Dallas Cowboys coach Skip Peete says Tony Pollard ran out of gas against Chicago Bears
The Tony Pollard-Ezekiel Elliott debate continues to rage among fans and pundits following Pollard’s 131-yard, three-touchdown effort in last Sunday’s 49-29 victory against the Chicago Bears as the starter in place of an injured Elliott.
While many point to Pollard’s exceptional performance as proof to why he should be elevated to RB1 for the Cowboys over Elliott, it was his final carry, a scintillating 54-yard touchdown run that proved the Cowboys are using him in exactly the right role.
Running backs coach Skip Peete compared Pollard’s performance to that of a high-performance race car.
“[Pollard] played a total of 30 plays, and I think that’s his max — as far as total play count— because then the juice doesn’t become the same and he’s not as quick, not as fast,” Peete said. “When he got that long run on third-and-1, soon as he got to the sideline he said, ‘Coach, I’m done. Done for the game. I’ve got no more.’ “
That 54-yard run, which came on his career-high tying 14th carry in a game. He crossed the goal line with 10 minutes, 35 seconds left in the game. Pollard did not log another touch the rest of the way.
“Tony’s obviously a very talented runner and good all-around back, but some guys are race cars. Some guys are high-quality, expensive sedans and those sedans can go for a long distance at a very high rate, whereas race cars go very fast and quick and run out of gas.”
Peete said the Cowboys need both backs and he has always preferred to have have a two-back system.
He said Elliott is a physically punishing runner where Pollard slices the opposing team up.
“[Halfbacks like Pollard] are always going to have a bigger average, and make more explosive plays but, at the end of the day, when you get into certain games, the race car can’t handle that punishment because they get worn down. I think you need both [types],” Peete said.
When asked if thought Pollard was a better running back than Elliott as this point in his career, owner Jerry Jones said no.
He said they are just different backs, pointing to Elliott toughness as a runner and ability as a pass protector that can’t be ignored.
He also intimated that Elliott not being on the field played a role in quarterback Dak Prescott suffering a fractured thumb in the season opener, causing him to miss five games.
“When you see it done right, and that’s Zeke, you realize how important it is,” Jones said. “And of course, all you have to do is look at what happened to us with the Dak’s thumb, and you can see how important it possibly could be and it’s a big part. Running back is a big part of the protection of the quarterback.”
And a big reason why the Cowboys don’t plan to diminish Elliott’s role in place for more snaps for Pollard.
They plan to continue to use them in tandem.
This story was originally published November 4, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
