Stop using Zeke as excuse

[Hawkeye0202]

If this team is anywhere close to where we want to be, losing Zeke shouldn't cost us the season. Not like Zeke or the running game has been the strength of the team anyway, so the impact of his loss AT THIS TIME should be a min if other players raise their game. Players like Dez, T-Will, D-Law, B-Jones, Hitchen and more importantly the OL need to step it up big-time. If we can get these guys to take their game to the next level......we'll be fine and yes I left Dak, Lee and Witten out on purpose. You know you're getting solid 60 min from these three every Sunday. I'm a firm believer the talent level from one team to another is marginal. Most games come down to leadership and/or who wants it the most.

 

[Sydla]

Of course what you say is true.

But of course people will use it as an excuse if this season continues down their road of mediocrity resulting in a missed playoff appearance.

 

[jwooten15]

Problem is that most of the guys you mentioned don't have a "next level." They are what they are - average starters with limited skillsets. If they were capable of playing better, they already would have.

I agree that losing Zeke right now probably wouldn't change much. But to expect all these other guys to step up is a little unrealistic.

 

[morasp]

A lot of people have said Zeke looks slower this year. During one game the announcers, who have access to the team during the week said a lot of the people in the Cowboys thought the case was affecting Zeke on the field. I'm always interested in what Jimmy has to say about the Cowboys. Sunday on Fox pregame he said Zeke does look sluggish this year and that ripples through the team including exposing the defense to more snaps.

 

[Idgit]

The issues are with the defense, not with the RB position.

 

[erod]

Zeke has provided the Cowboys a constant series of distractions over the past several months, and this case hangs over this team like a guillotine's blade ready to drop.

Plus, he's chubbed up and slowed down in just his second season. That's concerning.

He's a pretty big part of what's going wrong in 2017.

Teams just don't need this kind of nonsense.

 

[Aven8]

Yeah, losing our best player won't affect anything.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Who's using Zeke as a excuse? I thought the defense was the problem? That's what I'm worried about anyway.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Just to be clear, this is not a Zeke bashing thread. Just all to often we're hearing some fans ready to tank the season if Zeke is suspended for 6 games. The hell with that......every season have two halves and in the words of one famous coach, it not how you start, how you finish.

 

[Melonfeud]

Zeke has provided the Cowboys a constant series of distractions over the past several months, and this case hangs over this team like a guillotine's blade ready to drop.

Plus, he's chubbed up and slowed down in just his second season. That's concerning.

He's a pretty big part of what's going wrong in 2017.

Teams just don't need this kind of nonsense.

True, but when he's tooling 15 yards upfield after initial contact and DB's bounce back off him like you'd bounce a red rubber ball against the wall, seriously aren't you glad he's wearing the star?

 

[erod]

True, but when he's tooling 15 yards upfield after initial contact and DB's bounce back off him like you'd bounce a red rubber ball against the wall, seriously aren't you glad he's wearing the star?

I was the biggest proponent of drafting him in the world. This offense requires an elite back.

But I've never seen a star back lose so much in just his second season. He's running like this is his 6th or 7th year.

You shouldn't lose a step in your second year.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

If this team is anywhere close to where we want to be, losing Zeke shouldn't cost us the season. Not like Zeke or the running game has been the strength of the team anyway, so the impact of his loss AT THIS TIME should be a min if other players raise their game. Players like Dez, T-Will, D-Law, B-Jones, Hitchen and more importantly the OL need to step it up big-time. If we can get these guys to take their game to the next level......we'll be fine and yes I left Dak, Lee and Witten out on purpose. You know you're getting solid 60 min from these three every Sunday. I'm a firm believer the talent level from one team to another is marginal. Most games come down to leadership and/or who wants it the most.

How are you getting a solid 60 mins from Lee? He has not played in the last few games? And the 60 you are getting out of Witten is NOT solid. His snaps should have been reduced a long time ago. When I watch other TEs around the league....the size, speed, ability to break tackles...it is killing us for a non explosive player to handle the ball as much as he does. Love him. Future HOFer. But thinking he is a part of the solution is flawed thinking. And the people behind him are not much better! Again...a slow, plodding team on offense. And Dak has been off this year as well. Effort is just half the equation....we need results!

 

[Sydla]

Yeah, losing our best player won't affect anything.

Good to great teams can often overcome issues (unless it's a QB).

The team in our division is 5-1 and have been without their best CB and missed games with their best defensive player out in Cox.

The excuse making has got to stop. If this team can't win games with Morris/McFadden behind this OL, then there is ******* problem with the team.

 

[theebs]

Zeke and the running game have been pretty damn good the last two games

 

[Aven8]

Good to great teams can often overcome issues (unless it's a QB).

The team in our division is 5-1 and have been without their best CB and missed games with their best defensive player out in Cox.

The excuse making has got to stop. If this team can't win games with Morris/McFadden behind this OL, then there is ******* problem with the team.

It's no excuse, but to act like Zeke isn't a great player and we're not going to miss his production is ludicrous. The dude is a stud and the best player on our team. A team that needs its stars to win I might add. That's proven.

 

[Melonfeud]

I was the biggest proponent of drafting him in the world. This offense requires an elite back.

But I've never seen a star back lose so much in just his second season. He's running like this is his 6th or 7th year.

You shouldn't lose a step in your second year.

Ya,I copy that!
This railroading by Goodell&co. has obviously knocked some fire from hisass and the whole team seems to collectively suffer as it's not in tune/ synchronized

 

[Sydla]

It's no excuse, but to act like Zeke isn't a great player and we're not going to miss his production is ludicrous. The dude is a stud and the best player on our team. A team that needs its stars to win I might add. That's proven.

To act like he's the difference between being a good team and one that craps the bed is also ludicrous.

If the TB is the difference here, then guess what? The team and the coaching staff aren't all that good to begin with.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

If this team is anywhere close to where we want to be, losing Zeke shouldn't cost us the season. Not like Zeke or the running game has been the strength of the team anyway, so the impact of his loss AT THIS TIME should be a min if other players raise their game. Players like Dez, T-Will, D-Law, B-Jones, Hitchen and more importantly the OL need to step it up big-time. If we can get these guys to take their game to the next level......we'll be fine and yes I left Dak, Lee and Witten out on purpose. You know you're getting solid 60 min from these three every Sunday. I'm a firm believer the talent level from one team to another is marginal. Most games come down to leadership and/or who wants it the most.

The biggest jump on offense should be the use of Ryan Switzer at wr alongside Beasley. Speed and speed together. I'm still waiting for that.

 

[DFWJC]

Injuries go a long way into telling who really is the team MVP.
I can tell you this; as great as Zeke is, losing him is not nearly the worst thing that could happen to Cowboys.

 

[TheHerd]

I was the biggest proponent of drafting him in the world. This offense requires an elite back.

But I've never seen a star back lose so much in just his second season. He's running like this is his 6th or 7th year.

You shouldn't lose a step in your second year.

I disagreed with people saying this until I went to some all-22 from last year. He's nowhere near the burst he had last year. I'm not going to guess why, and I know that a lot of his runs this year he's getting killed behind the LOS, but just from a burst perspective he has regressed quite a lot.