Why did Zeke's numbers just drop off a cliff?

[Chocolate Lab]

..good points, Ronnie. He fared pretty good with NE last year. Then came here, bottom fell out again.

McCarthy's offense not good fit.

Um, no he didn't.

Didn't anyone watch any Patriots games last year? He looked better for about two games, then right back to what he was at the end with us.

 

[doomsday808]

Why is he and deuce still on the team?

 

[Nova]

Six years of good play is about right for an NFL back, and that's basically what Zeke's career was.

2016: Super Saiyan Zeke
2017,18, & 19: Really good Zeke
2020: Pretty Good Zeke but terrible Cowboys
2021: Average Starter Zeke, but undone by injuries as the season went on
2022: Steep decline due to further injuries
2023: Actually serviceable for New England
2024: Not worth the roster spot

 

[NumOneQB]

He was very physical during his prime. You have to workout and diet at insane levels to maintain that type of performance. He’s only human and went the way 99.999% of us would. You get paid and you get content. I remember my old college coach used to say for every Michael Jordan you see on TV there are at least 10 guys more physically gifted sitting at home watching him. The difference is in how hard Jordan is willing to work to be the best and that’s why he’s on TV on they’re not.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Yeah...blocking D-lineman and blitzing lbers for a porous o-line and most carries in the season had absolutely nothing to do with him wearing out fat...I mean fast.

he has been declining ever since his first year. has nothing necessarily to do with this year. and so you want to tell me he has had bad and worse OLs since his second year? yet we have Henry!!!!

and generally speaking RBs have a short shelf life anyway....there are exceptions, but zeke has been in decline since year 2

 

[Big_D]

Who cares at this point. It was time to move on and this owner is a complete moron who never knows when to do that. He should still be sitting in Cabo.

 

[Cas2800]

he stopped using smelling salt.

 

[kumizi]

Lots of carries early in his career
Dude would try to dish out punishment instead of avoid the hit.
Notorious partier off the field

 

[atlantacowboy]

I have been trying to research if number of carries early in career are an indicator of declining production earlier on but have found no correlation. When you see the top two players Barkley and Henry performing and in Henry’s case he is older than Zeke how do you explain Zeke going from elite to bum so quickly?

Zeke was never dedicated to his craft. He was a knucklehead from day 1.

 

[HungryLion]

A couple things.

1. I don’t think “numbers fell of a cliff” is the right phrase. His numbers have been steadily declining every year.

2. Zeke is old for an NFL RB. Most of them are cooked at this age and number of carries. It’s really nothing surprising. Only a small number of RB’s are ever still productive at the age of 29 and after the number of carries Zeke has had.

 

[Big_D]

Zeke was never dedicated to his craft. He was a knucklehead from day 1.

This is a the truth. Plenty of athletic ability but it takes more than that at the pro level.

 

[Cmac]

Injuries were the main culprit. The last couple of years he was with us before going to New England, he suffered some pretty serious knee damage, including a partial tear that he tried to power through. It seemed to take his legs out from under him.

And the franchise continued to play him when Tony Pollard was there to relieve him. That was a disservice. Watch out Cee Dee, you're being treated the same way.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

he has been declining ever since his first year. has nothing necessarily to do with this year. and so you want to tell me he has had bad and worse OLs since his second year? yet we have Henry!!!!

and generally speaking RBs have a short shelf life anyway....there are exceptions, but zeke has been in decline since year 2

Yes. And I am saying the way we used and abused him didn't help either. I don't see Henry or Barkley doing those things on a regular basis. Takes a huge toll on ya. Along with all the other stuff.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Yes. And I am saying the way we used and abused him didn't help either. I don't see Henry or Barkley doing those things on a regular basis. Takes a huge toll on ya. Along with all the other stuff.

I think after so many years, it evens out. Barkley and henry didn't have great lines all the time. the defenses blitzed them often.

I think Zeke holding out hurt him. he came back and wasn't in football game shape...he was in shape, but being in football game shape is different. then he further slowed down in his third year and it just seemed to accelerate. yes, zeke carried a lot in his first year....and 3rd year and henry less to start, but then henry started to carry the load and he hasn't stopped and he has kept up his average. zeke YPC just kept dropping. Barkley was just unlucky and injury prone.....he has had a rivaval with Eagles and doing great with a great OL.

perhaps I am a bit biased because I didn't want us to pick a RB 4th in the draft. its a waste in this day and age of NFL.

 

[iceberg]

cause he sucks.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

I think after so many years, it evens out. Barkley and henry didn't have great lines all the time. the defenses blitzed them often.

I think Zeke holding out hurt him. he came back and wasn't in football game shape...he was in shape, but being in football game shape is different. then he further slowed down in his third year and it just seemed to accelerate. yes, zeke carried a lot in his first year....and 3rd year and henry less to start, but then henry started to carry the load and he hasn't stopped and he has kept up his average. zeke YPC just kept dropping. Barkley was just unlucky and injury prone.....he has had a rivaval with Eagles and doing great with a great OL.

perhaps I am a bit biased because I didn't want us to pick a RB 4th in the draft. its a waste in this day and age of NFL.

I would have let him sit. And I was a huge fan.
If it turned into an Emmett thing....ok.

Between his hold out and playing with that injury....did him in id say.

I also let dak sit on his contract too.