Tony Pollard missing from the passing game

Runwildboys said:

Maybe they feel it only works because they don't do it very often, so the defenses aren't expecting it.....Oh, those tricky coaches!

Click to expand...

It's true to a point. But we ain't reached that point yet, thought I can totally see Garrett still making that point with a straight face regardless.

There is an inherent trade off of complementary run threats to Zeke.

The more carries you give to the complements, the more defenses focus on them, and focus less on Zeke. If you're productive with the complements, keep giving them the ball until teams bring down that productivity by shifting more focus to the complements.

But while we're still getting 10 yards a pop with Austin, we're still in the phase where we should be giving him the ball more.

It's like Garrett/Moore broke out the slide rule before the season, and calculated the optimal rate of hand offs, and that's that, regardless of what happens on the field. That's so Garrett.

hittheskids said:

No team gets less from more than the Cowboys.

Click to expand...

There is no more or less, there is only what we do.
-- Jedi Master Jason

Both Pollard and Olawale are being misused, as in not really used much at all.

Hard to believe DAL has multiple coaches helping with game planning, yet they haven't found away to use a 4.3 running blur out of Memphis.

2¢: I'm on Flex Jones watch for Tony Pollard, JG has been botching RB usage for nearly a decade (?)...Jones n Dunbar, etc.

links18 said:

Both Pollard and Olawale are being misused, as in not really used much at all.

Click to expand...

And we really overpaid the market on Olawale. I don't know how we don't use him last year, but bring him back for another big stack off money.

I didn't think that would be possible. Who thinks he'd make much more than veteran minimum if we didn't sign him?

links18 said:

Both Pollard and Olawale are being misused, as in not really used much at all.

Click to expand...

Olawale is and has been such a major mystery.
He must be a major locker room chemistry contributor.
Why do we roster a FB that never has a role on this offense, and don't give me the "he is a major contributor on special teams" tired excuse.. cause I never
see that production either.
That's not pointed at you @links18, just a SMH response.
The 53 is valuable, you make valuable cuts to get down to the 53, and why is a FB that has no integration in this offense so highly valued.
Talk about wasting a talented players career, I started this thread about Pollard, but damn, Olawale just cashing checks,, good for him, but a what a waste.
Olawale was a really talented FB, with great hands while with the Raiders, in 2016 he had
227 yds receiving, for a FB that not bad.

Typhus said:

I was like everyone else, really excited about Linehans departure, and the hopeful attributes that Kellen Moore would bring.
I believe that Moore actually has some really creative pages in his playbook, but the kid is wearing a neck collar, possibly even a choke collar at this point.

Click to expand...

Not everyone else. Been here, seen this with this team, and I will say that I am not the only one. We will see who is really calling the shots over the next few games IMO.

Bobhaze said:

It’s mind boggling to watch the return of the ghost of Scott Linehan. Pollard is a weapon this team just refuses to use other than occasional standard runs off tackle. I’ve seen middle school offenses with more creativity in using players.

I just don’t understand it.

Click to expand...

What is confusing? It is Jason Garrett's influence on the offense.

Future said:

What is confusing? It is Jason Garrett's influence on the offense.

Click to expand...

Beat that drum,, beat that drum till its time for another skin.
Just busting on ya, but its the same old drum beat brother.

Pollard is going to be more involved later in the season. We’re very effective offensively as it is, so we’re lucky to have some obvious room for improvement.

Idgit said:

Pollard is going to be more involved later in the season. We’re very effective offensively as it is, so we’re lucky to have some obvious room for improvement.

Click to expand...

Yes and no.

3 of 7 games have been poor offensively. They were the 3 games in which Jason Witten had his highest snap counts, and Tony Pollard had his fewest (2, 5, 7). There is absolutely nothing to suggest that Pollard is going to get more involved as the stakes get higher.

Idgit said:

Pollard is going to be more involved later in the season. We’re very effective offensively as it is, so we’re lucky to have some obvious room for improvement.

Click to expand...

Oh I see it on the horizon, my eyes aren't 20 2o anymore, but even a blindman would have to see the game script finding a way to incorporate Pollard, but Idgit that was not the premise of this post,, its the extremely slow, slap your grandma in the face while on the rocking chair disability of this staff to recognize and initiate, when you talk to the infusion of the obvious "other threats" of talent that this team can actually evolve to.
We are stuck in this mentality of the Aikman, Emmitt, Irvin era, where somehow that is still the equation, that equation has been effective, but we pay top shelf to utilize, and try and turn the early 90s, into this time frame, this Chronology of the NFL, it 2019 soon to be 2020, times have changed, be we still cant see, even we have other very special rostered talent, why its important to involve them more.
That's the issue,, its not that Zeke is not a great RB, its the fact that we roster and waste talent, rather than even showcasing them, even if we wanted to find value in trading away a talent like Pollard for a nice draft pick,,,
I would much rather utilize Pollards talent in a very effective way, preserving Zekes over payed talent in order to keep him healthy.
Pollard is only being used to spell Zeke , and do what Zeke does when Zeke is not in the game,, that is not what Pollard is all about, but he damn sure makes it looks that way doesn't he?
So many posters here think that as soon as someone recognizes star talent and starts propping them that your trying to start some sort of campaign to replace a stud like Zeke, that is absolutely not the case, that's why so many here constantly complain about the coaching on this team, its about not exercising the value.
Garrett is a puppet, a typical company S### A##, he says everything Jerry wants to hear, and never says anything that rocks the ship.
Jerry sleeps well at night, JG probably dreams about tucking in the sheets.

Maybe there are things going on in practice or in the meeting rooms that we aren't privy to. Maybe Pollard hasn't grasped the things he needs to grasp to be a larger part of the offense.

Beaker42 said:

Anybody see the Packers get Jones out of the backfield in coverage from Hitchens? 60+ yd TD. Pollard is just as fast if not faster than Jones.

Click to expand...

exactly.
and this should have been a prioriety usage and planned design when the team drafted Pollard in the 4th round.
what happened to the talk of using both zeke and pollard in the same backfield or moving Pollard around to gain such mismatches in coverage.

It's a coaching issue.

And either it's been a conservative approach with Pollard, or it's not in their ability to scheme Pollard around for mismatches - instead of only bringing him
off the bench to give zeke a breather.
And just as they give Austin or Cobb a occasionally jet sweep, those plays could be going to Pollard. I cannot recall one single game this year where we have tried
to exploit his receiving skills.

Typhus said:

Pollard had 4 receptions through the first 3 games of the season but hasn't been targeted in the passing game since then.

With Zeke obviously being the work horse back in this running game I really thought that Pollard would
have room to expand his role in this Kellen Moore scheme in a "Moore" receiving option out of the back field, motioned wide, different look on short curls and screens, etc, all that good Ole Boise state wide open creativity.

After seeing 4 targets through the first 3 games it seems as though the page has been removed from that part of the play book, but Im hoping that Kellen took the time to re visit the potential that Pollard brings in that limited role during this bye week time.

Pollard has an extremely high ceiling, and I realize the kid is a rookie, but he has done nothing but positive every time that he has been given an opportunity.

Its a long season and I want to see Zeke healthy and running strong still in December, and nobody is making a claim that Pollard even needs to carve out a 50 percent role, but Pollard can help keep Zeke fresh a bit, and is deserving of an expanded role.

Click to expand...

I feel they have a hard time implementing a gameplan on offense. I do think Pollard is part of the gameplan during the week, but once bullets start flying, they keep Zeke out there.

That’s what I keep wanting..more passing to the RBs. I’m not sure if it’s just a numbers game where they’d like to get Pollard more touches or what,I just know I see too much WR looks for a sack or pick or inc,when the back is wide open in the flat for an easy 5-10.

Pollard?!?! How can you not figure out a way to get Austin the ball more...cmon man.

INCowboysFan said:

Maybe there are things going on in practice or in the meeting rooms that we aren't privy to. Maybe Pollard hasn't grasped the things he needs to grasp to be a larger part of the offense.

Click to expand...

Maybe, but this staff has a history of not knowing how to use players that are taking up roster spots.

This thread is another embarrassing exhibition of a fan who thinks he knows better than everyone else. There's enough on this forum every month to cover a landfill.

Every pass attempt to Pollard is one not thrown to our established and talented receivers. Tony has a role but it needs to grow with time.

He didn't look too good in the passing game last night. Couldn't seperate from a LB and took his eyes completely off the ball on screen before it even go to him. More effective as rusher than receiver right now.