Rico Dowdle Appreciation Thread

[Ranching]

Zeke has done a great job of mentoring him. Jerry's plan is paying off.

 

[FalseStart75Pozderac]

That's good and all...but has to be weighed against the fact we've played 3 of the worst run defenses in the league and worst defenses overall the past few weeks.

I know I know...bah humbug

True, but Rico was already averaging almost 4.5 ypc before this 3 game stretch. I do believe that very few noticed. Think about it, even with the changes at QB, and the OL, he had still put up a decent ypc. Now it seems like folks (and coaches) are noticing.

 

[thunderpimp91]

Agree but would rather Dallas sign than to waste a high pick on a RB. He won’t command over 3-4 million/per…….I wouldn’t think so anyways.

We will see, its tough to guess the RB market year to year. 201 attempt 4.3YPC, 36 catch, 6.2YPR James Connor just got $9.5M per year. I would assume Rico is in that ballpark if he doesnt fall off a cliff these last few weeks. Rico is now at 177 attempts, 5YPC, 33 catches, 6.2YPR. Given his age and low career carries he might be the top RB in free agency this season.

 

[glimmerman]

one can only imagine like everybody here saw in the Pittsburgh game Rico should have been getting heavy carries ever since it would have been nuts to see this guy get 1200 yards after everyone said we didn't have a running back on this roster that was a starter he may not be elite but he's a steady starting running back and we had him the whole time and yes some of it has to do with the realignment of the offensive line and next year they need to get the right five on the field because the run game has turned the team around in the trenches and on the other side of all the defense playing better in a little too little too late as they say none of this matters except for it's raising up rico's price tag we try to keep him next year I say we do keep him but I also say this kid is good but he's not irreplaceable..

Now I said this last year the Rico appreciation thread was me every week saying that Tony should be carrying those between the tackle 1st and 2nd down runs he should have been the entire time the same Tony that backed up zeke they paid that man $11 million was a big mistake when we had Rico they could have done the same thing in my opinion they made that mistake last year and the only reason that zeke Reilly is back it's because of the way Mike McCarthy doesn't understand how to utilize a running back he is his players Rico was this player last year he was this player early this year until it was too late..

He could have easily closed the game last week. MM gets pass happy instead of doing what this team does when we have a descent O-Line. Feed the run. Last season we may not have had the O-Line but Dak had no attempt at a run game. It’s left on a QB arm.

This week the 3rd and 1 on the goal line and you have a QB was not playing real well at the time roll out when you could have handed it off and likely picked it up if not scores there. You leave the game close when you could have opened the gap.

 

[McKDaddy]

If we had been giving him 20 carries a game all season, we might be a lot better than 6-8.

No, had to get younger guys in the lineup that can move and have some attitude. We were running into a brick wall before those changes.

 

[Big_C_KU]

I’m fine with him being the #2 guy or even starting the year next year as the #1 but we better damn sure be drafting a RB in one of the first 3 rounds this year to be the guys the next 4-5 years.

 

[Hardline]

This is great but I would still draft Jeanty in the first round or Omarian Hampton in t he second.

 

[FalseStart75Pozderac]

This situation reminds me of the season Darren McFadden had in 2015. Didnt get the majority of the carries until the middle of the season finished pretty strong and ended up 4th in the league in rushing. Still didn't stop the Cowboys from drafting Zeke 4th next year.

 

[plasticman]

Giants. Bengals, and Panthers run-defense ranked 29th, 23rd, and 32nd respectively.

Both Dowdle and the offensive line are improved but, seriously, there was no other direction to go.

I want to keep him but let's provide some measurable competition come next preseason. Let's not assume that the position is no longer a concern, particularly considering his injury history.

In the meantime the Bucs run-defense is ranked 11th, the Eagles 8th. The running game will be better tested and evaluated after that. If the Cowboys running game performs effectively when the outcome is undetermined, that would be impressive for Dowdle.

 

[Coogiguy03]

EVERY RUN WAS LIKE 4+ YARDS, man I loved it!!

 

[Coogiguy03]

If he passes 1k on this team behind this OL, he might have a few suitors other than us.

he already does trust that!

 

[Kingofholland]

It only took the coaching staff 14 games to figure out how to commit to the run!! Nice work!!!

Glad to see Rico come on, just wish they found this out earlier in the season.

 

[montgod]

Probably should offer him a an affordable contract now like 3yr/10 mill with incentives to get to 12 and see if he takes it. Cowboys don’t forward plan so doubt they will and overpay

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

I was his biggest critic in the offseason, glad to be eating my words

 

[goshann]

Lol...I said Ricos style reminded me of Emmitt in the game thread and got ridiculed.

Reminds me of him a bit too

 

[Zman5]

That's good and all...but has to be weighed against the fact we've played 3 of the worst run defenses in the league and worst defenses overall the past few weeks.

I know I know...bah humbug

Our Oline isn't anything to brag about and with noodle arm Rush, I'm sure the defenses were focusing on stopping the run more than the pass. That makes what Rico has done past few weeks impressive.

 

[rambo2]

Just further proof that rbs can be found anywhere. There is no need to use premium draft picks and give them big contracts. Rico has been a revelation not only to fans but to the coaching staff as well. If we had been giving him 20 carries a game all season, we might be a lot better than 6-8.

The interesting thing now is that he's an UFA at seasons end. Does he get a big contract?

How bout that Eagles running back? What is he giving them?

 

[CyberB0b]

Just in time for Jerry to give him a big contract before he comes back down to Earth. You can’t script this. We’re in a simulation.

 

[CWR]

If only the Cowboys recognized what they had in Rico all along and ran a balanced offense before it was too late.

A lot of this might have to do with the offensive line gelling, but McCarthy gave up on the run too often before Dak went down.

I'm sure the line coming together is a big part of it, but it's also important Rico became the unquestioned rb1.

MM was wasting downs on a stupid committee. We were trotting out a midget and a has been to the point no one could get any momentum or feel for the game.

 

[CWR]

Just in time for Jerry to give him a big contract before he comes back down to Earth. You can’t script this. We’re in a simulation.

I think he's the kind of back you let test the market. You can probably match whatever he's offered and it not be unreasonable.