Pollard vs McCaffrey

[kskboys]

I think it has more to do with overusing Tony Pollard since about mid season last year they started giving him more carries putting him between the tackles put him in short yardage and he finished the season 3.8 yards per carry no explosive plays no touchdowns 51 yards per game and two injuries... If you want Tony Pollard to have more explosive plays and be more dynamic you have to pull back they should have did this from game one 5 carries a game less and he's a lot more explosive stop using in between the tackles so much on 1st and 2nd downs or whatever give that to the other running backs Tony Pollard has not been dynamic for a very long time and people keep acting like he's the same player that had like 5.6 yards per carry in mid season last year.. He's not if you want him to be stop looking at him as the starter even if you wanna let him keep the title and give a lot more carries to the other guys... I'd like a true running back by committee and I don't care who gets the bulk of the runs if you want Tony to beat Tony in these bigger games you gotta stop over utilizing him in the base run plays IMHO

We don't have a between the tackles RB.

Agree that Polly is being overused. Bashing him up the middle will drastically shorten his career.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I was really excited to hear McCarthy was taking over the offense, and new OC Brian Schottenhemer was assisting.

Kellen Moore, imo was absent in developing, designing and involving the RBs more in the pass game, and we have long been
subpar in RB screens,
Kellen did not seem to care, prefer, have a knack for or patience for that kind of play .

Pollard is one of the more explosive and exciting RBs iin the NFL, he made the Pro Bowl even with splitting time with ZKE, we’ve seen in

Maybe I got ahead of myself in imagining Pollard with the right coaching and scheme design combined with his explosive speed, could have Christian McCaffrey like capabilities and impact.

A RB who frightens opposing defenses with his instant burst and homerun speed, and one that can also kills defenses once he quickly gets into the open field (ala his wheel route vs Vikings for a TD)

I thought I’d see a bundle of those kind of splash big plays even more so than Kellen.
But I’m starting to wonder now if that’s in the big Mac’s bag of tricks

I think this offense is still trying to find itself. Things are slowly but surely getting better. Gallup is getting going. Cooks eventually will.

 

[quickccc]

Pollard isn’t the back McCafferty is. McCafferty is coming off back to back 100 yard games including 152 last week. McCafferty is averaging just under 6 yards a carry this season with 6 TDs. As stout as San Francisco’s defense is Pollard is going to have a very difficult time outperforming him. San Francisco ranks third against the run while the Cowboys rank 16th, plus McCaffrety is real good as a receiver.

Sure Pollard is not on the same level of CMC, but what other RB in NFL is ?
CMC is a way more established and well-developed receiver than Pollard.

But does Pollard have the skill set and explosiveness to provide his own version and fair share big splash plays and speed game that CMC offers and consistently displays ?

And we've already experienced and seen Pollard's fair share of big splash plays even in spot time and shared snaps
with ZKE.

That's why Pollard went to the Pro Bowl for the first time- that's why Pollard was given a franchise tag by the club.
But is Pollard being fully utilized and exploited by the McCarthy coaching regime ?

And yes , that does " heavily" include in the passing game.
Especially for a guy that is suited to be All Purpose speed guy.

 

[Scotman]

If we do not stop " bell-cowing " Pollard, he's gonna be so spent out, long before stretch run into playoffs.

Same with Brandin Cooks, I don't think it has anything to do with " injury" .

And yet once again with Pollard - there was nuthin " major " about his playoff injury.
This wasn't an ACL or Achilles Tendon tear.

- He did not even need screws in recovering back from a broken fibula, as that was a self- heal process.
and only the high ankle sprain was a minor procedure. I just ever get the impression that the skeptics will forever make it an major injury for the shock value sound of it.

- And he's already had a few breakaway 20+ yard runs that has displayed his patented burst.
But I'm thinking he has not been positioned and schemed to where it is/should be constant splash plays and
hasn't yet had that homerun TD.

- Dunno if it has been about having the key OL starting guys all healthy at one time, but the cut lanes and
secondary level of blocking hasn't always been there consistently and frequently.

- Having a Tyron out, ..Martin out ,...Tyler Smith, ..Tyler Biadasz out, could make all difference in the world, I'll have to wait to see if what happens when we get that cohesive chemistry back, but it hasn't been the expected homerun hits but we still did gain 100+ yards rushing, our backup serviceables.

- And it has not been just running the ball .. why hasn't McCarthy maximized and developed Pollard's receiving skills
in this dink and dunk offense of yet ?
The wheel routes vs LBs, ..the stop & re-direct isolation routes over the middle against the middle LBs, the quick swing flairs (as seen via Rico Dowdle TD catch) ...
and where are the RB screens we expected ? (and did not get from Kellen Moore)

I'm not sure you're right. I feel like he's off, too.

But I'm 100% hoping that you are right. I would love for it to be something that we could correct. I really hope you're right.

 

[Creeper]

Pollard does not look as explosive this year as he did before he was injured last season.

CMC is the best all around RB in the league right now. Pollard is not close, but the Cowboys have not built their offense around Pollard the SF has around CMC.

 

[CCBoy]

Can the Cowboys Contain Christian McCaffrey Again?

One of Purdy’s weapons is running back Christian McCaffrey, who currently leads the league in rushing yards.
Lawrence said living in the backfield and keeping him on the sidelines and out of the inside zones will help contain McCaffrey.

Since last season, the Cowboys’ defense has been scrutinized for its run defense being the Achilles heel of the unit.

However, the last time these two teams met in the NFC Divisional Round of the playoffs last season, McCaffrey had 35 rushing yards, with his longest run being eight yards.

When Lawrence was asked how they accomplished that, he said, “Go get him,” explaining that you can’t wait for him to make his move but instead meet him in the backfield.

https://www.profootballnetwork.com/...gies-to-defeat-49ers-and-seek-redemption-nfl/

 

[Kwyn]

Really. Hes a full back???

Yeah. He’s a pretty good blocker and pretty good out of the backfield catching screens.

 

[CCBoy]

The Cowboys with Tyron Smith and San Francisco with Trent Williams sport some of the most frequently left-alone tackles in the game. They are also two of the most successful LTs in the game, winning over 95 percent of those battles. It’s hard to hear this and not think of the Cowboys injury report. After missing the past two weeks, Smith’s status for Sunday is up in the air. If he can play, he can be trusted to hold up his end at LT, much like Williams is for the 49ers.

If Smith can’t play, the job falls back on Chuma Edoga who doesn’t play with anything close to the same proficiency or responsibility as Smith. Pro Football Focus places Edoga far below Smith as a blocker.

With the Cowboys’ offensive line nearing full strength for Sunday’s game against the 49ers, Chuma Edoga is being valued more and more.

“I mean extremely valuable,” coach Mike McCarthy said Thursday. “He’s come in and he’s played quality, quality reps and I just commend him because he’s done it on very limited reps up in training camp. So yeah he’s been outstanding. Love his approach. Another consistent guy. Same guy every day. But he’s well-liked in the offensive line room, which I think speaks volumes because that’s a really tight room. He’s doing an excellent job.”
Edoga started the last two games at left tackle and could be the swing tackle/backup guard when the Cowboys face the 49ers Sunday night.

https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...williams-dak-prescott-rookie-record-cj-stroud

 

[CCBoy]

The 49ers’ defense has limited explosive plays this season at a historic rate. But San Francisco is going against a team that chooses to get in a half-court offense and grind for points. The Cowboys play complementary football with their elite defense by averaging the most plays (7.6) and longest time of possession (3 minutes, 33 seconds) per drive in the entire league.

The Cowboys do this by their aforementioned heavy lean toward a run game that currently ranks 12th in rushing success rate on first and second down. Their fastball is pulling linemen for gap scheme runs like counter and power. (No team has run gap scheme more often and for more yards than the Cowboys this season, according to SportsInfoSolutions.)

In the passing game, this is where the more traditional elements of Prescott’s game and the overall Cowboys offensive attack can be focused to their advantage against the 49ers. Those underneath throws come in a variety of ways for Prescott. One is checkdowns on play-action; he’s currently using play-action at the second-highest rate among qualifying quarterbacks, which again is this offense playing complementary football but with their run game this time.

https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...williams-dak-prescott-rookie-record-cj-stroud

 

[Hardline]

The backs arent the problem. The Oline is the problem. Better off drafting oline.

But I do agree we need to take a back in rounds 2-4. Definitely not 1. Cant pay a back 10 million.

I'm for building the OL in every draft.
Quinton Nelson was my top target in that draft even though the Cowboys were considered to have the best OL in the NFL.

 

[JD_KaPow]

Pollard isn’t the back McCafferty is. McCafferty is coming off back to back 100 yard games including 152 last week. McCafferty is averaging just under 6 yards a carry this season with 6 TDs. As stout as San Francisco’s defense is Pollard is going to have a very difficult time outperforming him. San Francisco ranks third against the run while the Cowboys rank 16th, plus McCaffrety is real good as a receiver.

This guy? I wouldn't worry about him.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/McCaDo20.htm

(I expected to find no one but there has actually been exactly one McCafferty to play in the NFL.)

 

[zrinkill]

There is no comparison at all ........ Pollard is a backup that's been put in a starting position.

 

[quickccc]

Yes, FA departure likely if Pollard's camp not feasible to Stephen Cap Boy contract plans.

The two vibes I get is:
1) Beat, pound and use Pollard up for the year, ( ala like we did with Demarco Murray)

2) If he remains whole, throw a bargain based contract at him at best, to see if he bites.
If not prepare the NFL draft again for another Pollard like gem.

3) Per McCarthy's simplistic, bland dink n dunk offense, Pollard is not gonna be a super factor gem vs defenses.
Where his speed, skill set and versatility as a run/catch all purpose could be better
Seems like Mac is gonna content to do a Garrett on Pollard and use him merely as a workload, bell cow pounder.
Something that is not his style, frame and game suit. (sigh)... but with some coaches....

 

[Nova]

CMC is a fantastic player, but last year he had 10 carries for 35 yards, 6 receptions for 22 yards against us.

The focus should, once again, be on limiting him.

 

[ak47kaehu]

CMC (when healthy) is the best in the biz. BUT he isn’t healthy for long usually

The 49ers are running him so hard this early in the season he's probably gonna be all beat up come playoff time!

 

[Hawkeye19]

The 49ers are running him so hard this early in the season he's probably gonna be all beat up come playoff time!

He’s gonna get beat on tomorrow

 

[quickccc]

CMC is a fantastic player, but last year he had 10 carries for 35 yards, 6 receptions for 22 yards against us.

The focus should, once again, be on limiting him.

Plus we also held ole Deebo ( "that's my bike, punk! " ) in check as well.

Never thought we could contain 2 super players in the same game.
Can we re-do such a great feat again ?

 

[conner01]

So far I am not satisfied with the running game.
I would without hesitation take a RB in the first three rounds in next years draft.

TreVeyon Henderson - Ohio St
Rahiem Sanders -Arkansas
Trey Benson -Florida St
Blake Corum - Michigan
Ray Davis - Kentucky.
Will Shipley - Clemson

I’d take a RB in the first 3 rounds as long as it’s not the first round lol

 

[Cebrin]

Even if the trenches were equal, (which they’re not). CMac is clearly the better all round RB and MM‘s play calling isn't going to make the difference

Speed, strength, receiving and blocking go to Cmac…….it wouldn’t surprise me if CMac has more catches and yards than Cooks and Gallup combined.

Thats the unfortunate possibility.

It would surprise me considering their pass defense is their weakest trait.

 

[beware_d-ware]

CMC is dealing right now.

There is a reason why Kyle Shanahan gave up a bunch of picks for a RB on a big contract. Kind of like how Dan Quinn treats LBs and SSs as basically the same position, Shanahan sees WRs and RBs as basically the same position. He'll set up short passes to both that are almost schemed like handoffs. CMC was already that kind of dual-use player in Carolina, and he is just a hand in glove fit for what that offense wants to do.

As far as Tony Pollard, he's been fine. He had some very tough sledding against the Jets, in a game where we wanted to salt the clock away and force the run against a stout defensive front. Otherwise, he's been good. He's running inside and outside well, and has developed into a quality pass blocker.

Like many people, I'd prefer he get less carries and be more explosive when he does touch the ball. RBs have never been cheaper, so I don't know why we didn't got out and get him a stablemate to replace Zeke. Pollard is playing well, but he's not being used optimally IMO.