We had a run game with Zeke

[SteveTheCowboy]

If you look back on the last few seasons. Our run game nosedived the second half of each season.

We did not have a consistent and reliable run game with Zeke. Couldn’t justify his contract.

So now what....we ditched him and everything is justified now?

OK. Good call.

 

[sunalsorises]

And here we are with no run game. What is the cost of THAT?

I happen to think it's our o Line. For years zeke helped to hide it while also suffering from it.

Are you sure he did not agree to a pay cut? Seems like he did with another team.

I would say he had to with another team. I don't remember a long line waiting to sign him.

 

[HungryLion]

And here we are with no run game. What is the cost of THAT?

I happen to think it's our o Line. For years zeke helped to hide it while also suffering from it.

Are you sure he did not agree to a pay cut? Seems like he did with another team.

Well that’s the thing. If you ask me. All else being the same but add Zeke to the roster, the run game isn’t any better anyway. Other than maybe 3rd or 4th and short conversions. Certainly not any better at consistently moving the ball between the 20’s with Zeke.

The front office failed to improve the OL and failed to bring in another RB. That doesn’t mean they should have kept Zeke.

And yeah. Zeke agreed to what he agreed to with New England once he was cut and found out nobody was offering more than that.

 

[Reverend Conehead]

Seriously?????? You know why Zeke is gone. You need to let it go.

Pollard is fine. He isn't any different than any other RB in this league. They need holes to run through. Consistently getting hit at or behind the LOS is going to make the great Emmitt Smith look bad.

As for next year, Pollard is a FA and the Cowboys have a decision to make.

I like Pollard, but I don't want him to have to carry the full load. I was loving how Luebke was taking care of short-yardage situations until he fumbled. If Luebke could be our occasional relief for Pollard and our short-yardage guy, and can do so without getting a fumbling bug, I would be good with that.

 

[morat1959]

Zeke is washed. Let it go.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Naw. We had no game with Sequel, either. The arguments over him at CZ were legendary, were many, me lads.

 

[starfan1]

The OL and running game will be the death of this team this year… It’s getting to the point where it’s almost nonexistent.
Next year I’d like us to get 2 OLmen in the first 3 rounds if possible, and we’ll need to draft a RB at some point… Maybe also bring someone in from free agency.

That and the Swiss cheese run defense and I agree lineman are needed not reaches

 

[noshame]

Our running game sucks Zeke would be tackled for a 2 yd loss every single play. Enough already
I've been trying to decipher our blocking rules and I swear we're using a scheme similar to my 1975 high school team used

 

[CWR]

Hard to pay Zeke and a franchise tag for a few yards here and there. The position should be overhauled in the offseason.

Easy to draft a mid round back though. They thought they had enough. I think that's more of why we are where we are at the position. I dont blame the direction they went with Pollard, but always thought the plan would be to transition over to another back. Instead we will start from scratch next season. Unless TP signs a prove it deal, which he may.

 

[cowboyed]

Zeke is serviceable at best with the Patriots but not really outstanding. His great seasons are behind him. Correct me if I am wrong but he is averaging around 3 yards per carry. I hope he can retire as a Cowboy when he hangs up his cleats. He was something in the prime of his career, wasn't he.

 

[Redline360]

Zeke was useless by the end of his Dallas career. Do not know why people still cling to his earlier dominate years. His blocking also became bad. Much respect for his earlier dominate years but the guy is washed.

Pollard and Dowdell are just fine. When the OL was clicking for that short stretch no one hardly complained. Plus Pollard has been getting absolutely crushed with penalities on big runs the last 3-4 weeks.

Run game scheme is still atrocious and the blocking is suspect at best some games. This is the major issue. Most teams have been living in the backfield lately. MM needs to change the scheme or its going to be another dissapinting post season. Now don't get me wrong Dak doesn't get a free pass on this either. He should be able to read defenses better and either call a timeout or option out of run plays when you can see a mile away Pollard is going to get blown up .5secs after handoff.

 

[Birch_Wood]

Maybe we can get Kellen Moore back to help our run game

 

[Hadenough]

Cowboys going into playoffs should pick up Darrell Henderson. He's a veteran RB that can run up the middle or catch ball out of backfield and is solid player.

 

[Brooksey]

Our running scheme is weak and we need a true #1 back. Pollard a change of pace guy.

 

[TexasHillbilly]

We need new OL. Even the best RBs need a crease. Most running plays are jailbreaks with 2-4 defenders in the backfield.

Pretty simple if you ask me. Rebuild the OL.

 

[Hadenough]

Zeke was washed up! He was dancing around in the backfield instead of hitting it up in there hard. Guarantee that Belichick probably told him you either go all out on every play or you go to the bench. Dallas needs some young strong blood at RB. Pollard is a complimentary RB.

 

[jwitten82]

He actually has helped the Patriots.. He's won three games for them when their QBs were crapping the bed. They're .500 (2-2) since he replaced Stevenson. They beat the Steelers and the Broncos, two teams in the playoff hunt and lost to the Chiefs and Bills both in competitive games. There were 2-10 in the games when Zeke was the backup. The Pats line is absolutely horrid but Zeke is just strong enough to fight his way forward for positive yards no matter what. That's what we are missing this year. When Pollard gets hit in the backfield for the most part the play is over. Zeke generally turns that into at least a 2 yard gain. I understand why the Cowboys felt the need to move on from him.. but in failing to replace what he did for this offense they have placed themselves in a compromised state. Many people predicted Rico Dowdle could "easily" replicate what Zeke gave us the last two years. Those people then doubled down in predicting that Dowdle would outperform Zeke this year. Seems like they were wrong on both counts.

LOL I know damn well you did not just try and credit Zeke for 3 wins, you are delusional. You have to be related to Zeke somehow. I'm assuming the 3 wins are Buffalo back in October, then Steelers and Broncos. In those 3 games, Zeke never once averaged more than 3.1 ypc. Also in those games, the qbs had 7td and 1 int. Zeke was not the reason for those wins get real
In those 2 losses you mentioned, Zeke's highest ypc was 2.8 yards

 

[Cowboysheelsreds058]

This is not going to go good.