What makes Ezekiel Elliott Special?

[Galian Beast]

Why did we draft a running back 4th overall? Especially when we already had Alfred Morris who I mentioned in a previous post is probably still a top 15 running back in the league, probably jumps up to top 10 behind this line.

Well, there are a few things that make Elliott special. I think he would be a successful running back on any team in the league. On the Giants, he is still a home run, but for the Cowboys he is a grand slam. Conversely, I think our offensive line could make most average running backs good, and most good running backs great. There are some traits however, that Elliott possesses in such quantity that makes him the best running back we could have on our team.

Vision, patience, decisiveness, quick reaction times, and his ability to quickly change direction on a dime.

Why are these so valuable? Because in our zone scheme if a runner is patient and they have the ability to see the best hole and quickly make the decision to hit it regardless of the position they are in, they can take full advantage of what this offensive line has to offer.

There are running backs who are stronger and faster than Elliott. Fournette or Gurley. Maybe even ones that have flashier moves than Elliott, but none of them have better vision and decisiveness than him. I saw someone ask what if Morris is better than Elliott... He isn't. You watch what Elliott does and think about what he could do with this line and the types of holes they create... You realize he is the perfect fit for this offense. His well roundedness is just icing on the cake. My guess is he will be offensive MVP this year.

 

[Galian Beast]

I would say that the biggest difference between what he can do with us in 2016 and what DeMarco Murray did in 2014, is that he won't leave anything on the bone. One of the phrases you might hear the most with him this year is, "Elliott found a crease."

 

[DallasDomination]

I agree with basically everything you said. But I don't know about Zeke having the best vision just yet. We need to see it on the field first and foremost. Also don't cut Alfred Morris short he's shown he's getting back into form. Not to mention He also has great vision. Could be a great duo if all goes right.

 

[VACowboy]

Why did we draft a running back 4th overall?

I think the simple answer is, he was the best player on the board.

The more detailed answer is that Elliot does everything from seeing and exploiting holes to stoning blitzers like an OG and catching passes downfield like a wide receiver. He makes LBs look silly in the hole and then trucks DBs on his way to the zone. At 6-0 and 225, he is cat quick, which I think for a RB is more important than pure speed. I don't think I've ever seen a RB come out of college more ready to perform in a zone blocking scheme yet still eminently able to play smash mouth behind five studs manning up. You hear a lot about balanced offenses making defenses focus on the run and pass equally, but I think Elliot makes defenses take that to an extreme. Not only will Zeke punish you with the ball in his hands or scorch you deep if you try to cover him with a LB, but he also makes it impossible for the front-7 to sit on the stretch play and in/out zone runs, and that is a unique nightmare for any defense. Morris has some of this in him, but no defensive coordinator fears Morris busting it to the house on every play like they will with Elliot. Bottom line, I think EE will be one of the few RBs in the league that teams have to specifically game plan for, and I don't think you can put a value on that.

Just my $0.02.

 

[Galian Beast]

I think the simple answer is, he was the best player on the board.

The more detailed answer is that Elliot does everything from seeing and exploiting holes to stoning blitzers like an OG and catching passes downfield like a wide receiver. He makes LBs look silly in the hole and then trucks DBs on his way to the zone. At 6-0 and 225, he is cat quick, which I think for a RB is more important than pure speed. I don't think I've ever seen a RB come out of college more ready to perform in a zone blocking scheme yet still eminently able to play smash mouth behind five studs manning up. You hear a lot about balanced offenses making defenses focus on the run and pass equally, but I think Elliot makes defenses take that to an extreme. Not only will Zeke punish you with the ball in his hands or scorch you deep if you try to cover him with a LB, but he also makes it impossible for the front-7 to sit on the stretch play and in/out zone runs, and that is a unique nightmare for any defense. Morris has some of this in him, but no defensive coordinator fears Morris busting it to the house on every play like they will with Elliot. Bottom line, I think EE will be one of the few RBs in the league that teams have to specifically game plan for, and I don't think you can put a value on that.

Just my $0.02.

I think that is the key there. I don't even think you had to do much game planning for DeMarco Murray. I think Murray was just difficult to stop, but I don't think there was really an aspect of his game that you really planned for. You either loaded the box or you didn't. And you probably did.

Where Elliott is concerned you have to take a really different approach to how you defend. You have to be really disciplined or as you said, he can take it to the house. This offensive line is going to give him opportunities, and he is well equipped to take advantage of that. I'm not sure if you can really even afford to blitz Tony Romo anymore.

Scenario A)
You blitz Tony Romo and Elliott and the line pick up the blitz. You've doubled Dez Bryant, and now you've left someone open who will surely punish you for it.

Scenario B)
You blitz, but it's a run and now Elliott has slipped by the blitz and has punished you for it.

 

[dmq]

You will see some of huge holes in there, but you will also see his cutting ability, speed, vision and power. You will also see it being done at the highest level of college football against the best teams.

 

[VACowboy]

I think that is the key there. I don't even think you had to do much game planning for DeMarco Murray. I think Murray was just difficult to stop, but I don't think there was really an aspect of his game that you really planned for. You either loaded the box or you didn't. And you probably did.

Where Elliott is concerned you have to take a really different approach to how you defend. You have to be really disciplined or as you said, he can take it to the house. This offensive line is going to give him opportunities, and he is well equipped to take advantage of that. I'm not sure if you can really even afford to blitz Tony Romo anymore.

Scenario A)
You blitz Tony Romo and Elliott and the line pick up the blitz. You've doubled Dez Bryant, and now you've left someone open who will surely punish you for it.

Scenario B)
You blitz, but it's a run and now Elliott has slipped by the blitz and has punished you for it.

Exactly, and this is why if I'm building a team the offensive line is my #1 priority.

 

[BrassCowboy]

I agree with basically everything you said. But I don't know about Zeke having the best vision just yet. We need to see it on the field first and foremost. Also don't cut Alfred Morris short he's shown he's getting back into form. Not to mention He also has great vision. Could be a great duo if all goes right.

my question is with all these good RBs, are the cowboys coaching staff gonna utilize them to get the most out of them. You mention Morris and Zeke being a one-two combo, and I tend to agree, but we would have tremendous talent being wasted behind these 2 in McFadden, Jackson, and Dunbar (who is not so much a runner but excellent in passing game)

I know, we all say nice problem to have but....

 

[Reality]

At this point, nothing makes him special. If he is special, he will need to get on the field in games and show it. Until then, he's just another running back to me. I'm not down on him, but after many years of many injuries to many players, who hold a lot of promise, but never stay healthy enough to show it, I am of the mindset now that a player is just another player until he shows it on the field and in multiple games.

Hopefully, we will get to see Elliot soon and hopefully, he will turn out to be as special as most people expect him to be. In the meantime, I have been impressed with Morris, the guy that's actually playing and showing his abilities in games.

 

[BrassCowboy]

You will see some of huge holes in there, but you will also see his cutting ability, speed, vision and power. You will also see it being done at the highest level of college football against the best teams.

at 3;59 he showed patience waiting for a block. nice video, thanks

 

[Silver N Blue]

At this point, nothing makes him special. If he is special, he will need to get on the field in games and show it. Until then, he's just another running back to me. I'm not down on him, but after many years of many injuries to many players, who hold a lot of promise, but never stay healthy enough to show it, I am of the mindset now that a player is just another player until he shows it on the field and in multiple games.

Hopefully, we will get to see Elliot soon and hopefully, he will turn out to be as special as most people expect him to be. In the meantime, I have been impressed with Morris, the guy that's actually playing and showing his abilities in games.

Agree it's time to see this kid play. Just read the police are visiting his ex tomorrow and hope to wrap up his case this week. Apart of me wonders if he has been kept out until this crap is over. Either way I am with you he needs to be on the field.

 

[Galian Beast]

At this point, nothing makes him special. If he is special, he will need to get on the field in games and show it. Until then, he's just another running back to me. I'm not down on him, but after many years of many injuries to many players, who hold a lot of promise, but never stay healthy enough to show it, I am of the mindset now that a player is just another player until he shows it on the field and in multiple games.

Hopefully, we will get to see Elliot soon and hopefully, he will turn out to be as special as most people expect him to be. In the meantime, I have been impressed with Morris, the guy that's actually playing and showing his abilities in games.

He has been held out of two preseason games, where most starters only would play a few snaps... He isn't even actually injured, he was just being held out for precautionary reasons. If it were week 1 right now, he would have been good to go.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

He has been held out of two preseason games, where most starts only would play a few snaps... He isn't even actually injured, he was just being held out for precautionary reasons. If it were week 1 right now, he would have been good to go.

I agree, except he likely would have played a good amount against Miami. Only way to truly get in football shape, is to play football, especially at the RB position.

 

[Galian Beast]

I agree, except he likely would have played a good amount against Miami. Only way to truly get in football shape, is to play football, especially at the RB position.

I think the expectation would have been to play a few series against Seattle, but probably not Miami. While some starters were in, it was mostly players who aren't going to get beat up like Elliott would.

 

[Reality]

He has been held out of two preseason games, where most starters only would play a few snaps... He isn't even actually injured, he was just being held out for precautionary reasons. If it were week 1 right now, he would have been good to go.

The reasons really don't matter to me, honestly. Until I see him in games and doing quite well consistently, he's just another player. Again, I'm not saying he won't be special, but I'm done with calling players special or even worrying about players who cannot get into games or remain in games. I focus on the players who actually play in games rather than watch them.

Players who watch games instead of playing in them are fans, not players. So, I guess we can say Elliot is a special fan right now.

 

[theebs]

It would be cool if he ...you know played.

I think he will be about a month behind because of all this time off. I don't care who you are you can't not practice or play in the preseason and then just magically play 60 minutes opening day. Especially not a rookie.

I hope he practices today and plays thursday.

 

[jazzcat22]

We know we have a very special group of guys that make this OL one of the best if not the best.
But even The Wall of the 90's were not considered great until Emmitt came along. And add in Troy & Michael & Jay to round out the Offense. Then they, as a team became great.

Zeke can be that Emmitt to this current offense. So you can't pass that opportunity up. Maybe other RB's can have success no matter what. But McFadden was a 1st round pick. So he should have been expected to do good.

Anyway, with DMC being a FA, and is what, 28, though he should be good for another 3 to 4 years. You can't pass on a 20 year old top RB in the draft [now 21] that can be your RB for 10 years as opposed to 1 year. And don't say Morris, as he has a 2 year contract.
And no, Jackson a 6th round draft pick won't be the same behind this OL as Zeke can be.

So let's see if Zeke is and will be what we all want him to be. It starts Thursday in Seattle.

 

[jazzcat22]

It would be cool if he ...you know played.

I think he will be about a month behind because of all this time off. I don't care who you are you can't not practice or play in the preseason and then just magically play 60 minutes opening day. Especially not a rookie.

I hope he practices today and plays thursday.

I don't think missing a week or so in TC puts a player like Zeke a month behind. It may put him a week behind, which will seem like nothing in a week from now.
He went through all the OTA's, the mini camp, and started TC, missed some time, and there are still 2 PS games left. And it was not like he wasn't sitting around.
There was rehab and sideline work, film studies, walk through practices he at least was there observing.

 

[kevm3]

He needs to play at least a half against Seattle.

 

[DenCWBY]

At this point, nothing makes him special. If he is special, he will need to get on the field in games and show it. Until then, he's just another running back to me. I'm not down on him, but after many years of many injuries to many players, who hold a lot of promise, but never stay healthy enough to show it, I am of the mindset now that a player is just another player until he shows it on the field and in multiple games.

Hopefully, we will get to see Elliot soon and hopefully, he will turn out to be as special as most people expect him to be. In the meantime, I have been impressed with Morris, the guy that's actually playing and showing his abilities in games.

He hasn't run a yard in an NFL game and it seems he already has rookie of the year wrapped up. Let's see him with the speed of the NFL and picking up blocking assignments, catching the ball out of the backfield. Also as you noted staying healthy. Lots yet to see and I'm very interested to see him in the next several weeks.