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The Cowboys have been down this road before, it’s just not all that well traveled. With the selection of Memphis running back Tony Pollard, the Dallas offense has the opportunity to inject a different type of weapon into the system, one they haven’t employed in a long time. Maybe not ever.
In years past, the team has tried to get receiving skills out of a running back’s body. First it was Lance Dunbar, but he never materialized the way the team wanted. They then tried to make a running back who converted to wideout in college, Ryan Switzer, take that role. He was out after a year. Tavon Austin was brought in as a wideout who could run the ball, but he’s too slight to handle a serious workload. Pollard could be the guy they have been looking for, and if so, he has a chance to join a very rare group. A Day 3 running back with a major long-term impact on the organization. That hasn’t happened since the club brought in Marion Barber back in 2005.
The world doesn’t know what Pollard’s ceiling will be as a professional player, but he certainly has a unique skillset that will cause the offensive braintrust to switch the way they deploy their weapons. That’s what Barber was when he was brought in out of the University of Minnesota. Barber’s skillset was different than Pollard’s but still unique. He was the hammer that was used to bludgeon opposing defenses, force them into submission and stop fighting.
His style was all about punishment and toughness and he was a backup running back for the majority of his early career that teams didn’t want to see on the field.
Here’s a look at a few of The Barbarian’s runs.
Marion Barber was so tough to tackle
pic.twitter.com/xXUsycRYT5
— NFL Throwback (@nflthrowback) May 10, 2019
Barber’s style led him to be a key cog in the offense, despite not starting most of the games. He was originally part of a tandem with 2004 first-round pick Julius Jones, but despite never elevating to a starting role, proved just as important to the Dallas offense as the higher pedigree player.
Pollard will likely not elevate to such heights with Ezekiel Elliott in town and the clear work horse, but he can create a name for himself, just in a different manner than Barber did.
In his second year, he had 14 rushing and 16 total touchdowns. By Barber’s third year, he was a Pro Bowl asset and set out on three consecutive seasons gaining over 1,000 total yards from scrimmage.
After the team moved on from Jones, Barber moved into the role of a starter in his fourth season. There’s a possibility such a fate could await Pollard if Dallas chooses not to work out an extension with Elliott.
Forecasting Pollard to be the heir apparent is jumping to conclusions, however. For now, just the idea that Dallas could have a complimentary weapon who brings an entirely new dynamic to the position as the incumbent is exciting enough. Remembering what Barber was able to do in his version of the role is a scintillating trip down memory lane.
The Cowboys have only drafted two running backs in the fourth round in the last 20 years, Barber and Tashard Choice in 2009 out of Georgia Tech.
Gallery
Best Day 3 picks in recent Cowboys draft history
Continue reading...
In years past, the team has tried to get receiving skills out of a running back’s body. First it was Lance Dunbar, but he never materialized the way the team wanted. They then tried to make a running back who converted to wideout in college, Ryan Switzer, take that role. He was out after a year. Tavon Austin was brought in as a wideout who could run the ball, but he’s too slight to handle a serious workload. Pollard could be the guy they have been looking for, and if so, he has a chance to join a very rare group. A Day 3 running back with a major long-term impact on the organization. That hasn’t happened since the club brought in Marion Barber back in 2005.
The world doesn’t know what Pollard’s ceiling will be as a professional player, but he certainly has a unique skillset that will cause the offensive braintrust to switch the way they deploy their weapons. That’s what Barber was when he was brought in out of the University of Minnesota. Barber’s skillset was different than Pollard’s but still unique. He was the hammer that was used to bludgeon opposing defenses, force them into submission and stop fighting.
His style was all about punishment and toughness and he was a backup running back for the majority of his early career that teams didn’t want to see on the field.
Here’s a look at a few of The Barbarian’s runs.
Marion Barber was so tough to tackle
— NFL Throwback (@nflthrowback) May 10, 2019
Barber’s style led him to be a key cog in the offense, despite not starting most of the games. He was originally part of a tandem with 2004 first-round pick Julius Jones, but despite never elevating to a starting role, proved just as important to the Dallas offense as the higher pedigree player.
Pollard will likely not elevate to such heights with Ezekiel Elliott in town and the clear work horse, but he can create a name for himself, just in a different manner than Barber did.
In his second year, he had 14 rushing and 16 total touchdowns. By Barber’s third year, he was a Pro Bowl asset and set out on three consecutive seasons gaining over 1,000 total yards from scrimmage.
After the team moved on from Jones, Barber moved into the role of a starter in his fourth season. There’s a possibility such a fate could await Pollard if Dallas chooses not to work out an extension with Elliott.
Forecasting Pollard to be the heir apparent is jumping to conclusions, however. For now, just the idea that Dallas could have a complimentary weapon who brings an entirely new dynamic to the position as the incumbent is exciting enough. Remembering what Barber was able to do in his version of the role is a scintillating trip down memory lane.
The Cowboys have only drafted two running backs in the fourth round in the last 20 years, Barber and Tashard Choice in 2009 out of Georgia Tech.
Gallery
Best Day 3 picks in recent Cowboys draft history
Continue reading...