Rank These Post Emmitt RB’s
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John813
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I thought Murray was always very talented here. Just would get minor injuries here and there and had to fight to get playing time.
He started back on the depth chart but flashed his skill his rookie year. Holds the all time single game rushing record here.
Also holds the most rushing yards and yards from scrimmage in a single season too.
His first 3 years here was when Garrett/Romo/whoever you want to blame **** on would get pass happy even with the lead.
The line was still being built with Frederick in 13, and Martin starting in 14. IIRC Leary showed improvement in 14 as well.
He started back on the depth chart but flashed his skill his rookie year. Holds the all time single game rushing record here.
Also holds the most rushing yards and yards from scrimmage in a single season too.
His first 3 years here was when Garrett/Romo/whoever you want to blame **** on would get pass happy even with the lead.
The line was still being built with Frederick in 13, and Martin starting in 14. IIRC Leary showed improvement in 14 as well.
KJJ
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I don’t remember him gaining weight you might be thinking of Felix Jones who did gain weight. Felix came to Dallas at 208 and got up to 220. He lost speed and quickness. Julius Jones started carrying the ball like a fullback with two hands on the ball to keep from fumbling. He lost his wiggle and shiftiness. He started running straight ahead into a pile. The fumbling got in his head and it killed his career.
DFWJC
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If we're looking at a career, I think we have (or will have) 1 elite running back since Emmitt up until now.
Zeke.
He will probably eclipse 10 or 11k rushing yards in his career.
Could end up top 20 all-time
As much fun as it was to watch MBIII for a few years. I'm glad people aren't putting him on top just because of how fun he was.
Good back at his best. Never great.
Murray was solid too. Not great, but good. He did have that great season though.
I think he finished his career as 64th all-time. Not bad!
Zeke.
He will probably eclipse 10 or 11k rushing yards in his career.
Could end up top 20 all-time
As much fun as it was to watch MBIII for a few years. I'm glad people aren't putting him on top just because of how fun he was.
Good back at his best. Never great.
Murray was solid too. Not great, but good. He did have that great season though.
I think he finished his career as 64th all-time. Not bad!
JohnsKey19
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Young Barber ranks in my top 5 as favorite Cowboys ever, dating back to the early 1980s. He was a part-time "Beast Mode" for 3+ seasons before falling off...
mathew1184
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JohnsKey19
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Oooof. That's harsh. If those are your rankings NOW, I don't think anything will change that for the better in Zeke's case.
mathew1184
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Im still hoping for zeke...but i care less everytime he does the feed me me celebration.
Go Cowboys either way!
Cowboysheelsreds053
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Where's Hambrick?
LLLOOOLLL
sunalsorises
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Marion the Barbarian was Beast Mode before Beast Mode. That guy was a violent runner and I loved watching him and also feel bad that it probably wrecked his life.
sunalsorises
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Murray could get some extra points for socking it to the Eagles after leaving Dallas.
Cowpolk
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He is still busy being better than EmmittWhere's Hambrick?
atlantacowboy
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Defenses couldn't load the box b/c Romo would make them pay. Dak doesn't seem to have that ability.
Calvin2Tony2Emmitt2Julius
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1. Zeke
2. Murray
3. Julius Jones
4 Felix Jones
5. McFadden
2. Murray
3. Julius Jones
4 Felix Jones
5. McFadden
quickccc
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1 Zeke Elliott
2 DeMarco Murray
3 Marion Barber
4 Tony Pollard
6 Julius Jones
7 Felix Jones
8 Darren McFadden
9 Alfred Morris
10 Lance Dunbar
- ZKE- Entering 2016, Zeke had the breakaway speed, sheer power and durability that Murray did not possess.
As several opponents pointed out, Zeke’s power, style and relentlessness had a way of wearing you down on defensive side, and then you still had to be always be on the caution of him breaking
The homerun big one on you. He had more the whole combination package of run skills, speed, power, catching and blitz blocking, and knack for goal line.
- Murray set a single season rushing record that surpassed even Emmitt Smith’s single season records.
Ironically once he departed the Cowboys after a low ball offer from Stephen, his career was never the same afterwards- Cowboys saw Murray as workhorse serviceable,
not a stellar stud core back.
Murray was a bust with Chip Kelly’s Philly Eagles, ..and he maintained a starting role until Titans were ready for Derrick Henry to take the wheels permanently.
Murray retired from the NFL soon afterwards at age 29.
- Barber – Ironically MB3 never had a single 1,000 yard season for the Cowboys, yet his very short splash and stint, was coming into the game behind Julius Jones,
as a change of pace, hard churning, post-carry celebration between downs.
Even though he had a physical style of running, he seemed to wear down once he re-sign the big contract and took on a full time load up front.
Because team already had MB3, they thought to draft a change of pace in Felix Jones as the 1-2 punch.
- Pollard - unfortunately his skill set hasn’t been utlilized and placed on full display- per Kellen Moore. Dynamite kick returner. Speedy. Been more relief backup but shown flashes
of running instincts and homerun gear.
- J. Jones – one track pony who was a quick, north-south runner with questionable instincts, receiving skills, you had to pave the way for him, more than him sensing cracks and lanes
and creating run room on his own. I always recall him running up the backs of his Olinemen. I also recall the lone game vs Seattle when he ran wild,
but Cowboys always thought to start him out of the gate early and then relief him with MB3
- Felix J.– was drafted in the first round (and over the likes of Chris Johnson, Jamal Charles, Matt Forte, Ray Rice) ..to be more of a change of pace relief back.
Solid kick returner when healthy and very early in his career
In college, shared a backfield with future ex-Cowboys RB Darren McFadden Always struggled mightily staying healthy.
Bulked up to help with durability issues, never returned to speedy form and worsen when he reportedly failed conditioning test because of poor shape.
2 DeMarco Murray
3 Marion Barber
4 Tony Pollard
6 Julius Jones
7 Felix Jones
8 Darren McFadden
9 Alfred Morris
10 Lance Dunbar
- ZKE- Entering 2016, Zeke had the breakaway speed, sheer power and durability that Murray did not possess.
As several opponents pointed out, Zeke’s power, style and relentlessness had a way of wearing you down on defensive side, and then you still had to be always be on the caution of him breaking
The homerun big one on you. He had more the whole combination package of run skills, speed, power, catching and blitz blocking, and knack for goal line.
- Murray set a single season rushing record that surpassed even Emmitt Smith’s single season records.
Ironically once he departed the Cowboys after a low ball offer from Stephen, his career was never the same afterwards- Cowboys saw Murray as workhorse serviceable,
not a stellar stud core back.
Murray was a bust with Chip Kelly’s Philly Eagles, ..and he maintained a starting role until Titans were ready for Derrick Henry to take the wheels permanently.
Murray retired from the NFL soon afterwards at age 29.
- Barber – Ironically MB3 never had a single 1,000 yard season for the Cowboys, yet his very short splash and stint, was coming into the game behind Julius Jones,
as a change of pace, hard churning, post-carry celebration between downs.
Even though he had a physical style of running, he seemed to wear down once he re-sign the big contract and took on a full time load up front.
Because team already had MB3, they thought to draft a change of pace in Felix Jones as the 1-2 punch.
- Pollard - unfortunately his skill set hasn’t been utlilized and placed on full display- per Kellen Moore. Dynamite kick returner. Speedy. Been more relief backup but shown flashes
of running instincts and homerun gear.
- J. Jones – one track pony who was a quick, north-south runner with questionable instincts, receiving skills, you had to pave the way for him, more than him sensing cracks and lanes
and creating run room on his own. I always recall him running up the backs of his Olinemen. I also recall the lone game vs Seattle when he ran wild,
but Cowboys always thought to start him out of the gate early and then relief him with MB3
- Felix J.– was drafted in the first round (and over the likes of Chris Johnson, Jamal Charles, Matt Forte, Ray Rice) ..to be more of a change of pace relief back.
Solid kick returner when healthy and very early in his career
In college, shared a backfield with future ex-Cowboys RB Darren McFadden Always struggled mightily staying healthy.
Bulked up to help with durability issues, never returned to speedy form and worsen when he reportedly failed conditioning test because of poor shape.
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BleedSilverandBlue
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I actually think this is true. Rookie Zeke would have been a force of nature behind the Great Wall of Dallas in its prime with Romo slinging the rock and Dez having his 1st team all pro year.
As far as the ranking I think that most people have nailed it on the head
#1) Zeke
#2) Murray
#3) Marion
#4) Pollard
#5) McFadden (gotta give the dude some love after being one of the few bright spots in that dismal 2015 campaign)
quickccc
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- McFadden was once compared to Adrian Peterson coming out of Arkansas. 4.3 speed and plenty homeruns at college level. But he didn’t come as strong and physical as AP,
in fact he eventually became more of a space runner and change of pace relief guy. Meaning he had to have his OL always pave massive holes and run lanes for him to be effective.
A wreckless style that turned into a struggle staying healthy. Supposedly the Cowboys had to switch to more man-to man blocking scheme because DMC had issues with zone-blocking.
- Morris – Alf had run instincts, and gritty toughness, but he was short on speed and athletic. Purely a workhorse, he couldn’t bring much off the edge or supply many 20+ splash runs,
but a relief guy near the goal, and being more of a mentor to rookie ZKE . and Morris ended up being a better run-scheme fit than DMC. But limited as a blitz blocker.
But both had to surrender the backfield for ZKE.
- Dunbar – Oft- injured quick darter who has elusiveness, burst and receiving skills. Epitome of change of pace nickel back. Surprised as a blitz blocker and occasional inside runner.
For whatever reason was very limited as a returner both kick or punt. No special teams value whatsoever.
- Also Remembering Joseph (meat on da bone) Randle, ..Rod Smith. ..and Darius Jackson ...
