Zeke will lead the NFL in yards from scrimmage

[conner01]

I'm not preserving him at all. You're paying a huge price, maximize the return on investment.

This may sound cold but it is reality. You play him every down he can play and be effective. Teams don't think about preserving a guys future and neither do most of the players
If he is moving the chains you keep handing him the ball. I'll worry about 5 years from now In 5 years

 

[Sydla]

LOL at the talk of preserving him because he's a TB and will take a beating.

It's like all the chatter leading up to the draft between the pro-Elliott crowd and those not wanting to take him at 4 didn't really happen.

Every single pro-Elliott fan here talked about he was the most NFL ready of any prospect in this draft, he was a guy you could start from Day One and would dominate behind this OL, that he was a true bellcow, something this team really needed.

And now, after drafting him, many in the pro-Elliott group are talking about easing him in, preserving him by maybe giving McFadden and Morris more carries, not wanting to wear him down because the position he plays takes a toll on players, etc.

It's downright hilarious.

 

[Denim Chicken]

My concern is that Zeke will lead the league and be over worked. After going thru a lot of reports of our draft grade, I keep reading that our draft this year will play out well in the future. Lets all hope that Zeke is not overworked to a point he is less effective when this so called future appears.

The future is now

 

[DFWJC]

This season. That was the prediction from Mike Greenberg this morning on Mike and Mike. Predictions and opinions are just that but just throwing it out there. Nice to get a little love!

It's not really going out on a limb to say that.

I think the argument would be; were there 2-3 other backs drafted several rounds later that could have done the same (or close to the same) thing in this offense?

Zeke should have a great year. If not, we blew the pick.
I'm excited to see how it goes!

 

[zrinkill]

Zeke was drafted to be an every down back ........ put all the pressure on him.

He is 20 years old ........ not 28 and injury prone like Murray ....... I am not worried about him wearing down.

 

[Stash]

LOL at the talk of preserving him because he's a TB and will take a beating.

It's like all the chatter leading up to the draft between the pro-Elliott crowd and those not wanting to take him at 4 didn't really happen.

Every single pro-Elliott fan here talked about he was the most NFL ready of any prospect in this draft, he was a guy you could start from Day One and would dominate behind this OL, that he was a true bellcow, something this team really needed.

And now, after drafting him, many in the pro-Elliott group are talking about easing him in, preserving him by maybe giving McFadden and Morris more carries, not wanting to wear him down because the position he plays takes a toll on players, etc.

It's downright hilarious.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one noticing that. As well as the now tempered expectations being made after all of the previous claims.

 

[hornitosmonster]

Rookie of the year. Book it!!

 

[HellCrowe]

Ok.....but we ran the wheels off of Murray, with a lot of study focused on a rb's production the following year after a heavy load..........and now we want to give a rookie a load that will put a lot of miles on a 20 yr old body?............Now maybe he can lead the NFL in yds from scrimmage with a lot of big runs/plays while keeping the carry numbers to a number picked by the coaching staff............

We had to rely on Murray in 2014. We have other guys to give the ball to. I expect those yards where Murray "left meat on the bone" to be the difference between he and Zeke thus getting more production without taking as much hits and carries. Also, when the game is out of reach, we have capable backups to grind out the clock as well and keep Zeke out. I recall a few games in 2014 where Murray had to come back in because even with a 2 TD lead in the 4th. So, I don't believe we will use Zeke as much as everyone thinks (20/game) but I am hoping for a similar yardage output like 2014.

 

[gimmesix]

This season. That was the prediction from Mike Greenberg this morning on Mike and Mike. Predictions and opinions are just that but just throwing it out there. Nice to get a little love!

He should unless we divide up the carries to much to "preserve" him. If the Cowboys use the running game like they did in 2014 and even to some extent in 2015, then he's in a great position to do it.

Frankly, that's the thing that makes this pick worthwhile to me. We ride Elliott hard for five years, getting the most out of the player that we can to help us win, then we look to replace him with another young stud. Not trying to be cold about it, but it's how the game should be played.

Now, I don't expect him to have almost 400 carries like Murray did in 2014, because I don't think Dallas overly relied on Murray that year. But I do expect him to finish with 300-plus carries. If we don't give him around that much, making him the bell cow back, then he wasn't worth the pick.

As a barometer, look at Adrian Peterson. During the years he's played in all 16 games, he's had more than 300 carries each time, with a high of 363.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I hope so. We're going to need it with this defense and pair of safeties.





YR

 

[jazzcat22]

more realistic is around 1200 yards rushing 350 rec and 11 TDs...I don't think that will lead the league but will be a very good rookie year.

I would take that for his rookie year. McFadden and Morris will get some yards too, if they can add another 1000 between them. And some TD's as well.
That is 2200 not counting any others rushing yards. Gets to within a few hundred of 2014, and 300 to 400 more than last year. Rushing yards that is.

 

[Sydla]

I am actually seeing a few posters propose a scenario where it's almost a RBBC approach with Elliott to keep him fresh............... after spending the previous few months bashing the concept of RBBC.

LOL. Awesome.

 

[Sydla]

I would take that for his rookie year. McFadden and Morris will get some yards too, if they can add another 1000 between them. And some TD's as well.
That is 2200 not counting any others rushing yards. Gets to within a few hundred of 2014, and 300 to 400 more than last year.

Wait a second, didn't you predict something like 1600 yards for Elliott as a rookie?

You also were very clear that Elliott was that true bellcow back that Dallas needed. And yet here you are basically saying he should be used in a RBBC approach with him getting like 1200 yards and then they other TBs getting 1000 yards. So Elliott, the #4 pick, would be accounting for around 55% of the rushing attack?

So we just spent the 4th pick in the draft on what was sold as an elite TB that would hit the ground running but now apparently should only account for just over 50% of the rushing totals of the team? What?

 

[tyke1doe]

Well it's certainly possible if the team chooses to use Zeke the way they used McFadden last year and Murray the year before.

I would even venture to say he is a favorite if he stays healthy and gets that much usage but I do believe the team tries to preserve him a little bit but sometimes a player is just too good to take off the field. If Murray was in 2014, I'm sure Zeke will be.

I think the Cowboys will start off trying to limit his carries, then by Week 4, he'll be getting the majority of the carries.

Or ... I also see Zeke seizing the opportunity in the first game. I think the Cowboys will likely start the game with McFadden, and he'll move the chains - along with Morris.

Then Zeke will come in a pop a 60 yard TD. and then we'll see a little bit less of McFadden and more of Zeke. And then he'll pop another long TD, and then the chats will rise from the stands - "Zeke! Zeke! Zeke!"

I'm predicting Zeke will have 159 yards and 3 TDs against the Giants (We play them first in the Sunday Night Game, right?)

Sunday Night Football is going to love promoting Zeke and Odell Beckham Jr.

 

[jazzcat22]

Wait a second, didn't you predict something like 1600 yards for Elliott as a rookie?

You also were very clear that Elliott was that true bellcow back that Dallas needed. And yet here you are basically saying he should be used in a RBBC approach with him getting like 1200 yards and then they other TBs getting 1000 yards. So Elliott, the #4 pick, would be accounting for around 55% of the rushing attack?

So we just spent the 4th pick in the draft on what was sold as an elite TB that would hit the ground running but now apparently should only account for just over 50% of the rushing totals of the team? What?

No I did not predict that at all. I never predicted a yardage amount for him or any other RB. Not that I recall.
What I did say, was don't be surprised that Elliott won't start right away. May take several games...therefore reducing his overall yard total. But that does not lessen his impact on the TEAM for the year.
By saying I would take those yard totals for him as a rookie, is saying I do not expect him t come in and get 1800 yards. I would not have expected that last year if Murray had stayed.
But to accept that ANY RB would get 1200 yards, is a plus for that team.

I am not saying "basically" use RBBC as you say. It is saying our running attack can be good enough for 2 other backs to get 1000 yards. I was using the 1200 yards number that was posted. If you have the players, then use them to your advantage. Period.

So how is this, if Elliott can get 1400 yards, and the rest get 800 yards, I would take that...but if i say 1500 yards and 700 yards...then you would be critical of giving him too much credit for a rookie.
Which I think you don't ever like what ever this team does or does not do. You will find fault.

 

[Sydla]

No I did not predict that at all. I never predicted a yardage amount for him or any other RB. Not that I recall.
What I did say, was don't be surprised that Elliott won't start right away. May take several games...therefore reducing his overall yard total. But that does not lessen his impact on the TEAM for the year.
By saying I would take those yard totals for him as a rookie, is saying I do not expect him t come in and get 1800 yards. I would not have expected that last year if Murray had stayed.
But to accept that ANY RB would get 1200 yards, is a plus for that team.

I am not saying "basically" use RBBC as you say. It is saying our running attack can be good enough for 2 other backs to get 1000 yards. I was using the 1200 yards number that was posted. If you have the players, then use them to your advantage. Period.

So how is this, if Elliott can get 1400 yards, and the rest get 800 yards, I would take that...but if i say 1500 yards and 700 yards...then you would be critical of giving him too much credit for a rookie.
Which I think you don't ever like what ever this team does or does not do. You will find fault.

The problem is that you just used the 4th pick on a guy that you are now suggesting might need some time to ease into the position and that even if he only gets 1200 that's really great.

No it's not great. Because I suspect I could get 1200 yards from a 3rd round back. ****, I got nearly 1100 yards from a broken down, bum of a TB in McFadden and did that in essentially 12 games without having Romo or Bryant.

Look, you guys can try to walk it back now but you set the bar leading up to the draft with Elliott. How great he was going to be, how he was the most NFL ready player in the draft, how he was the most likely to have the greatest impact of any rookie in the NFL this year. And now? Well you guys are setting the expectations lower and in reality if he just meets those lower expectations, you kind of proved the dissenters point of taking a TB at 4.

To justify that pick at 4, he better blow the doors off, almost right from the jump.

 

[tyke1doe]

I am actually seeing a few posters propose a scenario where it's almost a RBBC approach with Elliott to keep him fresh............... after spending the previous few months bashing the concept of RBBC.

LOL. Awesome.

I find your interpretation interesting in light of our discussion about TwoDeep3's post.

 

[tyke1doe]

Zeke is like Weed. From what I heard and read he is going to cure all that ails this team. Everything from extending Romo's career fixing to fixing the defense to making Garrett a better head coach. Hell he might turn Jerry into Ozzie Newsome as a GM.

Weed cures everything?

 

[John813]

I think there is a reason why we signed Morris, retained Dunbar(even with injuries) and drafted another running back. Not to mention still have DMC.

Zeke will be our #1 option. And will have probably 80+% of the snaps going into the fourth quarter.

But, unless he is absolutely on fire and is unstoppable/having a career day, we have enough talent behind him to give him breathers/close out the game.

 

[jazzcat22]

The problem is that you just used the 4th pick on a guy that you are now suggesting might need some time to ease into the position and that even if he only gets 1200 that's really great.

No it's not great. Because I suspect I could get 1200 yards from a 3rd round back. ****, I got nearly 1100 yards from a broken down, bum of a TB in McFadden and did that in essentially 12 games without having Romo or Bryant.

Look, you guys can try to walk it back now but you set the bar leading up to the draft with Elliott. How great he was going to be, how he was the most NFL ready player in the draft, how he was the most likely to have the greatest impact of any rookie in the NFL this year. And now? Well you guys are setting the expectations lower and in reality if he just meets those lower expectations, you kind of proved the dissenters point of taking a TB at 4.

To justify that pick at 4, he better blow the doors off, almost right from the jump.

Well, every rookie needs an adjustment period...sure throw any rookie out there...he still needs time. JJ Watt needed a few years to get going. Remember that QB guy in Cleveland...uh, is the RG-remember me? guy...first game set the NFL on fire, as well well as his rookie season...i think he needed a bit more "ease" into the NFL.

The pick does not need to be justified at all.