Aug 31, 2019

i was confident Zeke and Cowboys would get a deal done before the real games start, and it might still happen--but at this point it really feels like he might miss a couple regular season games. it'll be interesting to see how Pollard performs if he ends up being their starter week 1. i can't remember whether it was the Cowboys guard or center, but one of them said that Pollard is a good back.

melvin gordon is also still holding out. running back definitely isn't a super important position, but i feel like both of these teams could be in the super bowl. both of these teams are in "win now" mode, so they need to get these guys back ASAP!!!!!

 

Aug 31, 2019

RBs need their own union and own set of contract rules

 

Aug 31, 2019

Facts. Teams are becoming more hesitant to sign them because of their value. League is finally catching on.

 

Aug 31, 2019

how nervous are you about this Zeke holdout? Emmit Smith in the early 90's flashbacks lol

 

Aug 31, 2019

Not at all. I’m firmly in the “RBs are replaceable” camp. People were freaking out a couple years back when we let Demarco Murray walk & we were still one of the best rushing teams in the league with an old Darren McFadden. Rams lost Gurley last season & an overweight C.J. Anderson came in & lit up the league. Cowboys are going to be fine at RB. It’s the passing game that I’m anxious to see. Michael Gallup is key to our offense. He’s looked incredible in the preseason, if he can keep that up (+ Cooper plays as well as he did last season) I think this Cowboys offense can be very good.

 

Aug 31, 2019

The thing going for the cowboys is they have a weak schedule the first like 5 or 6 games. Colin Cowherd and other sport analysts think they can easily go 4-1 without Zeke. It’s just they’re not a playoff threat without Zeke. With Zeke, the defenses have to do man to man coverages resulting in Cooper being more open. Without Zeke, the defense will play zone and double cover Cooper sometimes, and they’ll shut him down. Cooper is a good wideout, but he’s not elite. Dak is an average QB, but not great. 2 espn top 100 list, neither had Dak ranked in the top 100. Where Zeke was ranked 22 on one and I think 25 on another.

In some online fantasy leagues, people are still drafting Zeke later in the first round. I think that’s a risk, but it could pay off if he comes to the cowboys during week 4 or 5. Also, Zeke should respect Jerry some for getting him out of trouble a few times. A car wreck that was never reported online, for example. Zeke should take the 2nd highest paid rb money imo. Or make sure they offer you more guaranteed money. I can’t blame running backs for being more hard headed. Their bodies take the worst damage out of any other position. They know they’re not playing over 35, so elite running backs you have to pay up.

I have a few herniated disc in my back and one in my neck, just from being a running back when I was younger. Plus 2 concussions. And I think I had maybe 3 or 4, but once I got up after everything was black I didn’t want to admit it to the staff. Or the teams medic would make me holdout a week and I’d have to go to the hospital again just to show I had a concussion. I was hard headed and always tried to cover times I probably shouldn’t have played. I got prescribed Vicodin at 16 years old for my back. I’d save my script during the week, then use 4-6 right before the big Friday night game to feel no pain. An RB is a dangerous position. It looks like Melvin Gordon may pull a Bell and end up sitting out all season. I think I’m going to draft Eckler in the next draft after getting 2 dominate WR’s.

 

Aug 31, 2019

I agree it’s not a super important position, but i don’t feel as strongly as you do about it. You seem to think my Grandpa can be effective as a running back lol. I guess we’ll soon find out

 

Aug 31, 2019

No but any nfl level RB can come in & do just fine. Good RBs are in abundance in the NFL, there are a lot of them. All you need to have a good run game in the nfl is good run blocking, good run scheme & an NFL level RB. You don’t need a Gurley, Zeke, Bell esque RB to be efficient at running the ball.

 

Aug 31, 2019

Yeah, that’s fair

 

Aug 31, 2019

Wait a minute. A friend just told me he heard Elliot just signed a contract. @Enigma you’re the cowboys fan. Find out for us please, if this is real. Honestly if you guys have Zeke starting the year. Unless the eagles are a massive team this season, which they have potential to be. There’s no reason the cowboys shouldn’t make a wild card if they don’t win their division. I’m actually curious about watching them as much as I can when they’re on tv or catch them on streaming. I do think the nfl and most sport analysts are a little too harsh on Dak, imo.

You guys have a potential playoff team running for a super bowl, as long as stars don’t get hurt. How would you rank your defense tbh? Like, is their secondary good enough to play against a team like the Saints and Packers going in shot gun most plays throwing the ball down the field? I think I read they have a solid LB core and a good defensive line. I just didn’t hear much about their secondary.

 

Aug 31, 2019

They’re apparently trying to work out a contract before the weekend ends. I’m really hoping it doesn’t get done tbh. How much the passing game improves will determine whether or not Cowboys make the playoffs. Zeke or no Zeke, im not worried about the running game.

Defense is top 10. Byron Jones is great & a true #1 CB. Everyone else behind him is questionable but mostly because they’re young (entering into their 2nd/3rd years). I have high expectations for our #2 CB Chidobe Awuzie. He’s shown flashes of great play but this preseason he played great & had a great training camp. I think he could be primed for a breakout year. Safety is a bit of a concern but mostly because of Jeff Heath. However, Donovan Wilson came out of no where this preseason & got 3 ints in 4 games. He’s played out of his mind & I expect him to replace Heath before the season is over. Also, people don’t recognize that both Smith & Vander Esch are great coverage LBs. It helps out our secondary a lot because we can trust putting one of them on a TE or RB coming out the backfield.

 

Aug 31, 2019

if I were the cowboys I'd just let him miss the first few games, save some $$ and also wear and tear on his body. Plus those are winnable games and if Dallas is gonna be a playoff team this year then they should be able to win those kinda games without him anyways. So long term it may be smarter for a couple reasons to wait a few weeks..also keeps him more fresh for a potential playoff run.

Sounds like it'll get done this weekend though, based off the latest reports.

 

Aug 31, 2019

I didn’t want him at first because I thought it would take too much to get him, but after seeing the trade I would have loved to have him for that price

 

Aug 31, 2019

What is Houston doing?

 

Aug 31, 2019

I mean Rankins wasn’t good per say but he was at least young & had the ability to improve?

 

Aug 31, 2019

I’d be super pissed if I were a Texan fan for getting rid of Clowney. With him, as long as your QB stays healthy and plays well, you’re definitely at least getting a shot in the playoffs. I wouldn’t care as much with that Carlo Hyde trade. Yeah Hyde may be out of his prime. But I’d take him for a solid number 2 back. Plus with Johnson getting hurt here and there most seasons, Hyde will be a decent backup over a lot of other backups. And if you’re killing a team, you could save David Johnson’s body and put Carlos in.

What’s your opinion on Johnson tbh? I have a hard time trusting to draft him in the top 5-6 pick. It’s usually him or Bell being the next best rb. I’d say I like bell more. Because I think he’s going to be a redzone machine getting td’s. But Johnson is on a better overall team where they can’t just load up on Johnson. Also happy I finally got Hopkins in a draft for once. I had 9th pick in only a 10 man league, I took Adams at first, then Hopkins was still available and I took him. I think they’re the best 2 current wide receivers fantasy point wise.

But d--- I’m pissed not taking Zeke in the 2nd round during my first draft when it was looking more shaky between Zeke and the cowboys. After Bell sat out all year last year, I’m too paranoid grabbing a RB that’s acting similar to him. I still won the league though and grabbed James Conner late in the draft. And got Philip Lindsay off waivers which made my rbs plus wr’s dominant.