Titans OC Nick Holz sees RBs Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears as 'interchangeable': 'We see it 1A, 1B'

The Titans inked Tony Pollard to a contract this offseason, pairing the former Dallas Cowboys running back with second-year jitterbug Tyjae Spears.

Nick Holz, Tennessee’s new offensive coordinator, concurs with the evaluation that the duo can be swapped, providing the Titans with an extra layer of trickery.

“Interchangeable is the term consistently used, and that’s how we perceive it,” he stated on Wednesday. “We don’t want any predictability when these players are on the field. We believe that both possess the skills needed for pass catching, running gap schemes, and handling various zone schemes. That’s the most thrilling part. You won’t be able to predict the plays based on which back is in. They are capable of functioning in all three downs, and there aren’t any restrictions to the scheme.”

Pollard’s lone season as the primary running back in Dallas did not go as hoped, with a decrease in explosive plays and a career-low average of 4.0 yards-per-carry. Despite demonstrating his ability to handle the workload, his performance declined, yielding a career-worst average of 2.92 yards after contact per carry. Additionally, his breakaway rate of 22.8% was the lowest of his career, according to Pro Football Focus.

Spears, meanwhile, played second-fiddle to Derrick Henry last season, generating 453 yards on 100 carries over 17 games. His best asset was his ability in the passing game, where he generated 385 yards on 52 catches. Down the stretch of the season, Spears came on strong, showing promise he could handle a bigger load.

Although Pollard and Spears may lack size in the backfield, their potential to be dual-threat weapons can keep defenses on their toes. Their ability to interchange should prove beneficial for new head coach Brian Callahan and Holz.

“Holz said, ‘We regard them as 1A and 1B, both are going to play extensively, receive numerous carries and really let loose.'”

Fantasy football managers may not be fond of the shared backfield, but it is logical considering the size and skill of each back. Ensuring they stay refreshed could increase their explosiveness, and the added advantage is that neither give away the offense’s strategy when they are on the field.