News: The Cowboys aren’t the Rams, but they should copy this one specific roster-building strategy

[Diehardblues]

Jethro is likely going to keep Elliott and try to get him to 12,000 career yards which is almost certain HOF induction.

For our ownership it’s better to be right than win. Lol

 

[xwalker]

This is a great article.

Especially the part about Zeke. We should prepare ourselves to draft a RB in the 1st this year, and kiss Zeke goodbye.

I guarantee 10 plus million a year for Zeke is too much. And that's the deal, so we need to get out, as in draft our RB next year.

How does a comparison to the Rams equate to drafting a RB in the 1st?

Henderson was a 3rd round pick.

The article claims the Cowboys had an out on Zeke's contract, but that would only have been during his rookie contract. The 1st out year on the big contract is 2023.

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

He'll get 1,000, if he's healthy, they'll run him into the ground with 300+ carries.

He's not built for that anymore.

If Zeke gets 300 carries then we're not winning anything.

 

[xwalker]

The problem with the Cowboys is that they value draft picks too much.

The Rams take advantage of teams like the Cowboys by trading them their draft picks in exchange for great, already proven players.

Who cares if you don't have a first round pick? Would you rather have that first round pick, that may or may not amount to anything, or an already proven Matthew Stafford or Jalen Ramsey?

Cooper...

 

[terra]

It always amazes me how many still drink Jethro's Kool Aid.

By NOT looking (and that is the fact; anytime either one of the Jones boys claim they are really trying for a top FA they are lying) they have deliberately handicapped this team.
Which has enough as it is with the Jones Boys running it. They really do not need anymore.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

Zeke has been done.

I predict he never has a 1,000 yard season again.

I predict he will.

Not that hard to get 58 yards a game...

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

I predict he will.

Not that hard to get 58 yards a game...

If it was that easy then all the teams would have a 1,000 yard rusher.

Zeke had 58 YPG last year.

It's dropped every year of his career.

 

[G2]

Zeke has been done.

I predict he never has a 1,000 yard season again.

Lol

 

[LACowboysFan1]

In todays NFL I don't believe you should ever draft a RB in the first round. It's not a running league anymore.

Jonathan Taylor, Nick Chubb, Joe Mixon, Antonio Gibson, Dalvin Cook, Alvin Kamara... Those are 6 of the 8 guys that rushed for at least 1,000 yards last year and none of those 6 were drafted in the 1st round. Zeke and Harris are the only two 1st round RBs that had at least 1,000 yards last year.

That's not even counting the best RB in the NFL Derrick Henry who was hurt last year, and also happens to not be a 1st round pick.

I see your point. But there's more to it than just where you're drafted. I don't see it as teams don't think a running back is worth a first round pick as much as it is that DEs, CBs, WRs and of course (if a good one is there) QB is first priority, so teams know an excellent running back will be available in the second or third rounds. But if the top DE, etc. is not available by pick 28 or 30 or 32 then a running back is a good pick. And it's not just running, e.g. Kamara is a very good receiver as well as runner.

Just not a fan of "never", as far as running backs, etc. go. Certainly I'm not in favor of drafting a kicker or punter in the first, e.g., but Dallas drafted a center (Frederick) in the first round and if not for the disease (which is fairly rare) he'd probably still be a Pro Bowl center.

But many were aghast that Dallas drafted a FREAKING CENTER in the first round, but it turned out great, didn't it?

 

[LACowboysFan1]

If it was that easy then all the teams would have a 1,000 yard rusher.

Zeke had 58 YPG last year.

It's dropped every year of his career.

1. As many have noted, this is a passing league, many teams ignore the running game, or use RBBC. The lowest rushing team last year was Houston, and they had 1,422 yards. So it's more a matter of choice, not that they couldn't have had a 1,000 yard rusher.
2. As far as Zeke was concerned, last year he had a torn PCL, which certainly hampered his rushing yardage. And for his yardage to drop every year, sure, teams have game time and film on running backs, the DCs ain't stupid (well at least most of them), they learn how to counter players and offenses. Dallas' coaching left a lot to be desired.

But we'll see, Zeke will be on the Cowboys this year, barring injury again to him or Dak, he'll have the chance to get back up into 1,000+ yard territory

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

1. As many have noted, this is a passing league, many teams ignore the running game, or use RBBC. The lowest rushing team last year was, and they had
2. As far as Zeke was concerned, last year he had a torn PCL, which certainly hampered his rushing yardage. And for his yardage to drop every year, sure, teams have game time and film on running backs, the DCs ain't stupid (well at least most of them), they learn how to counter players and offenses.

But we'll see, Zeke will be on the Cowboys this year...

Yeah, we'll see.

I don't think he'll have a 1,000 yards again. He wouldn't have last year if they didn't use the last game against the Eagles practice squad to get players to milestones.

I also think they'll use Pollard more, so Zeke won't get as many touches. I just can't see it, but we'll see.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

Yeah, we'll see.

I don't think he'll have a 1,000 yards again. He wouldn't have last year if they didn't use the last game against the Eagles practice squad to get players to milestones.

I also think they'll use Pollard more, so Zeke won't get as many touches. I just can't see it, but we'll see.

Well that's the great thing about it, right? The season will most likely happen, and will end, and the results will be available.

By the way, I hope your wrong!

 

[CowboyRoy]

He'll get 1,000, if he's healthy, they'll run him into the ground with 300+ carries.

Yah but there is 40 backs in the nfl that can do that.

 

[tyke1doe]

I have been a Zeke fan since college. I was hoping the Cowboys would have a chance to draft him, and they did.
But ... I have been very disappointed with Zeke outside his first year. He has grown fat and injury-prone.
I don't sweat him for wanting to get big bucks. But I do sweat Jerry Jones for caving in to his demands.
As far as I'm concerned, he's done and, after this year, gone.

I disagreed with the philosophy of not drafting a RB high in the draft because it was Zeke. You don't pass up an O.J. Simpson, a Bo Jackson or a Adrian Petersen simply not to take a running back high in the draft.

But those guys were drafted when running backs were more important to the offense. As someone stated, it's a passing league now. And it seems you can get a good running back in the lower rounds of the draft.

Zeke's days are numbered unless Jerry plays the sentimental owner who can't stand to see his beloved players leave.

I hope Jerry learned a valuable lesson with this Zeke situation. But I doubt it.

 

[Jimbo123]

Yah but there is 40 backs in the nfl that can do that.

two other backs with 300+ carries johnathan taylor 332, najee harris 307

 

[Jimbo123]

Taking an rb later in the 1st isn’t bad. Picking one in the top 5 is the issue.

NO,NO, NO invest in the OL instead, then get rb in the 4th or 5th

 

[GORICO]

This is a great article.

Especially the part about Zeke. We should prepare ourselves to draft a RB in the 1st this year, and kiss Zeke goodbye.

I guarantee 10 plus million a year for Zeke is too much. And that's the deal, so we need to get out, as in draft our RB next year.

total agreement

 

[GORICO]

Yeah, look at Zeke.

I believe Zeke is the exact reason that the Cowboys won't make the mistake of taking a RB in the first round. They've been regretting that pick since Zeke's 4th season.

cannot argue with that reasoning at all....its unfortunate but there have only been a handful of running backs that were just as good their 10th year as their first...I.E>..Barry Sanders who in a 10 year span

AVERAGED... 1500 yds per year...say what you will but he never ran behind the lines Emmit did being in Detroit...and still at his 10th year was every bit as good as year 1.....sorry folks

but ...MIC DROP

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

cannot argue with that reasoning at all....its unfortunate but there have only been a handful of running backs that were just as good their 10th year as their first...I.E>..Barry Sanders who in a 10 year span

AVERAGED... 1500 yds per year...say what you will but he never ran behind the lines Emmit did being in Detroit...and still at his 10th year was every bit as good as year 1.....sorry folks

but ...MIC DROP

Cowboys fans don't like it, but Barry was better than Emmitt.

If Barry didn't decide to just walk away he becomes the NFL's first and only 20,000 yard rusher easy. Emmitt himself has admitted that.

 

[CowboyRoy]

two other backs with 300+ carries johnathan taylor 332, najee harris 307

im talking about getting 1000 yards in this offense given the carry’s. Are you aware your ypc estimate was 3 ypc?

heck pollard almost had 1000 yards on 150 totes.

1000 yards is chump change as long as coaches give you the carry’s.

if zeke needs 300 Carrie’s to get to 1000 yards he needs to be put out to pasture.