Sturm: People Want Answers; We Wish We Had Some

ravidubey

DCC 4Life
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
21,233
I don't really take metrics seriously but during the second half of the season his metrics were near the best in the NFL at RB. I think Dowdle gets more hate on here than he probably deserves. But I also think the stats or metrics give him more love than he deserves. He is a solid capable RB. Something that there are a lot of in the NFL if you actually look or try to look. But he isn't talented enough to bank on that production to repeat itself over a full season next year. And there are enough RB's in this draft class that give you more than Dowdle that it would be absolutely silly to not draft one.
Misdirected hate, to be sure.

Rico could not ever give us the explosive plays, but he helped us grind enough to defeat inferior competition. I’d say he definitely deserves a spot in next year’s RB room.

And man I would love to see Hunter Leupke step up in 2025.
 

ravidubey

DCC 4Life
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
21,233
Marty was the exact same way. He refused to open up the Chiefs offense. It really irritated a lot of fans
Brian opened up the Seahawks offense once Wilson proved he could carry the deep passing attack. Unfortunately, did not anticipate Wilson’s inability to adapt to two-deep coverage and could provide no alternatives.

One thing about opening up the passing attack— it is very hard to return to a run-first identity when you never established it in the first place.

Let’s hope BS learned from that mistake in 2020 without resorting to total Marty-ball (run-run-pass, repeat) in 2025
 

Bill Shatner

Lock phasers on target
Joined
Mar 17, 2020
Messages
7,819
I don't really take metrics seriously but during the second half of the season his metrics were near the best in the NFL at RB. I think Dowdle gets more hate on here than he probably deserves. But I also think the stats or metrics give him more love than he deserves. He is a solid capable RB. Something that there are a lot of in the NFL if you actually look or try to look. But he isn't talented enough to bank on that production to repeat itself over a full season next year. And there are enough RB's in this draft class that give you more than Dowdle that it would be absolutely silly to not draft one.
The hillbillies have went full retard as anyone who watched that presser knows. Don’t be surprised if they ignore RB again.
 
Joined
Oct 2, 2014
Messages
25,675
He is a solid capable RB. Something that there are a lot of in the NFL if you actually look or try to look. But he isn't talented enough to bank on that production to repeat itself over a full season next year.
Plus he's had a hard time staying healthy since he's been here. Might not be smart to count on that happening a lot going forward.

And I don't think anyone hates him, it's just that we can do better.
 

Cowboysrock55

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
56,555
Plus he's had a hard time staying healthy since he's been here. Might not be smart to count on that happening a lot going forward.

And I don't think anyone hates him, it's just that we can do better.
Exactly right as well. Health has been shaky with him. Besides you should never bank on one RB being healthy all year. Just too many collisions.
 

Cujo

“I've eaten a lot of raccoons."
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
4,952
Plus he's had a hard time staying healthy since he's been here. Might not be smart to count on that happening a lot going forward.

And I don't think anyone hates him, it's just that we can do better.



He's very replaceable, IMHO. He's reached his ceiling. I'd rather take a chance on a mid-rounder.
 

Genghis Khan

The worst version of myself
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
43,031
Dowdle is a JAG. I don't care about the numbers I care about the eye test. He doesn't suck but he's not a guy I'd dig my heels in for.

I'd like to have a guy I'd dig my heels in for ( :unsure ) and so we need to draft one.

I'd be fine with also bringing back Dowdle as a complementary back but the problem is the way this front office thinks is if they pay Dowdle anything above $7.50 an hour they're going to not want to put any more resources into the position or at least won't prioritize it.
 
Joined
Oct 2, 2014
Messages
25,675
Dowdle is a JAG. I don't care about the numbers I care about the eye test. He doesn't suck but he's not a guy I'd dig my heels in for.

I'd like to have a guy I'd dig my heels in for ( :unsure ) and so we need to draft one.

I'd be fine with also bringing back Dowdle as a complementary back but the problem is the way this front office thinks is if they pay Dowdle anything above $7.50 an hour they're going to not want to put any more resources into the position or at least won't prioritize it.
Yeah, I think those good rushing numbers he had are more a testament to our OL improving, which is really encouraging. I still didn't see him making people miss or getting many yards that any other "pretty good" back wouldn't get.
 

Cowboysrock55

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
56,555
Dowdle is a JAG. I don't care about the numbers I care about the eye test. He doesn't suck but he's not a guy I'd dig my heels in for.

I'd like to have a guy I'd dig my heels in for ( :unsure ) and so we need to draft one.

I'd be fine with also bringing back Dowdle as a complementary back but the problem is the way this front office thinks is if they pay Dowdle anything above $7.50 an hour they're going to not want to put any more resources into the position or at least won't prioritize it.
That might be correct but even if you draft Jeanty you still need a complimentary back. The cupboard is bare on the roster. RB's get hurt. They take more physical abuse than any other position on the football field. They aren't even capable of handling the shear amount of carries that a team runs the ball over the course of the season. Right now, we have no backup option either.

So the problem isn't really with Dowdle. It's with this organization and their idiotic approach to roster building. And maybe you'd have more options on the roster if you didn't waste spots on Zeke, Cook, Malik Davis and Vaughn. You're not even making legit attempts at UDFA RBs (That Peat kid or whatever was a joke)
 

Genghis Khan

The worst version of myself
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
43,031
Yeah, I think those good rushing numbers he had are more a testament to our OL improving, which is really encouraging. I still didn't see him making people miss or getting many yards that any other "pretty good" back wouldn't get.

Watching these playoff games pretty much every one of them has a "Dowdle", they just don't give them 20 carries a game.
 

Simpleton

DCC 4Life
Joined
Apr 8, 2013
Messages
19,349
That might be correct but even if you draft Jeanty you still need a complimentary back. The cupboard is bare on the roster. RB's get hurt. They take more physical abuse than any other position on the football field. They aren't even capable of handling the shear amount of carries that a team runs the ball over the course of the season. Right now, we have no backup option either.

So the problem isn't really with Dowdle. It's with this organization and their idiotic approach to roster building. And maybe you'd have more options on the roster if you didn't waste spots on Zeke, Cook, Malik Davis and Vaughn. You're not even making legit attempts at UDFA RBs (That Peat kid or whatever was a joke)
If we invest a high pick in Jeanty it'd be best to not run him into the ground like he's fucking Elliott. The Lions consciously only give Gibbs about 15-20 touches a game and that's where I'd want to see Jeanty, Dowdle can handle the other 10ish.
 

Cowboysrock55

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
56,555
If we invest a high pick in Jeanty it'd be best to not run him into the ground like he's fucking Elliott. The Lions consciously only give Gibbs about 15-20 touches a game and that's where I'd want to see Jeanty, Dowdle can handle the other 10ish.
Yep, that's exactly what I want Dowdle back for. And if it's not Dowdle our best option might be to just double dip at RB like you mentioned. I think there will be good RB's left in the fifth round if this team actually tries for one then. Maybe not featured starters but RBs that could be really good #2 types.
 
Joined
Oct 2, 2014
Messages
25,675
We all know Cheap Son will let Dowdle walk for that sweet, sweet, 6th round comp pick.

And then sign a scrapheap RB after the calculation period ends.
 

Cujo

“I've eaten a lot of raccoons."
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
4,952
Yeah, I think those good rushing numbers he had are more a testament to our OL improving, which is really encouraging. I still didn't see him making people miss or getting many yards that any other "pretty good" back wouldn't get.


Also the competition. During that stretch where his yards kept increasing, we went against at least a couple of the worst run defenses.
 

ravidubey

DCC 4Life
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
21,233
Also the competition. During that stretch where his yards kept increasing, we went against at least a couple of the worst run defenses.
This was the number one factor, but it was still NFL competition and he ran hard.

But he’s not the answer, though he could be quality depth
 
Last edited:

Couchcoach

DCC 4Life
Joined
Dec 26, 2017
Messages
3,190
If we get Jeanty, I'm thinking Najee Harris would be a good complimentary back to have. A big physical runner to wear down defenses.
Just a thought ...
 

Simpleton

DCC 4Life
Joined
Apr 8, 2013
Messages
19,349
If we get Jeanty, I'm thinking Najee Harris would be a good complimentary back to have. A big physical runner to wear down defenses.
Just a thought ...
I actually suggested that exact thing a few months ago during the season. Harris would pair well with Jeanty or if we waited until later and got someone like Sampson, Henderson from OSU, etc.

But we already know damn good and well these guys aren't spending more money to bring in an external guy over someone like Dowdle who has been around for years.
 

Cowboysrock55

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
56,555
I actually suggested that exact thing a few months ago during the season. Harris would pair well with Jeanty or if we waited until later and got someone like Sampson, Henderson from OSU, etc.

But we already know damn good and well these guys aren't spending more money to bring in an external guy over someone like Dowdle who has been around for years.
I don't even bother to look at external free agent lists. At best we can hope that we resign one or two players.
 
Top Bottom