Dowdle got slowed down for the first time this season as a starter last week against the Saints, but the numbers suggest he’s in for a rebound.
The most pleasant surprise for the Carolina Panthers this year has been the breakout of their star running back, Rico Dowdle. After Chuba Hubbard’s calf injury sidelined him for a couple weeks, Dowdle established himself as one of the NFL’s most explosive and efficient rushers.
Panthers fans had to suffer through two games with a ridiculous split in the backfield with Hubbard an Dowdle alternating drives, but Dowdle is now starting and getting the bulk of the carries, as he should.
However, for the first time this season as a starter Dowdle got shut down last week by the New Orleans Saints, who selled out to stop the run. The result was just 53 yards on 18 carries.
This week Dowdle is likely in for a bounce-back performance, though. According to ESPN, the Atlanta Falcons have given up the most fantasy points to running backs since Week 7.
“Dowdle has been productive when given consistent volume. He has had five games with at least 18 touches, averaging 24.0 fantasy points in those outings. He now faces a Falcons defense that has allowed the most fantasy points per game to RBs since Week 7.”
The season-long numbers for Atlanta’s run defense aren’t great, either. Through 10 games they are allowing 146.4 rushing yards per game. Only the Buffalo Bills, New York Giants and Cincinnati Bengals are giving up more per week on the ground.
Then again, the Falcons might change things up and try to copy what worked well for New Orleans last week. If they also choose to sell out against Dowdle and force Bryce Young to beat them over the top, the Panthers are likely in for a long afternoon.
There is not a New Orleans Saints fan who has watched this team over the last few years, and wants to see Mickey Loomis in power. This team has spiraled since the departure of Sean Payton, and the finger has primarily been pointed at Loomis as the catalyst. That being said, Gayle Benson has made her intentions with Loomis crystal clear.
Fans don’t have to like it, but Loomis isn’t going anywhere, not that that’s a shocking update. Matter of fact, Benson knows fans won’t like it. She told NOLA.com’s Jeff Duncan, “It may not be what the fans want to hear, but as far as firing Mickey Loomis, that’s ridiculous.”
Well that settles that. At least she knows fans don’t want to hear that. It’s not because people just don’t like Loomis, though he’s dodged reality by insulting fans. It’s because he’s done a poor job constructing this team since the 2017 draft class, and he hired Dennis Allen. It’s because the Saints have sunk to a standard of mediocrity. Benson was right about it not being what fans want to hear, but she’s off base about it being ridiculous.
The odds of Loomis getting fired are obviously low. The owner just called it “ridiculous,” so that tells you everything you need to know. However, Kellen Moore should be Loomis’ final swing. It’ll be his second head coach post-Sean Payton. The success of this should determine the future of Loomis.
If Kellen Moore is a successful coach, it’ll mean Loomis finally rectified his biggest shortcomings. The Saints would be good again, so fans are less likely to call for his job. It would obviously mean he hired the right guy, something that didn’t happen with Allen. Additionally, it would mean the Saints built a significantly better roster.
That would mean making better moves in free agency and drafting better, both moves that would be reflective of Loomis. There’s young talent on this team with chances to develop, but there is still a long way to go, and Loomis will have to integral to that roster construction. This year’s draft class was a great start, and the Saints will need more of that moving forward.
Maybe most importantly, Moore being a success would finally give Loomis the ability to say he saw success without Payton. He can’t do that right now, and eventually, Benson is going to be unable to ignore that.
It’s hard to fire a GM in the first year of a rebuild. Loomis just got his new coach, so we’ll show him patience. That patience, however, shouldn’t extend beyond this coaching regime.