Dallas Cowboys' Two-RB System? 'Gotta Have it!' Says Coach Mike McCarthy
We all remember the "Dine and Dash" duo of Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard last season, but the Dallas Cowboys moved in a different direction for 2023 by letting go of Zeke and moving forward with Pollard.
Granted, having Pollard as the lead back didn't exactly start all too well as he only scored two rushing touchdowns in his first nine games, but lately, he's heating up.
As for the other running back Rico Dowdle, also of late, he has seen an increased workload. Against the Philadelphia Eagles, Dowdle totaled 46 yards and a touchdown on 12 attempts, while Pollard had 16 rushing attempts for 59 yards as the running game sliced through the Eagles defense in a key 33-13 win.
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy is now saying having a two-back system is something the team needs going forward given how grueling the season is.
"You have to have it," McCarthy said. "It's a long season, 17 games. To think running backs are going to touch the ball 20-25 times, that's probably not realistic.
"We have been very fortunate to have it with Zeke and Tony the last three years and now to have it with Tony and Rico. We are very fortunate with our running back room."
Tony Pollard (20) and Rico Dowdle (23) are proving to be a good running back tandem for the Cowboys.
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
While Pollard, at least statistically, is the lead back (196 attempts to Dowdle's 75), when the pair work in tandem, as we saw against the Eagles, they provide quite the one-two punch.
Additionally, both are averaging a cool 4.1 yards per carry, so when they get the ball in their hands, good gains are made. As we enter the final stretch of the season, and players continue to get worn down physically, having a potent rushing attack could prove decisive.
The Cowboys weren't overly effective at running the ball early this season, but have now surpassed 100 rushing yards in five straight games. So that's something.
With Pollard still proving to be the lightning if he can bounce outside and Rico playing the "angry'' bruiser, the Cowboys could have yet another weapon to add to the "Texas Coast Offense's'' arsenal.
It might not be the "Dine and Dash" of old, but this new version has shown good signs of breaking through and if the Cowboys have intentions of going on a deep playoff run, both will apparently been needed ... and both will need to feast.
