs in the entire league play more snaps than he does. He's in 87.2% of our offensive plays.

Our fans complain about things and don't know what they're talking about much of the time.

 

[links18]

The like was for the Zeke every down back hypocrisy not the McFadden/Smith garbage.

Ah, that smarts.

 

[tyke1doe]

Three other RBs in the entire league play more snaps than he does. He's in 87.2% of our offensive plays.

Our fans complain about things and don't know what they're talking about much of the time.

Actually, the fact that other backs are taken out more than he doesn't mean much. Maybe they shouldn't be taken out either or maybe they're not the caliber of back Zeke is.
Furthermore, anyone can grab a stat and make an argument.
But what I and many other fans have noticed and noted is that there are times when we need Zeke on the field, and he's not there.
Now maybe you can "stat" that away, but we spent a #4 pick in him so you'll forgive us if we expect more.
And, yes, we DO know what we're talking about. If you don't like our point, fine. But don't act like you're the only person who knows what's going on. We have eyes. We see. And we can make observations and draw conclusions too.

 

[Idgit]

Actually, the fact that other backs are taken out more than he doesn't mean much. Maybe they shouldn't be taken out either or maybe they're not the caliber of back Zeke is.
Furthermore, anyone can grab a stat and make an argument.
But what I and many other fans have noticed and noted is that there are times when we need Zeke on the field, and he's not there.
Now maybe you can "stat" that away, but we spent a #4 pick in him so you'll forgive us if we expect more.
And, yes, we DO know what we're talking about. If you don't like our point, fine. But don't act like you're the only person who knows what's going on. We have eyes. We see. And we can make observations and draw conclusions too.

The fact that we take him out of the game less than 30 other teams take their RBs out of the game actually says an awful lot. It's the basis for what 'so often' means in the NFL. You're just embarrassed that 'so often' in your mind means 'less than every other team, but one (on a percentage of plays basis, he's actually the 2nd most used RB in the game). There are more than 1 other back of Zeke's caliber in the NFL right now.

12.8% of the time isn't 'so often' by any stretch for any RB. How many of those handful of snaps are when he's getting spelled because he's tired or has an equipment issue? How many are end-of-half or end-of-game situations where running the ball makes absolutely zero sense?

If there are other fans that agree with you, they're welcome to step up and make their case that he's underused. And I'm not talking about you guys second-guessing a personnel package some more when a play doesn't work. I mean, making the case that 'we take him off the field so often' when he plays at a higher rate than any other back in the league not named "Le'veon Bell" (who also has a couple ST snaps, btw).

If anyone can grab a stat and make an argument, I suggest you grab one and make one. Otherwise, we can flush this criticism like so many others that get squeezed out and stink.

 

[tyke1doe]

The fact that we take him out of the game less than 30 other teams take their RBs out of the game actually says an awful lot. It's the basis for what 'so often' means in the NFL. You're just embarrassed that 'so often' in your mind means 'less than every other team, but one (on a percentage of plays basis, he's actually the 2nd most used RB in the game). There are more than 1 other back of Zeke's caliber in the NFL right now.

12.8% of the time isn't 'so often' by any stretch for any RB. How many of those handful of snaps are when he's getting spelled because he's tired or has an equipment issue? How many are end-of-half or end-of-game situations where running the ball makes absolutely zero sense?

If there are other fans that agree with you, they're welcome to step up and make their case that he's underused. And I'm not talking about you guys second-guessing a personnel package some more when a play doesn't work. I mean, making the case that 'we take him off the field so often' when he plays at a higher rate than any other back in the league not named "Le'veon Bell" (who also has a couple ST snaps, btw).

If anyone can grab a stat and make an argument, I suggest you grab one and make one. Otherwise, we can flush this criticism like so many others that get squeezed out and stink.

Or you can refrain from commenting and acting as if your knowledge is the end-all, be-all to the topic.
We know what we see. We've been in the live game thread and we've wondered aloud, "Why isn't Zeke in the game?" And we've said it more than once.
Congratulations to you for trying to quantify how much he's in the game. But that doesn't change our observation any more than quoting statistically how much safer it is to fly to the person who just emerged from a plane crash and the witnesses who saw it.

 

[Idgit]

Or you can refrain from commenting and acting as if your knowledge is the end-all, be-all to the topic.
We know what we see. We've been in the live game thread and we've wondered aloud, "Why isn't Zeke in the game?" And we've said it more than once.
Congratulations to you for trying to quantify how much he's in the game. But that doesn't change our observation any more than quoting statistically how much safer it is to fly to the person who just emerged from a plane crash and the witnesses who saw it.

You have a mouse in your pocket?

 

[noshame]

Scott I know you are an offensive Guru genius brain child but please don't put one back in when you're going to pass and the other one back in when you're going to run.

 

[xwalker]

Better question is why not design more plays for him catching the football.

After 5 games has more than half the receptions he had last season.

At the current rate he projects to a 72% increase for the season as compared to last season.

 

[Hawkeye19]

After 5 games has more than half the receptions he had last season.

At the current rate he projects to a 72% increase for the season as compared to last season.

Another positive sign for sure. The running game looked much better the last 2 games. I think Cooper is stabilizing the LG spot in terms of solid run blocking and Collins is coming into his own.

I think we start to see more and more of the 2016 ground game going forward. It's been said before-- but is worth repeating: teams were stacking the box last year too-- and we were able to handle it and still execute well. This year-- there have simply been too many mistakes up front and too much inconsistency.

The good news is that all of it is fixable with better execution, and seeing Zeke catch more balls is only going to make it tougher for teams to deal with us.