FRISCO, Texas — For a running back, it is often the 40-plus yard runs that garner esteemed praise and lavish ovations from spectators. However, more than one element encompasses a complete back. Blocking and pass-catching separate the average players from the elite. In the climate of today’s NFL, players no longer specialize in one area but must be multi-faceted.
Throughout the offseason, Dallas Cowboys’ third year running back Tony Pollard is expanding his role and broadening his knowledge of the offense to succeed in all three areas. The work was advertised on Saturday night against the Houston Texans as No. 20 dazzled his way into the end zone.
It’s second-and-six. The Cowboys are down 7-0 with 3:44 on the clock in the first quarter. Pollard lines up behind Cooper Rush on the right side of the formation. The ball is snapped, and Pollard identifies the blitz coming off the right side in the C gap and chips the defender to slow him down. He does not lose balance and puts himself in position to then make the catch. Pollard accelerates towards the end zone, avoids a tackle, and cuts back inside without decreasing speed. Touchdown.
The highlight-worthy play caught the attention of head coach Mike McCarthy.
“It’s a great play, it’ll be on the teaching reels moving forward because you’re always looking for a B gap entry to run the screen, you’re also looking for a C gap chip entry and that’s about as clean of a C gap chip entry as we’ve had,” McCarthy described to D210SPORTS. “It was great patience by Tony to keep the ball right on the numbers, we talk about running the sidewalk and letting Zack [Martin] get out in front where he’s able to score. I just think it shows Tony’s experience and feel and even going a step further when you hit the inside run, didn’t even waste a step, didn’t even blink…Tony’s having a great camp.”
With the team’s featured back Ezekiel Elliott occupying the spotlight/headlines, Pollard often flies under the radar but brings complementary value to offense. He is more than the “Elliott’s backup” status and is a better well-rounded running back than draft analysts and scouts predicted when Dallas drafted him in Round 4 in 2019.
Elliott may be the every-down back and power runner through the tackles, but Pollard has made his own mark through versatility. The Memphis product is the better pass-catcher in space, avoiding tackles and moving the chains. His quickness makes him an ideal matchup in certain situations and the Cowboys’ need to capitalize on those opportunities in 2021. Throughout training camp, his instinctual play, patience and explosiveness have been a bright spot. An improvement Pollard attributes to the mental preparation aspect of the game.
“Just being more comfortable with where I am,” Pollard told D210Sports. “Being able to expand my role and trying to learn different things on offense as far as route concepts and route trees.”
As a receiving threat, Pollard will be a nightmare for defenses. The scatback can line up in the backfield to take the handoff, be flexed wide out of the flat, or line up in the slot. He is dangerous on jet sweep options and screens. Pollard’s contribution in so many different areas is a testament to the competitor and team-player he is.
Pollard upgraded from 199 snaps in 2019 as a rookie to 363 in 2020. Last season, he tied with Derrick Henry for the highest yards-after-contact average in the league (4.0) and tied with Nick Chubb for the best broken tackle rate (0.25) per PFF. Those numbers are telling. Pollard’s continued stellar performance relieves Dallas of a challenging predicament and creates a mutually beneficial situation: reducing Elliott’s workload to prolong his career, despite his lofty paycheck. The 26-year-old signed a six-year, $90 million contract in 2019 but with the wear and tear of an NFL season on a workhorse, the days of Elliott seeing 300-plus touches a game may be over. With Pollard’s proven playmaking ability, he does not have to. With rep distribution, Elliott’s career is preserved, and Pollard has a chance to elevate the offense. Saturday’s screen play serves as evidence- Pollard can be equally explosive with his opportunities. He has only scratched the surface.
