How should the role of Tony Pollard be seen?

How should the role of Tony Pollard be seen?

Kyle Youmans: Pollard has made this question easy to answer over the past two seasons. When he has been given more responsibility, he has delivered more results. So give him a bigger role on offense this season and see if he can continue to deliver more results. He racked up 130 carries in 2021 after having 101 the year before. He rewarded Dallas by increasing his total from 435 rushing yards to 719 in just one year and his receiving yards from 193 to 337. The ideal role would be if Kellen Moore fueled a significant increase to between 150 and 175 carries, which would also open up his ability as a wide receiver.

Rob Phillips: More plays. He’s earned it and the Cowboys need it from him. That’s not a knock against Ezekiel Elliott, who remains the team’s starter and most complete running back, including pass protection (which does matter). But this is the right time for Pollard to get more involved in the offense, which means a moderate increase in the number of snaps per game at running back and wide receiver. In recent years, yes, I agree there was only one ball for Elliott, Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup, Jason Witten and Dalton Schultz. The time has changed. Cooper and Witten are no longer here. Gallup is coming back from a major knee injury and he may not be ready for the start of the season. Plus, Pollard stepped up with a career season in 2021. His versatility is no longer a luxury on offense, it’s a necessity.

Mickey Spanish: Much the same as last year, assuming Ezekiel Elliott is fully recovered from the posterior cruciate ligament sprain he suffered in the fourth game of the season. And from an offseason standpoint, he has. A healthy Zeke makes these guys one of the best 1-2 strikers in the NFL, especially when using Pollard, whose speed catches defenses off guard when he doesn’t see a consistent dose. And I still want Pollard to return kickoffs. He has a gift for it. So if the Cowboys want to expand their role, throw the ball to Pollard more in space, especially in two sets, and if the Cowboys have a hard time finding a legitimate third receiver early in the season (while Michael Gallup recovers) , you can then start using Pollard outside of the slot. Or just throw him from the backfield, Christian McCaffrey style, who caught 58 passes in 2019 when healthy.