The case for Pollard

[pgreptom]

From the start, I've liked this kid. Yesterday was the icing on the cake for me.

Pollard:
12 rushes for 131 yards

Elliot:
24 rushes for 117 yards

To me, the kid is just better than Elliot. Don't get me wrong. I think Elliot is a good back (not work the big contract though). But I think Pollard gives the dynamic of the "break-away" run as evident in his TD run yesterday. If that was Elliot, he goes down or is caught from behind.

you're just looking at the numbers.. there's way more to football than statistics

I remember when all the buzz was surrounding Troy Hambrick, his stats, ypc, and how he was ready to take over for #22.

Well, he did, and my god he was awful. A blade of grass could tackle him... even though his YPC was better than #22's the previous year.

Pollard's big runs came in the 4th, Zeke had already did all the grunt work wearing out their defense while churning yards. Be careful what you wish for... 1st-3rd quarter, vs starters might be a different story for Tony.

 

[CATCH17]

you're just looking at the numbers.. there's way more to football than statistics

I remember when all the buzz was surrounding Troy Hambrick, his stats, ypc, and how he was ready to take over for #22.

Well, he did, and my god he was awful. A blade of grass could tackle him... even though his YPC was better than #22's the previous year.

Pollard's big runs came in the 4th, Zeke had already did all the grunt work wearing out their defense while churning yards. Be careful what you wish for... 1st-3rd quarter, vs starters might be a different story for Tony.

Volume = production at that position.

So while Zeke may be the more skilled player Pollard would produce at a similar level if given the same work load.

He would probably provide more big plays but would hurt us on short runs which is a trade off that I wouldn't mind anyways.

We're locked into Zeke's contract so it's not worth discussing really but Pollard is a talented enough player that I don't think we would see a huge drop off without Zeke.

We're 7-7 with Zeke so...

 

[zerofill]

Pollard is a good back... probably a starter without Zeke in front of him somewhere. But, I don't think he would last with the brutal yards Zeke can get. The pounding yards you have to get to produce a successful ground and pound that you need in the NFL. Pollard is more of a finesse runner. He would never be able to pound out the tough yards all season. Zeke is built for it, Pollard is not. Plus, the offensive line wasn't trying to sell anything last night as if it might be a run or a pass... they were straight out pancaking on many plays. The way the line is supposed to be doing it when you are the Cowboys.

If they can get things going consistently like they did in this game, those 2 make a heck of a one... two... punch though.

Darnold I think had to wonder WTH was going on lol. I am guessing Wade was wondering the same thing...

 

[blueblood70]

Zeke's 'Big Plays' are his 3rd & short runs for 1st downs, his (8) yard first down runs that keep this team out of 2nd/3rd and long, his 10+ yard screen plays, his ability to constantly slither through the pile to pick up 4-5 yards when everyone thinks he just got stoned for no-gain, his occasional 15+ yard run that fires up the entire o-line, his constant blitz pick-ups that has kept Dak from having his head knocked off and his ability to avoid having a penalty called on him. Don't get me wrong, I loved the Pollard pick and got laughed at for labeling him a 'stud' but he's no Zeke. The two make an awesome duo, if & when these idiots use Pollard game to game and not month to month, but Zeke is the engine & Pollard adds the Turbo upgrade to vehicle.

 

[McKDaddy]

Lol, where were the tough yards and dirty work against the Saints or the Lions or the Vikings? For 90 mil he should be doing that every game. Kind of ironic he also has the 2nd best run blocking line in the league and has had a top O line his entire career.

If they had blocked anything close to how they blocked yesterday, he would definitely had better games against those opponents.

 

[Dallasfann]

Pollard is not a better back then Zeke but right now Zeke can't touch Pollards big play ability and this is a big play league and that aspect of Zeke games disappeared in a Pizza Box.

Fun fact. Zeke played in every single series yesterday besides one. Pollard got the ball 3 times that drive -2 yd rush, -1 yard rush, 8 yard catch punt. It was our only 3 and out of the entire game. Another fun fact. Our 2 rb's had 3 carries go for 0 yard or negative yards THE ENTIRE GAME. Zeke wasn't any of those rushes. Pollard is exactly what he is. A guy who can come in after Zeke punishes you and break off a big gain. He is in no way, shape or form a better back then Zeke. Faster yes, better runner no and it's not really that close to be honest.

 

[Vtwin]

No way in hell Pollard destroys the hearts and souls of the defense like Zeke did on that drive which was predominately runs culminating in the rushing TD right up the gut.

No way in hell.

 

[CATCH17]

Fun fact. Zeke played in every single series yesterday besides one. Pollard got the ball 3 times that drive -2 yd rush, -1 yard rush, 8 yard catch punt. It was our only 3 and out of the entire game. Another fun fact. Our 2 rb's had 3 carries go for 0 yard or negative yards THE ENTIRE GAME. Zeke wasn't any of those rushes. Pollard is exactly what he is. A guy who can come in after Zeke punishes you and break off a big gain. He is in no way, shape or form a better back then Zeke. Faster yes, better runner no and it's not really that close to be honest.

I don't disagree with anything you said but volume is the #1 factor with RB's and production and you are taking a small sample size that would drastically change if he got Zeke's workload.

If Pollard got 15 carries and 5 passes thrown his way every week you would see a massive spike in production because he has homerun ability and Zeke has lost that.

 

[CATCH17]

No way in hell Pollard destroys the hearts and souls of the defense like Zeke did on that drive which was predominately runs culminating in the rushing TD right up the gut.

No way in hell.

We're 7-7 and empty handed in the Zeke era with that brand of football.

It is nice to be able to do that but right now we need big momentum shifting plays and Zeke is the king of the little play but he is not hitting home runs.

When we're ahead of the chains playing mistake free football Zeke is awesome but we are a mistake prone team and his skill set isn't helping when Tyron jumps offsides or we get a holding penalty.

 

[OmerV]

From the start, I've liked this kid. Yesterday was the icing on the cake for me.

Pollard:
12 rushes for 131 yards

Elliot:
24 rushes for 117 yards

To me, the kid is just better than Elliot. Don't get me wrong. I think Elliot is a good back (not work the big contract though). But I think Pollard gives the dynamic of the "break-away" run as evident in his TD run yesterday. If that was Elliot, he goes down or is caught from behind.

Not really an apples to apples comparison because they were running under different circumstances. To say Pollard is better we would need to see him more consistently, and in a lead back/bell cow role that opponents plan for. Seeing him with a big lead after the opponent is beaten down is a little different.

That said, I would add that Pollard has done enough to be more included in the game plans than he has been in most games. Most games his appearances have been kind of token, but when given opportunities he has performed well.

 

[Carter]

Easy to run through Lanes when Zeke destroyed that Defense all game Long.

Pollard is not a 3 down RB. He would break in half the Hits that Zeke delivers and takes.

That being said, Pollard Looks like a Diamond in the Dust as Backup RB

 

[THEHEREAFTER]

I thought the mix yesterday was perfect

 

[CATCH17]

Easy to run through Lanes when Zeke destroyed that Defense all game Long.

Pollard is not a 3 down RB. He would break in half the Hits that Zeke delivers and takes.

That being said, Pollard Looks like a Diamond in the Dust as Backup RB

Alvin Kamara is not a 3 down back either but yet he's considered one of the best in football.

Point is that Pollards workload should be increased dramatically. Even if that comes at the expense of Zeke's volume.

 

[Carter]

Alvin Kamara is not a 3 down back either but yet he's considered one of the best in football.

Point is that Pollards workload should be increased dramatically. Even if that comes at the expense of Zeke's volume.

Are we comparing Kamara to Pollard now ? lol

Kamara is probably the best Catching RB the League has ever seen.

 

[AbeBeta]

I don't disagree with anything you said but volume is the #1 factor with RB's and production and you are taking a small sample size that would drastically change if he got Zeke's workload.

If Pollard got 15 carries and 5 passes thrown his way every week you would see a massive spike in production because he has homerun ability and Zeke has lost that.

Homeruns come when defenses have been beaten down. Note how Pollard has big games when Zeke gets off early.

 

[CATCH17]

Are we comparing Kamara to Pollard now ? lol

Kamara is probably the best Catching RB the League has ever seen.

I am comparing him to Kamara because Pollard has never gave us a reason to tap the breaks on his overall potential.

Pollard has a very similar skill set to Kamara.

 

[CATCH17]

Homeruns come when defenses have been beaten down. Note how Pollard has big games when Zeke gets off early.

Then Zeke being such a pounder should have more homeruns.

I don't think there is anything correlation. Big plays can come at any time. Wearing down a defense helps but you're acting like that is the key to big plays and you can give up a big play at anytime.

 

[Dallasfann]

I don't disagree with anything you said but volume is the #1 factor with RB's and production and you are taking a small sample size that would drastically change if he got Zeke's workload.

If Pollard got 15 carries and 5 passes thrown his way every week you would see a massive spike in production because he has homerun ability and Zeke has lost that.

I agree, I think it would change. Pollard would lose yards on a lot more plays and Dak would have to dig us out of holes even more often. Sounds like a great plan. Anyone notice what super freak athlete Kamara is doing without the real RB of the Saints of past years, Ingram? Has he been injured this season, did he retire? Tavon Austin has more speed then Cooper. Since this is a big play league maybe we should have him playing over Cooper a little more.

 

[blueblood70]

Fun fact. Zeke played in every single series yesterday besides one. Pollard got the ball 3 times that drive -2 yd rush, -1 yard rush, 8 yard catch punt. It was our only 3 and out of the entire game. Another fun fact. Our 2 rb's had 3 carries go for 0 yard or negative yards THE ENTIRE GAME. Zeke wasn't any of those rushes. Pollard is exactly what he is. A guy who can come in after Zeke punishes you and break off a big gain. He is in no way, shape or form a better back then Zeke. Faster yes, better runner no and it's not really that close to be honest.

 

[Vtwin]

We're 7-7 and empty handed in the Zeke era with that brand of football.

It is nice to be able to do that but right now we need big momentum shifting plays and Zeke is the king of the little play but he is not hitting home runs.

When we're ahead of the chains playing mistake free football Zeke is awesome but we are a mistake prone team and his skill set isn't helping when Tyron jumps offsides or we get a holding penalty.

I can't agree with that.

I believe we'd be behind the chains more with Pollard being the feature back. Teams with feast or famine backs like the Sanders Lions or the Barkley Giants haven't been out shopping for trophy cases.

Having that home run hitter to bring in is a very very good thing but having the dependable grinder to get you five+ on first down or to turn a two yard loss into a two yard gain is more valuable imo. I saw Zeke and the o-line pretty much take over that game yesterday and open up the passing game in a big way.

These guys seem to be developing into a very good one, two punch which is best case scenario imo.