Tag: Rico Dowdle

Cowboys next top RB must have these 2 key qualities

Given the Cowboys roster there are a couple key traits they should be looking for when filling the RB1 role this 2024 draft. | From @ReidDHanson

No one knows who the next lead RB will be for the Cowboys. Ezekiel Elliott left in 2023 and now Tony Pollard has left in 2024. Dallas re-signed Rico Dowdle this month but with under 100 career carries, he’s not expected to shoulder the bulk of the load this season.

Options are limited behind Dowdle. After averaging just 1.7 yards/carry and posting an abysmal -1.39 in RYOE, some are wondering if Deuce Vaughn’s 5-foot-6, 176-pound frame is even capable of serving a supportive role. Hunter Luepke has always enjoyed a relatively large degree of support from Cowboys Nation. Fans thirsty for a return to the glory days of Daryl Johnston lead the contingent but new fans are buzzing in his hive as well. Malik Davis also lurks in the shadows, but he’s never moved beyond a dark horse contender.

No matter how one looks at the Cowboys contingent of RBs, it seems Dallas is without a true RB1 candidate and will likely be on the hunt for one in the upcoming 2024 NFL draft.

Given the complementary pieces on the roster already and the top traits of successful RBs in today’s game, a couple key qualities stand out above the rest in Dallas’ search for the next great RB1: pass protection and short-yardage ability.

One of the key factors in determining whether a college RB will be given a chance in the pros is in their ability to pass protect. Every year talented rushers make the jump to the NFL only to be denied a chance in regular season action simply because the coaches couldn’t trust him to pick up blocks.

The most important player on just about every contending NFL team is the franchise QB, and if the RB can’t do his part in protecting that QB, the coaching staff will find someone else who can – even if it means that replacement RB is a less talented rusher.

There are ways to avoid pass protecting situations with RBs. Sneaking him out into the flat as a passing target is a good way to slow down blitzes and gain some valuable yards after the catch. But with Vaughn already on the roster in that role, adding another player like that is dangerous business.

The Cowboys need to add a RB1 who is just as capable in pass protection as he is catching passes against the blitz. It will keep defenses honest and allow play calling to remain versatile.

Short-yardage ability is the second important quality of any would-be addition. It was something the Cowboys lost when Elliott left the franchise and something that only got worse with the departure of Pollard.

Luepke has shown some potential in this regard, but his sample size is extremely small, and it comes with ball security questions that cannot be ignored. Luepke can still be Plan A in short-yardage situations heading into 2024 but the new RB1 has to be at least as proficient as Pollard was in these highly valuable play situations.

More often than not, it’s short yardage conversions that lead EPA gains on the ground each week. Five yards on 1st-and-10 is great but a two-yard run on 3rd-and-1 is generally the bigger EPA impact. Having an RB1 who can convert those without the offense signaling their intentions by swapping in Luepke is important for the offense’s disguise and adaptability.

These two traits may not be the flashiest, but a case can be made they are the most important given the circumstances in Dallas. Scout the NFL draft accordingly.

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Cowboys re-signing RB Rico Dowdle

From @ToddBrock24f7: The free agent had a breakout season for Dallas last year, averaging more yards per carry than Tony Pollard. He’ll return in 2024.

The Cowboys’ running back room is a big concern waiting to be addressed after the departures of Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard in back-to-back years, exactly 365 days apart. Many fans thought the club might go after one of the many marquee running backs available in free agency, but the first wave of signings came and went with Dallas standing pat.

Some are still holding out hope for another team’s castoff to be inked to the roster this offseason. Many are instead expecting the Cowboys to look to the draft for a young ballcarrier to put in the backfield in 2024. But whoever the team adds, he’ll be paired with a returning veteran presence once he arrives at The Star.

Dallas is re-signing Rico Dowdle, according to word late Monday afternoon from his agent.

The 25-year-old has been with the Cowboys since 2020, when he joined as an undrafted free agent out of South Carolina. He saw 89 attempts last season, amassing 361 yards and a pair of touchdowns over 16 game appearances.

The former Gamecock has battled multiple injuries during his four pro seasons. After serving as a third-string option behind Elliott and Pollard as a rookie, Dowdle suffered a hip injury during the following preseason and missed the entire 2021 season. Then an ankle injury ended his 2022 campaign after just five games on special teams.

Last year proved to be a coming-out party of sorts for Dowdle, whose 4.1 yards-per-carry average was actually better than Pollard’s and Elliott’s 2023 numbers, albeit with far fewer rushing attempts.

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Per Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, Dowdle will return on a one-year contract worth $1.255 million, with a $200,000 signing bonus.

Keep up with all the team’s signings and departures by bookmarking the Cowboys Wire free agency tracker, which will continue to be updated as news warrants.

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Zack Moss agrees to deal with Bengals, what that means for Colts

Zack Moss is heading to Cincinnati. What does that mean for the Colts?

Indianapolis Colts pending free agent running back Zack Moss found a new home in free agency, agreeing to a two-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals late Monday night.

It was expected that Moss could have outpriced himself in the market for the Colts after his impressive showing during the early portion of the 2023 season while Jonathan Taylor was absent between an ankle injury and a contract dispute.

Now, the Colts have to find a new backup running back to supplant Moss’ role as a change-of-pace option.

Losing Moss isn’t a massive deal in terms of the on-field impact. He’s a good player, of course, but there are plenty of running backs capable of filling the void behind Taylor, who will continue to be the starter.

Moss will be missed in the locker room, though, and there’s a good chance he works his way into the starting role in Cincinnati, especially after the team cut Joe Mixon.

Where the Colts go from here will be interesting. They can look to free agency to add a veteran backup. If they do, we shouldn’t expect them to go after any big names or sink any significant salary-cap space into the position.

Maybe they re-sign Trey Sermon, who served in a depth role during the 2023 season. They’re expected to get 2023 fifth-round pick Evan Hull back from a knee injury that claimed his entire rookie season, but it isn’t clear how the Colts view his outlook.

They could also go after a bruiser like D’Onta Foreman or opt for cheaper options like Rico Dowdle and Royce Freeman.

There’s a chance the Colts use another draft pick at the position, but that likely wouldn’t come until Day 3.

Either way, the Colts have another backup position to fill this offseason after Moss got a well-deserved contract with the potential to be a starter.

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5 RBs the Colts should target in 2024 free agency

Some intriguing free-agent RBs for the Colts to consider.

The Indianapolis Colts have plenty of positional needs entering free agency in 2024 and even though the running back position isn’t at the top of the list, some depth could be added.

With Jonathan Taylor returning in the first year of his new contract extension, the Colts know who the leader in the backfield is and should be. Zack Moss, who was impressive during his stint as a starter, is set to hit the market. They also have second-year back Evan Hull, but he missed his rookie season due to a knee injury.

Re-signing Moss is certainly an option the Colts should entertain, but they shouldn’t be willing to overpay. Moss may be seeking a chance to compete as a starter, but we also know the running back market is extremely down right now.

So for this article, we’re taking the mindset that Moss walks in free agency, and the Colts would need to find his replacement.

Here are five running backs the Colts should target in free agency:

Disclaimer: We should note that we understand a handful of these players won’t even hit the market, but we’re working under the hypothetical scenario that they become available, regardless of how slim the chances are.

Follow the Money: Breakdown of Cowboys RBs salaries, cap hits

A breakdown of the cap spending at the running back position and how despite the cupboard being bare, there’s a sizable chunk being spent at the spot. | From @ArmyChiefW3

As quarterback takes up an enormous percentage of the Dallas Cowboys salary cap for 2024, something they should hope to reduce before the new league year begins, other positions have taken a back seat in how Stephen Jones’ proverbial pie has been divided. And while recent years have seen a sizable investment in the pasture where the bell cows have grazed, that will likely not be the case for the upcoming season.

The lack of a run game in Dallas is a huge concern, but the problem has a clear path to recovery. And while the solution may reside more along the offensive line and its performance, the club will still need to add additional investments to the running back room as it will more than likely look significantly different come training camp. With the top two backs hitting unrestricted free agency, here’s what the Cowboys currently have under contract to replace Tony Pollard and Rico Dowdle’s contributions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cowboys have decision to make at RB2 with Rico Dowdle out vs Lions

From @ToddBrock24f7: The Cowboys are left with very sparse rushing options behind Tony Pollard as the stingy Detroit defense comes to town.

The Cowboys have a big decision to make in their backfield.

They’ll head into Week 17’s showdown with Detroit without running back Rico Dowdle, who on Friday was declared out due to an ankle injury. Dowdle has been the clear-cut No. 2 back all season long, having recorded between two and 12 carries in every game thus far and giving first-year starter Tony Pollard the occasional breather.

Who will now step into that backup role this Saturday is unclear.

Malik Davis is on the practice squad, but the club has already used all three of his game-day elevations. In order for Davis to play this weekend, the Cowboys would have to remove someone else from the 53-man roster to open a spot for him. Davis has yet to touch the ball this season.

Fullback Hunter Luepke is already active. The undrafted rookie has been used sparingly this season but was a key piece of Dallas’s opening drive against Miami, getting four touches in the team’s first 15 plays. But the last one was a costly goal-line fumble, recovered by the Dolphins and immediately changing the complexion of a game the Cowboys went on to lose by two points. Luepke has a total of 19 yards on six rushes; he scored a touchdown in Week 4.

And then there’s Deuce Vaughn. The darling of draft weekend and impressive during training camp, the diminutive Vaughn failed to find any success once regular-season action got underway. He tallied just 38 yards on 21 attempts and added another 30 yards on six receptions over six official appearances, but he’s not been active for a game since Week 10.

One of those men will have to serve as the backup to Pollard against a Lions defensive front that is allowing an average of just 90.6 total rushing yards per game to opponents, the fourth-best mark in the league.

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Dowdle has been dealing with the ankle issue for several weeks. He was limited in practice Tuesday but did not participate at all on Wednesday or Thursday.

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Cowboys have 19 pending free agents in 2024 as cap rumored around $242.5M

A look at the Cowboys pending free agency class and what the expected 2024 salary cap may look like. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The Dallas Cowboys are in the midst of their third-straight double-digit win campaign. It’s the first time since the 1994 through 1996 seasons they’ve been able to claim that feat. Being that this is the most consistent the franchise has been since their Super Bowl days, it stands to reason the front office will look to do what it can to keep the roster in tact.

Of course, if the club doesn’t advance past the divisional round, the perception changes in a heartbeat. But if Dallas does make it to the championship rounds, they’ll want to do as much as they can to run it back. That includes looking at their 19 pending free agents.

The owners Winter meetings are taking place in Dallas this week, and among the myriad of topics discussed annually at this time of the year is the salary cap for next year. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer is reporting that no announcement will be made, but several tuned-in entities are predicting the 2024 number to come in between $240 million and $245 million.

That would be a jump of at least $15 million over the 2023 cap, but Dallas has concerns even with that total. Right now, Dallas is projected to be around $16 million over the median of those two numbers based on the salaries already on the roster.

There are restructure triggers galore in their current deals and extensions which could also reduce some of the larger cap hits like Dak Prescott’s $59.5 million or Zack Martin’s $28.5 million. And it will be needed to create space to bring in outside help or re-sign these names.

Here’s how the Cowboys fix their most underperforming personnel groupings

It’s time for the Cowboys to lean into their strengths and away from their weakness which means addressing certain personnel groups.

In many ways the roster dictates the success rates of the various personnel groups and whether coaches like it or not, they have to embrace what’s working and ease off what isn’t. 12 games into the 2023, the Cowboys have a pretty good indication where their personnel groups rank on offense.

Overall, the Dallas offense ranks third in the NFL in EPA, fifth in yards, and first in points scored. Despite all that success, they have some personnel groups who aren’t just bringing down the average, but they are producing at negative EPA output. In many ways, these personnel groups are hurting the Cowboys more than helping and should be adjusted or used more sparingly if the Cowboys want to keep the good times rolling through December.

Every team has their own specific strengths and weaknesses. Some are by design. Other by sheer luck of the draw. If a coach who prefers a wide-open spread offense doesn’t have a deep WR room, he may not be able to run 11 (1RB, 1TE, 3WR) or 10 (1RB, 0TE, 4WR) personnel as much as he’d like. If an old school coach who like smash mouth football doesn’t have a very talented TE and/or RB room, he may not be able to play 12 (1RB, 2TE, 2WR or 22 (2RB, 2TE, 1WR) as much as he’d like.

Watch: Cowboys RB Rico Dowdle opens Thanksgiving scoring

The Cowboys opened up the Thanksgiving scoring with a screen pass that went for six.

The Dallas Cowboys have slowly been working their running game into shape over the last several weeks. Run-game coordinator Jeff Blasko returned from a six-game absence at the end of November, and there’s been a steady improvement from the running game. Dak Prescott is taking off more, Tony Pollard is looking more and more like his old self and backup Rico Dowdle is finally getting a decent amount of touches.

And when the referees aren’t calling phantom holds to bring back his big runs, Dowdle is really effective. Just like he was opening up the Week 12 scoring with this screen to the right side inside a downfield block from Zack Martin and Tyler Biadasz.

Dallas leads 7-0 through the opening stanza.

Fantasy football waiver wire: Week 12 free-agent forecast

Check out the top waiver wire targets in fantasy football for Week 12.

The fantasy football playoffs are right around the corner, and managers will need to utilize all aspects of the waiver wire entering Week 12 with most trade deadlines arriving this week.

After four teams were on a bye in Week 11, there will be no teams getting the week off. Keep in mind, though, that six teams will be on a bye in Week 13, so some moves may need to be made ahead of time.

We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in Yahoo leagues, using the 75% rostered mark as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11). Your questions and comments are always welcome!

We also will be taking a look at some deeper players to stash and the top streaming options for the upcoming week.

Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated.

Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.