FRISCO, Texas – Despite an embattled offensive unit the previous two weeks for the Dallas Cowboys, one player has made a sizable impact between the hash marks. Hybrid playmaker Tony Pollard has fueled the Cowboys with his rare acceleration, a component that has turned heads since his fourth-round selection in 2019.
“I think just as soon as we got him in the rookie minicamp, you saw his explosive ability,” Vice President of Player Personnel, Will McClay described to D210SPORTS. “The field is 53 yards wide and 100 yards long. It is those people that can capture space and yardage in a short amount of time. His acceleration when he steps on the gas is a unique quality that he has. He runs – we got him at 205, 209 pounds – but he is pound for pound one of the strongest players and one of the fastest players.”
On Thanksgiving Day against the Las Vegas Raiders, Pollard took it to the house. Down 24-13 after a Marcus Mariota touchdown on a quarterback keeper in the third quarter, No. 20 raced down the sideline like a man possessed. Daniel Carlson kicked 65 yards from the Las Vegas 35. Pollard returned the kick 100 yards for a touchdown to thin the deficit, 24-20. He caught the ball lined up deep, made a quick cut to the left, and instantaneously hit top speed outpacing the Raiders. His elusiveness in space brought the crowd to their feet and shifted the momentum in favor of Dallas.
In college at Memphis, not only did Pollard garner lavish praise for his cut ability and burst on runs, but for his prowess as a kick returner. He led the nation as a sophomore for the Tigers in 2017, averaging 40 yards per kick return. He had seven kick return touchdowns (a school record) during his colligate career and the pattern has continued in the NFL. Leading into Thursday’s game against the Raiders, Pollard led the league in kickoff return yards. On 13 returns, he had compiled 338 yards for a 26.0 average in 2021. That number spiked after the loss at AT&T Stadium.
Pollard is the team’s swim army knife and a nightmare for defensive coordinators. The term kickoff return specialist is often synonymous with Pollard, however, it only scratches the surface for the versatile back. Pollard serves as a punt blocker, a kickoff returner, gunner on punt coverage, rusher and receiving threat. In today’s NFL, players are not solely confined to one specific job. They are asked to perform a myriad of roles on the gridiron but the capability of doing each at a high level is what differentiates. Pollard is a dynamic threat when he touches the ball in every capacity. On slash runs, he is able to quickly get to the second level and find openings on the outside. Pollard is dangerous on jet sweep options and opponents do not know where he will line up when the huddle breaks. That makes him a lethal weapon, creating mismatch problems. Managing both special teams and offensive snaps has become routine for Pollard, a task he encourages.
“When he has an offensive series coming up, it has to be the right kickoff return for him to bring that one out,” special teams coordinator John Fassel stated. “But I really believe Tony loves returning kickoffs. We love having him. That’s his job whenever he wants it, but I think he’s really cognizant of, ‘Hey, if I have a series coming up on offense, this has to be the right kick for me to bring the ball out. And if Zeke’s going to start this drive on offense, well, then I can be a little more aggressive, bringing it out maybe a little bit deeper.’ He’s just really valuable, really football instinctive and football smart player. And you just trust his decision-making.”
With the team’s every-down back, Ezekiel Elliott, dealing with a knee contusion, Pollard had a heavier workload on offense in Week 12. He split reps between kickoff returns, rushing, and pass-catching against Las Vegas. The balancing act for players often comes with a price- a decrease in production. However, Pollard took advantage when his number was called. The evidence may not show up on the stat sheet, but numbers do not equate to success. His chip blocks extended plays for teammates, as did his punt blocks, ensuring a clean maneuver. Even his three-yard dirty runs created favorable one-on-one matchups on the outside for receivers, as the Raiders loaded more defenders in the box. Regardless of his role, he gives unequivocal effort.
Pollard did the heavy lifting for Elliott on No. 21’s one-yard touchdown run that concluded the second quarter. On four of the team’s seven plays on that offensive possession leading into the final scoring play, Pollard had the football in his hands. From third-and-two with :49 on the clock before the half, Pollard lined up on the right side of Dak Prescott. Prescott took the snap and Pollard ran a flat route. No. 4 threw the ball to Pollard as he made his way to the goal line. He lunged forward and extended his arm to try and get it across for the touchdown, but the play was reversed. Elliott then ran up the middle to make it a 17-13 ballgame. Pollard put the team in position to score.
In addition to his unselfish play and sensational athleticism, his unparalleled competitiveness creates a stout resume and produces the intangibles coaches covet around the league. Pollard’s relentless mentality caught the eye of Will McClay at the Senior Bowl in 2019, sealing his future in Dallas.
“That year, being at the Senior Bowl when I was watching him compete, there was a play in practice where he was running the ball, linebacker got the best of him, stood him up in the hole and you could see — the thing you can’t see on tape is the competitive spirit — so the next time he got the ball, he ran directly at that guy,” McClay laughed. “He was actually in the Senior Bowl game, but he ran directly at the player who just whooped his butt and won. So, those are the things that stood out just as much, if not more, than the physical ability.”
That competitive nature has manifested to highlight-worthy plays donning the Star. Pollard continues to be an ascending weapon with limitless potential. As the Cowboys’ roster continues to be ravaged by injuries and COVID-19, Pollard has been the difference maker in Kellen Moore’s arsenal.
