Can Cowboys RB Tony Pollard Carry The 'Texas Coast Offense' with No Trade?
FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys are mere weeks away from the 2023 NFL campaign with a new-look offense and renewed hopes of their first NFL title since the 1995 season.
A coaching staff shakeup along with roster moves at impactful positions has fans both excited and dispirited at the same time. Out is Kellen Moore as offensive coordinator, and in is Brian Schottenheimer. Along with this change is the promise that coach Mike McCarthy will be more involved in play-calling, with the expectation that he takes over those duties completely.
Also out is long-time running back Ezekiel Elliott. The Cowboys have seemingly put their collective running game eggs in the basket of Tony Pollard, who plays the 2023 season under the $10.09 million franchise tag.
Pollard has proven that he's capable of carrying the ball at the highest level, but hasn't yet shown he can carry an offense. ... Though the design of McCarthy's new "Texas Coast Offense'' figures to play to his strengths. ("Texas Coast Offense''? Yup. And we've got the Uncle Fish T-shirts to support it!)
Backing up Pollard is second-year back Malik Davis, who has a total of 38 carries for 161 yards and one touchdown to his name, and rookie Deuce Vaughn, who has shown promise early in the offseason but lacks any experience at the NFL level.
Other members of the running backs room include Rico Dowdle and Ronald Jones. Dowdle has just seven carries for 24 yards to his career while Jones is a little more seasoned with 2,244 yards on 505 carries since 2018.
Pollard's durability will continue to be questioned until he proves he can stay healthy while serving as the No. 1 back in Dallas, while the diminutive Vaughn is the wildcard here. His college career was full of explosive plays both in the running game and passing game. ... and CowboysSI.com sources tell us he's a virtual lock to avoid being cut.
Davis has shown the tools to be a possible short-yardage back behind Pollard, while Jones gives a little versatility in every aspect of the game.
Are the Cowboys content with the running back room as it stands? Or could they be looking for options to add depth? There are names out there that can lend to the durability and effectiveness of the position.
The one that stands out above all is Cordarrelle Patterson in Atlanta. After drafting Bijan Robinson this past April, the Falcons have one of the deepest running back rooms in the league. Trade rumors have already linked Patterson to the Cowboys. And some think there is sense to chasing free agent Leonard Fournette as well. But the question is: would Dallas pursue that sort of move before the season starts or stand pat until it becomes apparent they're a player short at the position?
We know the Cowboys answer there; they'll wait until camp in Oxnard to see if a problem exists. Meanwhile, Cowboys Nation is left hoping that Tony Pollard has both the star quality and the durability to make it a moot point.
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