Why RB Tony Pollard has not returned to form in '23?

[CalPolyTechnique]

You’re the one who doesn’t know what they’re talking about. I said before the season ever started Pollard wouldn’t be an effective starter due to an increased workload. He’s had a career high 235 carries this season, which is 42 more carries than he finished last season with. He’s been used to pick up a lot of the dirty yards Zeke was used for. While Zeke was pushing piles, Pollard was on the sidelines being kept fresh. The added workload has worn him down and his yards per carry has gone down. His explosive plays have also decreased.

How profound.

Pollard literally had his leg pointing the opposite direction just a few months ago and you're acting like that's a non-factor.

 

[buybuydandavis]

Around the bye week he said he finally got his legs back under him and felt 100%. Now if the OL would just cooperate!

That's what I've seen. Pollard has looked good recently. Run blocking has not.

 

[Blackspider214]

He looked effective because even at the end of his shelf life here, Zeke got the tough yards. Wore down defenses and Pollaed was the change of pace back. Pollard is not a guy who can get tough yards. Never will be.

OL also is helping any.

 

[KJJ]

I’m glad you confirmed that you had bias before the season. Thanks.

Now learn some football so you can see what the actual problem is.

I know enough about football to know that Pollard wasn’t going to be near as good as a starter with more carries. I argued with a NUMBER of fans who were convinced he would be a 1200+ yard back as a starter and they were WRONG! My archives are proof positive how much I know about football and your archives are proof positive you don’t have a clue about the game, especially the QB position.

 

[KJJ]

How profound.

Pollard literally had his leg pointing the opposite direction just a few months ago and you're acting like that's a non-factor.

His injury may have played a part but according to Pollard he’s felt great. The team hasn’t mentioned his injury. All I know is fans were bashing Zeke the past 2-3 seasons wanting to see more of Pollard who had become a big fan favorite. Now fans are bashing Pollard and can’t wait for the team to move on from him. There was even a thread with a large number of fans that wanted Dowdle as the starter. Lol

 

[MojaveJT]

It was easy to see Pollard wasn’t an every down back when Zeke was here. He’s the perfect change of pace back. I do wish Zeke was still here to grind out the tough yards and Pollard would blow the doors open on long runs.

I agree our Oline isn’t blocking the best but having a pounder like Zeke would alleviate it a bit.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

Combination of things, but the biggest is that the OL just isn't very good at run blocking. Steele has regressed, he was a mediocre pass blocking RT, now he isn't the run blocking beast he was. Martin is good but is slowing down. Biadasz is at best average. Smith is a specimen and will get better. Tyron is great when healthy, which is about 50% of the time. Throw in that they have only been together about half of the games and it is clearly a weakness. I think it makes Dak's season even more amazing. A run game that isnt dependable and leaky pass protection.

 

[Coogiguy03]

I agree. Infusing the OL with quality young talent should be a top priority.

you agree with me finally!???

 

[HungryLion]

you agree with me finally!???

Happy new year

 

[Coogiguy03]

Happy new year

same to you and yours!

 

[CATCH17]

17 games and he'll probably not even rush for 1,000 yards. Zeke only played 15 last year and had 876 yards, plus 12 tds to Pollards 5 (so far) and people insisted it was all Zeke's fault, "he's all washed up".

Zeke needed to be replaced, but anybody who thought Pollard was going to be a 1,500 yard guy this year found out 'ol Zeke wasn't as bad as they thought...

No Zeke was as bad as everyone thought. He was awful.

We have a Oline problem. I can’t imagine how bad Zeke would be this year.

 

[Jarv]

His workload has increased and he’s not being kept fresh. It’s much tougher starting games against fresh defenses. He’s not a starting caliber back but fans wouldn’t listen. They thought as a starter he would be breaking long runs several times a game.

This is right on man, thank you.

 

[KJJ]

This is right on man, thank you.

 

[Jarv]

He looked effective because even at the end of his shelf life here, Zeke got the tough yards. Wore down defenses and Pollaed was the change of pace back. Pollard is not a guy who can get tough yards. Never will be.

OL also is helping any.

Certainly a combination of both, maybe new oline coach and scheme too.

 

[Teague31]

I think our OL is starting to show real issues with age at LT and maybe RG?... and steele is just not it, we need a RT and maybe a center.

The whole OL minus Tyler Smith needs an overhaul. At a minimum we need a new center and a new LG to allow Tyler to move to LT. Then we pray Zack holds up one more year and Steele is better another year removed from the injury.

 

[DallasDW00ds0n]

Blocking has been horrific and Pollard lost his burst/speed/break tackle ability

 

[Teague31]

You should never give a running back a second contract. Run them into the ground for 3-4 years then rinse and repeat.

 

[ConstantReboot]

I'm constantly trying to see and find any semblance of the '22 Pro Bowl Tony Pollard this year.

At some point I'm now wondering if becuz of the fibula/high ankle sprain that he is still a mere shell of his once explosive fear factor
presence of past years. The guy that could take any touch and burst it to a homerun TD, or big chunk runs.

But other than the big Chargers catch and run.. i cannot recall many huge chunk yard splash plays like he was frequently
making in prior years .. that's how and why Pollard made the Pro Bowl, ..that's how Pollard received the one year franchise tag from the team.

Having issues (major issues!) at the OL certainly is not helping Pollard's cause.
Our RBs are constantly getting drilled in the backfield on a game to game basis.

Even Lions scat back RBs Montgomery and Gibbs were ripping off chunk runs ..and we're supposed to be a better OL unit in player personnel than the Lions.

The Lions oline is better than ours.

 

[kskboys]

I'm constantly trying to see and find any semblance of the '22 Pro Bowl Tony Pollard this year.

At some point I'm now wondering if becuz of the fibula/high ankle sprain that he is still a mere shell of his once explosive fear factor
presence of past years. The guy that could take any touch and burst it to a homerun TD, or big chunk runs.

But other than the big Chargers catch and run.. i cannot recall many huge chunk yard splash plays like he was frequently
making in prior years .. that's how and why Pollard made the Pro Bowl, ..that's how Pollard received the one year franchise tag from the team.

Having issues (major issues!) at the OL certainly is not helping Pollard's cause.
Our RBs are constantly getting drilled in the backfield on a game to game basis.

Even Lions scat back RBs Montgomery and Gibbs were ripping off chunk runs ..and we're supposed to be a better OL unit in player personnel than the Lions.

1. Recovering from an injury.
2. Being used completely different, in a manner that is not conducive to maximizing what he brings to the table.

 

[kskboys]

We need to fix the trenches it needs to be our focus solely in the draft, no cute stuff either

Not solely. Need LB's and DT's also.