Will Zeke get off to another slow start?

Playing junior psychologist here, but I don’t think he was mentally prepared last year, probably partly because of the looming investigation/suspension, and partly because he was living large after his greatbrookie year, enjoying the life and perks of a high profile athlete. I suspect he better understands how fragile that can be now. Reports have been he was pretty focused in the offseason and TC.
 
bandfan said:
If he doesn't go for 200 the first game we obviously should cut him and get someone younger..... jeez people..
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He's been a slow starter ever since his days at Ohio St.

Nobody is saying cut him if he doesn't get 200 yds the first game. It would just be nice to have him go wire-to-wire for a change....jeez dude.
 
All depends on the Oline and preparation . Looks like Garretts philosophy was fear injury more than lack of preparation . As excited as I am and as good as this looks on paper my grandfathers words continue to ring in my head .

Failure to prepare is preparing to fail . Honestly I feel Zeke and the entire starting offense should have got some work together in preseason. Also Zeke dose not seem like a guy that's as gung ho about conditioning as some of the other backs in the league The NFL regular season is not a friendly place for on the job training and the unprepared .

If the oline is out of sync and has a bunch of presnap penalties with a new center this could also take Zeke out of his game . Hope Im worried for nothing and they all ball out.
 
The question should be, will the passing game get off to a slow start because there is the answer to the this question.
 
Trouty said:
Then 8 yds on 9 attempts against DEN... and then 80 yds on 22 att against AZ. Then 85 yds on 21 attempts against LAR.

In 2016, game 1, 51 yds on 21 attempts against NYG, then 83 yds on 21 attempts against the Skins, week 2.

OP has a valid question. We need Zeke flying out the gate, week one. He was 4th overall selected. He is the lynchpin of this offense, as it is constructed, now. Zeke needs to eat starting week 1, and not relent.
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#word and to your point, without ONE pre-season carry (seems Zeke needs GAME reps to get him going) we have a box of chocolates situation here. I put my money on another slow start based on how we managed him this pre-season. But you’re rt, we need him to rip it up from jump street.
 
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Blackrain said:
All depends on the Oline and preparation . Looks like Garretts philosophy was fear injury more than lack of preparation . As excited as I am and as good as this looks on paper my grandfathers words continue to ring in my head .

Failure to prepare is preparing to fail . Honestly I feel Zeke and the entire starting offense should have got some work together in preseason. Also Zeke dose not seem like a guy that's as gung ho about conditioning as some of the other backs in the league The NFL regular season is not a friendly place for on the job training and the unprepared .

If the oline is out of sync and has a bunch of presnap penalties with a new center this could also take Zeke out of his game . Hope Im worried for nothing and they all ball out.
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It’s not for nothing. Your worries are hecka valid. And I share them.
 
A "slow start" for Ezekiel in 2018 might be something like 120 yds. on 25 carries.

Sixteen "slow starts" like that would come to 1920 yds . . . not too shabby, huh?
 
Given the number of carries he will see in the regular season I am not worried about not playing pre season.
 
Jkyle said:
I hope Zeke doesn't have a slow start like he has his first two seasons.
The first year against the Giants, he was obviously struggling to adjust to the speed of the game.
He was very impatient and not waiting for his blocks to develop.
Last year, it seems the suspension drama was weighing on him and may have been a major factor in another slow start.
Hopefully, with all of the drama gone and his renewed focus, he will hit the ground running like the superstar athlete/RB he is.
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History says yes.
 
Like all RBs not named Barry Sanders, Zeke’s season will go as the OL goes. With Looney and a rookie G vs a top rushing D, I don’t expect Zeke to lay a huge opening game on Carolina.
 
Cowboy4ever said:
I am not worried about Zeke or the running game as a whole. But I would shocked if it doesn't struggle the first game or two. It is impossible to get the OL in sync with just practice. They need game reps. And since most didn't have many snaps in PS, I don't expect our run game will be all world for a couple of weeks. After that, I do think the run game will be our cow bell and carry the O.
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B nice if Fredbeard is back but I have not been paying attention to the news on when he is expected to return. I believe our O will be sluggish for a game or two just because of lack of game play. Better hope our defense is playing well so the low scoring offense can keep up. jmho
 
Trouty said:
Zeke is the best pure HB in the game. He is hungry by all accounts, and many think he wants revenge for the railroad job that Goodell did on him.

With that said, we need the difference maker that he can be to produce, starting week 1. And no drop off. Consistency early on. He has that gear he hits after about week 3 where he abuses the league, we need that week 1. Especially with all the question marks surrounding the rest of the offense's skill positions.

Zeke needs to come out the gate like Secretariat and never slow down.
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Well lets clarify you mean Secretariat at the Belmont lol!!! No questions just dominance from start to finish and simply being too much for opponents
 
Chuck 54 said:
Like all RBs not named Barry Sanders, Zeke’s season will go as the OL goes. With Looney and a rookie G vs a top rushing D, I don’t expect Zeke to lay a huge opening game on Carolina.
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No doubt rushing yards will not come easy vs Carolina defense. After all they gave up 88 yard avg on the season vs the run last year with no single RB gaining more than 85 yards. This will be a big challenge for Zeke and the OL.
 
Bullflop said:
A "slow start" for Ezekiel in 2018 might be something like 120 yds. on 25 carries.

Sixteen "slow starts" like that would come to 1920 yds . . . not too shabby, huh?
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Jon Machota


Michael Irvin’s bold prediction for the 2018 season on @nflnetwork: Ezekiel Elliott will break Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record by running for 2,200 yards

8:09 PM - Sep 4, 2018
 
Jkyle said:
I hope Zeke doesn't have a slow start like he has his first two seasons.
The first year against the Giants, he was obviously struggling to adjust to the speed of the game.
He was very impatient and not waiting for his blocks to develop.
Last year, it seems the suspension drama was weighing on him and may have been a major factor in another slow start.
Hopefully, with all of the drama gone and his renewed focus, he will hit the ground running like the superstar athlete/RB he is.
Click to expand...
Logic would say it will be a sputter for him the first few games .

Once the OL settles..

then we know
 
I think he has a slow start with a new lg and no frederick at C. Also no football reps during the preseason screams slow start. Prove me wrong zeke.
 
Between no Fred, rookie LG, and a lack of a blocking TE, I'd say 80 yards rushing against this front 7 would be a fine start. But please please please use him more in the passing game, and not just safety valve flares.
 
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