How former Dallas coach Jimmy Johnson would improve the Cowboys’ running game

If the Dallas is going to contend for the NFC East title and catch the defending division champion Philadelphia Eagles, former Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson said one part of the team’s offense must improve.

The running game.

Former Dallas Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson said on the FOX NFL Sunday pregame show that he has a solution for the Dallas Cowboys’ troubled running game.

“They very well could be right up there with Philadelphia before they play them again (Dec. 10),” Johnson said. “Or, they might be ahead of Philadelphia in the standings.

“One thing they gotta do, they got to pick up the running game. Tony Pollard has struggled a little bit. If they Rico Dowdle, if they would run the 216-pound back. Run him, open it up. I think you can get the explosive plays out of Pollard. “

Through eight games, Pollard has rushed 120 times for 474 yards. It’s well off his pace from 2022 when he rushed 193 times for 1,007 yards. His rushing average has dropped from 5.2 yards per carry to 4.0 as he moved into the lead running back role this year, replacing Ezekiel Elliott who was released after last season.

Pollard scored nine rushing touchdowns in 2022. He has just two this season.

Dowdle has 33 rushes for 135 yards this season in a reserve role.