×

MATCHES

  • NYJ

    3
  • ATL

    24
  • IND

    34
  • MIN

    6
  • DEN

    24
  • PIT

    20
  • NE

    16
  • OAK

    19
  • NYG

    24
  • MIA

    17
  • DAL

    22
  • WSH

    26
  • DAL

    22
  • WSH

    26
  • DEN

    24
  • PIT

    20
  • NE

    16
  • OAK

    19
  • NYG

    24
  • MIA

    17
  • IND

    34
  • MIN

    6
  • NYJ

    3
  • ATL

    24
  • NYJ

    3
  • ATL

    24
  • IND

    34
  • MIN

    6
  • DEN

    24
  • PIT

    20
  • NE

    16
  • OAK

    19
  • NYG

    24
  • MIA

    17
  • DAL

    22
  • WSH

    26
  • DAL

    22
  • WSH

    26
  • DEN

    24
  • PIT

    20
  • NE

    16
  • OAK

    19
  • NYG

    24
  • MIA

    17
  • IND

    34
  • MIN

    6
  • NYJ

    3
  • ATL

    24
  • NYJ

    3
  • ATL

    24
  • IND

    34
  • MIN

    6
  • DEN

    24
  • PIT

    20
  • NE

    16
  • OAK

    19
  • NYG

    24
  • MIA

    17
  • DAL

    22
  • WSH

    26

SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!
Don't miss two huge championship matches, tonight on FOX SPORTS
  • TOP EVENTS
  • LOGIN
  • LANGUAGES
    • English English
    • Français Français
    • Español Español

Aficionado Al Deporte

  • OPINION
    • sportsbooks
  • INICIO
  • NFL
    • Scores
    • Schedule
    • Playoffs
    • Standings
    • Stats
    • Teams
    • Rankings
    • Rumors
  • MBL
  • NBA
  • NHL
  • NCAAB
  • GOLF
  • NASCAR
  • s
FAN SHOP
  • No products in the cart.

  • Home
  • NFL
  • Why Cowboys RB Tony Pollard’s role could expand without getting more carries

Sports News

aficionadoadmin
Friday, 26 August 2022 / Published in NFL

Why Cowboys RB Tony Pollard’s role could expand without getting more carries

6:15 AM ET

FRISCO, Texas – It’s like the big Christmas present tucked in the corner that is saved for last. The anticipation grows after you open gift after gift and say thank you after thank you. All the while, your eyes on that present, waiting.

Soon the Dallas Cowboys will open that present tucked in the corner and show everybody just what they plan to do with running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard in 2022. For now, it remains something of a mystery because neither will play in a preseason game before the Sept. 11 opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC) and the glimpses in training camp practices were some of the basic staples the Cowboys have used before.

Pick NFL player props every week. Rack up more wins than Mike for the season and you could win $20K! Make Your Picks

“We certainly want those guys to get touches, and it’s a matter of finding those different roles,” offensive coordinator Kellen Moore said. “Both of them we want to get creative with, get them on the field at the same time. And then obviously when one guy is down, the other guy is in there contributing. So, I think it will be a fun task for us to kind of pair those guys up and be creative with how we can utilize them in different positions and find opportunities for success.”

Moore’s biggest challenge is not in splitting up the carries between Elliott and Pollard. Elliott will remain the lead ball carrier, proving last season before getting hurt that he remains one of the elite backs in the NFL.

It will be replacing the 113 receptions, 1,467 yards and 14 touchdowns that wide receivers Amari Cooper and Cedrick Wilson Jr. put up last season — and this is where Pollard may be able to best help the offense.

The Cowboys traded Cooper to the Cleveland Browns and lost Wilson in free agency to the Miami Dolphins. To date, the Cowboys have opted to go with CeeDee Lamb and untested and inexperienced receivers, but what many are forgetting is Pollard’s past.

At Memphis, he mostly played wide receiver, working the slot.

Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard played wide receiver at Memphis and should be seeing extra targets in 2022. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

“There is a ton of it on film. A lot of it is coming back to him,” Moore said. “I think he does have more than just that. He’s not going to run [just] the running back route tree, the quick game and just kind of the completion plays. He can stretch people vertically, and I think that will be a huge advantage for him to put people in conflict of how they want to handle him.”

Said Dak Prescott, “He can get out there and be one of our best pass-catchers, and just the way that he’s grown, just with his route running from the time that we’ve asked him to take on that role is impressive itself.”

Since the spring, Pollard has taken some wide receiver reps. Offensive assistant Kyle Valero, who has mostly worked with receivers since joining the staff in 2014, has served as Pollard’s individual coach after he is finished with running back meetings.

“It’s definitely coming back to me, getting out there, being more comfortable doing the receiver thing,” Pollard said.

Pollard is bigger than many think (6-foot, 212 pounds), but he has never gone through the down-to-down pounding of an every-down running back.

Meanwhile, Elliott has had a strong summer. His injured right knee has healed, and he said he has the quickness and burst back to get him to and through the holes.

Running backs coach Skip Peete is in his second tenure with the Cowboys. In his first from 2007 to 2012, he worked through the Marion Barber–Felix Jones tandem and later the Jones-DeMarco Murray tandem.

“They’re both going to play,” Peete said. “Depending on the game, depending on the situation — how much are they going to be involved at the same time? — that aspect will work itself out. We’re not saying, ‘He’s going to play this many plays in this game.’ I don’t think you ever go into a game doing that. I think you say, ‘We’re going to utilize both of these guys,’ and some game plans are going to be heavier more with both of them playing than just one playing.”

&• Bigger role for Dallas’ Tony Pollard?
&• Can Bradley Chubb get back to form?
&• Justin Herbert’s critical third year
&• Trey Lance won’t have to be savior for 49ers
&• Inside 2005 fight-filled NYG-NYJ practices

The cries for more Pollard and less Elliott started last season when Pollard was averaging 5.5 yards per carry and Elliott was struggling with a partially torn posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Pollard had a career-high 719 rushing yards on 130 carries and 337 receiving yards on 39 receptions. He scored two touchdowns.

Elliott had 1,002 rushing yards on 237 carries and 287 yards on 47 carries. He scored 12 touchdowns.

“His elusivity, his explosiveness. I think I go in and pound them a little bit,” Elliott said, when asked how they complement each other, “then he goes in there and is going to break some long ones.”

Pollard’s speed, however, is what separates him from other backs, and the Cowboys want to get him in space.

“Not having to worry about as many defenders,” Pollard said of his work outside. “I’m pretty much past the first and second line of defense. So at receiver, once you catch the ball, you just got to make a guy or two miss, then it’s off to the races.”

With the Green Bay Packers, coach Mike McCarthy had to turn to wide receiver Ty Montgomery at running back in 2016 out of necessity because of injuries to Eddie Lacy and James Starks. That history has helped with the plan for Pollard this season.

“They’re different players, but, to me, it really comes down to the expansion of job responsibility,” McCarthy said. “That’s all it really is, and where he plays and how he plays, that’s all part of the game and design of it. But it’s really expanded his opportunity to touch the football.”

Contractually, this is a big season for Elliott and Pollard. Elliott is in the final year of guaranteed money on his six-year extension he signed in 2019. Without a big season – or maybe even with one – he could be playing his final season with the Cowboys. Pollard is set to be an unrestricted free agent after the season, and so far there have been no discussions regarding an extension.

Pollard understands what the future may hold if he produces, especially with more touches, but he doesn’t have statistical goals in his head.

“I’d rather not limit it,” he said.

Kind of like how the Cowboys want to use him.


Advertisement

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Entradas recientes

  • Rodgers wants Reddick a Jet, cites ‘fun ride’ ahead
  • Vikings rookie QB McCarthy needs knee surgery
  • Parsons certain Lamb will play Cowboys’ opener
  • Adams returns to Raiders following birth of son
  • Chase not at Bengals practice amid contract saga

Comentarios recientes

No comments to show.
  • UFC
  • Olympics
  • Boxing
  • Tennis
  • Poker

Recent Posts

  • Rodgers wants Reddick a Jet, cites ‘fun ride’ ahead

    Rich Cimini, ESPN Staff WriterAug 13, 2024, 04:...
  • Vikings rookie QB McCarthy needs knee surgery

    Kevin Seifert, ESPN Staff WriterAug 13, 2024, 1...
  • Parsons certain Lamb will play Cowboys’ opener

    Todd Archer, ESPN Staff WriterAug 13, 2024, 06:...
  • Adams returns to Raiders following birth of son

    Paul Gutierrez, ESPN Staff WriterAug 13, 2024, ...
  • Chase not at Bengals practice amid contract saga

    Ben Baby, ESPN Staff WriterAug 13, 2024, 05:35 ...

Recent Comments

    Archives

    • August 2024
    • July 2024
    • June 2024
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • March 2024
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • August 2023
    • July 2023
    • June 2023
    • May 2023
    • April 2023
    • March 2023
    • February 2023
    • January 2023
    • December 2022
    • November 2022
    • October 2022
    • September 2022
    • August 2022
    • July 2022

    Categories

    • Football

    SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER

    Subscribe to our newsletter and receive our latest news straight to your inbox.

    SOCIAL MEDIA

    INFORMATION

    • UFC
    • Olympics
    • Boxing
    • Tennis
    • Poker

    WEBSITE

    • UFC
    • Olympics
    • Boxing
    • Tennis
    • Poker

    CATEGORIES

    • UFC
    • Olympics
    • Boxing
    • Tennis
    • Poker

    STAY CONNECTED

    • UFC
    • Olympics
    • Boxing
    • Tennis
    • Poker

    Made with love by Hogash Studios.

    TOP
    • English