Short-yardage running

[gimmesix]

Even though we're waiting impatiently for Elliott to prove worthy of the pick Dallas spent on him, I've been very happy with our short-yardage running. Elliott seems to be one of those backs with enough power and leg drive to pick up a yard or two in most situations. We've had years where we haven't had that, so it's a start. I think the rest will come when he and this line get used to each other. There's so little playing time and hitting in the preseason now that I believe it can be difficult to establish a rhythm.

 

[jazzcat22]

He has been getting those 1st downs when needed of 1 or 2 yards. That brings down an average real quick.
Who in the heck cares if it's 1 or 2 yards, when it nets a 1st down.
Wonder how many he has so far.
Also the 1 or 2 yard TD he had. It counts as a 1st down, but still hard on the average.

I am not defending Zeke's average from this. But just saying he is getting those tough short yards when needed. At least he has not been stuffed yet to not get one.

 

[superonyx]

Do you know what helps a RB's average yard per carry?
A passing game that teams fear.
Also some of those stupid delay handoffs on 3rd and long that pick up 15 yards when you need 20. Those give up plays we hate.

Zeke is fine.
Once Romo comes back or Dak forces teams to fear his long ball the running lanes will open.

 

[boysfanindc]

I hope the bar gets higher.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Even though we're waiting impatiently for Elliott to prove worthy of the pick Dallas spent on him, I've been very happy with our short-yardage running. Elliott seems to be one of those backs with enough power and leg drive to pick up a yard or two in most situations. We've had years where we haven't had that, so it's a start. I think the rest will come when he and this line get used to each other. There's so little playing time and hitting in the preseason now that I believe it can be difficult to establish a rhythm.

Im not impressed. Emmitt used to get some of his biggest plays on short yardage. I see Elliott mostly running into the back of his lineman and pushing the pile.

Trust me, when Zeke starts rolling, if he start rolling, it should be night and day. I cant believe this is all the kid has to offer.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Do you know what helps a RB's average yard per carry?
A passing game that teams fear.
Also some of those stupid delay handoffs on 3rd and long that pick up 15 yards when you need 20. Those give up plays we hate.

Zeke is fine.
Once Romo comes back or Dak forces teams to fear his long ball the running lanes will open.

It might help a little. The line is not playing as well and Zeke is just playing poorly.

 

[superonyx]

It might help a little. The line is not playing as well and Zeke is just playing poorly.

Zeke isn't playing poorly. Zeke is putting too much pressure on himself to do something no human could do....run consistently against a defense that is selling out to stop the run.
Our offensive line isn't playing poorly either.
Everyone is playing the way they can and the way they should be expected to play.
No line or RB should be expected to run against an NFL defense that is stacked to stop you.

The fans expectations are what's operating poorly.

Was Todd Gurly and Adrian Peterson playing poorly? They have put up inferior numbers to Zeke. These guys didn't forget how to play.

 

[boysfanindc]

Zeke isn't playing poorly. Zeke is putting too much pressure on himself to do something no human could do....run consistently against a defense that is selling out to stop the run.
Our offensive line isn't playing poorly either.
Everyone is playing the way they can and the way they should be expected to play.
No line or RB should be expected to run against an NFL defense that is stacked to stop you.

The fans expectations are what's operating poorly.

AP did it for years, he never had a QB.

Is it fair after 2 games, probably not, but those are the expectations for a RB drafted @ 4.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Zeke isn't playing poorly. Zeke is putting too much pressure on himself to do something no human could do....run consistently against a defense that is selling out to stop the run.
Our offensive line isn't playing poorly either.
Everyone is playing the way they can and the way they should be expected to play.
No line or RB should be expected to run against an NFL defense that is stacked to stop you.

The fans expectations are what's operating poorly.

Was Todd Gurly and Adrian Peterson playing poorly? They have put up inferior numbers to Zeke. These guys didn't forget how to play.

Ah, so we arent running the ball well, but the Oline and Zeke are playing Great?

 

[CowboyRoy]

Do you know what helps a RB's average yard per carry?
A passing game that teams fear.
Also some of those stupid delay handoffs on 3rd and long that pick up 15 yards when you need 20. Those give up plays we hate.

Zeke is fine.
Once Romo comes back or Dak forces teams to fear his long ball the running lanes will open.

Do you think Zeke fumbling twice is him doing a good job? I guess he got benched because of his stellar play?

Try to be non biased in your views. Zeke is playing middling right now. Im not saying he wont break out. But this is NOT what we signed up for when we took this kid with the 4th pick.

 

[erod]

AP did it for years, he never had a QB.

Is it fair after 2 games, probably not, but those are the expectations for a RB drafted @ 4.

AP has had many frustrating games with no room to run. Many. It hasn't been 100 yards every week.

Zeke is 8th in the NFL in rushing, even with this slow start. Just a matter of time.

 

[Denim Chicken]

Im not impressed. Emmitt used to get some of his biggest plays on short yardage. I see Elliott mostly running into the back of his lineman and pushing the pile.

Trust me, when Zeke starts rolling, if he start rolling, it should be night and day. I cant believe this is all the kid has to offer.

http://dal.247sports.com/Bolt/Ezeki...orming-Tony-Dorsett-and-Emmitt-Smith-47637429

 

[boysfanindc]

AP has had many frustrating games with no room to run. Many. It hasn't been 100 yards every week.

Zeke is 8th in the NFL in rushing, even with this slow start. Just a matter of time.

I hope you are right, but a RB @ 4 those are the expectations.

 

[Ken]

The most encouraging stat through two games is 2nd in 3rd down % in the NFL. A big part is Dak but the other big part is short yardage conversions in the run game.

 

[CowboyRoy]

http://dal.247sports.com/Bolt/Ezeki...orming-Tony-Dorsett-and-Emmitt-Smith-47637429

So all you have to do is average 3.3 yards per carry your first 2 games and you will be better than Emmitt and Dorsett? LOL

Sound logic indeed.

Looks like Joseph Randle is getting in too then.

 

[Denim Chicken]

So all you have to do is average 3.3 yards per carry your first 2 games and you will be better than Emmitt and Dorsett? LOL

Sound logic indeed.

Looks like Joseph Randle is getting in too then.

+ 2 TDs

 

[superonyx]

Ah, so we arent running the ball well, but the Oline and Zeke are playing Great?

They are playing to normal expectations. Yes.
Put it like this....they are playing well enough that opposing teams are not going to suddenly change their game plan against us and start scheming to take away the pass.
Zeke and our offensive line are opening up the defense to get beat through the air. While Dak has been great. He has been great because he is smart enough to not force what the defense has covered. This is like walking up to a stacked line with an entire defense cheating up, ready to shoot the gaps and its 1st down and 10. Everyone in the building expects you to run right at the defense....and we do...and you expect a level of success beyond what we have gotten? Seriously?

This just isn't realistic. The defense is playing our run primarily. Our offensive line and RB's results are what you should expect.

Again it's not their performance that is lacking..,it's fans expectations that are lacking.

 

[CowboyRoy]

+ 2 TDs

TD's are good. Longer TD's would be better.

 

[Denim Chicken]

Zeke currently out rushing most of the NFL (and improving game by game)

Zeke is out rushing:

DeMarco Murray
LeSean McCoy
Todd Gurley
Latavius Murray
Eddie Lacy
Adrian Peterson

 

[superonyx]

I hope you are right, but a RB @ 4 those are the expectations.

Then fans need to temper expectations.
If we drafted Joey Bosa at @4 and teams always left a RB/FB/TE back to double him on the pass rushes could we complain because he didn't have a bunch of sacks?
If we drafted a WR at @4 and teams locked him down with a double could we say the WR isn't playing up to expectations?

Or is more fair to say the problem isn't the player but it's actually the fans expectations.