Running Back Observations

[jazzcat22]

I will always wonder if they drafted Ramsey instead of Zeke would they have drafted King Henry in the second round. The Cowboys needed a running back.

I would have been fine with Henry at RB in the 2nd round.
What I wanted was a QB in the 1st round, Henry in the 2nd.

If they weren't going for a QB, then yes, I wanted Zeke. I wanted no part of Ramsey at the time. I still think it was the right move at the time.
Ramsey would have been a bust here in Marinelli's defense, and would not have got a 2nd contract IMO.

 

[Crown Royal]

The handwringing over Zeke's contract is such a red herring. This team has somewhere between 17-20M in cap space this year that will not go anywhere because they didn't want to give in to Gregoy and wouldn't break the bank for Von Miller. Next year they are tight but will easily get under by releasing Zeke, Restructuring Dak and/or Lawrence and will go into the season with like 10M unallocated again.

Forcing the ball to Zeke BECAUSE of the contract last year when he was CLEARLY injured is a bigger problem than the contract itself. The Salary Cap is nearly as useless a topic for discussing football success these days as is Fantasy Football. They are both near-made up and do not impact winning for a team serious about winning. I say nearly because there IS a cap and it CAN affect delivery...but that's not the story with the Cowboys

 

[blueblood70]

I will always wonder if they drafted Ramsey instead of Zeke would they have drafted King Henry in the second round. The Cowboys needed a running back.

you cant go back and have the draft fall that way of zeke doesn't go 4 it changes the entire draft and most likely Henry's not here for us,, hypotheticals are guessing and that not how things work out of one things changes, so do many that happen after. what if zeke ended up on a NFCE team that would be a great debate..dont discount what he meant to this team the first 4 years,,lmao..

 

[darealvelle]

right 4.2 on hurt back, torn knee, and an OL who couldn't stop holding or whiffing on blocks.

Right! And I forgot to mention the injuries and porous OL.

 

[jazzcat22]

I am open to your rebuttal of the points I made, sir.

Yes Ladies and Gentlemen this is why you don't draft a RB with the 4th pick and then give in to them by paying them a record breaking second contract.
What does this have to do with some UDFA RB's? Zeke has been the top RB since he was drafted in the NFL, is it your $$$ being paid to him?

Our free agent RB's have looked very good for cheap this preseason.
Yes they have, but look at who they are going against. Basically an NCAA game where the better athletes prevail most of the time.

Meanwhile how's that contract for Zeke looking now?
Once again, has nothing to do with you thread title, just created to whine about Zeke.

Not saying the backups are as good as Zeke, but when you compare their contracts to their abilities
Are you serious? See answer above. So you want to sacrifice wins and a possible playoff season to save $$$ that is not yours

I would take the rookies.
You are not a GM with this idea. LOL. Unless you are a 2-15 team starting over.

You could take the salary difference and shore up other areas of the team.
And what players are you going to get? This is also not a good move, it has been proven, high price or bargain price FA's do not make that difference too often.

The Cowboy's situation at RB really shores up the notion that you don't draft RB's early and or give them
enormous second contracts.
This proves nothing, but that you do get a pro bowl type player for years. You don't give any player enormous contracts. It is not Zeke's fault Jerry caved in.
I guess it bothers some, it does not bother me. I don't like Dak's huge deal either. And I am sure I won't like the next players huge deal. But it is the way it is now. I choose not to waste any brain cells on it.

Rebuttal made.

 

[Jarntt]

There is only one thing we should be worrying about with the RBs we are watching play in the preseason. Can they play Special Teams...

 

[Whyjerry]

Does elliot have a bad contract, yes.

Is it as bad as Christian mccaffrey,no

Is Elliot still an elite rb, questionable

Can Elliot still get hard yard and make a big difference, 100%


Bottom line is zekes time with the team is winding down and they will get as much out of him this year as possible...he overpaid but the hard yards are also underappreciated

Elite? He isn’t elite anymore. Not even close. He was elite as a rookie.

 

[blueblood70]

Right! And I forgot to mention the injuries and porous OL.

or like healthy 5.1 YPC the first half of season, off to great start before the other issues popped up..the hate for Zeke is unreal..

 

[john van brocklin]

I’m not ready to give up on zeke yet. Still averaging 4.2 yards a carry just behind Henry who averaged 4.3. Also he had his second longest run in his career last season as well. Toddler is just not giving Zeke enough of carries. But let First Take and Undisputed tell some of you guys different.

I still think Zeke is a good player, no doubt.
And I appreciate his service to the Cowboys.
My point is talent/ability vs Salary/value.
Every GM in the NFL should constantly be looking at this equation.
I believe the good ones do.

 

[jazzcat22]

Elite? He isn’t elite anymore. Not even close. He was elite as a rookie.

Elite overall.
Since he came into the NFL he has the most rushing yards and top or near the top in rushing and receiving yards. Amongst other categories.
The last 2 years are odd ball seasons.
No Dak one year, and 2 years of make shift OL's, injured knee.

Let's see if he bounces back this season, as it has been reported by everyone he has had a great TC.

If he struggles, then yes time to move on. if he looks very good, restructure.

 

[baltcowboy]

I would have been fine with Henry at RB in the 2nd round.
What I wanted was a QB in the 1st round, Henry in the 2nd.

If they weren't going for a QB, then yes, I wanted Zeke. I wanted no part of Ramsey at the time. I still think it was the right move at the time.
Ramsey would have been a bust here in Marinelli's defense, and would not have got a 2nd contract IMO.

Marinelli would have had Ramsey and Byron at safety. The best set of safeties in the NFL.

 

[baltcowboy]

you cant go back and have the draft fall that way of zeke doesn't go 4 it changes the entire draft and most likely Henry's not here for us,, hypotheticals are guessing and that not how things work out of one things changes, so do many that happen after. what if zeke ended up on a NFCE team that would be a great debate..dont discount what he meant to this team the first 4 years,,lmao..

I am just wondering what the Cowboys would have done. Zeke would not have gotten by the Ravens. Henry would have been there pick 34 no matter what scenario you propose.

 

[jazzcat22]

I still think Zeke is a good player, no doubt.
And I appreciate his service to the Cowboys.
My point is talent/ability vs Salary/value.
Every GM in the NFL should constantly be looking at this equation.
I believe the good ones do.

Same as Einstein's E=mc^2

 

[Jipper]

Elite? He isn’t elite anymore. Not even close. He was elite as a rookie.

hence why i said questionable....he was 7th in the league in yards last season with the second fewest attempts of the top 7, that means his yards per carry were 2nd of the group and he had the 3rd most tds of the group....those are borderline stats for elite (if you define as top 3-5) at his position.

In addition, he is an excellent pass blocker and a well balanced player.

Hate him or love him, the numbers last year say he is still boarder line elite when compared to his peers....overpaid yes, but statistically speaking hes near the top.

 

[jazzcat22]

hence why i said questionable....he was 7th in the league in yards last season with the second fewest attempts of the top 7, that means his yards per carry were 2nd of the group and he had the 3rd most tds of the group....those are borderline stats for elite (if you define as top 3-5) at his position.

In addition, he is an excellent pass blocker and a well balanced player.

Hate him or love him, the numbers last year say he is still boarder line elite when compared to his peers....overpaid yes, but statistically speaking hes near the top.

Facts don't fly with these fans.

 

[blueblood70]

I am just wondering what the Cowboys would have done. Zeke would not have gotten by the Ravens. Henry would have been there pick 34 no matter what scenario you propose.

NO because no guarantee he would be there again trying to change history one pick starts a change all the way down. Sorry cant use that nonsense on me..odd Jags were ok letting Ramseys go i mean hes the shizzle and yet they let him walk.,irony is I think, and they also went and got a rb high in the draft..

just stop..

 

[blueblood70]

hence why i said questionable....he was 7th in the league in yards last season with the second fewest attempts of the top 7, that means his yards per carry were 2nd of the group and he had the 3rd most tds of the group....those are borderline stats for elite (if you define as top 3-5) at his position.

In addition, he is an excellent pass blocker and a well balanced player.

Hate him or love him, the numbers last year say he is still boarder line elite when compared to his peers....overpaid yes, but statistically speaking hes near the top.

 

[Ken]

I’m not ready to give up on zeke yet. Still averaging 4.2 yards a carry just behind Henry who averaged 4.3. Also he had his second longest run in his career last season as well. Toddler is just not giving Zeke enough of carries. But let First Take and Undisputed tell some of you guys different.

This argument that he is still averaging 4.2 ypc and "his second longest run of his career" is laughable. He is the highest paid RB in the league and his last two season have been garbage.

4.2 ypc behind a team that has invested in its OL and has weapons all over the field. His second longest carry of his career he got walked down and tackled instead of scoring, like most other rbs would have.

He also doesn't break any tackles for a "power back".

Horrible vision.

Other than that, he is just what we need. lol

 

[Typhus]

Yes Ladies and Gentlemen this is why you don't draft a RB with the 4th pick and then give in to them by paying them a record breaking second contract.

Our free agent RB's have looked very good for cheap this preseason.

Meanwhile how's that contract for Zeke looking now?

Not saying the backups are as good as Zeke, but when you compare their contracts to their abilities

I would take the rookies.

You could take the salary difference and shore up other areas of the team.

The Cowboy's situation at RB really shores up the notion that you don't draft RB's early and or give them

enormous second contracts.

You know how long I have been pounding the drum for RB3 and I have been quiet as a church mouse lately on the subject...
Why?
Because we have some actual prospects rostered that are stepping it up and I like the diversity in the backfield with an upside ceiling for once.
There are actually going to be some difficult cuts at RB this season.

 

[darealvelle]

This argument that he is still averaging 4.2 ypc and "his second longest run of his career" is laughable. He is the highest paid RB in the league and his last two season have been garbage.

4.2 ypc behind a team that has invested in its OL and has weapons all over the field. His second longest carry of his career he got walked down and tackled instead of scoring, like most other rbs would have.

He also doesn't break any tackles for a "power back".

Horrible vision.

Other than that, he is just what we need. lol

"Run the damn ball" is what toddler needs to do this year and let Zeke get his carries. If you feel like he is overpaid, im not going to debate that.