The Ezekiel Elliott Factor - The Film

[StylisticS]

I think we should of went with Hargreaves who I think was the only top 10 player left after Bosa was taken off the board.

I would have been extremely upset if we did that.

 

[RJ_MacReady]

Elliott is nowhere near the talent of a Todd Gurley, we had no choice but to take him since he was the most valuable player at #4 in this horrible draft class...Elliott would of been a high second rounder in any other draft.

Nobody brought up Gurley, but here you go again. How many times are you going to inject Gurley into a Zeke thread? What's the purpose? We are discussing Zeke and the stable of RBs that Dallas has had in the backfield over the past few seasons. We get it..you don't like Zeke and are on record stating this many, many times: "Zeke isn't anything special", "Gurley is 100X better", etc. Once again...we get it. Quit muddying the waters and go buy a Gurley jersey already.

 

[Scandri100]

I think bringing up Gurley is extremely relevant since he was the 1st running back taken in last years draft...comparing both of these guys highlights there is no doubt in who comes away looking like 1st rounder.

 

[Iago33]

What I love most about Elliott as a prospect is his run instincts. That is something that I feel like a RB either has or doesn't have. Emmitt had it in spades and so does Elliott, but not many do to their extent. Watch the video I'm posting and at 52 seconds in notice how low Ezekiel gets when he is changing directions. He lowers his mass, plants and cuts to his left and then immediately lowers, plants and cuts back to his right. It is a thing of beauty.

Really, you can see examples of it throughout the whole video. He just has fantastic run instincts and vision. It isn't something that is taught really but rather something that backs who have it just feel.

Add in his super competitive nature along with all of the other intangible and tangible traits he possesses and IMO, it is easy to see why he was valued so highly by NFL teams.

Note: You might want to turn sound off because of the music... but the video is top notch.

That video cuts up the runs so much you can't see plays develop and tell much about his vision or speed.

 

[StylisticS]

I think bringing up Gurley is extremely relevant since he was the 1st running back taken in last years draft...comparing both of these guys highlights there is no doubt in who comes away looking like 1st rounder.

Both of them do. However, Gurley is irrelevant to this conversation. This is about Elliott and the past and current Cowboy running backs.

 

[Scandri100]

I can't wait for the season to start and watch Elliott run...we'll see what he can do.

 

[Jarv]

What I love most about Elliott as a prospect is his run instincts. That is something that I feel like a RB either has or doesn't have. Emmitt had it in spades and so does Elliott, but not many do to their extent. Watch the video I'm posting and at 52 seconds in notice how low Ezekiel gets when he is changing directions. He lowers his mass, plants and cuts to his left and then immediately lowers, plants and cuts back to his right. It is a thing of beauty.

Really, you can see examples of it throughout the whole video. He just has fantastic run instincts and vision. It isn't something that is taught really but rather something that backs who have it just feel.

Add in his super competitive nature along with all of the other intangible and tangible traits he possesses and IMO, it is easy to see why he was valued so highly by NFL teams.

Note: You might want to turn sound off because of the music... but the video is top notch.

He never carried the ball with his left hand/arm.

 

[TwoDeep3]

Here's a guy who ran a 4.5 forty. I'll allow him to just tell you it's the fight in the dog and not the dog in the fight.



My three wishes.

1, Tony can play three more years.

2. He can pass the team off to Dak who drank every drop of learning from the teacher's cup (Romo)

3. Elliott runs wild and to his immense potential behind the best line in football.

 

[AsthmaField]

That video cuts up the runs so much you can't see plays develop and tell much about his vision or speed.

It does cut it up a bit. Not as easy as watching the game, for sure, but you can see some of the decisions he makes about picking the hole, when to cut back, when to veer, etc.

 

[AsthmaField]

Watched his highlights and they seem pedestrian compared to other running backs taken in the first round of recent years.

Then you disagree with pretty much everyone in the NFL, because they all thought he is a special back.

I also am not sure what you're seeing when you watch video because it seems pretty plain to all that he's definitely not pedestrian.

That's cool though, if that's what you think. Everybody's got an opinion.

 

[ufcrules1]

Yea, he is no Chris Johnson in terms of speed but he has amazing lateral quickness and bottom end of elite speed. Not to mention the most important attribute. Vision.

Yeah, no Chris Johnson but certain fast enough. Laveon Bell isn't a burner either but breaks off big runs all the time and Zeke is a good bit faster than Bell.
Zeke is going to be a star.. pun intended.

 

[Scandri100]

I still can't believe this dude was taken with the 4th overall pick, how bad of a draft was this? I'm hoping we didn't pass up on anybody we could of taken instead of him. I don't see anyone besides hargreaves.

 

[Sydla]

The best we can do is compare seasons as not every season is the same. You can go from 11-5 to 4-12 from one season to another due to just health alone. However, you talk about impact and safe pick and sheme wise, what Zeke provides for this team out weigh alot of the cons many bring up. We should do a compare and contrast diagram or ven diagram. When people say Zeke checks all of the boxes, he does.

Checked list
- fast
- quick
- smart
- can block
- an extra blocker for Romo
- fits our scheme
- keeps the offense in longer and the defense fresher
- size for the position
- ran and put up numbers with the best defenses in college
- motivated
- highly liked
- will be a favorite and sell jerseys
- very minimal background red flag
- healthy
- run style promotes longevity compared to a RB like Murray
- good upbringing

I can keep going

Compared to
- not worth the #4 pick because he is a RB because we have to wait for that outcome.

Like I mentioned, I can't wait for the season to start and for everyone to get behind the pick and beat to the drum of Zeke Elliott. Lol

This is all well and good but doesn't address my point. Any comparison between 2014 and 2015 that inevitably draws the conclusion that our running game wasn't good enough in 2015 is a waste of time and effort because a key control (Romo and Bryant) is missing from the analysis.

 

[Sydla]

Valid point. Let's go into the season like we did last year though. Randle Murray Dunbar. I guarantee the impact is in a whole different ball game with Zeke on the head with Dmac and Alfred morris right behind. On top of that scheme fit was the issue with Dmac and you would count on another year where you replace Randle with a 4th round pick? Why not get the top rated and call it a day. He was a top 5 pick on many boards for a reason. That's what we did and who we have and our Offense is already better because of it.

Because I likely could have taken a 3rd or 4th round TB, paired him with McFadden and Morris and had a more than acceptable running game.

While also addressing what is clearly the big issue facing this team - defense. And any attempt to try to argue Elliott is more important to the defense than any defensive player taken is absurd.

 

[AsthmaField]

This is all well and good but doesn't address my point. Any comparison between 2014 and 2015 that inevitably draws the conclusion that our running game wasn't good enough in 2015 is a waste of time and effort because a key control (Romo and Bryant) is missing from the analysis.

That would be correct. I don't see any other way anyone could look at it. Without the imminent threat of a passing game like Romo and Dez provide, the entire defense would play the run differently. The entire offense has a different dynamic with Tony and Dez. IMO, you can't really compare anything on the team when those two aren't playing and when they are.

 

[Risen Star]

Fan writers suddenly seeing the genius of the Elliott pick after the team makes it.

Shocking.

 

[dallasdave]

Fan writers suddenly seeing the genius of the Elliott pick after the team makes it.

Shocking.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Murray isn't 4.38 on the football field

Time will tell how football fast Zeke is in the nfl

Murray was 4.38 fast early on in his career. Go check that Rams game.

Added weight and accumulated wear and tear has slowed him considerably.

 

[Hardline]

There was simply no better choice for this team than Zeke. I predicted the Cowboys would draft him months ago. All the Zeke critics will either believe this now or later but they will believe it kicking and screaming. There was no defensive player worth taking at #4.

It took a lot of will power to not post a "told you so" thread after Zeke was the pick.

 

[Corso]

I still can't believe this dude was taken with the 4th overall pick, how bad of a draft was this? I'm hoping we didn't pass up on anybody we could of taken instead of him. I don't see anyone besides hargreaves.

Although I may politely and humbly disagree with your overall premise in this particular post, I get the feeling like the green light has just been turned on to...




RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGE!!!!!!!!!!