The case against taking Zeke at 4

[Romotil45]

I really like think he will be great player I do not think he is AP nor do I expect the durability of ES. Also McFadden ran for over 1000 yrds and did not have the benefit of having Romo and Dez for much of the season. There no reason to believe that McFadden, Morris and a 4rd rookie can't put together a 1500 yrs season for us that being said would Zeke at four have that much of an impact ? The answer is not really. If Zeke has to shoulder the load which he should if taken at four how many 320 a carry season does he have in him ? The whole idea between sharing the load with running backs is to extend their careers. And yet we expect Zeke to carry the load and maybe not make it past his rookie contract ? Not a good idea.

 

[DFWJC]

Marginal return on investment. That is what they are weighing. And it sounds like it's not as straight forward as some think.

 

[NorthwestDallas40]

I really like think he will be great player I do not think he is AP nor do I expect the durability of ES. Also McFadden ran for over 1000 yrds and did not have the benefit of having Romo and Dez for much of the season. There no reason to believe that McFadden, Morris and a 4rd rookie can't put together a 1500 yrs season for us that being said would Zeke at four have that much of an impact ? The answer is not really. If Zeke has to shoulder the load which he should if taken at four how many 320 a carry season does he have in him ? The whole idea between sharing the load with running backs is to extend their careers. And yet we expect Zeke to carry the load and maybe not make it past his rookie contract ? Not a good idea.

Good analysis. However, McFadden and Morris are not the long term answer at the position. You're going to be having to replace them next year. And a 4th rounder does not strike fear in the heart's of defenses like a guy like EE. Just look at how Gurley transformed the Rams' offense. He is the defense's focal point because he has the strength, vision, speed to bust a long run on every down. And Gurley was able to do this without a passing threat. Imagine what EE can do with Romo and Dez to keep defense's honest...

That being said, I still take Ramsey over him. But I am warming to the idea of taking him over Bosa...

 

[Teague31]

I think it's a no brainer. He helps the team more than any other player.
Want to extend Romo's career? Run the ball 30 times a game.
Want to open up the passing game? An elite running game brings the safeties up. And don't tell me DMC is good enough. He's not and counting on him to stay healthy two seasons in a row is foolish.
Want to help a talent deficient defense? Keep them off the field by controlling the clock.
Bosa is good, not great
Ramsey is a safety and I'm not taking a safety that high.
Trade back or Zeke.

 

[reddyuta]

I wouldnt take any RB in the top 5.heck even AD was drafted 7th overall and Zeke is no AD even though i like him a lot.If we traded down and got extra picks then Zeke is a viable option but not at 4.

 

[NorthwestDallas40]

I wouldnt take any RB in the top 5.heck even AD was drafted 7th overall and Zeke is no AD even though i like him a lot.If we traded down and got extra picks then Zeke is a viable option but not at 4.

I generally agree, but every draft is different. For better or for worse (for us), the top 5 of this draft is not of the caliber of other drafts IMO. Even the QBs going 1-2 have many holes. As another poster said, a DB without a pro position, an athletically tapped-out DE, and a LB with a bum knee -- are your options to EE.

 

[Sydla]

You've invested a lot of picks and, soon, money in your OL. You did that to protect Romo and also not have to invest a lot into the RB position. Taking Elliott at 4 runs counter to that plan, because the moment you pick him at 4, he becomes the 9th highest paid TB and has never had a NFL carry.

So fine, take him at 4, but then realize that the front office apparently is haphazard in how they want to build this franchise.

 

[Romotil45]

What about Zeke ? Is it a good idea to load him up with 300 plus carries a year and burn him out before his rookie contract is over that's what will happen if he is taken at 4. How long before McFadden gets in his ear and tells him how he made it past his rookie contract ? These guys aren't stupid. If we don't take care of them they will take care of themselves. Zeke at 4 is a bad idea.

 

[gimmesix]

I really like think he will be great player I do not think he is AP nor do I expect the durability of ES. Also McFadden ran for over 1000 yrds and did not have the benefit of having Romo and Dez for much of the season. There no reason to believe that McFadden, Morris and a 4rd rookie can't put together a 1500 yrs season for us that being said would Zeke at four have that much of an impact ? The answer is not really. If Zeke has to shoulder the load which he should if taken at four how many 320 a carry season does he have in him ? The whole idea between sharing the load with running backs is to extend their careers. And yet we expect Zeke to carry the load and maybe not make it past his rookie contract ? Not a good idea.

I mostly agree. We're talking about improving a position that might not need that much improvement. Adding a midround pick to compete might be best.

However, if Dallas does see Elliott as a Adrian Peterson/Emmitt Smith-type back, I cannot blame the team for investing in that. A back that truly strikes fear in the opponent can do wonders for the passing game and make us the kind of offense we were in 2014, which also helps the defense when teams know they have to keep pace.

I prefer to fix our weakness on defense, but I see the merit in trying to making our offense even stronger. If Dallas goes this route, I'd even be for spending the second-rounder on a receiver to put more strain on defenses. Then, I'd probably draft at least two defensive linemen in the next two rounds because we badly need some reinforcements.

 

[Gaede]

You've invested a lot of picks and, soon, money in your OL. You did that to protect Romo and also not have to invest a lot into the RB position. Taking Elliott at 4 runs counter to that plan, because the moment you pick him at 4, he becomes the 9th highest paid TB and has never had a NFL carry.

So fine, take him at 4, but then realize that the front office apparently is haphazard in how they want to build this franchise.

When you have a strength, you use that strength. Play to it.

Our strength is our OL. In 2014, we beat teams up and tired them out. With an elite RB, we can do that again.

How is adding a LDE going to keep the LBs from being hurt every other game? How is it going to make the DBs, who managed 2 ints last year, actually turn the ball over? How will that LDE make Wilcox learn what an angle looks like? Or help Church actually finish a tackle?

We have a ton of holes on defense. We can't fill them all. One good LDE will not put them over the edge and help us win games.

But we can add a missing piece to our offense and make it elite again. Score points, tire the opponent out, and keep our star player-and key to our success-off the ground.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Good analysis. However, McFadden and Morris are not the long term answer at the position. You're going to be having to replace them next year. And a 4th rounder does not strike fear in the heart's of defenses like a guy like EE. Just look at how Gurley transformed the Rams' offense. He is the defense's focal point because he has the strength, vision, speed to bust a long run on every down. And Gurley was able to do this without a passing threat. Imagine what EE can do with Romo and Dez to keep defense's honest...

That being said, I still take Ramsey over him. But I am warming to the idea of taking him over Bosa...

If EE was Gurley I'd consider him at 4.

Alas he isn't that type of prospect.

 

[Gaede]

If EE was Gurley I'd consider him at 4.

Alas he isn't that type of prospect.

I just don't agree with this.

He has everything to be a franchise back. Everything.

Gurley does too. But Gurley is also a big dude who's been injured. Chances are he'll be injured again with his size and playing style.

I prefer my RBs to look and play like Zeke. That speaks more to longevity, and longevity=franchise player

 

[Romotil45]

I just don't agree with this.

He has everything to be a franchise back. Everything.

Gurley does too. But Gurley is also a big dude who's been injured. Chances are he'll be injured again with his size and playing style.

I prefer my RBs to look and play like Zeke. That speaks more to longevity, and longevity=franchise player

I don't see longevity when any back is asked to carry a 300 plus carry a year load unless that back is AP or Emmitt Smith. I just don't see EE as that guy.

 

[phildadon86]

You've invested a lot of picks and, soon, money in your OL. You did that to protect Romo and also not have to invest a lot into the RB position. Taking Elliott at 4 runs counter to that plan, because the moment you pick him at 4, he becomes the 9th highest paid TB and has never had a NFL carry.

So fine, take him at 4, but then realize that the front office apparently is haphazard in how they want to build this franchise.

Why not exploit our biggest asset and use our OL the way it was meant to be used? It wasnt built solely to protect Romo, although that is obviously a big reason, its built to sustain the run game and pound the other teams into submission. A la 2014. Garrett is modelling this team after the 90s, and we ran A LOT back then. Do i agree? No, but using your biggest asset to win games is what good football teams do. A trade back to even 7 and zeke would make me very happy, im not against taking him at 4 either.

 

[CF74]

I really like think he will be great player I do not think he is AP nor do I expect the durability of ES. Also McFadden ran for over 1000 yrds and did not have the benefit of having Romo and Dez for much of the season. There no reason to believe that McFadden, Morris and a 4rd rookie can't put together a 1500 yrs season for us that being said would Zeke at four have that much of an impact ? The answer is not really. If Zeke has to shoulder the load which he should if taken at four how many 320 a carry season does he have in him ? The whole idea between sharing the load with running backs is to extend their careers. And yet we expect Zeke to carry the load and maybe not make it past his rookie contract ? Not a good idea.

Hypothetically 4 years with an option for 5. Then we can move on or reup another 2-3...

Reality? I prefer trading down if we take him.

 

[Romotil45]

Why not exploit our biggest asset and use our OL the way it was meant to be used? It wasnt built solely to protect Romo, although that is obviously a big reason, its built to sustain the run game and pound the other teams into submission. A la 2014. Garrett is modelling this team after the 90s, and we ran A LOT back then. Do i agree? No, but using your biggest asset to win games is what good football teams do. A trade back to even 7 and zeke would make me very happy, im not against taking him at 4 either.

If you load EE with 300 plus carried a year he will be done in 4 yrs. If you don't load him up you don't take him at 4. No long-term value in taking him at 4. A combination of other backs can produce the desired effect no need to take EE at 4.

 

[Romotil45]

Why not exploit our biggest asset and use our OL the way it was meant to be used? It wasnt built solely to protect Romo, although that is obviously a big reason, its built to sustain the run game and pound the other teams into submission. A la 2014. Garrett is modelling this team after the 90s, and we ran A LOT back then. Do i agree? No, but using your biggest asset to win games is what good football teams do. A trade back to even 7 and zeke would make me very happy, im not against taking him at 4 either.

We can exploit our OL without taking a back in top five. That was one of the reasons for building such a great a OL you don't have to have multiple top tier backs to be effective. EE would be over kill the law of diminishing returns kicks in.

 

[phildadon86]

We can exploit our OL without taking a back in top five. That was one of the reasons for building such a great a OL you don't have to have multiple top tier backs to be effective. EE would be over kill the law of diminishing returns kicks in.

Yeah, because of the whole "any back can run behind this line" mantra. Let me get this straight, your whole reason for not taking elliott at 4 is because if he runs 300 plus times a season he wont last long? So then i guess we just shouldnt ever draft a running back again. Gurley changed the Rams entire offense. Im not saying i want him at 4, but a small trade down and Elliott with some second round picks isnt going to make me lose sleep at night. Our entire identity is running the football. Get us someone who can do that consistantly. Sorry if i dont trust DMC to stay healthy for an entire season again. I cant. Romos window is closing, we are not going to plug every hole on defense in one draft, so we do the next best thing, take a guy who is going to keep the defense off of the field and control the clock. We need to get back to that if we want to see any success from this team, putting it all on Romo is why we sucked for so long.

 

[Gaede]

I don't see longevity when any back is asked to carry a 300 plus carry a year load unless that back is AP or Emmitt Smith. I just don't see EE as that guy.

I do.

He is built to last. He's not a big target. He's not a battering ram. He's had no injuries. He's started every game for three years. He has unreal quickness to avoid or lessen impact, like Emmitt. And he knows when to go down, like Emmitt. He has a nose for the endzone, like Emmitt. He can turn 2yds into 7 yds, 10 yds into 25 yds, like Emmitt. He is extremely competitive, like Emmitt. He is a little cocky, like Emmitt. He doesn't have great long speed, neither did Emmitt.

Nobody thought Emmitt was Emmitt when he came out. He was short, slow and Rbs only lasted 4 years anyways. But all he did was put up amazing numbers in high school and college, and then go on to set records in the pros, and last for over a decade. .

Zeke is Emmitt for this team. He steps into an offense that has two of the best playmakers in the NFL at their respective positions. He has an OL that is literally built for the run. We have a coach that wants to use the running game to open up the passing game, and play ball-control offense. He is the ideal player for what we want to do, and we are the ideal team for him to come into the league and dominate from day 1, like Emmitt

 

[Romotil45]

Yeah, because of the whole "any back can run behind this line" mantra. Let me get this straight, your whole reason for not taking elliott at 4 is because if he runs 300 plus times a season he wont last long? So then i guess we just shouldnt ever draft a running back again. Gurley changed the Rams entire offense. Im not saying i want him at 4, but a small trade down and Elliott with some second round picks isnt going to make me lose sleep at night. Our entire identity is running the football. Get us someone who can do that consistantly. Sorry if i dont trust DMC to stay healthy for an entire season again. I cant. Romos window is closing, we are not going to plug every hole on defense in one draft, so we do the next best thing, take a guy who is going to keep the defense off of the field and control the clock. We need to get back to that if we want to see any success from this team, putting it all on Romo is why we sucked for so long.

If you don't plug the holes on defense it will all be on Romo anyway. EE is not going to help us if we keep giving up 30,points a game.