Poor zeke is stuck with bad left guard play for 4 straight years

[RonnieT24]

LOL.

So you are saying he only runs fast now when he wants to because he's trying to save his energy?

You have a reading issue because that's not what I said.. I said that he no longer goes 100 mph to the hole on every run.. because the offense is designed for him to wait for plays to develop. When given space he has shown he can heat it up just fine. I want him to make the turn back to the 100 mph guy because the line isn't blocking worth a damn all too often. But it's just a really hard thing to do. The fact that it tires you out quicker is just a physiological fact.

 

[MyFairLady]

I feel like Zeke never hits the right hole. Even in the open field he has an uncanny way of running into the one guy that can get him. Almost like a magnet. Does anyone else notice this. It’s weird. He runs into contact.

It looks like that because he is moving so slow now. The defense in the NFL comes quick you gotta explode if you want to get away from anyone. Zeke has no explosion left.

 

[Sydla]

You have a reading issue because that's not what I said.. I said that he no longer goes 100 mph to the hole on every run.. because the offense is designed for him to wait for plays to develop. When given space he has shown he can heat it up just fine. I want him to make the turn back to the 100 mph guy because the line isn't blocking worth a damn all too often. But it's just a really hard thing to do. The fact that it tires you out quicker is just a physiological fact.

Ehhh it's pretty much what you said. He doesn't hit holes fast now because he's conserving himself.

The amount of excuse making you have engage in for Elliott is impressive. He's a good TB. That's it. He's not a game changer, he's not a game breaker. He's not a guy that makes people around him better, he's just a good TB that needs a quality OL to be really successful.

 

[MyFairLady]

Zeke displayed plenty of burst on that 31 yard catch and run yesterday.

True NFL playmakers take that one to the house. Pollard probably would have scored. It was a busted play that left Zeke wide open and he got the minimum. Even with a 31 yard reception in the game his season total is only 27 receiving yards. I don't think you can run a modern NFL offense anymore with someone who is such a liability in the passing game.

 

[Hardline]

You still haven't learned...RBs are a dime a dozen...don't need a day 1 RB..or even day 2.

What I have learned is there is a difference in elite RBs and every other RBs.
And with the Cowboys they don't have success without one.
Go look up Hall of Fame RBs and see what rounds the majority were drafted in.
Emmitt Smith, Tony Dorsett were not a dime a dozen.
The exception was Herschel Walker and DeMarco Murray.

The top ten RBs in rushing last year had 7 drafted in the first two rounds and two were third rounders.

 

[Sydla]

What I have learned is there is a difference in elite RBs and every other RBs.
And with the Cowboys they don't have success without one.
Go look up Hall of Fame RBs and see what rounds the majority were drafted in.
Emmitt Smith, Tony Dorsett were not a dime a dozen.
The exception was Herschel Walker and DeMarco Murray.

The top ten RBs in rushing last year had 7 drafted in the first two rounds and two were third rounders.

But elite RBs don't guarantee you success. Teams have found that you can build good running games without using significant resources in the position. That's the dilemma facing the Cowboys. They have so much invested in the TB position with Elliott, it handcuffs them in other places cap wise. And Elliott isn't even "elite" anymore so it makes it worse. You might be able to justify what you are paying Elliott if he was a clear game changer, a guy who is a threat to make a big play every time he touches the ball. But he's not.

I think if you look at the Top 10 rushing leaders last year, only roughly half were in the playoffs (maybe 6 by quick look). If you go back to 2020, only 5 of the Top 10 rushing TBs were in the playoffs. Go back to 2019, only 3 in the Top 10 rushing made the playoffs.

 

[DFWJC]

The one year he has a chance to get good or great l g play, Tyron gets hurt. And they wonder why his ypc dropped. Salute to him for getting yards despite not having holes to run through. Mark my words, if Tyler plays guard, this run game will be transformed.

Compared to the rest of the league, Dallas has been blessed on the offesnive line.
You need to look at other teams for more perspective on this.

 

[DFWJC]

What I have learned is there is a difference in elite RBs and every other RBs.
And with the Cowboys they don't have success without one.
Go look up Hall of Fame RBs and see what rounds the majority were drafted in.
Emmitt Smith, Tony Dorsett were not a dime a dozen.
The exception was Herschel Walker and DeMarco Murray.

The top ten RBs in rushing last year had 7 drafted in the first two rounds and two were third rounders.

Not really wanting to argue here, but times have changed.

Also, there's no universe where Murray was an "elite" running back.
He did have a great year in 2014 behind one of the best offesnive lines we've ever had and vs defesnes that feared the pass.
That was a great season for him, no doubt.

Btw, probably the top 2 back in the league right now (Taylor and Henry) were drafted in the 2nd round.
Dalvin Cook went in the 2nd as well

 

[DuncanIso]

Could someone please fix the blocking scheme for the ground game?

Both Zeke and Pollard are getting slammed.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Ehhh it's pretty much what you said. He doesn't hit holes fast now because he's conserving himself.

The amount of excuse making you have engage in for Elliott is impressive. He's a good TB. That's it. He's not a game changer, he's not a game breaker. He's not a guy that makes people around him better, he's just a good TB that needs a quality OL to be really successful.

Yeah, I like this new pivot by the Zeke diehards “he’s a patient runner and the o-line needs to do a better job at opening holes for him.”

Nah, Zeke is slow at hitting the hole. End of story.

 

[Sydla]

Yeah, I like this new pivot by the Zeke diehards “he’s a patient runner and the o-line needs to do a better job at opening holes for him.”

Nah, Zeke is slow at hitting the hole. End of story.

THEN: We need to pay Elliott. He's a game changer. He makes the offense go! He makes everyone - the QB, the OL, the WR - better.

NOW: Elliott needs the OL to play better. He's doing all he can!

 

[Hennessy_King]

Zeke doesnt have the burst and very rarely makes someone miss

 

[Cmac]

Im right about Zeke. Thats what some of you dont like. Funny thing is that YOU all take it personal the way I hammer on him. Thats the laughable part.

Is Zeke a member of your family? Do you know him personally to where these kind of comments bother you?

CowboyRoy....I never take it personal. If you think you're right, not a problem. I simply think the post aren't laughable, more hilarious instead.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

What I have learned is there is a difference in elite RBs and every other RBs.
And with the Cowboys they don't have success without one.
Go look up Hall of Fame RBs and see what rounds the majority were drafted in.
Emmitt Smith, Tony Dorsett were not a dime a dozen.
The exception was Herschel Walker and DeMarco Murray.

The top ten RBs in rushing last year had 7 drafted in the first two rounds and two were third rounders.

It's a different game than when TD and Emmitt played.

 

[Pass2Run]

I agree on this . . . For the life of me I don't understand why they don't play Him there just fir that reason

He's too valuable at tackle. Chances are he's playing better than Peters would have.

Very admirable job by my boy Tyler Smith.

 

[mrmojo]

I have already forgotten what the elite Zeke looked like.....its been so long since we've seen that old burst....he's a shell of himself, which usually happens to RBs 7 years in.

 

[superonyx]

You are missing the point. We are paying Elliott the highest contract for a TB because he's supposed to be elite, a game changer, a guy that makes everyone around him better.

So when you come to the board and say, "Gee, poor Zeke, he needs better LG play to be effective," what you are saying is that it's downright idiotic that we are paying a TB what we are paying Zeke.

While I get your point about the pay of any RB I don't subscribe to the idea that the play of the OL doesnt matter in evaluating a RB. Just like I won't pretend the ability of the receivers to get open impacts the QB's ability. The reality is this is the ultimate team sport and every position is relying on others to succeed. CB's rely on pass rush ect.

When Zeke got paid the top backs in the league were Laveon Bell, Zeke, David Johnson, and Todd Gurley. The last of these guys i've seen was Bell knocking out AP in a boxing match. No RB will live up to Zeke's contract. Zeke won't even receive most of his contract the way its structured. But this place likes to beat the same dead horse over and over like it matters how much someone cries over his contract. The reality is right now, today he is the best RB on the team and while I love Pollard and want us to use him more in some situations, I don't believe we are better off cutting Zeke because he makes too much. Not when he is still the best on the team at a position that is now the focus of our offense.

 

[NotForLong]

He's too valuable at tackle. Chances are he's playing better than Peters would have.

Very admirable job by my boy Tyler Smith.

I also think it was because of the need for Peters to split time . . .

 

[Sydla]

While I get your point about the pay of any RB I don't subscribe to the idea that the play of the OL doesnt matter in evaluating a RB. Just like I won't pretend the ability of the receivers to get open impacts the QB's ability. The reality is this is the ultimate team sport and every position is relying on others to succeed. CB's rely on pass rush ect.

When Zeke got paid the top backs in the league were Laveon Bell, Zeke, David Johnson, and Todd Gurley. The last of these guys i've seen was Bell knocking out AP in a boxing match. No RB will live up to Zeke's contract. Zeke won't even receive most of his contract the way its structured. But this place likes to beat the same dead horse over and over like it matters how much someone cries over his contract. The reality is right now, today he is the best RB on the team and while I love Pollard and want us to use him more in some situations, I don't believe we are better off cutting Zeke because he makes too much. Not when he is still the best on the team at a position that is now the focus of our offense.

Who is talking about cutting him now?

He should be a cut candidate in the offseason however. For a team with cap constraints, his contract in 2023 is terrible and it would be malpractice to carry him beyond this year. A restructure would be terrible. So unless he takes a pay cut, this very well could be his last year in Dallas.

 

[superonyx]

Who is talking about cutting him now?

He should be a cut candidate in the offseason however. For a team with cap constraints, his contract in 2023 is terrible and it would be malpractice to carry him beyond this year. A restructure would be terrible. So unless he takes a pay cut, this very well could be his last year in Dallas.

This past off-season half the board was talking about cutting him. And last season also. Since he signed his contract we had people talking about cutting him. This isn’t a new revelation.

If Pollard was showing more of an every down back people would still be saying it. We have more salary cap managers on this site than cowboys fans.