Tony Pollard Self-Scouting Reveal: 'I Thought I'd Be Better, But ...' Cowboys RB Looks to Playoffs

Tony Pollard Self-Scouting Reveal: 'I Thought I'd Be Better, But ...' Dallas Cowboys RB Looks to NFL Playoffs

FRISCO - One of the best traits possessed by Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard is his soft-spoken frankness. And he's putting that on display now as he is trying to build on a 2023 regular season in which high expectations have not been met ...

But with a look to a playoff future during which dreams not yet realized can come true.

"I thought,'' Pollard said this week, "I would probably have a better year than I am now.''

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That confidence, as he took over this year as the No. 1 back when Ezekiel Elliott was cut, was born of success over the course of the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Pollard became known as one of the most electric and efficient running backs in the NFL as he averaged 5.5 yards per carry in 2021 and 5.2 yards per carry in 2022 - making the Pro Bowl and winning himself a one-year, $10 million contract.

But this year? So far this season he's averaging just four yards per carry ... sort of the NFL norm.

But now comes "TP''s "but'' ...

"Where we are as far as playoffs and rankings, I couldn't complain with everything in front of us,'' he said of his 11-5 Cowboys team, that with a win Sunday at Washington locks in the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs.

How can things get better in terms of production? Pollard said, "I would say just trying to get more at-bats at the plate. Get more repetition for the O-line and get a feel for how the defense is playing things and getting into a rhythm."

And how will Pollard judge himself going forward? 

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"I hold myself to a higher standard," he said. "I try to be my hardest critic and my hardest judge before anybody else can. So I'm always hard on myself."

Again, a good trait to possess, but ...

What matters now isn't about contracts or Pro Bowls or even raw stats. If Tony Pollard can help provide playoff wins? That'll be production enough.