News: RB Coach- Cowboys need both Zeke and Pollard

[Aven8]

A fantastic read. This will help explain a lot……Peete explains philosophy and why we need both backs.

FRISCO, Texas - With the decision to rest Ezekiel Elliott and his knee (sprain) in the eventual Week 7 victory over the Detroit Lions, the Dallas Cowboys showed they learned from the mistakes of 2021 and will likely now have a healthy Elliott for the back end of the season. But, by Tony Pollard stepping in and doing precisely what they knew he could on Sunday en route to a career-best day, calls for RB2 to become RB1 are again showering down upon the roof of Cowboys headquarters.

https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/rb-coach-cowboys-need-both-zeke-and-pollard

 

[Nova]

It shouldn't be hard to understand -- they are a tandem. Pollard has never been a volume back, and when Zeke is healthy he's still really solid.

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

We get that.

The problem is Zeke averaging 15 carries and Pollard 10 carries.

Flip that.

The numbers between the two do not lie.

 

[Aven8]

It shouldn't be hard to understand -- they are a tandem. Pollard has never been a volume back, and when Zeke is healthy he's still really solid.

For some it is. Interesting from the article that after that 54 yard run Pollard said he was done and had no juice left.

 

[Aven8]

We get that.

The problem is Zeke averaging 15 carries and Pollard 10 carries.

Flip that.

The numbers between the two do not lie.

That was flipped the week before. Probably had more to do with Zekes knee however.

 

[goshann]

If u watch sounds of the game and pollards post game he was very clear that his legs were toast on that long run. He said he felt slow on that run.

that being said, pollard should get 60 percent of the carrys and they should replace zeke next year.

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

That was flipped the week before. Probably had more to do with Zekes knee however.

Zeke had 15 and Pollard had 12 against Detriot.

So, not flipped, but closer than usual.

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

If u watch sounds of the game and pollards post game he was very clear that his legs were toast on that long run. He said he felt slow on that run.

that being said, pollard should get 60 percent of the carrys and they should replace zeke next year.

Pollard saying that should knock off a few million when offered a contract.

That should and will be used against him in contract negotiations. He should've kept that to himself.

 

[RonnieT24]

I feel like we've beaten this horse to death already. Peete said we need both backs and outlined the reasons why. Those who agree will nod their heads in acknowledgement and those who don't will whine.. Which one will you be?

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

We get that.

The problem is Zeke averaging 15 carries and Pollard 10 carries.

Flip that.

The numbers between the two do not lie.

Just comparing straight numbers is stupid. Just call the right play for the player and situation. And then execute.
They are very different styles and skills. Not always interchangeable. A....."good" oc would take advantage of that and not just blindly do some simple math.

That means sometimes tony gets more, sometimes zeke.

 

[Aven8]

I feel like we've beaten this horse to death already. Peete said we need both backs and outlined the reasons why. Those who agree will nod their heads in acknowledgement and those who don't will whine.. Which one will you be?

I actually posted it to hopefully end the speculation. However it’s an article and anything longer than a paragraph is too much for some.

 

[blueblood70]

For some it is. Interesting from the article that after that 54 yard run Pollard said he was done and had no juice left.

you didn't see him on the sideline huffing and puffing in the 2nd half was getting gassed.. yes the run was impressive given he was so tired with only 11 touches before that, OH and i saw him tap out 3 times, thought that want allowed after a nice run... However, you see the hole? if thats the play i remember, the red sea parted for him to get the angle and the sideline. wasn't touched etc.

We NEED both, the way its doles out carry wise should be as split as it can but with the hot hand getting a few extra snaps. we have seen Pollard have 2 games so far under 2YPC not like hes been the leading guy every game. we saw games where their stats were nearly equal, so Pollards is the lightening to Zekes thunder. wants them, healthy and fresher for the in big games, you split the carries nearly evenly , you spilt actual snaps nearly equal but truly zekes got more snaps in the past for his run blocking and his ability to be threat in a fake..defnse bites on him a bit more. this is even bigger value on short weeks lie TG and Xmas etc or any shorter week where you play Monday then again early on Sunday even, you can keep these payers much fresher.

that might be changing now but, in the end, true fans see the value in keeping in it the way its been all season. two very good and complementary backs with different skillsets.

The best thing that happened to the Cowboys is Pollard now being a more well-rounded back , the defense no longer can guess what's coming by the player being subbed (ie remember Noah Brown coming in used to be run 75% of the time , no longer ), used to they had an idea zeke goes out, pollards in run going to be to the outside etc etc KM been switch that up been using both players in all roles..

 

[RonnieT24]

I actually posted it to hopefully end the speculation. However it’s an article and anything longer than a paragraph is too much for some.

Someone linked the same article yesterday .. Because I peruse pretty much all the articles on dallascowboys.com I had already read it but as I pretty much consider this whole pitting one of our own players against another one of our own players thing asinine I never thought to link it here. It's not going to stop anyway.. Some people are just dug in on wanting Zeke on the bench or gone.. It is what it is..

 

[jazzcat22]

We will see what they do in the GB game.
May also depend if Zeke is 100% or not.

I say go with what works. Which one matches up best against the GB defense.

Is the GB run defense physical, as using Zeke to wear them down some. Or are the more finesse, so use Pollards speed and quickness.
Pass rush, does Zeke need to be in more for protection as well.

 

[RonnieT24]

We will see what they do in the GB game.
May also depend if Zeke is 100% or not.

I say go with what works. Which one matches up best against the GB defense.

Is the GB run defense physical, as using Zeke to wear them down some. Or are the more finesse, so use Pollards speed and quickness.
Pass rush, does Zeke need to be in more for protection as well.

Not just Green Bay's defense but any defense. The answers to the test are always going to depend on the questions. Some defenses will be a bad matchup for Pollard but not so much for Zeke. Some will be a bad matchup for Zeke but not so much for Pollard. As you said, use the one that works that day.

If he's healthy I fully expect the game at Lambeau to be more of a Zeke style game. One it's on grass which negates a lot of the speed and quickness game. Two their run defense is pretty bad.. The only opponent they've held under 125 yards was Tampa in week three. That means that Zeke should get rolling early and if he does Pollard's touches will stay in single digits. Thirdly their pass defense is decent. They held the Jets and the Bears to under 100 yards passing.. but somehow managed to lose the Jets game. This has definitely been one of the weirdest years in recent memory for the NFL though.

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

A fantastic read. This will help explain a lot……Peete explains philosophy and why we need both backs.

FRISCO, Texas - With the decision to rest Ezekiel Elliott and his knee (sprain) in the eventual Week 7 victory over the Detroit Lions, the Dallas Cowboys showed they learned from the mistakes of 2021 and will likely now have a healthy Elliott for the back end of the season. But, by Tony Pollard stepping in and doing precisely what they knew he could on Sunday en route to a career-best day, calls for RB2 to become RB1 are again showering down upon the roof of Cowboys headquarters.

https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/rb-coach-cowboys-need-both-zeke-and-pollard

@jazzcat22
You even gave this one a like.

 

[Risen Star]

The Cowboys don't need Zeke. He is a league average back on his best day. What they need is just someone to fill his role and there are plenty that are capable.

They're on a mission to create a perception of impact with Zeke because of the contract. There is nothing he does at a high level anymore besides pass protect.

 

[jazzcat22]

@jazzcat22
You even gave this one a like.

I don't remember if I clicked on the link to the article though. I usually do, or try to go back to it later. Maybe I didn't on this one.

 

[Loso86]

It shouldn't be hard to understand -- they are a tandem. Pollard has never been a volume back, and when Zeke is healthy he's still really solid.

Unfortunately most of our fans dont care lol, zeke sucks and Pollard is the best back in the league

 

[noshame]

What was wrong with last week's tandem?