That Pollard Myth?

[HungryLion]

Probably because Pollard gets into space a lot more and the first contact on him is a DB a lot of times while more often than not the first guy hitting Zeke is a DL or LB. Some of that is absolutely a result of Pollard's burst to get to the edges but some of it is simple play calling. Zeke's the inside guy.. I don't expect a lot of broken tackles on those runs. Those are meant to be body blows to the defense aimed at softening it up for later. But did you see that graphic they put up in the 3rd quarter Monday night where Zeke had 21 yards on 9 carries? With 17 of those yards coming after contact? When your back is getting 80% of his yards after contact the line is getting beat and the back is doing the work.

I don’t buy your theory.

Even if I did buy your theory. It wouldn’t be worth paying that RB more than any other back in the league.

 

[RonnieT24]

No one has ever said Pollard can’t block and run inside??? Lol huhwhaaat???

People acted like he was some kind of liability because he might give up a sack once or twice a month.

The only people who "acted like that" were you guys when you were constructing your strawmen. And it wasn't once or twice a month.. There were a couple of instances where he got Dak blown up once or twice a game. I think his whiff was what got Dak hurt in this year's opener and I have a vivid memory of his getting trampled twice in the Tampa game last year as well as on the sack fumble against the Chargers. I think he has improved quite a bit over the last two seasons but he still has a ways to go in that department. There is nothing to be gained by pretending he still aint got work to do. But he was good Monday night.. and I hope he continues to be good this Sunday.

I don't know what Zeke has left in the tank and it certainly appears that he may not get refreshed until the offseason. But I do know that whatever he has left he's going to leave it out there on the field. Thankfully the Niners interior D is not QUITE as good as these last three teams we've faced. Not that they are chumps but they aint beasts like Vea and Payne and 'nem. So we might actually get some work done inside this week. I was hoping that Zeke would lose the knee brace for the playoffs too.. That thing aint helpin his burst none either.

 

[thunderpimp91]

IDK how true it is that people dont think Pollard cant run tough. I think the bigger concern has been around the number of touches and can be a workhorse type. I think those concerns are very valid, but I also think unless you have a Derrick Henry type in todays NFL you're much better off having 2 RBs. Limit Pollards touches to keep him as explosive as possible. Had they done this more with Zeke in years prior he may have more left in the tank too.

The only issue I see with a guy like Pollard in terms of "tough running" are the short yardage/goal line situations. Zeke seems to have a clear advantage taking those runs and turning them into TDs/first downs. Pollard while I would consider him a "tough runner" it's a different style of tough than what Zeke brings to the table.

What I dont get is the Zeke vs Pollard debates. Honestly I think these two guys compliment each other perfectly and can be used in tandem very effectively.

 

[McKDaddy]

If there is no opening, neither of them are doing anything.

TP certainly is the more explosive back & needs to be utilized to the full extent of his talents.

 

[RonnieT24]

I don’t buy your theory.

Even if I did buy your theory. It wouldn’t be worth paying that RB more than any other back in the league.

I'm not here to argue about salary man. The Cowboys have stopped using Zeke in any fashion that remotely justifies his salary. That's up to them to figure out. I am only interested in talking about what happens on the field. Again.. 80% of Zeke's yards on Monday night were after contact. The fact that he only got 30 yards total tells you he was getting hit in the backfield pretty much every tote. Of course those of us who watched the game already knew that.

 

[thunderpimp91]

The only people who "acted like that" were you guys when you were constructing your strawmen. And it wasn't once or twice a month.. There were a couple of instances where he got Dak blown up once or twice a game. I think his whiff was what got Dak hurt in this year's opener and I have a vivid memory of his getting trampled twice in the Tampa game last year as well as on the sack fumble against the Chargers. I think he has improved quite a bit over the last two seasons but he still has a ways to go in that department. There is nothing to be gained by pretending he still aint got work to do. But he was good Monday night.. and I hope he continues to be good this Sunday.

I don't know what Zeke has left in the tank and it certainly appears that he may not get refreshed until the offseason. But I do know that whatever he has left he's going to leave it out there on the field. Thankfully the Niners interior D is not QUITE as good as these last three teams we've faced. Not that they are chumps but they aint beasts like Vea and Payne and 'nem. So we might actually get some work done inside this week. I was hoping that Zeke would lose the knee brace for the playoffs too.. That thing aint helpin his burst none either.

Spot on. I'll admit that I was a guy who vocalized concerns about Pollard in pass protection, but I think those concerns were valid based on what we had seen up to that point. Pollard seems to have gotten better and better as the year has gone on though, I still don't think hes in Zekes level in that department though. I like Pollard a lot more as a receiver and running in space. Zeke still seems to be dominant as that blocking and short yardage grinder type back.

 

[Coogiguy03]

Maybe on the leg machines but his upper body needs work. That's the biggest difference between him and Zeke. Below the waist they're about the same but above the waist one is a heavyweight and the other is a welterweight. Still it's a really good thing we have that dude on the team. He runs hard as hell and just has that slippery quality about him that lets him slip out of tackles.

I do have to ask though.. Why does Pollard having a higher YPC in a game bring out this sort of post but when Zeke has the higher average folks are silent about it? I mean I get it, Zeke is worn down and we clearly need to see more of TP but there are going to be games and matchups that favor Zeke's style. Assuming he can get rested and refreshed in the two weeks before the Super Bowl! Then there's Philly and the Giants.. Zeke was the better of the two against both those defenses so if we manage to get by San Fran I think it's a good chance our chances of winning will be greatly helped by #21.

Because Tony brings more to the table as our offense needs a spark. Zeke makes us want to pass, Tony makes you want to run more

 

[Coogiguy03]

Haha how does it feel to be so wrong about Pollard and watching me be so right…

I was 2 1/2 years ahead of everyone on this lol.

Every back doesn’t have to be some big bulky guy.

Pollard is elite after contact and he is just simply one of the best RBs in football.

Agreed

 

[Coogiguy03]

Pollard is the ideal RB in this era of NFL offense. Similar to a Kamara, Eckler or McCaffrey. No you're not going to pound him 20 times between the Guards. But he can effectively run b/t the tackles, attack the perimeter and more importantly a major receiving threat. Divvy that up into 20 touches/game however you like.

Pollard's only issue is he gets compared to what Zeke once was in his heyday.

Even with that said, there's some bigger backs that can run and hit the hole very quickly Zeke just doesn't do that

 

[CATCH17]

IDK how true it is that people dont think Pollard cant run tough. I think the bigger concern has been around the number of touches and can be a workhorse type. I think those concerns are very valid, but I also think unless you have a Derrick Henry type in todays NFL you're much better off having 2 RBs. Limit Pollards touches to keep him as explosive as possible. Had they done this more with Zeke in years prior he may have more left in the tank too.

The only issue I see with a guy like Pollard in terms of "tough running" are the short yardage/goal line situations. Zeke seems to have a clear advantage taking those runs and turning them into TDs/first downs. Pollard while I would consider him a "tough runner" it's a different style of tough than what Zeke brings to the table.

What I dont get is the Zeke vs Pollard debates. Honestly I think these two guys compliment each other perfectly and can be used in tandem very effectively.

Being a workhorse is irrelevant.

Tony Pollard is Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey doesn’t “carry the load” either and he’s still amazing.

Carrying the load is overrated. Being a playmaker and making big plays is what wins ball games.

 

[jazzcat22]

Lmao. As opposed to you who says so based on just your feelings.

Weak argument.

My feelings have nothing to do with it. But yours and other do. Your dislike for the guy has more to do than with football.

 

[Coogiguy03]

You guys fascinate me with your ability to construct bogus arguments, attribute them to others then declare yourselves to have been "right." No one has ever said Pollard can't block.. yet yall trot that argument out daily. He is just not as good at it as Zeke but has been improving every year. No one has ever said Pollard can't run inside.. yet yall trot that argument out daily.. He's just not as good at it as Zeke but has been improving every year. No one has ever said he can't play and needs to ride the pine except for a few carries a game. In fact every rational person on this site has said that when he's rollin they need to keep handin him the ball, throwin him the ball.. whatever. What seems to bother yall is that we say the same thing about Zeke.. When he's rollin, they need to ride him.

The "argument" has never been about Pollard being able to do this or that.. The argument has always been and continues to be, how much can you use him before the big plays disappear or he just gets hurt. He's a good player.. I like him on my team.. have ALWAYS liked him on my team. I can find posts from 2020 where I stated that he was a better fit for the offense we were now running than Zeke was. So if you were 2 1/2 years ahead of everyone, I was 6 months ahead of you.

It's like you're upset with us because you have this eye for Zeke that we don't. Proof is in the pudding, we're better moving the ball when Tony has it in his hands. I'm sorry you don't like having play makers with the ball that's how it seems. Would you want Noah or CEEDEE??

 

[Coogiguy03]

Pollard breaks more tackles than Zeke.

Yet they still say he doesn't and he's fragile

 

[Coogiguy03]

Right now Pollard is the difference and is the key on how far this team will go.

Amen

 

[RonnieT24]

It's like you're upset with us because you have this eye for Zeke that we don't. Proof is in the pudding, we're better moving the ball when Tony has it in his hands. I'm sorry you don't like having play makers with the ball that's how it seems. Would you want Noah or CEEDEE??

Your attempts to project your emotions on me won't work. I root for my team to win.. I don't get caught up in "this guy vs that guy." They both play for my team so I want them both to ball out. That's has always been my mindset and always will be. Whoever is in the game needs to perform and I am happy when they do. Some of you don't seem to grasp the concept of "team." I do.. so do Zeke and TP which is why they complement one another so well. They are both willing to do whatever it takes to win games. That's what I love about them.

 

[Coogiguy03]

Probably because Pollard gets into space a lot more and the first contact on him is a DB a lot of times while more often than not the first guy hitting Zeke is a DL or LB. Some of that is absolutely a result of Pollard's burst to get to the edges but some of it is simple play calling. Zeke's the inside guy.. I don't expect a lot of broken tackles on those runs. Those are meant to be body blows to the defense aimed at softening it up for later. But did you see that graphic they put up in the 3rd quarter Monday night where Zeke had 21 yards on 9 carries? With 17 of those yards coming after contact? When your back is getting 80% of his yards after contact the line is getting beat and the back is doing the work.

Well geez I wonder why that is, if a db is getting to him he's past the DL , that's a bad thing huh??? We want both backs to be near the DBS because they're getting yards

 

[HungryLion]

I'm not here to argue about salary man. The Cowboys have stopped using Zeke in any fashion that remotely justifies his salary. That's up to them to figure out. I am only interested in talking about what happens on the field. Again.. 80% of Zeke's yards on Monday night were after contact. The fact that he only got 30 yards total tells you he was getting hit in the backfield pretty much every tote. Of course those of us who watched the game already knew that.

Sure, although contact is also a product of his struggling to make people miss and/or outrun defenders at this stage.

I don’t dislike Zeke. I’ve always liked him. He just needs to be relegated to a minor role the remainder of these playoffs and then cut for salary cap purposes in the offseason. Unfortunately he has hit the RB wall and it’s over.

 

[Coogiguy03]

Your attempts to project your emotions on me won't work. I root for my team to win.. I don't get caught up in "this guy vs that guy." They both play for my team so I want them both to ball out. That's has always been my mindset and always will be. Whoever is in the game needs to perform and I am happy when they do. Some of you don't seem to grasp the concept of "team." I do.. so do Zeke and TP which is why they complement one another so well. They are both willing to do whatever it takes to win games. That's what I love about them.

Trust me you're not that important nobody is on here to do that, you like to look at things one way you're not the only one. Man truth hurts, just go with the hot hand and the player that gives us the best chance to be successful

 

[Coogiguy03]

Pollard is simply better than Elliot and should start. Elliot is washed up. You can get a cheap college player who can pick up short yardage more reliably than Elliot…

Amen

 

[HungryLion]

My feelings have nothing to do with it. But yours and other do. Your dislike for the guy has more to do than with football.

1. I don’t dislike Zeke.

2. Yes it is entirely to do with your feelings. Unless you want to offer up proof that Zeke breaks more tackles. As opposed to just denying the fact without anything to back up your assertion. Up to this point you’ve offered nothing but your feeling.