The Ezekiel Elliott Factor - The Film

[HellCrowe]

Cowboys 2016 Season:The Ezekiel Elliot Factor Pt 1 - The Numbers

First off, I should say that I was on record before the draft as wanting Jalen Ramsey over Ezekiel Elliott. I have entrenched myself firmly in the "anyone can run behind this line" camp as well as in the"give me Paul Perkins in the 4th over Elliott in the 1st" camp. But there is a groundswell of opinion among Cowboys fans that Elliott at pick number four is a waste of value and that those who claim Elliott will restore Dallas to the glory of 2014's running game are simply basing their beliefs on hope and moonshine.

...

In 2014, the Cowboys had 170 such attempts averaging 4.64 yards per carry. The 2015 Cowboys had 134 such attempts for 4.77 yards per carry. But before we grant victory to those who claim the pick was a waste, we should examine more closely. Darren McFadden carried 72 of those running plays for a meager 4.01 yards per attempt. Furthermore, if you examine the whole team after Joseph Randle(who only played six games) it becomes downright ugly: 73 rushes for 4.08 yards per carry, while McFadden had 54 of those for 3.9 yards per carry.

By comparison, Murray had 143 of Dallas's 170 first down/first half carries for 4.72 yards per carry. Murray made his stable of running backs better, McFadden made his worse. Please note that I am not trying to take away from the job McFadden did, and I am certainly not suggesting the Cowboys should have signed Murray, but there is a clear drop off in running performance that would affect the entire team. Alfred Morris, by the way, had 75 first down/first half rushes and averaged 3.32 yards per carry. Granted that was with Washington, but there's no reason to believe he's a savior here either.

Part 1:
http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2016...e-numbers?_ga=1.90014354.824703841.1446514190

Cowboys 2016 Season: The Ezekiel Elliott Factor Pt 2 - The Film

After watching multiple runs of Elliott, however, I began to notice something. He has amazing vision. Yes, he has excellent speed. Yes, he has decent burst, (but again, we'll come back to that). But Elliott hit hole after hole with devastating timing and at full speed. I began to realize he was understanding the game at a level we rarely see from a running back.

Part 2:
http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2016...ason-the-ezekiel-elliott-factor-pt-2-the-film

 

[pacy]

Man, I'm excited.

 

[Jenky]

Cowboys 2016 Season:The Ezekiel Elliot Factor Pt 1 - The Numbers

First off, I should say that I was on record before the draft as wanting Jalen Ramsey over Ezekiel Elliott. I have entrenched myself firmly in the "anyone can run behind this line" camp as well as in the"give me Paul Perkins in the 4th over Elliott in the 1st" camp. But there is a groundswell of opinion among Cowboys fans that Elliott at pick number four is a waste of value and that those who claim Elliott will restore Dallas to the glory of 2014's running game are simply basing their beliefs on hope and moonshine.

...

In 2014, the Cowboys had 170 such attempts averaging 4.64 yards per carry. The 2015 Cowboys had 134 such attempts for 4.77 yards per carry. But before we grant victory to those who claim the pick was a waste, we should examine more closely. Darren McFadden carried 72 of those running plays for a meager 4.01 yards per attempt. Furthermore, if you examine the whole team after Joseph Randle(who only played six games) it becomes downright ugly: 73 rushes for 4.08 yards per carry, while McFadden had 54 of those for 3.9 yards per carry.

By comparison, Murray had 143 of Dallas's 170 first down/first half carries for 4.72 yards per carry. Murray made his stable of running backs better, McFadden made his worse. Please note that I am not trying to take away from the job McFadden did, and I am certainly not suggesting the Cowboys should have signed Murray, but there is a clear drop off in running performance that would affect the entire team. Alfred Morris, by the way, had 75 first down/first half rushes and averaged 3.32 yards per carry. Granted that was with Washington, but there's no reason to believe he's a savior here either.

Part 1:
http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2016...e-numbers?_ga=1.90014354.824703841.1446514190

Cowboys 2016 Season: The Ezekiel Elliott Factor Pt 2 - The Film

After watching multiple runs of Elliott, however, I began to notice something. He has amazing vision. Yes, he has excellent speed. Yes, he has decent burst, (but again, we'll come back to that). But Elliott hit hole after hole with devastating timing and at full speed. I began to realize he was understanding the game at a level we rarely see from a running back.

Part 2:
http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2016...ason-the-ezekiel-elliott-factor-pt-2-the-film

He has one of the highest wonderlic scores for a RB.

 

[JoeKing]

Keeping my powder dry.

 

[31smackdown]

I think part of what is overlooked sometimes from last year is that the offense was changed to accommodate McFadden after he struggled in the current scheme. I think Dallas wants to get back to the zone stretch which Zeke's running style matches very well. I don't know if I have seen a back in while run as balanced as he does. That balance is what will let him push and then cut upfield with extreme quickness, vision and burst without falling all over himself like McFadden does. I think at the end of the day, that is what really excited them about the pick. It's not just that he is a complete back, but a complete back with a running style that is supremely suited to what they want to run.

 

[Scandri100]

Only thing that worries me is his speed..Demarco murray ran a 4.38 compared to Ezekiel's 4.47

 

[JBS]

Only thing worries me is his speed..Demarco murray ran a 4.38 compared to Ezekiel's 4.47

Murray isn't 4.38 on the football field

Time will tell how football fast Zeke is in the nfl

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

By comparison, Murray had 143 of Dallas's 170 first down/first half carries for 4.72 yards per carry. Murray made his stable of running backs better, McFadden made his worse.

I kind of feel like the combination of RB plus Dez and Tony made the other RBs better. I kinda feel like the subtraction of Dez and Tony made the rest worse.

 

[HellCrowe]

Only thing worries me is his speed..Demarco murray ran a 4.38 compared to Ezekiel's 4.47

If you are going at full speed from a cut with a DB/LB rallying to get you, idk if a 4.4 guy can catch you.

 

[Scandri100]

Murray isn't 4.38 on the football field

Time will tell how football fast Zeke is in the nfl

Yeah after re-watching Murray's highlights he does not look 4.38 fast on the field.

 

[Seven]

Well, I'll say this.

Our TE's better brush up on their blocking skill set cause they had a really good one.

Thanks for the post, Hellcrow.

 

[Doomsday101]

Zeke at 6'0" 225 is a bigger than Murray and as for speed I don't think Indy combine is a tell all when it comes to quickness and speed

Breakaway speed
The St. Louis product came to Ohio State as a four event champion at the Missouri State Track & Field Championship. He won the 100m, 200m, 110m hurdles and 300m hurdles his senior year. Per nfldraftscout.com, Elliott has a 40-yard dash low time of 4.32 and an average 40 of 4.42 seconds. His ability to find the hole, put his foot in the ground and explode vertically up-field is unparalleled in college football. Elliott had the second most 10+ yard runs (52) and was tied for the sixth most 20+ yard runs with 14 on the season.

http://www.landgrantholyland.com/20...ate-football-ezekiel-elliott-for-heisman-2015

 

[HellCrowe]

I kind of feel like the combination of RB plus Dez and Tony made the other RBs better. I kinda feel like the subtraction of Dez and Tony made the rest worse.

Correct. Now we insert in Zeke. Chances point towards better than 2014 and 2015 with the addition of the RB in the draft. We are not talking about a worn out Murray or an injury riddled McFadden. Someone who can live up to what we want to be known for. That's time churning, Romo friendly, smash mouth football. Zeke will make the team better with the skills he provides and that includes the Rbs that spell him from time to time.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Correct. Now we insert in Zeke. Chances point towards better than 2014 and 2015 with the addition of the RB in the draft. We are not talking about a worn out Murray or an injury riddled McFadden. Someone who can live up to what we want to be known for. That's time churning, Romo friendly, smash mouth football. Zeke will make the team better with the skills he provides and that includes the Rbs that spell him from time to time.

"Chances point towards better than 2014 and 2015" Based on what? There is zero evidence to support this statement.

 

[HellCrowe]

"Chances point towards better than 2014 and 2015" Based on what? There is zero evidence to support this statement.

Based on my opinion and the reason the FO drafted him at 4

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Based on my opinion the the reason the FO drafted him at 4

Fair enough.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Only thing that worries me is his speed..Demarco murray ran a 4.38 compared to Ezekiel's 4.47

By the time Demarco finally was healthy enough to play the majority of the year and have his great year...he no longer had 4.3 speed. I doubt he had that speed since his college days. Too many injuries robbed him of that kind of speed.
If he still had that kind of speed he would have a lot of Looooong TD runs.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Based on my opinion and the reason the FO drafted him at 4

The answer Common Sense would work as well.

 

[Silver N Blue]

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

The answer Common Sense would work as well.

I don't see it that way. Common sense would suggest to me that the chances of Tony being healthy the entire season are not a guarantee. Same can be said, to a lessor extent, where Dez is concerned. That is going to impact what this offense does, and by definition, how much of an effect Elliott has on this Offense IMO.