“Running backs don’t matter.”
It’s become a meme at this point, but it has become increasingly more difficult to justify paying running backs big contract numbers in today’s NFL. Time and time again we see these big name running backs get paid and fall off a cliff while late round and undrafted backs put up numbers behind superior offensive lines.
I don’t want to say this is what’s happening in Dallas just yet, as I still believe in Ezekiel Elliott’s value when this offense is whole…but there’s denying that Tony Pollard is bringing a different level of explosion to this Cowboys backfield.
https://twitter.com/PFF_Cowboys/status/1326517535924084737
Per Pro Football Focus, Cowboys running back Tony Pollard is fourth among all backs in elusive rating this season, having avoided 17 tackles on 60 touches. He also ranks 7th in the league in yards after contact, not exactly where most fans would identify his strength being.
There’s no question that Pollard has brought an extra level of juice to this offense when given opportunities, an excellent change of pace from Elliott’s more bruising style. It also seems, though, that the running lanes open up for Pollard in ways they don’t for Elliott. Some of that could be reputation, some of it could be game situation, some of it could be luck.
But it also has to do with the difference in running styles, where Pollard is not hitting a jump cut in the backfield and being patient the way that Zeke does. He’s just going.
Regardless, Tony Pollard is worthy of carrying a bigger burden as the season goes by, especially considering the year is essentially over anyway. Let Pollard get these carries this season and hope that Elliott comes back fresh and healthy in 2021.
Elliott is simply not good as a runner. I notice the article avoids giving Elliott’s ratings…because they are terrible.
Pollard is good as a runner. We see his ratings.
This article illustrates how media bias affects reports. Even though all the evidence is clear, the media bias favors Elliott so the article twists to be as favorable as possible to Elliott .
Zeke is living off his reputation and name recognition. If it weren’t for that and his big contract he would have been benched long ago. Jerry always prefers substance over style. He won’t sign off on benching Zeke cuz it hurts the brand to bench one of his high profile players.
Another example of how Jerry hurts this team and how appearances and perception are the most important thing to him. Winning isn’t the most important thing to him, it never has been. Brand recognition and selling jerseys trumps everything else.
The Offensive line needs to be rebuild!! To make running lanes and to protect the quarterback !
That should be the #1 priority!!!
No Zeke is bad period a good running back has vision is patient and explodes when he gets the chance Zeke wants to prove he is tough always trying to run over people never sees his gapes and doesn’t know how to secure the ball for example if he runs on left side of the field he has the ball on the right side of his hand which if hit on right spot is a fumble instead of it going out that is the basic thing you learn
Elliot is a bell cow let’s see see pollard do it over a long period of time
Talk to me when pollard does this for an entire season with the defenses keying in on him. Save this and talk later.
The time to rebuild the Offensive Line to create running lanes for Zeke and Pollard!!! Kept pressure of Quaterback!
Use Zeke more as a decoy an let Pollard be the feature back!! Use draft to added pieces to Offensive Line!!!