Multiple signs show how Cowboys can turn a weakness into a strength in 2022
The Dallas Cowboys finished 2021 with the ninth-best rushing offense. Running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard were both on career high paces, each playing multiple games averaging over five yards per carry through the first half of the season. Unfortunately, health and deterioration of the offense steadily continued as the season progressed. Pollard missed […]
The Dallas Cowboys finished 2021 with the ninth-best rushing offense. Running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard were both on career high paces, each playing multiple games averaging over five yards per carry through the first half of the season.
Unfortunately, health and deterioration of the offense steadily continued as the season progressed. Pollard missed games and was hampered by plantar fasciitis, all while Elliott played through a partially torn PCL the majority of the season.
The shuffling of the offensive line hasn't helped either. Switching La'el Collins and Terence Steele at right tackle, as well as Connor Williams and Connor McGovern at left guard, throughout the season only made the offense play more inconsistent.
There is good news, however. The Dallas Cowboys have (seemingly) settled on their starting five on the offensive line, and the backs are practicing at full speed. Literally.
Ezekiel Elliott is reportedly running at 22 MPH in practices, attempting to get back to form. Before his injury, he was on another record-setting pace prior to the bye week averaging 87 yards per game. His best pace since the 2018 season.
With rookie Tyler Smith and third-year pro Terence Steele in as the starters, it creates the consistency head coach Mike McCarthy has been preaching.
Smith is a notoriously skilled running blocker. Undoubtedly his best attribute coming out of Tulsa. A nasty mauler who'll get his hands inside the defender and drive him into the ground.
Steele at right guard during Collins' suspension, helped give the Cowboys their best stretch of running the ball from weeks 2-6 before the bye. In that span, the Cowboys had three 100+ yard rushing performances, averaging over 185 yards per game. Leaving the gap left by Collins seemingly narrower.
Tony Pollard should see a bigger load in 2022. Fans continue to clamor for it, and the numbers don't lie. When he and Elliott each average over 10 carries in a game, the Cowboys are undefeated.
Pollard's increased workload is warranted by his 5.53 yards per carry and career high 719 yards with the most carries in a single season of his career. Each season he receives more rushing attempts, leaving the door open for a 150+ carry season in a contract year. Perfectly in-line with his athletic prime.
Health will always factor into how a season goes, and the Dallas Cowboys need to be smart in their approach to splitting carries. Given a healthy dose to Elliott and increase to Pollard can give the offense plenty of consistency in the running game. Helping Dak Prescott and the offense thrive in their desire to be truly multi-dimensional, instead of giving too many carries to one back, making the offense predictable.
As long as Steele continues to progress, and Smith provides the same type of physicality on the line, moving the ball on the ground won't be an issue. What was a weakness, can be a major strength.
There's plenty of reason to believe the Cowboys can successfully run the ball to their standards.
Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
