Ezekiel Elliott: Are the Dallas Cowboys higher with Tony Pollard as their beginning operating again?

Good Morning Soccer’s Kyle Brandt: “Tony Pollard needs to be taking part in extra; he’s the starter by each metric apart from fame and his contract. Zeke ought to completely nonetheless be a part of the offense, however he needs to be the ‘change of tempo’ again”

The Good Morning Soccer staff focus on the operating again state of affairs in Dallas and whether or not the Cowboys can be higher off beginning Tony Pollard over Ezekiel Elliott.

The Dallas Cowboys earned their first win of the 2021 NFL season with a slim 20-17 conquer the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, however is a change wanted at operating again to ensure that this staff to succeed in its true potential?

Eziekiel Elliott has been the starter in Dallas ever since being taken with the fourth total choose of the 2016 NFL Draft. He rushed for a staggering 1,631 yards and 15 touchdowns in his rookie season and, after topping 1,000 once more in 2018 – 1,434 to be exact – he signed a six-year extension value $90m to maintain him beneath contract with the Cowboys by the 2026 season.

However Elliott’s affect in video games has since been on the decline. In 2020, he rushed for simply 979 yards on the season, at a career-low mark of 4.0 per carry. All of the whereas, his back-up in Dallas, 2019 fourth-round draft choose Tony Pollard, is displaying flashes in reduction of Elliott.

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Each had massive video games within the Cowboys’ Week Two win, with Pollard dashing for 109 yards off 13 carries and Elliott 71 off 16 – every discovering the endzone – however Good Morning Soccer’s Kyle Brandt wonders whether or not Dallas are higher off handing over the reins to Pollard extra commonly.

“There’s an enchanting factor occurring within the Cowboys backfield,” Brandt stated on Wednesday’s GMFB (weekdays, 12pm, Sky Sports activities NFL).

“Proper now, Ezekiel Elliott is taking part in greater than Tony Pollard for 2 causes: his contract and his fame. It isn’t for his sport or his tape.

“I do not need to beat up on Elliott, that is extra about championing Pollard. However placed on a Cowboys sport for 10 minutes and you can see that the Cowboys offense and run sport is brisker, quicker and bolder when Pollard is on the sphere over Elliott.

“And this isn’t a brand new factor. This has been occurring for a few years now however no one has needed to say it. And in case you do not belief the optics, belief the numbers.

“Zeke’s fame and his repute are nonetheless dwelling off his manufacturing from a few years in the past when he got here into the league and was a rookie famous person.

“However have not the Cowboys had sufficient ‘cool’, printed sufficient jerseys. Perhaps it is time to print some [championship] banners by taking part in the perfect participant at each place, unbiased of {dollars}, followers and jerseys offered.

“They signed Zeke to an irresponsible contract and now, right here we’re years later, he is the second-best operating again on the Cowboys and continues to be beginning.

“Pollard needs to be taking part in extra; he’s the starter by each metric apart from fame and his contract. Zeke ought to completely nonetheless be a part of the offense, however he needs to be the ‘change of tempo’ again.

“I am not saying Pollard is a 30-carry man. However on Monday evening, towards the Philadelphia Eagles, I would like him on the sphere for the large drives, the opening drive, the game-winning drive.”

Watch the Dallas Cowboys host the Philadelphia Eagles in an NFC East division rivalry conflict on Monday Night time Soccer – reside on Sky Sports activities NFL from 1.15am on Tuesday morning.