My next possible breakout player was going to be Blake Jarwin, since there are several posts about him, no need to start another discussion. Here is my final possible breakout player for this upcoming season-Tony Pollard
As prospect Tony Pollard was viewed as more of a gadget type of player who has the versatility to play multiple roles. In his limited opportunities last season, he struck me as a more physical Felix Jones. Has the potential to become a dynamic kickoff returner, can be an effective runner even in between the tackles and has plus receiving skills. He made not have timed as fast as Felix Jones did, but his speed and burst is evident, especially in space.
It's going to become very challenging for Pollard to see a lion share worth of rushing carries as he is playing behind Zeke Elliot. He also has his struggles in pass protection, which limits him playing time.
Kellen Moore/MM need to find more ways to integrate Pollard within the starting offense as he is a tremendous home run type of weapon in space. If that means gadget plays, playing more as a slot receiver or even how him and Zeke on the field together so be it.
- From what i heard, it was only fans and media circles that assumed Pollard was gonna be a
gadget back based off his role at Memphis. Garrett per his post draft interview was already saying that
the team thinks of him more than that. They thought he had legit run skills that could help them greatly.
-And Pollard proved them right. from preseason and on he looked very natural and instinctive, and he is ever
more physical and surprisingly stronger in lower body and legs than Felix Jones ever was.
plus he is much better blitz blocker than Felix, much more durable than Felix, and twice as effective and powerful 'between the tackles as Felix ever was. He really hit the ground running as a pure runner.
- Aside from Detroit TD where he lined up slot wise and caught a TD score per underneath cross route.
Pollard either wasn't used much as a receiver, or he didn't seem comfortable yet on rare times asked.
This is an area he was underdeveloped and under-schemed under Kellen Moore, imo.
- Pollard's special teams work as a kick returner was a disaster under
much maligned SP coach Keith O' Quinn but this is where famed SP coach John Fassel should
come in handy. There was a ton of lost fundamentals and discipline under O' Quinn that
had the entire special teams in pure shambles.
-We've gone thru some backs such as Darren McFadden, Lance Dunbar, Alfred Morris, Robert Turbin,
Rod Smith ...none of them have excited me as much in terms of physical size and tools, natural instincts, splash speed and potential as much as Pollard. We finally got the backup RB role and personnel right .