Why Drafting Ezekiel Elliott Wins You the Division, Possibly the Conference

[waving monkey]

Here are two interesting facts you may not know:

1) In 2014, when Dallas was running the ball so effectively and so much focus was on Murray's record-breaking year, Romo led the entire NFL in yards per pass attempt.

2) In 2016, Dallas will only play one team that had a top five run defense in 2015.

This schedule is perfectly suited to allow them to dominate the league in both scoring and time of possession. Provided that they draft Ezekiel Elliott and let him run wild.

Here is a list of the teams and their rush defense rankings and yards per carry averages that Dallas faces this year, in order of appearance on the schedule.

link/http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2016...kiel-eliot-wins-you-the-division-possibly-the

 

[Parcells4Life]

This argument may lend itself to think of you don't need a big time RB since you're not playing great defenses.

 

[Sydla]

Honestly, we should take Elliott because I heard if he lands in Dallas, he might be able to cure cancer too!

 

[waving monkey]

Elliott is without a doubt a miracle worker

 

[CATCH17]

Romo's health will be the key.

We could've had a heck of a season last year had Romo been healthy.


Drafting Elliot doesn't change that. He's a good player but no way does he belong in the top 5.

 

[conner01]

Romo's health will be the key.

We could've had a heck of a season last year had Romo been healthy.


Drafting Elliot doesn't change that. He's a good player but no way does he belong in the top 5.

It's all about romo. Had romo stayed healthy last year dmac probably leads the league in rushing and we win the division. Considering how bad our pass game was we ran the ball very well

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

Honestly, we should take Elliott because I heard if he lands in Dallas, he might be able to cure cancer too!

No, that is Wentz

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

I definitely could see the thought process of going all in on offense and trying to do what the Rams did with Kurt Warner or what the Saints did with Drew Brees. It actually seems more likely than trying to rebuild our defense with only the draft, which is basically what our other options are. There really isn't any help out there of significance in free agency, and we can't even make any moves without restructuring our cutting someone that is a current starter.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

We definitely need a few more Zeke threads.

 

[tyke1doe]

Honestly, we should take Elliott because I heard if he lands in Dallas, he might be able to cure cancer too!

You know I like Elliott, but your comment made me ...

 

[texbumthelife]

I think Elliott is a bigger lift to the offense than any defender in this draft is to the defense next year. However, in the long-term, we could grow to regret not taking one of the defenders.

There absolutely are not five better football players in this draft than Elliott though. Playing at a position with less value doesn't change that. Elliott is a significantly better RB than Ramsey is DB, Bosa is DE or Jack is LB.

 

[tyke1doe]

It's all about romo. Had romo stayed healthy last year dmac probably leads the league in rushing and we win the division. Considering how bad our pass game was we ran the ball very well

And in all that rushing, D Mac had, what, 3 touchdowns?
How many close games did we have last year where a touchdown instead of a 6, 8, 10 yard gain could have won the game?
I would like to think that a back who can not only gain yards but end those yards with a touchdown is very valuable, wouldn't you say?

I understand the group of fans who don't think we should take a back in the top 4. And, honestly, I hope we can drop down, pick up extra draft picks, and then choose Elliott.

But ... is any single defensive player going to take this defense to the top of the league rankings? Can we not take Elliott and then invest the rest of our draft on the defensive side?

I don't see this as an either/or situation. And I believe Zeke vastly improves the TEAM not just the offense.

 

[tyke1doe]

I think Elliott is a bigger lift to the offense than any defender in this draft is to the defense next year. However, in the long-term, we could grow to regret not taking one of the defenders.

There absolutely are not five better football players in this draft than Elliott though. Playing at a position with less value doesn't change that. Elliott is a significantly better RB than Ramsey is DB, Bosa is DE or Jack is LB.

Well said.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

Hard to blame McFadden for a lack of TD's. Our offense really didn't give him a lot of opportunities. When we did get down inside the redzone....teams just sat on the run because they knew our clown crew of QB's couldn't pass. I remember the ridiculously bad fade attempts from Weeden....my God he was awful.

 

[DuDa]

I am writing in "ZEKE" when I go to the voting booth this November.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

For those that say we can get a rb later...well that is true, if you actually take one. Everyone was saying we could get a number of running backs last year in the draft and yet they kept missing out on them and did not draft one.

My worry is if they don't take Zeke in the first...they wind up "just missing" on the other guys because that means they take Bosa or Ramsey in the first so they will be looking for a QB, DT, DB or DE to make up for what they did not earlier and when doing so they will take one of those with the 2nd or 3rd round pick and by the time the next RB they like rolls around they might just miss out on him just like they did last year.

Oh and this is an impressive write up on Zeke...

1. EZEKIEL ELLIOTT, Ohio State (5-11 ½, 227, 4.48, 1): Third-year junior. "He is the only one with all the traits," said one scout. "He's got a chance to be the best player in the draft. He, (Joey) Bosa, (Laremy) Tunsil. He can catch it, he can pass protect, he's got NFL size and he can run. If he stays healthy he's going to be a (Adrian) Peterson-type back." Smartest RB in years (32 on the 50-question Wonderlic intelligence test). "Football intelligence might be the best thing he has," another scout said. "He goes to the sidelines and tells the coaches the block protections. The coaches tell me he tells them what to do. To me, your intelligence is your blocking." Finished with 592 carries for 3,961 yards (OSU-record 6.7-yard average) and 43 touchdowns. Also caught 58 passes for 449. Played behind Carlos Hyde in 2013 before breaking out as a sophomore. Has undergone surgery twice on his left wrist. "Zeke just has the NFL mentality," said one scout. "Love the kid as a football player." From St. Louis.


http://www.jsonline.com/sports/pack...ects-running-backs-b99704560z1-376838901.html

 

[ConceptCoop]

This schedule is perfectly suited to allow them to dominate the league in both scoring and time of possession. Provided that they draft Ezekiel Elliott and let him run wild.

They don't need Elliot to do this. We were # 8 in TOP despite the awful QB play, the Bryant injury, and being dead last in TO +/-. We're going to dominate again with just a healthy Romo/Dez. McFadden got 4.6 YPC last season, despite the mess, and Morris was a stud in a zone blocking scheme. We don't need to invest the number 4 overall pick on a RB to be a great offense; or a great running offense, even.

 

[sbark]

I think Elliott is a bigger lift to the offense than any defender in this draft is to the defense next year. However, in the long-term, we could grow to regret not taking one of the defenders.

There absolutely are not five better football players in this draft than Elliott though. Playing at a position with less value doesn't change that. Elliott is a significantly better RB than Ramsey is DB, Bosa is DE or Jack is LB.

Yup, if we are really in the "help Romo now" mode, RB position is most likely to achieve that over time......but just don't see them wanting to pour 5 mill a year at the position.........

 

[ConceptCoop]

I think Elliott is a bigger lift to the offense than any defender in this draft is to the defense next year. However, in the long-term, we could grow to regret not taking one of the defenders.

There absolutely are not five better football players in this draft than Elliott though. Playing at a position with less value doesn't change that. Elliott is a significantly better RB than Ramsey is DB...or Jack is LB.

I disagree here. I think Tunsil and Jack (and Smith) are the best players in the draft, if healthy. I think Elliot and Ramsey are on the next tiear. Elliot is more well-rounded, but Ramsey is the much better athlete. Both are elite football players.

 

[chicago JK]

I tend to agree with not taking a RB with a top 5 pick (similar to my stance on not taking a CB with a top 10 pick). I can certainly see this side of the agreement and it may turn out right.

Although I am beginning to put a foot on the Zeke bus. Last offseason, Dallas made a smart decision not to re-sign Demarco. Although where they came up short was finding his replacement. A sane Joseph Randle is nothing more than a scat back who can fill in 6-8 carries a game when the defense is tired while giving the starter a rest. McFadden is best in this role as well. He is better than Randle but at his age and injury history not a guy you should count on. Neither McFadden or Randle is going to break many tackles and be guys that defenses will fear. I think Zeke can. It is just so disheartening when you are facing a 3rd and two and the defense feels like it has no shot. They felt this way in 2014. Teams knew we were running the ball. The same way how you make those 2 yard runs becomes 5 yard runs. Or the 5 yard runs turns into 8 yard runs. Come the second half, that just kills a defense. Plus it allows us to make more big plays in the passing game by being in short yardage more often and to take advantage of opportunities because teams can't get you off the field due to the threat of a running game.