FRISCO, Texas — 2:56 on the clock in the fourth quarter. It is second and four. Tony Pollard takes the handoff from quarterback Andy Dalton. No.20 bursts to the open lane on the flat, cuts, spins out of three defenders and a grabbed jersey, then accelerates to the end zone. Touchdown Tony Pollard, resulting in a 34-24 Cowboys lead over the 49ers that seals the victory in week 15.
“His cutting and vision are so natural and then once he made one guy miss, he could accelerate to top speed instantly,” Darrell Dickey told D210SPORTS, Pollard’s former offensive coordinator and running back coach at Memphis.
No.20’s speed was on full display in Sunday’s win over San Francisco. Pollard was given a heavier workload with the team’s every-down back, Ezekiel Elliott sidelined due to a calf contusion. Elliott worked with resistance bands to test stiffness during pregame warmups but was ruled inactive. Pollard received the bulk of the carries and an opportunity he labeled, “a dream.”
“It was big for me, “Tony Pollard described to media after the ballgame. “Being in the league, getting a chance to start a game coming out and knowing the team would be dependent on me a little more, I just try to take advantage of my opportunities and make the most of it.”
The-second year back has continued to prove his worth on the gridiron in 2020. Against the 49ers, he had a productive first quarter with 46 receiving yards, 16 rushing, and a touchdown. Pollard consistently gained yardage out of the flat as a receiving threat with his burst along the perimeter. Things stalled for the Memphis product until his 40-yard touchdown run in the fourth as the 49ers adjusted their run stunts making it a challenge to get the ground game rolling.
All in all, he showed up when it mattered most and showcased his versatility/explosiveness. Sure, Elliott is the better runner through tackles, but Pollard is dynamic and is the better pass-catcher in space avoiding tackles and moving the chains. His patience and decisiveness on runs this season have elevated his game.
Andy Dalton told reporters following the 41-33 win, “He’s [Tony Pollard] so versatile and for him not only to be able to do it in the run game but also in the pass game, you get him the ball in space and he’s able to make guys miss and turn either quick completions or runs into gains. I think that is what makes him such a special player and we are very fortunate to have a guy like that if Zeke is going to be out; you can hand him the ball and get him the ball and he was able to show what he’s able to do.”
However, the running game and passing game are just scratching the surface with Pollard’s ability. Kick returner is often synonymous with Tony and a good part of the reason he was drafted by Dallas in the fourth round. He was considered one of the best kickoff return specialists in college football and top returner in the country during his tenure, with seven kick-return touchdowns (a school record) and tying a FBS record. AAC coaches voted Pollard the top special teamer in the conference once again in 2017 while leading the nation with a school-record 40 yards per kick return and four kickoff returns for scores.
“Tony Pollard is the best special teams’ player I have ever been associated with,” Darrell Dickey stated. “He did it all, he blocked punts, was a gunner on the punt coverage, and was an awesome returner. On offense, he was a unique weapon because you can be in two-backs or I-back without having to substitute. His versatility created matchup problems for opposing defenses.”
Pollard is a jack of all trades and a nightmare for defenses. In addition to the blocking, rushing, and pass-catching, he is making an impact on special teams at the pro level. Against the Ravens in week 13, TP broke loose for a 67-yard kick return as he sprinted down the field shedding tackles. A week later vs. the Bengals, Pollard’s elusiveness to start the second half raised eyebrows. He returned the kickoff back for 60 yards, garnering praise from Mike McCarthy stating, “he had a heck of a day.”
Despite his limited role behind Zeke, the Cowboys should feel extremely lucky to have Pollard in the backfield with his dynamic playmaking ability. To top it off, he has the right intangibles. Regardless of how many touches he gets in a game, he never complains, cheers on his teammate’s accomplishments, and goes out there and makes an impact when his number is called. That is the player you want in the locker room.
Darrell Dickey elaborated to D210, “The main thing about Tony was his willingness to do anything that was asked of him. He was very serious about doing his best in every situation, whether that was covering a punt, or running the football. His knowledge of the game is where he improved the most from when we first saw him until he finished in college. He loved to watch film and wanted to know how and why things worked and did not work.”
His mental preparation for the game and inquisitive nature have translated to the pro level and come to fruition between the hash marks. In the Cowboys’ lackluster 5-9 season, Pollard continues to be a rising star with limitless potential.
