It is clear the Dallas Cowboys are at their greatest once they have each Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott within the lineup.

For all the chatter and debate about how Pollard ought to begin over Elliott attributable to his big-play potential — Pollard’s 5.9 yards per carry far exceeds Elliott’s common of three.9 yards per carry — Dallas’ offense advantages as a result of skills of each gamers.

Whereas the Cowboys proceed to trip their working again duo to nice success — at 7-3, they’re one of many Tremendous Bowl favorites — the largest matter coming into the offseason for the franchise would be the way forward for each backs. The 25-year-old Pollard will enter free company and is predicted to be one of many high backs in the marketplace. In the meantime, Dallas may have an out in Elliott’s contract in the course of the offseason as they will transfer on from the three-time Professional Bowl working again with a useless cap hit of a shade below $12.0 million.

The fact is, the Cowboys should not select one over the opposite — they need to discover a solution to carry again each working backs.

As Matt Lombardo of Heavy Sports activities factors out, Dallas might very properly discover a resolution by slapping Pollard with the franchise tag and restructuring Elliott’s deal to a extra team-friendly contract.

“Don’t be stunned if Dallas makes use of the franchise tag on the 25-year-old and restructures Elliott’s contract to decrease his cap quantity and hold each in Arlington,” mentioned Lombardo.

Lombardo explains how the Cowboys might make it work financially.

“With the 2023 franchise tag projected to price $9.57 million for working backs, and Elliott scheduled to gather $10.9 million in 2023 whereas counting $16.7 million towards the cap, tagging Pollard and asking Elliott to take a pay minimize could show the simplest solution to hold each backs in place in 2023 and past,” mentioned Lombardo.

The Cowboys’ offense ranks seventh within the league in factors per sport (25.1 factors) and fourth within the league by way of DVOA, in response to Soccer Outsiders. These elite rankings are virtually solely as a result of effectiveness of the working sport, with Dallas rating eighth in dashing yards and fourth within the league in touchdowns.

Pollard is arguably the perfect big-play working again within the league. The speedster pulled off two landing receptions of no less than 30 yards within the Cowboys’ 40-3 win over the Minnesota Vikings, their largest blowout victory on the highway in franchise historical past.

His potential to not solely pull off a giant play, but additionally line up within the slot makes him one of many high dual-threat gamers within the league.

With that being mentioned, the 209-pound Pollard works higher in area than he does in objective line and short-yardage conditions. That is the place Elliott excels. In reality, the 27-year-old Elliott punched in two touchdowns from goal-line conditions within the win over the Vikings the place Pollard got here up brief.

For instance, Pollard got here up brief on two straight performs from throughout the Vikings two-yard line. In the meantime, Elliott completed off the drive with a one-yard landing run on a third-and-goal conversion in the course of the first quarter to offer Dallas a 10-3 lead.

Staff proprietor Jerry Jones defined why Elliott is so integral to the Cowboys’ success.

“There’s no argument,” Jones mentioned following Dallas’ win over the Chicago Bears in Week 8. Zeke’s potential to punish, Zeke’s potential to ship, Zeke’s potential, what he does for us in go safety, and, frankly, Zake’s potential to make massive performs are there, and we’re going to go the place Zeke goes. He’s that integral to our success.”

As Cowboys working again coach Skip Peete defined following Pollard’s 131-yard outburst versus the Bears, Dallas’ offense works higher with two backs.

Through Calvin Watkins of Dallas Morning Information:

“You bought to have a recent again in there always,” Peete mentioned. “It would work as a result of you have got totally different types and have guys which might be each starters however they share the workload and on the finish of the day, you have got a recent again from play one to no matter he have. I discovered that from my former boss Al Davis.”

Peete additional elaborated on why it is smart to go along with a two-back platoon system.

“Tony clearly is a really gifted runner, good all-around again, (and) can play each down,” Peete mentioned. “It’s identical to some guys are race automobiles. Some guys are high-quality, high-expensive sedans. A sedan can go ceaselessly and a protracted distance at a really greater price the place race automobiles can go very excessive and fast after which they run out of gasoline. I at all times simply felt at that place you bought to at all times have two guys which might be high quality backs that may bounce off one another and it helps if the working types are somewhat bit totally different.”

Whereas Dallas followers could yearn for the thought of Pollard being the Cowboys’ solely again, it will be a sensible transfer for the franchise to retain each backs heading into the 2023 season.