1. Nick Eatman made the point I almost always make after any trade deadline, except for those where the player we were targeting got traded and it's explicitly known, then, what the other team was willing to take.... which is...
we don't know with any certainty what price was being demanded for whatever difference maker one is hoping to get.
2. I'm suddenly a little less concerned because my main worry was Pollard and Dowdle being able to pass protect adequately... and I thought a consequence of that was going to be we'd need to use Leupke more than he might be ready for, and even at that, he didn't so impress on that element that his praises were being sung coming out of training camp.
I'm persuaded Pollard and Dowdle are adequate.
3. To the issue of average yards per rushing attempt... that's not a RB concern, that's an O-line concern. Pollard's ability has been regarded for the last two years as among the best in the league in that respect. Dowdle isn't a household name, but dang, he's good with the potential to be really good.
They need better wider gaps to run through more times than they've been given by the guys up front. It's as simple as that. Heck, I still think Deuce is a victim of our O-line's underachieving performance more than it is his own capabilities.
4. Just a throw-in... I'm going to take a lot of crap for bringing it up if it happens and he makes mistakes... or that I was the first to suggest it will get mostly overlooked if it happens, and turns out he's 3/4 Refrigerator Perry and 1/4 Walter Payton... or, it just won't happen and I'll eventually shut up...
...
But our new jumbo-sized gunner might be worth a look in a whole other role... short yardage and goal line duties.
