The Dallas Cowboys had one of the most productive offenses in the NFL during the 2023 season. Dallas ranked first in points scored and fifth in yardage gained, buoyed by one of the best passing attacks in the NFL.
One area in which the Cowboys struggled to consistently get going was with the ground game. Running the ball better was something Mike McCarthy wanted to do last season, but it didn’t come easily to the team,
They finished in the top half of the NFL in rushing yards but were 20th in yards per carry. After a breakout season in 2022, Tony Pollard struggled to replicate his success in 2023. As a result, he carried a lot of the blame for how things went on the ground last season.
NFL News & Rumors: Tony Pollard, Mike McCarthy, Dallas Cowboys Updates
As a leadback for the first time in his career, Pollard wasn’t nearly as effective as when he was playing a complementary role to Ezekiel Elliott. While many fans, especially in the world of Fantasy Football, were disappointed with Pollard, the Cowboys weren’t solely placing the blame on him.
As shared by Saad Yousuf of The Athletic, Dallas felt there were more reasons for their ground game struggling than just Pollard. Comments made by prominent people in the organization would prove that to be the case.
“However, comments from Stephen Jones and Will McClay made it clear that personnel at running back is not the only thing being held accountable for the lack of success. Jones pointed to the scheme needing to be adjusted, and improvements up front in run blocking was a theme coming from the organization as well. Jerry Jones mentioned at the Senior Bowl that running the ball better was going to be an emphasis and it’s clear it will be a complete effort all around,” wrote Yousuf.
NFL News & Rumors: Tony Pollard, Mike McCarthy, Dallas Cowboys Updates
Based on those comments, it will be interesting to see how the Cowboys handle Pollard’s free agency this time around. Last year, they placed the franchise tag on him. This year, it looks as if he will hit the open market, eligible to sign with any team he chooses.
If the Cowboys allow Pollard to leave, there will be a sizable hole left in their backfield. They do not currently have a player under contract who would be capable of stepping into their lead back role.
In addition to Pollard’s free agency, the Cowboys sound intent on getting things back on track with their offensive line. They have already made one major move to that unit, as long-time left tackle Tyron Smith will not be back in 2023.
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