Pollard adjusts to fewer return chances
AAC basketball coaches offer Memphis’ Hardaway some advice from what they’ve learned
It wasn't until the American Athletic Conference coaches meetings in Phoenix that Memphis Tigers coach Penny Hardaway realized the magnitude of the coaching names that surround him in his new league.
He was shocked by the amount brandname coaches like Cincinnati's Mick Cronin, Wichita State's Gregg Marshall, Temple's Fran Dunphy and Houston's Kelvin Sampson.
It was much of the same feeling for Hardaway at Monday's AAC media day in Philadelphia.
He opened his ears to advice from other coaches at a roundtable, and was happy the league's coaches respected him enough to pick the first-year college coach fourth in the preseason poll.
So what advice would the league's coaches give Harda-
On one hand, Tony Pollard was disappointed he hadn’t had many chances to return kickoffs this year.
At the same time, the Memphis junior considers it a sign of respect that teams have gone to great lengths to avoid putting the ball in the speedster's hands.
“For stats and things, it can be frustrating, but it’s better for the team starting at the 35 (yard line) or the 30. You have to look at what’s best for the team,” Pollard said.
After multiple preseason All-America nods, Pollard has been borderline silenced in the return game. The former Melrose star has just six kickoff returns in seven games, compared to 14 at this point a year ago. His yards per return are also down by almost 50 percent (22.5 yards per kickoff return, a steep drop from the 40-yard clip that led the nation last year).
Pollard's home-run capability has forced Tigers opponents to game plan differently. He came into the 2018 season needing to return only one more kickoff for a touchdown to tie the NCAA record of seven.
Special teams coach Joe Lorig has tried lining Pollard up in various places to help give him more chances. On one kickoff against Central Florida last week, he stood directly behind teammate Mechane Slade – both in between the hash marks – until the ball was kicked to give Pollard the freedom to field the ball no matter where it landed.
But Lorig said trading Pollard's return opportunities for better starting field position has been worth it.
“There’s a little bit of a chess match, but it’s not really about Tony. It’s about our team,” Lorig said. “Anytime we have that kind of starting field position, we’ll take it.”
There have been signs, however, that Pollard is taking advantage of the few chances he gets. In the past two games, three of his four returns have gone for 30 or more yards.
He also has taken a bigger role with the offense. He had a season-high 11 touches against UCF, led the Tigers (4-3) in receptions the past two games and scored a touchdown in four of the past five games.
"We're trying to find a variety of ways to help him impact (the game), and that's always been an emphasis for us," Tigers coach Mike Norvell said.
Saturday's game (3 p.m., SEC Network) at Missouri (3-3) will be personal for Pollard. He and Missouri wide receiver Johnathon Johnson were not only teammates at Melrose, but they also played youth football together. It will be the first time they have faced each other in a game.
Pollard tried baiting his friend into tipping Missouri's hand, asking Johnson earlier this week whether the other Tigers would dare kick the ball to him.
"He told me he wasn't sure, but I think he might be holding back on me," Pollard said with a laugh.
Injury updates
Offensive lineman Trevon Tate and cornerback Tito Windham did not practice Tuesday or Wednesday, with Tate wearing a non-contact jersey on Wednesday. Linebacker Bryce Huff was also limited in practice Wednesday.
Freshman Obinna Eze filled in for Tate with the first unit and Jacobi Francis, who started against Tulane, slid in for Windham. Safety La'Andre Thomas, who has missed the past four games, continued to do individual drills but did not practice in team drills. Norvell said players would be evaluated further before deciding their status for Saturday.