Is Pollard the best RB in the league?

[quickccc]

I'm not defending KM at all with Pollard being under utilized but how much of that is Coach Jerry justifying Zeke's contract?

- Pollard wasn't drafted in the 4th rd to replace Zeke, he was drafted to be a far much better relief backup than what Zeke had in Rod Smith.
there were times where Kellen did not even bother to get Pollard in the game or he had either one or two touches the entire game.
Was that about Jerry and Zeke's contract ? Or about Kellen's stubbornness and non-confidence in Pollard as a runner/receiver or a blitz-blocker ?

- And we've made tough decisions to move on from popular but declining stars in the past; ala Aikman, Emmitt, Deion, Allen and Dez.
Soon the question will be in the minds of the Jones, if they think stars like Tyron and Zeke if they are declining, or if they still have something left
as major contributors.

 

[RoboQB]

This stat reflects Pollard's entire career, and gives us a large sample size of 400 carries.


IN NFL HISTORY - Highest average (400 minimum carries)

Zeke has averaged 4.4. Not in top 200.

What's funny is this chart can be used for both sides.
Which is why leaning on stats alone can be silly.
One side can declare TP is better than O.J. and King Henry.
The other side can claim he's not better than Raheem Mostert.

Look at this list! Felix Jones? Sproles? Tatum Bell? Matt Breida? Lmao.

 

[T-RO]

What's funny is this chart can be used for both sides.
Which is why leaning on stats alone can be silly.
One side can declare TP is better than O.J. and King Henry.
The other side can claim he's not better than Raheem Mostert.

Look at this list! Felix Jones? Sproles? Tatum Bell? Matt Breida? Lmao.

Yards per carry is the gold standard in measuring running backs.

The platinum standard? Yards after contact per carry. There again Pollard is in top 3 of all backs over past three seasons.

We know the facts offend the fans who bought a Zeke uni, or have a "feed-me" fetish.

 

[buybuydandavis]

I remember what people were saying about Julius Jones after his rookie year.

tap the brakes, people.

Jones was an entirely different animal. He got hyped for 100 yard games in an 8 game season for him, while his ypc was still mediocre.
Parcells gave him the ball a lot, and he lasted taking so many carries for half a rookie season.

Pollard is almost 6 ypc this year. Spectacular. And his 3rd season over 5.2ypc. That's great.

The best comp to Pollard is Felix, but backwards and healthy. Pollard is making bigger plays as time goes on, the opposite of Felix.

 

[quickccc]

Jones was an entirely different animal. He got hyped for 100 yard games in an 8 game season for him, while his ypc was still mediocre.
Parcells gave him the ball a lot, and he lasted taking so many carries for half a rookie season.

Pollard is almost 6 ypc this year. Spectacular. And his 3rd season over 5.2ypc. That's great.

The best comp to Pollard is Felix, but backwards and healthy. Pollard is making bigger plays as time goes on, the opposite of Felix.

And Julius Jones could not catch a cold ........

 

[plasticman]

Tony Pollard is ranked #10 in rushing yards despite the fact that he is the only on in the top ten who is not a starter. He is ranked #8 in yards from scrimmage.

Tony is 2nd in yards per carry with 5.9. Khalil Herbert has a tenth of a yard more at 6.0. However, Pollard is now the top ranked RB in yards per reception at 11.6.

I would be hesitant to rank Pollard among RB's with significantly more carries. There are different types of RB's with different skill sets. As an all-purpose back I wouldn't rank Pollard among the best, I would first have to see him carry 25+ times a game for 2-3 games before making a statement like that.

However, as a situational back I would put him #1 against any other type of specialist RB. I would also say that he is just as important to the Cowboys success as any starter RB is to their team's success and that includes Henry, Barkley, and Chubb.

 

[RoboQB]

Yards per carry is the gold standard in measuring running backs.

The platinum standard? Yards after contact per carry. There again Pollard is in top 3 of all backs over past three seasons.

We know the facts offend the fans who bought a Zeke uni, or have a "feed-me" fetish.

Wow. You went straight to being a mean girl there.
No fetish here. Only jersey I ever wore had my own name on it.
Hey, it's great to see Pollard become a star! We still need both.

The list is silly. By your bolded logic, that list should have nothing but
HOFers on it. No Payton, Emmitt, Jim Brown, Earl Campbell, Dickerson,
Tony Dorsett, etc.

Debate 101: Never use information that can be used against you while
trying to make a point.

Nobody has to choose. Both will play. Both are needed.
This isn't difficult to understand.

 

[jay94]

I don’t know why people don’t want to keep Elliot. I was disgusted when we drafted him. He brings so much to the team.

What's that we see another chart with a lot of running backs and like usual he's at the bottom, what's special about him?

 

[jay94]

Zeke is the kind of player that does things...that people don;t notice. They don't know, or pretend to not know...how much heat he took off Dak through the years. They casually don;t notice or casually forget how many times he threw a huge block that most RB's, especially STAR RB's...would "make a business decision" about.

They have forgotten what an EXCELLENT dump off he's been for Dak.

We should just concentrate on winning this game....making a playoff run...and moving past the wild card.

I think we have too many fans that want to be MORE right about blasting Zeke and his demise, than cheering on this whole team.....to make good use of our blessings.

He's a horrible receiving back to, he does absolutely nothing with the ball in his hands, he falls forward, Grrreat.

 

[T-RO]

The list is silly. By your bolded logic, that list should have nothing but
HOFers on it. No Payton, Emmitt, Jim Brown, Earl Campbell, Dickerson,
Tony Dorsett, etc.

You are only enforcing my point. People fall in love with a player's past accomplishments and reputation. The look, the uniform, the number, the associated memories. They fetishize. (perhaps go study the broader concept?)
-Earl Campbell was mostly a dud after his first 3-4 titanic seasons. Go look it up.
-Dorsett's cumulative YPA his last five seasons? Below 4 yards a carry. He was a JAG those last four years
-Emmitt was a JAG the last half of his career

Running backs are meteors. Burn bright briefly, crash and burn. Go with the heat when you got it.

 

[Big D]

the most productive perhaps best? no.

 

[RoboQB]

You are only enforcing my point. People fall in love with a player's past accomplishments and reputation. The look, the uniform, the number, the associated memories. They fetishize. (perhaps go study the broader concept?)
-Earl Campbell was mostly a dud after his first 3-4 titanic seasons. Go look it up.
-Dorsett's cumulative YPA his last five seasons? Below 4 yards a carry. He was a JAG those last four years
-Emmitt was a JAG the last half of his career

Running backs are meteors. Burn bright briefly, crash and burn. Go with the heat when you got it.

Okay, so Raheem Mostert is currently the best active RB in the NFL,
based on your chart and logic. Got it.
Hey, let's go get the Great Matt Breida next year!
Numbers are easily manipulated. Your last line holds more water to make a point
than that chart does.
Pollard is a very talented RB that couldn't cross the goal line from the
1 on back to back runs in Minnesota. We need them both.

 

[T-RO]

Okay, so Raheem Mostert is currently the best active RB in the NFL,
based on your chart and logic. Got it.
Hey, let's go get the Great Matt Breida next year!
Numbers are easily manipulated. Your last line holds more water to make a point
than that chart does.
Pollard is a very talented RB that couldn't cross the goal line from the
1 on back to back runs in Minnesota. We need them both.

-Raheem Mostert was a monster. Gained 336 playoff yards (6.3 per attempt) in 49er's 2019 Super Bowl push. Like so many backs he just can't stay healthy.

-Numbers are "easily manipulated?" Really? Yards and points = yards and points. Coaching, scheme and surrounding talent sure make a difference, but gotta tip a hat to production.

-Do we want to talk about all the times Zeke couldn't gain a yard when needed? Happens to everyone.

**I do want to say that I can see how my earlier comment might have caused offense, and I really don't mean to do so. You are a strong, well-respected poster. I do wish you and your family/friends the best for Thanksgiving and onwards.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

If not he's a min top 3.....No way he's leaving

BTW side note...The Titans and Giants are wearing the hell out of Henry and Barkley. Giants and Barkley have DeMarco Murray written all over it.

Top 5.

There is Henry and then there are the mere mortals.

 

[RoboQB]

-Raheem Mostert was a monster. Gained 336 playoff yards (6.3 per attempt) in 49er's 2019 Super Bowl push. Like so many backs he just can't stay healthy.

-Numbers are "easily manipulated?" Really? Yards and points = yards and points. Coaching, scheme and surrounding talent sure make a difference, but gotta tip a hat to production.

-Do we want to talk about all the times Zeke couldn't gain a yard when needed? Happens to everyone.

**I do want to say that I can see how my earlier comment might have caused offense, and I really don't mean to do so. You are a strong, well-respected poster. I do wish you and your family/friends the best for Thanksgiving and onwards.

We can agree to disagree on the chart.
Mostert definitely was a monster for a stretch. Agreed.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

 

[Whirlwin]

What's that we see another chart with a lot of running backs and like usual he's at the bottom, what's special about him?

If I have to really explain that to you. It’s useless.

 

[cnuball21]

I’d put him on par with Alvin Kamara who signed a 5 year 75m contract in 2020. The RB market has deflated a little since then but I think Pollard would be looking for 5 years 60m which is above what we should pay. IMO we should Franchise tag him and then let him walk.

I agree, I’d franchise but have a hard time paying him big money.

Kamara is a good comp - but even after his big contract he’s been in and out with injury and not he’s been the same guy.

 

[TequilaCowboy]

Best case.......tag him, Zeke walks, and draft his replacement.

Agree with this....and we have Malik Davis as another RB too. But why do i get the suspicion Jerry is setting us up for a Zeke extension with this talk about his importance to the team, which is a bit exaggerated.

 

[starfan1]

Agree with this....and we have Malik Davis as another RB too. But why do i get the suspicion Jerry is setting us up for a Zeke extension with this talk about his importance to the team, which is a bit exaggerated.

Ya Jerry can screw up a wet dream. Get ready for some really questionable off-season decisions

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

He's a horrible receiving back to, he does absolutely nothing with the ball in his hands, he falls forward, Grrreat.

His production in this regard has fallen off this year. And certainly from the incredible 2016 11+ ypc. He's still 7.7 for career.

I think it has more to do with Dak not needing him as much....with emergence of Pollard....and maybe Ceedee too.


Here's a little reminder Zeke still got juice left...if you have the nerve for it: