Bye Week Pressers

default_28 said:
Who do you think are most likely to hit home run plays? I personally think that only Barney is really a home run threat.
Click to expand...


To @Lorewarn's point, Dowdell is the least likely to be a home run threat.  Runs right into people, doesn't break tackles and, despite being the featured back most of the year, has managed a long play from scrimmage of 14 yards against FBS opponents.  The part where we don't trust him to be a receiver also severely limits the chances of a big play when he's in the game.

In half the carries, EJ has a runs of 42 and 36 yards (granted against the two worst teams we've played) and also has 20+ yard receptions in two games, despite only catching 8 passes all year.  Although he didn't do much with his most opportunities running the ball last game.

Rahmir has had a 10+ yard run in three games and a 10+ yard reception in every game he's caught a pass.  He also does the best job of making people miss, imo.

In roughly the same number of carries, the combination of EJ and Rahmir have more rushing yards than Dowdell and actually contribute in the passing game.  Other than being a short-yardage back, I don't see what Dowdell is bringing to the table.  He racked up most of his best stats against UTEP and UNI.  Other than one big run against UNI, he's has the lowest yards per carry and doesn't catch the ball.  Yet he keeps getting a lot of the opportunities.

 
Mavric said:
To @Lorewarn's point, Dowdell is the least likely to be a home run threat.  Runs right into people, doesn't break tackles and, despite being the featured back most of the year, has managed a long play from scrimmage of 14 yards against FBS opponents.  The part where we don't trust him to be a receiver also severely limits the chances of a big play when he's in the game.

In half the carries, EJ has a runs of 42 and 36 yards (granted against the two worst teams we've played) and also has 20+ yard receptions in two games, despite only catching 8 passes all year.  Although he didn't do much with his most opportunities running the ball last game.

Rahmir has had a 10+ yard run in three games and a 10+ yard reception in every game he's caught a pass.  He also does the best job of making people miss, imo.

In roughly the same number of carries, the combination of EJ and Rahmir have more rushing yards than Dowdell and actually contribute in the passing game.  Other than being a short-yardage back, I don't see what Dowdell is bringing to the table.  He racked up most of his best stats against UTEP and UNI.  Other than one big run against UNI, he's has the lowest yards per carry and doesn't catch the ball.  Yet he keeps getting a lot of the opportunities.
Click to expand...
I would start Johnson.  Then, switch it up with Johnson.  Then, as the game is going on, keep the ball in the hands of Johnson or Johnson....whomever is hot.

And...you doesn't have to call me Johnson.

 
Mavric said:
To @Lorewarn's point, Dowdell is the least likely to be a home run threat.  Runs right into people, doesn't break tackles and, despite being the featured back most of the year, has managed a long play from scrimmage of 14 yards against FBS opponents.  The part where we don't trust him to be a receiver also severely limits the chances of a big play when he's in the game.

In half the carries, EJ has a runs of 42 and 36 yards (granted against the two worst teams we've played) and also has 20+ yard receptions in two games, despite only catching 8 passes all year.  Although he didn't do much with his most opportunities running the ball last game.

Rahmir has had a 10+ yard run in three games and a 10+ yard reception in every game he's caught a pass.  He also does the best job of making people miss, imo.

In roughly the same number of carries, the combination of EJ and Rahmir have more rushing yards than Dowdell and actually contribute in the passing game.  Other than being a short-yardage back, I don't see what Dowdell is bringing to the table.  He racked up most of his best stats against UTEP and UNI.  Other than one big run against UNI, he's has the lowest yards per carry and doesn't catch the ball.  Yet he keeps getting a lot of the opportunities.
Click to expand...
I agree with you on all points but I do think there is something to the bruising style he runs with.  Early on some defenders didn't really want to tackle him.  Since hitting B1G play, that has changed imo.  He is just an average to below average back in league play.  

I'm not a guy to evaluate so I'll ask- blocking wise who is the best of the three?

 
I suspect the coaches might have just felt that Dowdell was the one who could most consistently grind out 4+ yards per carry with the OL we have, even if he rarely broke long runs. Averages don't tell the whole story, I'd be interested to see what the distribution looks like on a histogram.

 
Toe said:
I suspect the coaches might have just felt that Dowdell was the one who could most consistently grind out 4+ yards per carry with the OL we have, even if he rarely broke long runs. Averages don't tell the whole story, I'd be interested to see what the distribution looks like on a histogram.
Click to expand...




If they think that, then they're just plain wrong in their evaluation when it comes to him. He goes down like a sack of potatoes with the most minimal amounts of contact, and it's not a "fall forward and down for an extra few" type of thing either, he just drops. Rahmir and EJ both have shown the ability to shed a tackle, make a man miss, and also on top of that fall forward for another 2-3-4 yards.

 
Hilltop said:
I agree with you on all points but I do think there is something to the bruising style he runs with.  Early on some defenders didn't really want to tackle him.  Since hitting B1G play, that has changed imo.  He is just an average to below average back in league play.  

I'm not a guy to evaluate so I'll ask- blocking wise who is the best of the three?
Click to expand...


Eh, pretty sure the bolded is hyperbole based on what people want to see.  I guess technically them might not *want* to tackle him.  But considering he's only had about 5 runs all year where the first defended didn't bring him down, I don't think that's pretty hard to say.

 
Toe said:
I suspect the coaches might have just felt that Dowdell was the one who could most consistently grind out 4+ yards per carry with the OL we have, even if he rarely broke long runs. Averages don't tell the whole story, I'd be interested to see what the distribution looks like on a histogram.
Click to expand...


Considering how often Rhule has brought up needing to break bigger plays, I don't know that suspicion is really grounded in all that much fact.

 
Mavric said:
Eh, pretty sure the bolded is hyperbole based on what people want to see.  I guess technically them might not *want* to tackle him.  But considering he's only had about 5 runs all year where the first defended didn't bring him down, I don't think that's pretty hard to say.
Click to expand...




Shilo Sanders left the game in the first quarter after attempting to tackle Huskers running back Dante Dowdell. He soon went into the Colorado locker room. Deion Sanders told NBC during the game that Shilo likely suffered a broken forearm and would not return

 
Back
Top