Twitter: McCarthy: Zeke Elliott and Tony Pollard are considered tandem

[WoodysGirl]

 

[Sydla]

I believe this is the best way forward for this offense as both are worthy of getting a decent number of carries.

But it's quite an expensive "tandem".

If the goal to to be more multiple and split carries between two kinds of backs, then paying one of them what we pay Elliott is just dumb business. I hope they cut Elliott in 2023, bring back Pollard and then pair him with a more mid-level FA back while investing draft capital into the OL. That's how you build a running game that can thrive through an entire season. Not taking massive cap hits on one TB.

 

[Big_D]

I’ll believe this when I see how they split carries!

 

[starfan1]

Ill believe it when I see it. Can KM effectively use the both of them.Id love to see 60/40 split with zeke getting 60 or just hot hand principle. the timliness of zekes carries imprtant as well. 2nd half usage higher would sit just fine with me.

 

[BAT]

McCarthy is going to get a strongly worded memo or public callout by Jerry.

Jerry has already stated that Cowboys go where Zeke goes.

No tandems in Jerry's mind.

 

[Big_D]

I believe this is the best way forward for this offense as both are worthy of getting a decent number of carries.

But it's quite an expensive "tandem".

If the goal to to be more multiple and split carries between two kinds of backs, then paying one of them what we pay Elliott is just dumb business. I hope they cut Elliott in 2023, bring back Pollard and then pair him with a more mid-level FA back while investing draft capital into the OL. That's how you build a running game that can thrive through an entire season. Not taking massive cap hits on one TB.

That’s the problem! That contract will continue to dictate touches no matter what Mike is saying here!

 

[starfan1]

McCarthy is going to get a strongly worded memo or public callout by Jerry.

Jerry has already stated that Cowboys go where Zeke goes.

No tandems in Jerry's mind.

yep the same jerry that said this. Hes beginning to look alot like Al Davis

 

[DuncanIso]

Zeke is RB1.

 

[jazzcat22]

I think MM said this to incite a riot on here. They are sitting on the 50 yard line laughing.

I think a 60 / 40 split will be more like it, based on KM's game plan, not from what Jerry dictates.
Then KM will adjust from there. Utilizing Pollard in the pass game more. Then if warranted or needed increase Pollard's running plays. Depending what plan is having more success.

If Zeke is being keyed on, they go with Pollard. When they adjust to stop Pollard go to Zeke. On paper it is a nice problem to have for us.

 

[nalam]

Healthy Zeke to pound and soften the run D and sprinkle in Pollard to get some runs, and then unleash pollard / zeke later in the game with lead. That is a good GAME plan , lets hope OL is up for this.

 

[gimmesix]

I think MM said this to incite a riot on here. They are sitting on the 50 yard line laughing.

I think a 60 / 40 split will be more like it, based on KM's game plan, not from what Jerry dictates.
Then KM will adjust from there. Utilizing Pollard in the pass game more. Then if warranted or needed increase Pollard's running plays. Depending what plan is having more success.

If Zeke is being keyed on, they go with Pollard. When they adjust to stop Pollard go to Zeke. On paper it is a nice problem to have for us.

I don't think the split at RB is going to be much different than it was. The difference is Pollard being on the field a lot more at the same time as Elliott IMO. Essentially, Pollard will cut into receiver touches instead of Elliott's, which is how it should be considering our receivers after Lamb and Gallup, and the fact that Gallup is going to be out for a game or two.

 

[jazzcat22]

Healthy Zeke to pound and soften the run D and sprinkle in Pollard to get some runs, and then unleash pollard / zeke later in the game with lead. That is a good GAME plan , lets hope OL is up for this.

Sounds good to me.

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

Did he follow this up with "excuse me, Jerry is buzzing me to come to his office"?

 

[Sydla]

Zeke is RB1.

Because Jerry deems him to be.

Enjoy Zeke this year, Duncan. It will likely be his last in a Cowboys uni.

 

[USArmyVet]

Something to keep in mind: Tony Pollard is an UFA after this season (2022 cap hit of $1.2M), Zeke possibly stuck in Dallas through the end of the 2023 season (2023 cap hit $16.7M and $11.8M dead money) and with TE Dalton Schultz playing on the franchise tag, Dallas might have to really overpay to keep Pollard this off-season should he have a great season (expect Pollard to at least be in the $5M-$7M/year if he plays well;coming off a 713 yard rushing and 337 yard receiving season).

 

[JoeKing]

What do "tandem" mean? I always thought it was a placement of objects, one behind the other. So if Zeke and Pollard are tandem, that means one is in front (which I assume is Zeke) and the other is behind. That's a hell of a way to say Pollard is RB2.

 

[Sydla]

Something to keep in mind: Tony Pollard is an UFA after this season (2022 cap hit of $1.2M), Zeke possibly stuck in Dallas through the end of the 2023 season (2023 cap hit $16.7M and $11.8M dead money) and with TE Dalton Schultz playing on the franchise tag, Dallas might have to really overpay to keep Pollard this off-season should he have a great season (expect Pollard to at least be in the $5M-$7M/year if he plays well;coming off a 713 yard rushing and 337 yard receiving season).

They can cut Zeke after this season and save around $5 million on the cap. Yeah, the dead money hit is tough but carrying a TB with a nearly $17 million cap hit when they are going to be tight against the cap in 2023 is kind of dumb.

 

[ItzKelz]

Big Mac trying to keep it a secret to have an advantage......hush Cowboys fans; we know the deal!

 

[jwitten82]

I think MM said this to incite a riot on here. They are sitting on the 50 yard line laughing.

I think a 60 / 40 split will be more like it, based on KM's game plan, not from what Jerry dictates.
Then KM will adjust from there. Utilizing Pollard in the pass game more. Then if warranted or needed increase Pollard's running plays. Depending what plan is having more success.

If Zeke is being keyed on, they go with Pollard. When they adjust to stop Pollard go to Zeke. On paper it is a nice problem to have for us.

A 60/40 split will not make Zeke an effective runner. Personally, I think Zeke is done, the carries have taken a toll on his body, but let's look at his career.
Zeke's best seasons came in 2016, 2018, and 2019, those years he averaged 4.5 ypc or better, he also averaged 309 carries those 3 seasons which is about 18 carries a game.
Zeke's least effective seasons were 2017, 2020, and 2021. His ypc those seasons were 4.1, 4, and 4.2. He averaged 241 carries those seasons. I don't think Zeke can handle 300 plus carries anymore, but he's not all that effective at around 250 carries either.

 

[gimmesix]

What do "tandem" mean? I always thought it was a placement of objects, one behind the other. So if Zeke and Pollard are tandem, that means one is in front (which I assume is Zeke) and the other is behind. That's a hell of a way to say Pollard is RB2.

I think some seem to be equating tandem with tag team. A tag team is where only one member competes at a time. A tandem works together. A good example is horsing pulling a wagon. There are horses in front and horses right behind them, but they are working at the same time together to pull the wagon.

I think the key to the tandem talk is in that first tweet: A more concerted effort to have them share the field.