Commanders need patience, gang tackling to stop Tony Pollard in Week 13

Waving goodbye to Derrick Henry was supposed to leave the Tennessee Titans bereft of a running game, but nobody told Tony Pollard. The former Dallas Cowboys change-of-pace presence is helping the AFC South team get along just fine on the ground without the two-time NFL rushing champion.

Pollard is the main reason the Titans could pile more misery on the Washington Commanders in Week 13. He's amassed 800 yards rushing and 4.3 yards per carry so far this season following his free-agent switch.

Those numbers should worry Commanders head coach Dan Quinn. The latter's the principal architect of a defense that's one of the weakest in the league against the run.

Quinn and coordinator Joe Whitt Jr.'s unit is "allowing 145.5 yards per game, which is 29th in the NFL, and 4.82 yards per carry, which is 28th in the NFL," according to Titans.com Editor Jim Wyatt.

Bringing those numbers down will require the Commanders getting three things right.

Gang-tackling Commanders must ignore common misconceptions about Tony Pollard

Pollard, a wide receiver during his younger days, is often incorrectly classified as a speedster. Somebody who can outpace would-be tacklers on outside runs, but little else.

The reality is quite different. Pollard's a tough grinder with underrated power who rarely hits the deck without a fight.

Pollard showed off his ability to bounce off contact within the pits for this improbable run against the Houston Texans last week.

The impressive effort was part of a 24-carry, 119-yard output that keyed the Titans' upset win in Houston. Pollard piled up the yards by doing what he's done all season. Break tackles.

The 27-year-old has 19 broken tackles to his credit. He's also gained 411 of his total rushing yards after contact.

Stopping a resilient and relentless runner with these traits demands sound technique and gang tackling. Getting multiple hats to the ball whenever Pollard has it will be key, along with some patience.

Commanders can't overplay vs. subtle Titans blocking schemes

Another reason to fear this matchup is the schematic similarity between the defenses of the Commanders and Texans. Both favor active approaches based on defensive linemen quickly attacking downhill, but more of a wait-and-see approach will be needed to stop Pollard.

The Titans trapped the Texans into oblivion last week. They allowed over-eager defensive linemen to shoot gaps, only to be knocked off course by trap blocking.

Pollard's 10-yard touchdown run was a terrific example. It involved left guard Peter Skoronski wrapping around to trap the downhill pursuit of a defensive tackle and clear a path for the dynamic running back.

The Commanders will need to close the spacing up front and have linemen like rookie Johnny Newton play in inside gaps to scrape behind pulling blockers and get to Pollard earlier. Keeping back-side gaps covered will also help string him toward the sideline, a necessity since he's done most of his damage this season between the tackles.

Bottling up Pollard will put the game in the hands of strong-armed but erratic quarterback Will Levis. That's where the Commanders should want it if their offense is going to have extra possessions and more chances to get back on track.

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