Zeke vs San Francisco

[Cowboy_svt]

Your facts are off here. Pollard had 22 carries against Green Bay. And both the Bears and Packers were horrible against the run all year. There is no arguing that Pollard is getting more done with his totes at the stage. Zeke looks worn down from slamming it up the middle all season. And I still think that knee must be still acting up for him to still be wearing that brace. It is what it is.... The formula and approach doesn't need to change. But to your first point.. Yes defenses get worn down from short inside runs. Not just from tackling Zeke but also from having to fight mano-a-mano with the big uglies over and over. I always go back to the boxing analogy. Those runs are body blows. Pollard's runs are the head shots. It works.. And as always.. if one of them really gets rolling then keep feeding him until they stop it.

Yup i misread there, his avg is still correct though, the reason i picked those games were cause Zeke was injured during that time.
I get your point, rewatching '92 cowboys, Emmitt only started to dominate in the second half after their lines were worn down. Zeke did have a decent burst this year before his injury in the lions game which was a shame. Im just torn on results now or later kinda game plan. Getting shorter 2nd and 3rd downs vs the 49ers will be crucial especially in the beginning to put the pressure on Purdy. I make this opinion mainly based on the fact i dont think Zeke is the same player he was and especially after his injury, and i hope im proven wrong Sunday.

 

[RonnieT24]

Yup i misread there, his avg is still correct though, the reason i picked those games were cause Zeke was injured during that time.
I get your point, rewatching '92 cowboys, Emmitt only started to dominate in the second half after their lines were worn down. Zeke did have a decent burst this year before his injury in the lions game which was a shame. Im just torn on results now or later kinda game plan. Getting shorter 2nd and 3rd downs vs the 49ers will be crucial especially in the beginning to put the pressure on Purdy. I make this opinion mainly based on the fact i dont think Zeke is the same player he was and especially after his injury, and i hope im proven wrong Sunday.

I would love it if we could get a vintage Zeke performance this week. There is a small chance because the 49ers are not as stout in the middle as the last few teams we've faced were. Not that they suck or anything but they don't have a 350 pound behemoth or two to throw at you. But none of that matters if the tank is completely empty for Zeke.. We'll see pretty early on if that's the case. Early in the season he would drag the defenders for 3-4 yards no matter the blocking but of late he struggles to get only a yard or two. I always maintain that you're not getting big yardage on those plays against a front that is beating your offensive line no matter who you hand it to. But asking Pollard to take that pounding robs him of the big play component. So sacrificing Zeke to get 1-3 yards on those plays makes more sense than asking Pollard to do it and losing his explosiveness. Again, it's a winning formula.. I see no reason to depart from it..

 

[vlad]

1) Pollard is a Top 5 RB, start him!
2) I blame the coaches n Jerry for this nonsense. You can't say you want win and insist on playing inferior players.
3) Play Malk Davis over Zeke.
4) Flat out release, Zeke in offseason.
5) Pay Pollard however.
6) Half the UFA n up to the 5th round draftable RBs are better than Zeke now.
7) When ppl glorify only the blocking and 1 yard plunges from a "running" back who is slow footed y'all pray for them.
8) I've always liked #21, but it's about the team with me.
9) Dallas won't beat the 9ers defense giving sentimental carries to Zeke, they need speed at RB vs a fast defense.
10) Lastly, I want to give props to TP for being a great teammate and being unselfish.

#8 seems under expressed here. I've never seen a player have more excuses made for him, I dont even mind Zeke but his fans are like stage moms or something insulting ppl that they don't understand the game or toughness or softening em up...nothing really about his own behavior.

Good for him for getting paid, not his fault Stephen is not good at his job, but Jerry Jr and Charlotte kicking ***.

 

[Mr_437]

After reading all these comments I keep seeing that Zeke is a power back and defenders get worn down tackling him and whatnot. But, I don't see Zeke running over would be tacklers, breaking tackles at a decent clip, nor does anyone seem to fear him or be worn down by him.

It usually takes only one guy to tackle Zeke in the open field, so I'm just kinda seeing these attributes Zeke brings to a game as a myth.

 

[vlad]

Your facts are off here. Pollard had 22 carries against Green Bay. And both the Bears and Packers were horrible against the run all year. There is no arguing that Pollard is getting more done with his totes at the stage. Zeke looks worn down from slamming it up the middle all season. And I still think that knee must be still acting up for him to still be wearing that brace. It is what it is.... The formula and approach doesn't need to change. But to your first point.. Yes defenses get worn down from short inside runs. Not just from tackling Zeke but also from having to fight mano-a-mano with the big uglies over and over. I always go back to the boxing analogy. Those runs are body blows. Pollard's runs are the head shots. It works.. And as always.. if one of them really gets rolling then keep feeding him until they stop it.

Just curious why you wouldn't want to improve the formula with more production out of the less productive player?

After reading all these comments I keep seeing that Zeke is a power back and defenders get worn down tackling him and whatnot. But, I don't see Zeke running over would be tacklers, breaking tackles at a decent clip, nor does anyone seem to fear him or be worn down by him.

It usually takes only one guy to tackle Zeke in the open field, so I'm just kinda seeing these attributes Zeke brings to a game as a myth.

This article matches my eyes...not saying I'm an expert but I've always thought he was overrated...Imagine a dozen of other RBs behind those 2016-18 offensive lines. Demarco Murray did way more with less, l think like 500 total yards more, yet he was considered trash by much of the fan base.

https://www.bluechipscouting.com/nfl-articles-1/zr/analytics/zekeoverrated

 

[diamonddelts]

“I won’t explain…those that don’t see won’t get it, anyway.”

[Translation]

“I can’t explain so I won’t try to…”

He is the highest paid "blocking back" in the league

After reading all these comments I keep seeing that Zeke is a power back and defenders get worn down tackling him and whatnot. But, I don't see Zeke running over would be tacklers, breaking tackles at a decent clip, nor does anyone seem to fear him or be worn down by him.

It usually takes only one guy to tackle Zeke in the open field, so I'm just kinda seeing these attributes Zeke brings to a game as a myth.

Exactly

 

[diamonddelts]

Now the excuse is if Zeke doesn't get carries then Pollard may get worn out. Lol. Malik Davis has entered the chat.

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

Blocking, softening up the defense for Pollard, short yardage plays, play action, giving Pollard a break. How long will Pollard last if he has to carry the ball 25 every game?

Nah.

This is what ya'll want to believe Zeke does while the evidence (When Zeke was out) shows that Pollard does just fine when Zeke is in street clothes.

Pollard had two 100 yard games with Zeke in street clothes this season. What you're presenting is a myth that has been proven wrong.

 

[diamonddelts]

Nah.

This is what ya'll want to believe Zeke does while the evidence (When Zeke was out) shows that Pollard does just fine when Zeke is in street clothes.

Pollard had two 100 yard games with Zeke in street clothes this season. What you're presenting is a myth that has been proven wrong.

Truth

 

[RonnieT24]

After reading all these comments I keep seeing that Zeke is a power back and defenders get worn down tackling him and whatnot. But, I don't see Zeke running over would be tacklers, breaking tackles at a decent clip, nor does anyone seem to fear him or be worn down by him.

It usually takes only one guy to tackle Zeke in the open field, so I'm just kinda seeing these attributes Zeke brings to a game as a myth.

Repeating these fallacies doesn't give them any more truth. By my count 6 Giants defenders had to leave the game after tackling him on Thanksgiving. 5 Eagles defenders also had to be helped off the field when they played at Dallas. If you have not seen Zeke running over would be tacklers then fine.. No one can see what you see as you watch the games.. but I know for a fact I can go back and watch those two games especially and point out the broken tackles and hurt defenders because it really stood out in those games. You call his positive attributes a "myth" because you don't see it. I contend that you don't see them because you don't want to. It's no big deal, most people look for confirmation of what they believe as opposed to trying to see that which renders our beliefs invalid. It's part of the human condition and we're all guilty of it. Zeke clearly has had no juice since the second Philly game. I don't think his body handled to double short week turnaround at all. Not going to get any better until the offseason so we roll with what we got. I should point out however that in the two games against Philly this season:


Pollard: 20 carries 63 yards (3.1 ypc) - 0 TDs, long of 15
Elliott: 29 carries 136 yards (4.7 ypc) - 2 TDs, long of 22

Something to keep in mind if we end up having to go to Philly next week.

Oh and if by some chance we get to host the G-men. Here's what they did in two games against those guys:

Pollard: 31 carries 165 yards (5.2 ypc) - 0 TD, long of 46
Elliott: 31 carries 165 yards (5.2 ypc) - 2 TD, long of 27

The identical ypc really caught me off guard. Especially considering Zeke got most of the dirty work short yardage totes and still matched TP in ypc.

Again I'm not here to argue that Zeke is playing at peak level right now. He clearly has worn down toward the end of the season and what we saw from him up to the Philly game might not come back this year. But this insistence on acting as if he has not contributed and cannot contribute to winning games is galling. I will never understand the need to do that. I would like to see him have a big day this weekend because if he does there's a good chance we're playing next weekend. But if he has an underwhelming day and we win I will be JUST as happy heading into next week!!!

 

[Runwildboys]

Zeke will be needed for toughness. SF is not a finesse D. Having said that keep running Pollard the majority please

Not to mention the fact that you don't want to give Pollard 20-25 carries.

 

[RonnieT24]

Just curious why you wouldn't want to improve the formula with more production out of the less productive player?

This article matches my eyes...not saying I'm an expert but I've always thought he was overrated...Imagine a dozen of other RBs behind those 2016-18 offensive lines. Demarco Murray did way more with less, l think like 500 total yards more, yet he was considered trash by much of the fan base.

https://www.bluechipscouting.com/nfl-articles-1/zr/analytics/zekeoverrated

I don't change that which is working just to be changing it. The formula is to continue hammering at the defense throughout the game. Against stouter fronts you know going in that you're not breaking off a bunch of big runs in there but you have to do it for reasons I hope I don't have to explain. Those fronts keep everybody from running up the middle. That's why they give up average ypc like 3.4 and 3.5. But you still have to keep punching them in the mouth. If you give up and either go to all passing or just running outside they have you where they want you.

As to your point about Murray.. I can't go there with ya.. I certainly did not consider him "trash" by any stretch and hoped like hell the Cowboys would re-sign him. I had zero faith that Randle could replace him and I was right. But "did way more with less" is a stretch. That 2014 line with Tyron, Leary, Fredbeard, Zack and Free was the exact same starting 5 that Zeke ran behind in 2016. And frankly that line took a step backward when Collins replaced Leary and then Williams replaced him when Collins moved to tackle. Of course the biggest step back was when Fedbeard got sick. Looney was solid but certainly not an all pro.

Oh and Zeke's 1994 total yards and 16 TDs in 15 games doesn't need to take a back seat to Murray's 2261 total yards and 13 TDs in 16 games. The 270 more yards (on 80 more touches) is nice but I think I'd trade that for 3 more TDs in fewer games and on fewer touches. Both phenomenal seasons by the way. The difference is that Murray only had ONE monster season. Zeke had 3 seasons where he averaged over 95 yards a game and one other where he came in at 84.8. Murray had the one season averaging 115.3 but never got above 80.4 in his other seasons in Dallas. So in fact he did considerably LESS in Dallas than Zeke has.

 

[Ranching]

Nah.

This is what ya'll want to believe Zeke does while the evidence (When Zeke was out) shows that Pollard does just fine when Zeke is in street clothes.

Pollard had two 100 yard games with Zeke in street clothes this season. What you're presenting is a myth that has been proven wrong.

You believe whatever the heck toy want. This ain't Madden. This is real football.

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

You believe whatever the heck toy want. This ain't Madden. This is real football.

Facts aren't about "thinking what you want".

You like Zeke because he's "tough". I like Pollard because he's productive.

 

[KJJ]

Does anyone feel like it will be a waste of plays and downs running zeke against SF?

We need to use pollard strong in this game if we want to seriously win.

There is no use *****footing around with zeke in this game. The only time I'd run zeke is literally on "a down & 1", "a down & inches" goalline, or to give pollard rest, and even at that...it should be a pass play where zeke is blocking.

I hate saying this stuff but SF is not the game to overly or even halfway showcase zeke.

It won’t be a waste running Zeke against San Francisco, because he’s still valuable in short yardage. It’s definitely going to be tough sledding for him against their stout defense but he can still push the pile. He has a punishing running style that can wear on a defense. We’re going to need him on some third and short situations and goal line. We also want to try and keep Pollard as fresh as possible, especially for the fourth quarter.

 

[diamonddelts]

So getting the ball and falling forward a yard is "punishing" the defense. Oh lawd.

 

[Ranching]

Facts aren't about "thinking what you want".

You like Zeke because he's "tough". I like Pollard because he's productive.

Pollard is much more effective when Zeke is taking and dealing punishment. It's not rocket science. They play well as a duo...why can't you haters just leave it at that and stop bashing your own players? I don't get fans like you.

 

[diamonddelts]

i hope we bust'm in the gutt with both.
we've been gutted on the ground by the rams in '18 and 9ers last year...let them feel it for a change.
i'd like to see both zeke and pollard rip a 100 apiece.

Wishful thinking. Zeke has not had a 100 yard game in years.

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

Pollard is much more effective when Zeke is taking and dealing punishment. It's not rocket science. They play well as a duo...why can't you haters just leave it at that and stop bashing your own players? I don't get fans like you.

If we didn't have proof that Zeke being on the field doesn't matter for Pollard then I'd be on board, but we have proof that Pollard is at his best when Zeke is in street clothes and being the main guy.

 

[diamonddelts]

If we didn't have proof that Zeke being on the field doesn't matter for Pollard then I'd be on board, but we have proof that Pollard is at his best when Zeke is in street clothes and being the main guy.

Yep