Zeke Looked Like a Top 5 Pick

NextGenBoys

NextGenBoys

Well-Known Member
Messages
9,252
Reaction score
1,964
I was skeptical on Zeke. Kept waiting to see what all the hype was about. I'm an Iowa Hawkeyes fan, so naturally I can't stand Ohio State. I kept watching all these RB's come out of there in recent years (Beanie Wells, Carlos Hyde, etc) to all the hype, and thinking it wasn't merited, and for the most part, being proven right.

Then, we have Zeke coming out and people are calling him the best back to come out since AP. I thought it was way over the top. I wanted Jalen Ramsey and to improve our defense.The first two games I was incredibly unimpressed. He didn't know how to run in the NFL. Yeah the Giants stacked the box, but he wasn't taking what was there. To que Joseph Randle, he left some meat on the bone.

What I saw last night showed that it clicked for Zeke. His patience, ability to plant his foot and cut upfield in our zone runs was beautiful. His ability to pick up tough yards in 3rd and 2 in a man blocking scheme was beautiful. His ability to finish runs and punish defenders like Demarco in 14 was on full display. He has the speed to bounce outside and make something out of nothing like he showed on the 4th down run. And the the hurdle. I'm not a fan of hurdling in football as it opens you up to a litany of negative consequences, but man it looked pretty.

I was skeptical. I'm not anymore. Dude showed his true colors and ability, and there's no reason to think we can't have a season like 2014. Maybe not 12-4, but definitely riding an elite running game, and elite passing compliment to a division title. We may be a bit limited where we can go due to our defense, but we literally have a top 5 RB running behind the best Oline in football. Let's enjoy this year, because even if it doesn't end in a Lombardi, we are completely set for the future with Dak, Dez, and Zeke.
 
CATCH17

CATCH17

1st Round Pick
Messages
67,666
Reaction score
86,212
Ehh.. You can find guys to do what he did later on in the draft..


Not special enough for a top 5 pick so far. He needs to make big plays and do more than just get what is blocked.
 
John813

John813

Well-Known Member
Messages
23,735
Reaction score
36,775
I was also someone who thought the 4th could of been used for a more urgent need, but it's obvious why they liked Zeke.

Give him a few more games, and I expect some big games from him against very good teams.
 
Crown Royal

Crown Royal

Insulin Beware
Messages
14,229
Reaction score
6,383
Outside of pass protection, it takes RBs a while to learn the NFL zone-running system. That's why you saw a lot of man blocking when Zeke was in the first game, and with Morris we ran a lot more stretch plays.

It looks like Zeke has practiced and studied hard and is getting the hang of it.

Also - Dak is more consistently punishing teams for loading up the box - which makes everything in the offense sweeter.

As much as anything, I remain impressed by Zeke's pass blocking. It's already elite - everyone talks about how La'ell Collins got blown backwards. What everyone SHOULD be talking about is that Zeke picked it up without hesitation.
 
NextGenBoys

NextGenBoys

Well-Known Member
Messages
9,252
Reaction score
1,964
CATCH17 said:
Ehh.. You can find guys to do what he did later on in the draft..


Not special enough for a top 5 pick so far. He needs to make big plays and do more than just get what is blocked.
Click to expand...

Not gonna fully disagree, as that was my belief as well. But who would you have gotten in the draft similar to Zeke? I wanted David Johnson badly last year, and we missed out. I don't think there were many talented RB sleepers this year.
 
Daillest88

Daillest88

Well-Known Member
Messages
13,552
Reaction score
15,398
Crown Royal said:
Outside of pass protection, it takes RBs a while to learn the NFL zone-running system. That's why you saw a lot of man blocking when Zeke was in the first game, and with Morris we ran a lot more stretch plays.

It looks like Zeke has practiced and studied hard and is getting the hang of it.

Also - Dak is more consistently punishing teams for loading up the box - which makes everything in the offense sweeter.

As much as anything, I remain impressed by Zeke's pass blocking. It's already elite - everyone talks about how La'ell Collins got blown backwards. What everyone SHOULD be talking about is that Zeke picked it up without hesitation.
Click to expand...

His pass block after Collins got blown up was impressive
 

ConceptCoop

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,440
Reaction score
1,642
NextGenBoys said:
I was skeptical on Zeke. Kept waiting to see what all the hype was about. I'm an Iowa Hawkeyes fan, so naturally I can't stand Ohio State. I kept watching all these RB's come out of there in recent years (Beanie Wells, Carlos Hyde, etc) to all the hype, and thinking it wasn't merited, and for the most part, being proven right.

Then, we have Zeke coming out and people are calling him the best back to come out since AP. I thought it was way over the top. I wanted Jalen Ramsey and to improve our defense.The first two games I was incredibly unimpressed. He didn't know how to run in the NFL. Yeah the Giants stacked the box, but he wasn't taking what was there. To que Joseph Randle, he left some meat on the bone.

What I saw last night showed that it clicked for Zeke. His patience, ability to plant his foot and cut upfield in our zone runs was beautiful. His ability to pick up tough yards in 3rd and 2 in a man blocking scheme was beautiful. His ability to finish runs and punish defenders like Demarco in 14 was on full display. He has the speed to bounce outside and make something out of nothing like he showed on the 4th down run. And the the hurdle. I'm not a fan of hurdling in football as it opens you up to a litany of negative consequences, but man it looked pretty.

I was skeptical. I'm not anymore. Dude showed his true colors and ability, and there's no reason to think we can't have a season like 2014. Maybe not 12-4, but definitely riding an elite running game, and elite passing compliment to a division title. We may be a bit limited where we can go due to our defense, but we literally have a top 5 RB running behind the best Oline in football. Let's enjoy this year, because even if it doesn't end in a Lombardi, we are completely set for the future with Dak, Dez, and Zeke.
Click to expand...

He looked good, but I wouldn't say top 5 pick good. RBs going top 5 are so rare that they really need to be special to justify the pick. Zeke had a really good game against a busted up defense. Still want to see more. He left a few yards on the field by rushing a bit. While he's looking better, he still has some work to do.
 
CATCH17

CATCH17

1st Round Pick
Messages
67,666
Reaction score
86,212
NextGenBoys said:
Not gonna fully disagree, as that was my belief as well. But who would you have gotten in the draft similar to Zeke? I wanted David Johnson badly last year, and we missed out. I don't think there were many talented RB sleepers this year.
Click to expand...

It's a dime a dozen position.. Just give me a guy and we'll roll. We could use Alfred Morris for all I care.


I have a high standard for him. I expect home run ability from the player.. Just getting what is there is not what I expect.
 
Aven8

Aven8

Well-Known Member
Messages
29,125
Reaction score
45,973
CATCH17 said:
Ehh.. You can find guys to do what he did later on in the draft..


Not special enough for a top 5 pick so far. He needs to make big plays and do more than just get what is blocked.
Click to expand...

He's just getting warmed up IMO. He's getting better every week. Won't be long and those 10 yard runs turn to 60. Patience Kemosabe.
 
NextGenBoys

NextGenBoys

Well-Known Member
Messages
9,252
Reaction score
1,964
CATCH17 said:
It's a dime a dozen position.. Just give me a guy and we'll roll. We could use Alfred Morris for all I care.


I have a high standard for him. I expect home run ability from the player.. Just getting what is there is not what I expect.
Click to expand...

I don't think that was the case last night. He will only get better. I saw the burst and ability that Demarco didn't have and we killed it in 2014 with a run first style.
 
superonyx

superonyx

Well-Known Member
Messages
11,478
Reaction score
15,836
zrinkill said:
These threads are driving the Zeke haters nuts lol.
Click to expand...
They deserve to go nuts.
Isnt it sad that you have a section of fans that come to a cowboys message board with an agenda to cast negative light on a member of their favorite team.
The guys career is just getting started and you have multiple threads from the last 2 weeks where people are out to prove to others why Zeke isn't very good.

Lets see how many of these guys come here and compare Zeke to Ramsey after 37 year old Steve Smith took Ramsey to school yesterday.
 
CATCH17

CATCH17

1st Round Pick
Messages
67,666
Reaction score
86,212
Aven8 said:
He's just getting warmed up IMO. He's getting better every week. Won't be long and those 10 yard runs turn to 60. Patience Kemosabe.
Click to expand...

That is what i'm hoping for and what I would bet on as well.


People on this forum though are acting like last night was something great. Statistically it was awesome but the guy was advertised as a special RB and outside of his leap over the defender it was a bunch of normal.


We drafted a supposed homerun hitter and we're just getting base hits.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top