The Cowboys look to be primed for contention in 2021. If they’re able to keep a relative amount of health, in particular at quarterback, they’ll be the favorite to win the NFC East. But what happens after that may be determined by how they handle Ezekiel Elliott’s workload weeks 1-18.
And that’s where Tony Pollard comes in. Pollard, who has just one start to his ledger as a pro has played well in backup duty to Elliott. But if the Cowboys want to maximize both players it’s time to consider a timeshare between the two.
Now, that doesn’t mean a 50/50 split, but closer to 60/40 than has been in years past. Ezekiel Elliott is a great player. At the same time, he’s logged a lot of touches in his five year in the NFL.
Though he’s coming into training camp in great shape, he’s still got a lot of wear and tear he’s carrying on his body. Hopefully the change in physique will provide a more explosive and quicker Ezekiel Elliott. And still, if the Cowboys want to make sure he’s fresh for what could be a deep playoff run, getting Tony Pollard involved early in the season and early in games could be greatly beneficial.
With a new 17 games season and an 18 week schedule, if the Cowboys were to be fortunate and find themselves playing in the Super Bowl, they would have played football for 22 weeks unless they got the first round bye. That’s a lot of touches that Elliott could see if the Cowboys aren’t careful with his workload.
There will be games where giving Elliott 25-30 touches will make a lot of sense. But there will also be games where the Cowboys should be able to keep him closer to 15 touches.
The Cowboys have big plans and big expectations for their offense and their team in 2021. Ezekiel Elliott will be a big part of how far this team can go in the regular season and in the playoffs if they’re able to get there. Keeping Elliott fresh for what could be a long season helps him and the Cowboys in the long run.
