What should Pollard’s role look like (question 10 of 20)

[Hawkeye0202]

Pollard should play the Jim Kiick role and let Elliott be Larry Csonka.

They should try to find out if Pollard can fill the RB1 role in 2023.

Since he's 2023 free agent, I'm guessing it will be a priority

 

[john van brocklin]

No he should not get more carries than Zeke. He has HR potential, but he can't wear down a defense like Zeke can. Think Barkley, has he ever worn down a defense? That is what you get in Pollard but not as good.
Zeke still has that long run threat, for when defenses are worn down. He may still have it even if they aren't worn down.
We will see what happens.

Agree, let's see what happens.
It's one of the story lines to follow this year.
Honestly either one of our opinions could end up being correct.

 

[jazzcat22]

Agree, let's see what happens.
It's one of the story lines to follow this year.
Honestly either one of our opinions could end up being correct.

They just need to use them as the 1st few games last year, in a balanced way. However, use Pollard more in the passing game. He is much more effective in open space as he is quicker and more elusive. They need to take advantage of that. Use him in the slot, and / or move him around, put him in motion more often.

I think too many fans use their likes and dislikes toward players to really give a true evaluation.
I like them both, just want a winning combination.

 

[buybuydandavis]

https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/10-what-should-tony-pollard-s-role-look-like

Yes this too has been discussed.
Here are opinions of the writers.
I think all 3 in combination pretty much nail it.

expanded role, more touches, especially in the passing game. He has earned that over the past two seasons.
Zeke remains the better overall RB and is still the starter, but Pollard has earned more of a role as well.
I know there will be the standard Zeke dislikers biased posts. Try to refrain yourselves.

Surprisingly, Mickey has the best take. The only take with content beyond "more touches". More use in the slot.

 

[john van brocklin]

They just need to use them as the 1st few games last year, in a balanced way. However, use Pollard more in the passing game. He is much more effective in open space as he is quicker and more elusive. They need to take advantage of that. Use him in the slot, and / or move him around, put him in motion more often.

I think too many fans use their likes and dislikes toward players to really give a true evaluation.
I like them both, just want a winning combination.

 

[CowboyRoy]

https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/10-what-should-tony-pollard-s-role-look-like

Yes this too has been discussed.
Here are opinions of the writers.
I think all 3 in combination pretty much nail it.

expanded role, more touches, especially in the passing game. He has earned that over the past two seasons.
Zeke remains the better overall RB and is still the starter, but Pollard has earned more of a role as well.
I know there will be the standard Zeke dislikers biased posts. Try to refrain yourselves.

Pollard should be used similar to how SF uses Deebo Samuel. Probably a little less as a WR and more in the run game but certainly having him catching 4 to 6 balls a game.

15 total touches per game.

As far as Zeke, STOP with the "overall back" nonsense. Thats a Zeke apologist cop out.

ONLY think Zeke does better is pick up the blitz. Pollard is better at running and catching the ball. Which is what backs are paid to do. Let Zeke play FB if you want want a blocking back.

 

[CowboyRoy]

We all know what Pollard's role should look like. But I'm liking what I've seen from JaQuan Hardy. If Pollard has to step in as a receiving option, I believe Hardy can fill in as a backup to Zeke nicely.


If Moore fails to use Pollard correctly in the beginning of the season...he needs to fired before week seven.

Cmon with this Hardy nonsense.

 

[CowboyRoy]

No he should not get more carries than Zeke. He has HR potential, but he can't wear down a defense like Zeke can. Think Barkley, has he ever worn down a defense? That is what you get in Pollard but not as good.
Zeke still has that long run threat, for when defenses are worn down. He may still have it even if they aren't worn down.
We will see what happens.

Zeke does NOT wear down defenses buddy. That is a myth.

LOL..........no Zeke does NOT have the home run threat at any point in the game.

You wear down defenses by dominating them and making plays in the run game. Zeke doesnt do that consistently anymore. Nobody is scared of zeke. At this point, if he is starting, they are probably licking their chops.

Pollard is actually the guy out there breaking more tackles and taking it to the defense.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Pollard should be our Deebo. Set him out wide with movement behind the QB at times. Have Lamb as the slot still sometimes in those lineups. When Gallup comes back from injury we should have Lamb, Tolbert/Washington, Gallup as the main WR's and Pollard as the RB with
Zeke in a mix of FB style lineup. Well, at least what I would do.

Imagine, Zeke as RB, Pollard out wide, Lamb in a slot role, Washington in the Z slot, Based on the D lineup, bring Pollard down for a RPO or keep him out wide for a crossing pattern

 

[CowboyRoy]

Pollard was a threat everytime he was on the field last season. Zeke pre injury was as well but I still dont see him having the long speed to take it to the house. Pollard has that speed. Why not make him lead back and see. If he doesnt succeed. Its not like Zeke is going anywhere so put him back in. Heck maybe losing his spot will motivate him more

Just play them both equally and go with the hot hand. Its as simple as that. The better back will surely rise to the top quickly.

But regardless Pollard should have his own unique package of plays in the offense like a Deebo Samuel.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Why do you think he needs to EARN it back. He never lost it.

They had them on the fired together at times the 1st 3 to 5 games, then they stopped. Maybe because of Zeke's knee. not sure. And it looked great. Then Dak's calf strain, and things changed. Along with OL injuries and shuffling.

Pollard has been the better RB for 3 years now. He has earned to lead the team at the position. Granted it should never be 80/20 for any one guy. 60-40 and hot hand.

 

[CowboyRoy]

It really should be a no-brainer for this staff to be able to comprehend that more touches for Pollard, which he has shown he deserves, doesn't have to mean less touches for Elliott, who showed last year that he's still one of our top offensive players when healthy.

There are plenty of touches that went to Cooper, Wilson and even Gallup last season to be divvied up. I have a hard time seeing that Pollard shouldn't be getting some of those touches over Washington, a receiver who hasn't really established himself, and Tolbert, a third-round rookie.

The idea that to give Pollard more touches means taking them away from Elliott is just wrongheaded IMO. Both should be out there together a lot this year. Pollard should be running a lot of jets and fake jets, shifting into the backfield, etc. Unless some of those other players prove they deserve more playing time than he does, that should be our base plan of attack.

The better back should lead in carries. Simple as that. Pollard has been the better back.

 

[Bullflop]

Pollard role can be increased in a variety of ways without digging too deeply into Zeke's role, as well.
A sizeable number of Pollards reps will come in short passes being turned into sizeable gains.

 

[gimmesix]

The better back should lead in carries. Simple as that. Pollard has been the better back.

I don't care who leads in carries, just what's effective. I believe what will be most effective for this team is to have both Pollard and Elliott in the game together as much as possible.

 

[buybuydandavis]

Pollard role can be increased in a variety of ways without digging too deeply into Zeke's role, as well.
A sizeable number of Pollards reps will come in short passes being turned into sizeable gains.

Before we drafted Lamb, I wanted a lot of Zeke and POllard, with Pollard the motion Back/WR.

Now that Cooper is gone, and Gallup too for a while, it would just be crazy to keep Pollard off the field.

 

[Bullflop]

Before we drafted Lamb, I wanted a lot of Zeke and POllard, with Pollard the motion Back/WR.

Now that Cooper is gone, and Gallup too for a while, it would just be crazy to keep Pollard off the field.

Agreed. I have no real desire to see Zeke disappear from the offense, nor even take a secondary role to Pollard. I think there plenty of room for both RBs in the Cowboys offense. Zeke still has value as a power back, with Pollard favoring the outside runs and short passes, while getting a worthwhile piece of the action. Zeke still has value as a power back, while Pollard has value as a speed merchant. There's enough room for both on fairly equal terms, imho.

 

[plasticman]

I would expand his role early in the season to see how he performs and to lighten Zeke's load for the season.

Besides, Zeke has a history of starting out slow and building steam after the first four games. Yes, he seemed to recede after the 10th game but I still believe he was hobbled more than we were told last season.

Anyway, they should increase Pollard's load unless he starts slowing down. The overall strategy would be to use them both in a way where they can both get weeks in which their loads are light by switching around the larger number of carries and then equalize and even combine them during the last part of the regular season and into the playoffs.

What I mean is that, come December, there should be more plays where they are on the field together. This should also help with the concerns about the WR depth.

 

[Ranching]

https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/10-what-should-tony-pollard-s-role-look-like

Yes this too has been discussed.
Here are opinions of the writers.
I think all 3 in combination pretty much nail it.

expanded role, more touches, especially in the passing game. He has earned that over the past two seasons.
Zeke remains the better overall RB and is still the starter, but Pollard has earned more of a role as well.
I know there will be the standard Zeke dislikers biased posts. Try to refrain yourselves.

I still think that Zeke is the overall better back....but Pollard has a different skill set and burst that needs to be used more often. I would like to see about 10 carries and 5 receptions a game. That could be about 100 total yards.

 

[quickccc]

yeh, it's an every year tired out discussion, because of what we constantly end up with Kellen/Pollard but
we've seen glimpses of Pollard's splash ability can be a game changer in an instant.

- I think Pollard could’ve been a Nyheim Hines – Dion Lewis type change of pace role.
He could’ve been an Aaron Jones or Austin Ekleler type impact.
And Pollard has more lower body breaking power and top end long run speed than either Aaron Jones and Austin Ekleher.

- But unlike Jones/Ekleher, Because of Kellen’s inability RB use, Pollard is still so severely under developed and raw as a receiver.
Several keep focusing on Pollard’s rushing carries, but I tend to think it’s about touches, which vastly includes what he could/should be doing in the pass game.

- With the right OC, he should be/would be pure utter deadly on RB screens ! not quick dump offs- but developed screens with pulling OL leading the way
But Kellen will not run it and he’ll give up on it with da quickness, if it doesn’t go well for him once or twice.
Moore won’t develop it the way Linehan did with Zeke 2016-2017 … that’s why we keep getting that tired out WR bubble screens – which everybody saw it coming.

 

[zrinkill]

He is a change of pace back ...... That's what his role is.