Me likes me some Pollard

quickccc

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I think he’s a good player that needs to be utilized more

Ditto here.
But i think that will only happen with Mike MCarthys' input in addition to Kellen Moore's learning experience, more commitment and better design..

As of now Pollard is still very green in the pass game and that's because of Kellen's failure to develop him there.
and instead of useless Jamale Olewe in the same backfield with Zeke, that's when we could utilize Pollard there with moving and flaring him around
as a motion receiver in isolation, flairs, wheel routes, occasion slot (ala as we did in his TD vs Detroit) ...while he also continues to sub in a relief runner
for zeke.

He can be much better ultilized than what we did with him in 2019.
Pollard was a total Day and night different and much better runner than what Rod Smith dare try to give us.
Instincts, vision, terrific inside the tackles as well as bouncing outside, only lost one fumble, and pickup blitz-blocking well for rookie. But was Kellen just too overwhelmed in his rookie year at OC?
 

king987

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Easily, one of the biggest travesties of Garrett's regime was the poor use of Pollard last year. Don't care who's calling plays, he's the Head Coach, and Pollard was clearly adding something special the offense.

Not saying Pollard should have become a PPR monster in fantasy football. But the games when he was nonexistent? Absolutely inexcusable.
 

CowboyRoy

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That was back when Emmitt was in decline and Hambrick was averaging 5.0 a carry in spot duty. When Hambrick became the starter his average dropped to 3.5 a carry.

What people wanted was for the Cowboys to move on from Emmitt Smith. Hambrick was simply the alternative at the time.
 

TheMarathonContinues

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Zeke had nothing to do with Pollard's moves to create the plays he did. I wish Zeke showed the same ability. He would be unstoppable.
I’m talking strictly about production. In the big games Pollard had did Zeke not play well those games? Miami and Rams specifically?
 

CowboyRoy

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I could tell Alvin Kamara was too until he was the main back and didn’t look nearly as good.


You mean when Kamara was in a RB by committee? Which goes to the theory that RB by committee is a better approach.
 

Aviano90

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I’m talking strictly about production. In the big games Pollard had did Zeke not play well those games? Miami and Rams specifically?
Sure but Pollard didn’t play well just because Zeke wore them out. If there is any argument, maybe it is that Zeke was impressive either. Maybe Miami and the Rams just sucked and neither should get credit? Just rack them up as garbage stats.
 

KJJ

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What people wanted was for the Cowboys to move on from Emmitt Smith. Hambrick was simply the alternative at the time.

The fans wanted to move on from Emmitt because he was in decline and Hambrick was averaging 5.0 a pop. He was looked at as the better alternative until everyone saw he wasn’t nearly as effective as a starter carrying the load. It took only one season for Hambrick to flame out as the starter.
 

Chuck 54

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He is not even close to being the best back.
He should almost never be on the field instead of Zeke.
The trick is having him on the field with Zeke and instead of guys like Witten and Schultz.
 

KJJ

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What’s funny is Hambrick ended up Emmitt’s back up again in Arizona in 2004. His rushing average jumped up to 4.5 in spot duty in AZ while Emmitt averaged 3.5 as the starter in 04.
 

Captain43Crash

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it doesn't matter what they each have, it's who's the most effective, but to play your game, Zeke is more punishing, he sturdier as a blocker, and he wears a defense down.
Pollard coming in spots with fresh legs makes all the difference in the world. He didn't even start and was the 3rd back in Memphis I believe
Michael Jordan didn’t start for his JV Basketball team his sophomore year. Maybe Pollard is a late bloomer! It looks like he is to me.

I agree that Zek is a better all around back, but Pollard is going to be an excellent fill in for Zek and 3rd down back with his skill set.
 

KJJ

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Michael Jordan didn’t start for his JV Basketball team his sophomore year. Maybe Pollard is a late bloomer! It looks like he is to me.

MJ became a superstar in college. Bad analogy! Pollard is doing what he did in college that made him a fourth round pick. He’s a good complementary back. Not a back you want to depend on for 20+ carries a game but good luck trying to convince many of that on this board.
 

Dre11

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Michael Jordan didn’t start for his JV Basketball team his sophomore year. Maybe Pollard is a late bloomer! It looks like he is to me.

I agree that Zek is a better all around back, but Pollard is going to be an excellent fill in for Zek and 3rd down back with his skill set.


he is good as a backup to Zeke, hopefully they give him more touches
 

buybuydandavis

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Kid needs more touches.

I'm hoping we go 2 RB base on run downs, and have Pollard in motion as an alternative runner to Zeke.

Add in Dak, and we've got 3 legitimate run threats to let our oline lean on defenses. RPO, play action, and read option all day long.
 

buybuydandavis

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I wonder if they view Pollard as a potential replacement for losing Cobb. I don’t mean he’ll play slot receiver, but I mean we’ll try to make up for some of the production we’ll be losing with Cobb by involving Pollard in the passing game more, rather than drafting someone like Ruggs in the 1st round.

This. Pollard should be the 5th skills player.
 

KJJ

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If the Cowboys thought what some on this board think Pollard is they would have never made Zeke the highest paid RB in the league. They paid Zeke to carry the load not share half of it with Pollard. The Cowboys aren’t going to give Pollard 40 to 50% of the carries. He needs to be utilized more as a receiver. He can be very effective out in space.
 

TheMarathonContinues

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Sure but Pollard didn’t play well just because Zeke wore them out. If there is any argument, maybe it is that Zeke was impressive either. Maybe Miami and the Rams just sucked and neither should get credit? Just rack them up as garbage stats.
Difference is Zeke been doing this for four years..
 

KJJ

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When you look at Pollard’s numbers he always has one decent carry that jack’s his rushing average up. He’ll have a couple of carries for no gain, then takes a one or two yard loss then pops one for 12 yards giving him a good rushing average. I’m not trying to dump on him, I think he’s a good player just not an every down back.
 

buybuydandavis

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Balance, speed, quickness and elusiveness but not much else.
If the Cowboys thought what some on this board think Pollard is they would have never made Zeke the highest paid RB in the league. They paid Zeke to carry the load not share half of it with Pollard. The Cowboys aren’t going to give Pollard 40 to 50% of the carries. He needs to be utilized more as a receiver. He can be very effective out in space.

Zeke signed by September 4, before a single game from Pollard.

Can't tell now, but after having seen Pollard's season, I bet they *wouldn't* sign Zeke to an extension if he needed one this year.

But having said that, Zeke is signed, and he'll get the majority of the carries. Pollard, maybe 4-8 a game if they're both healthy and it's not a blowout.

I think Pollard was drafted to be a complement to Zeke, and that's what he'll be, not a replacement lead back. He's the misdirection off of Zeke. Swing passes, jet sweeps, mismatch threat deep, a couple of sets of downs here and there, maybe a handoff or two from two back backfields.
 
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