Rico Dowdle Appreciation Thread

[Cmac]

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?

Yep.....from someone else. Rico will not be liked on this board if Jerry gives him money.

 

[Carson]

Yep.....from someone else. Rico will not be liked on this board if Jerry gives him money.

Let’s be honest. Stephen will offer him a 1 year, $1.2 million deal and be shocked when he says no.

 

[Cmac]

Would you resign him? $7-10M range

Unfortunately, I don't think so or am doubtful because:
.
1. His durability is going to get questioned at the negotiating table.
2. Jerry wouldn't consider that amount range, this past year. (Mixon/Henry/Pollard this past year range). Has nothing to do with Dak or Cee Dee's contract, but Micah's will get the blame this year.
3. A rookie RB is probably on the draft list......rookie contract
4. Rico doesn't need to consider a hometown discount.......there is no loyalty given this is one chance to get paid.
5. The moment he gets paid, the board will turn on him (irrelevant, but relevant and funny here)

I see LA Chargers, Raiders, NYG, Miami (due to injuries), Pitt maybe in the Crystal Ball coming his way.

Board disclaimer: I'm not a Dowdle hater. Actually, enjoy watching the growth. Just responding to Hawyeye0202 question.

 

[Cmac]

Let’s be honest. Stephen will offer him a 1 year, $1.2 million deal and be shocked when he says no.

.....and he will get hated on this board for turning it down.

 

[Zman5]

Rico would be my No.3 RB in 2025.
As there's nothing superlative about him. He's not dynamic. not special burst, special power, or special elusive, he's not a special ace pass catcher
He's just serviceable.He blocks and does just a bi of this and that.

I'd love to do the Lions theme with two splash backs - and a Rico as quality depth.

But nowadays with as dismel as our run game and scheme as been, .we'll easily take the 100 yds vs porous defense from Rico.

Rico is having a better season than Montgomery. He has better stats than Mongomery in most of the categories except the TDs. Considering Rico is playing with much worse OLine and much worse QB than Montgomery, Rico has been much more impressive than one of the Lion's splash backs.

Player Team Gms Att Yds Avg YPG Lg TD Jahmyr Gibbs DET 14 186 1,047 5.63 74.8 70t 11 Rico Dowdle DAL 13 177 880 4.97 67.7 27 1 David Montgomery DET 14 185 775 4.19 55.4 21 12

 

[charron]

I hope Rico gets paid, just not here. Too much of an injury risk for a big contract plus they should be able to draft a guy day 2 who is as good if not better, younger, cheaper. Wouldn't be mad at a 2 year 3/year deal though.

 

[chagus]

Dowdle has done very well with the o-line he's running thru. Id definitely bring him back as he has EARNED a contract.

 

[GMO415]

Its refreshing to see the return of a run game.

 

[Vegas_Cowboy]

There is no need to use premium draft picks and give them big contracts.

 

[CWR]

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?

Any player can be found in any round. Teams miss on the mid round backs all the freaking time. You point to Rico like it proves how easy it is to get a solid back, but ignore Davis, and Vaughn, and a whole plethora of mid round rbs we missed on. Rico coming in undrafted and then continuing to make the team without much of a role for 3 years is pretty rare.

Edit: I do agree you don't necessarily have to spend a premium pick, but I understand it if the talent is right.

 

[loublue22]

We've been playing bad teams. You guys are doing the thing where you overrate an average player. He doesn't have plus speed, power or elusiveness. He's certainly much better than Zeke, but that's not saying much.

 

[LovinItAll]

He's been more then serviceable. We dealt with sub 4 ypc for many years, and everyone just wants to hate on this guy, we have much bigger issues then rb.

1. He’s not the guy, obviously, but I’ll give him his flowers for the past three games. The competition was weak, but I still wouldn’t want to have to run the ball behind our OL atm.

2. IF we’re healthy, we’re in decent shape, though the OL and RB positions need to be addressed. It’s just impossible to rate a team with so many key players being on IR, returning from injury at less than 100%, or just playing hurt. #88 has been the one exception. He’s clearly banged up, but the brother just keeps balling.

3. The Overshown injury is a big setback for our D. He’s likely done for next year, and he was showing real promise. It’s hard to hit on players like that. Hope he can get back to where he was before he got hurt.

4. Gotta get a legit WR2 on the squad for next year. We’re serviceable at TE, but we’ve seen the best of Cooks. Tolbert has shown improvement, and it would be nice for him to take the next step.

5. Idc how good the offense is, if we field a defense like we did the first 3-4 games of the season, wins will be hard to come by. I expect the entire coaching staff to return and the D should have a better handle on Zimmer’s concepts and vision.

The injuries, though…….‍♂️

 

[Gorgon]

Strengths:
*Breaks tackles well
*Decisive cuts
*On "go" from minute he gets the ball
*Fights hard for extra yards.

Weaknesses:
*Tends to turn backwards or sideways after first hit
*Not particularly nimble in the open field---more north/south

Can be the featuerd back and get 1200 yards a season at least. This is not a position of concern anymore. Backup is.

 

[LovinItAll]

Strengths:
*Breaks tackles well
*Decisive cuts
*On "go" from minute he gets the ball
*Fights hard for extra yards.

Weaknesses:
*Tends to turn backwards or sideways after first hit
*Not particularly nimble in the open field---more north/south

Can be the featuerd back and get 1200 yards a season at least. This is not a position of concern anymore. Backup is.

You’re joking, right? Dowdle gained 100+ against the 20th, 31st, and 32nd ranked defenses against the run. Two of the teams are literally the worst D’s in the league against the run, and the Bengals are terrible as well. To better illustrate why he’s not the guy, he couldn’t run the ball a lick when we had a better O-line earlier in the year, and he has only been successful against the very worst run defenses. I’d LOVE to be wrong and see him bang the yards out against decent teams, but he never has, not even once. I just don’t think something clicks in an RBs game 13 games into a season, but maybe I’m wrong. I just don’t think I am.

 

[AmericanCowboy]

You’re joking, right? Dowdle gained 100+ against the 20th, 31st, and 32nd ranked defenses against the run. Two of the teams are literally the worst D’s in the league against the run, and the Bengals are terrible as well. To better illustrate why he’s not the guy, he couldn’t run the ball a lick when we had a better O-line earlier in the year, and he has only been successful against the very worst run defenses. I’d LOVE to be wrong and see him bang the yards out against decent teams, but he never has, not even once. I just don’t think something clicks in an RBs game 13 games into a season, but maybe I’m wrong. I just don’t think I am.

Pretty sure he had the best game of any running back against the Steelers so far this year.

Or at least close to it. They are 4th overall in rushing defense and may have been 1 T the time of the game.

 

[Bullflop]

Where would we be without Rico Dowdle to provide our team with an exceptional RB?
Seeing a far less successful season, that's where! He's really an essential asset to us!

 

[Cmac]

You’re joking, right? Dowdle gained 100+ against the 20th, 31st, and 32nd ranked defenses against the run. Two of the teams are literally the worst D’s in the league against the run, and the Bengals are terrible as well. To better illustrate why he’s not the guy, he couldn’t run the ball a lick when we had a better O-line earlier in the year, and he has only been successful against the very worst run defenses. I’d LOVE to be wrong and see him bang the yards out against decent teams, but he never has, not even once. I just don’t think something clicks in an RBs game 13 games into a season, but maybe I’m wrong. I just don’t think I am.

Dowdle, without question, is the best in this RB group. I'd like to see better production in the redzone or Cowboys giving him more chances. We need a RB that can take it to the house. The jury is still out on Rico. (We've seen the 20+ runs of late against the weaker Ds). He will get paid more next year......but we do need to address the RB situation. It's not Zeke's fault or Dalvin Cook's fault......we simply need to improve the RB group and Rico has more to show, I hope. I'm not sold on Rico as our best RB next year, yet.

 

[DuncanIso]

Rico is having a better season than Montgomery. He has better stats than Mongomery in most of the categories except the TDs. Considering Rico is playing with much worse OLine and much worse QB than Montgomery, Rico has been much more impressive than one of the Lion's splash backs.

Player Team Gms Att Yds Avg YPG Lg TD Jahmyr Gibbs DET 14 186 1,047 5.63 74.8 70t 11 Rico Dowdle DAL 13 177 880 4.97 67.7 27 1 David Montgomery DET 14 185 775 4.19 55.4 21 12

TDs….

lacking.

 

[Coogiguy03]

I say get 2 backs and have RIco

 

[Zman5]

TDs….

lacking.

Due to the rezone struggles. Fat Mike needs to call more run plays in the redzone.