MINNEAPOLIS – Mike McCarthy went by way of the rolodex in his thoughts fairly shortly as he stood on the podium after the Dallas Cowboys throttled the Minnesota Vikings, 40-3, on Sunday.
Has he had a working again mixture like Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard at any level in his teaching profession?
“I imply I’ve been blessed to be round some. Marcus Allen, and we had Kimble Anders there [in Kansas City]. That was a great duo,” McCarthy stated, pondering again to his offensive coordinator days. “Ricky Williams and Deuce McAllister [in New Orleans]. However this 1-2 punch, that is the perfect I’ve been part of so far as how we are able to recreation plan and simply go roll. Very dynamic.”
Proprietor and common supervisor Jerry Jones was requested about Elliott and Pollard and mirrored on his alma mater, Arkansas.
“No, not a greater duo,” Jones stated. “We’ve had some good ones. I preferred the [Felix] Jones and [Darren] McFadden one [at Arkansas] lots, however not a greater one.”
Jones and McFadden had been Cowboys however by no means on the identical time. The proprietor had Julius Jones and Marion Barber for a spell within the mid-2000s. He had Felix Jones and Barber too.
However nothing like Elliott and Pollard.
“Coach advised me proper earlier than the sport, he stated, ‘Dak and I visited, and someway, [we’ll] have the ball in Pollard’s or have the ball in Zeke’s arms. Both throwing it to them or handing it to them,” Jerry Jones stated. “And also you noticed that each one night time.”
Enjoying for the primary time since Oct. 23 after struggling a hyperextended proper knee, Elliott had 15 carries for 42 yards and two touchdowns. He caught one move for five yards. Pollard carried 15 instances for 80 yards and caught six passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns.
Elliott and Pollard — or Pollard and Elliott, if you happen to want — mixed for 236 yards on offense, or 53 extra yards than what the Vikings gained as a staff. Heck, Pollard had 6 extra yards than the Vikings’ offense.
“When this offense is rolling, we’re rolling,” Elliott stated. “I believe it’s robust for these defenses to cease us, all the time having two recent backs. It positively places plenty of stress on these defenses.”
Pollard’s two landing catches had been 30 and 68 yards, a product of scheme and his blinding velocity. After the sport, defensive finish DeMarcus Lawrence known as him a “cheat code.” The 30-yard rating got here on a checkdown to the flat through which he had 32 yards after the catch. His second was designed to get him on linebacker Jordan Hicks, who he ran by after which went untouched to the tip zone for a 30-3 lead lower than three minutes into the second half.
“Simply needed to be aggressive,” Pollard stated.
Elliott had his second two-touchdown recreation of the season, powering his manner in each instances Sunday from 1-yard out. His first gave the Cowboys a 10-3 lead within the first quarter after Pollard was stoned twice by the Minnesota protection. His second got here on the possession after Pollard’s 68-yard catch.
“Actually simply the power to remain out and in of ideas and never fear about who the again is, is an amazing benefit for us. And we got here in right here, clearly, with a capability to give attention to the run after which play the move off of that simply due to having each Tony and Zeke,” McCarthy stated.
Sunday was the primary time the Cowboys have had two working backs rating no less than two touchdowns in the identical recreation since Tony Dorsett and Robert Newhouse towards the New York Giants in 1980. Had the sport been nearer — or if the Cowboys didn’t have a recreation in 4 days towards the Giants — Pollard may have challenged a staff mark held by Dorsett (1978) and Herschel Walker (1986) in having 100 yards speeding and receiving in the identical recreation.
“Out and in, recent on the sphere,” Pollard stated. “Simply retaining the protection guessing, not realizing what to organize for, we really feel like now we have the benefit.”
With Pollard’s success, there appears to be an undercurrent that Elliott is getting an excessive amount of work. However the Cowboys are having fun with what each are doing, whereas understanding what Elliott means to the staff.
“In my view, Zeke embodies the id of our soccer staff to a T,” All-Professional proper guard Zack Martin stated. “He’s keen to do no matter. He’s bodily. He’s good. He’s robust. And that stuff is contagious man. TP had an ideal couple of weeks when Zeke was out, however simply having Zeke again, that could be a contagious man. That vitality that he brings, it’s there for the entire soccer staff.”
So, again to these working again duos.
The Cleveland Browns have Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, who’ve mixed for 1,433 yards and 15 touchdowns on the bottom and thru the air this season. The Inexperienced Bay Packers have Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon, who’ve mixed for 1,602 yards and 6 touchdowns on the bottom and thru the air.
The Elliott and Pollard mixture has mixed for 1,466 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Is there a greater duo than Elliott and Pollard – or Pollard and Elliott?
“Ummm,” Pollard paused. “I’ll let y’all resolve on that one.”
