What did we learn

Super impressive.

Would be interested to know if any CB ever scored 80 or above going against Hunter or Horn.  Not sure if anyone has to be honest.

 
Mavric said:
I'm sure some people think I'm anti-Dowdell.  That's not the case.  But I also think some people get so hyped up at seeing a back run over someone that they think that is the greatest thing any back could do.

This play is a good example of what I've been saying.  He runs hard.  That is absolutely true.  And that counts for a lot.

But it also means he really only gets what the line blocks for him (plus a little fall-forward on the tackle).  There was a great seam created by the line.  And he burst through it and finished the run.  But any attempt to make one guy miss probably gets at least a few more yards and maybe a lot.  Instead, all he does is try to hit the first guy that he sees.  He doesn't even try to get the extra yards.
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You are not anti, and when it comes to mentioning Dowdell, the air gets a little thicc.  Husker people love him.

He doesn't have the moves or open field juke like Rahmir or Emmett Johnson.  He doesn't have break-away speed to go 50 or farther.

But Dowdell hits the hole hard. 

If there is no hole, he is giving you a powerful run for no gain.  

If the line gives him a hole for 6 yards, Dowdell runs hard and powerful through it for for 6 1/2 yards.

If the OLine gives him an opening and he has 8 yards before he gets hit, he will give you 8 1/2 yards of power.  Like a train.

He doesn't have any elusiveness, and doesn't break tackles or out runs anyone.  When there is contact, its forceful but he goes down right away.

Fortunately, I think this will work in the B1G and also, he has a lot of time in front of him to improve and become a better running back.

And, when he comes out of the offense, you already know it could be a pass play and someone else will be in to block.

I just don't want you to think you are alone in seeing it.  Just didn't want to point out the obvious.

 
Mavric said:
I mean ... it's 2nd & 30.  We needed to be able to get the ball down the field.  And they were only rushing three so he knew he had time.  Could have been four or five seconds if needed.
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Gotcha.  My misunderstanding.  Thought it was about propping up the receivers getting open down field, and it felt kind of long imho.  It was a very nice play.

 
Mavric said:
That's what he does on most every play
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Watching the video in the tweet you posted from the Colorado game, if by "that" you mean that he goes down on first contact most every play, I agree.

But if by "that" you mean that he deliberately looks for contact in a scenario where he had just as good if not a better opportunity to try and make someone miss (which is what I thought you were getting at initially), I'd say I only saw that on two of the runs out of all of those.

 
Mavric said:
Just the part where he climbs the pocket to deliver the throw is a sight for sore eyes.
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This is a small thing but important thing.   Notice how DR continues to get  more depth after taking the shotgun snap.  That is what allows for the tackles to have a deeper turn point for the DE’s and allows for DR to have a pocket to step up into.   
 

It drove me nuts all the time when AM would get the shotgun snap and just sit there.  It did a great disservice to the linemen as any sort of interior push would immediately collapse the pocket.  When DR gets depth, it allows for a little interior push but still area for him to climb into.  

 
Mavric said:
Here are (most?) all his runs from the other day.  I think only one time does the first guy to hit him not bring him down.  He has the one great stiff arm ... then runs right into the second guy.

Yes, he is dishing out some punishment along the way.  But that's a tough way to make a living.  And make yards.
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I mean... he's obviously more of a power back, but I'd say he has some top end speed just not an initial burst. If we want smash mouth he's probably who I'd want in the game. Like you said it's kind of his sytle. He almost reminds me of Imani Cross, but doesn't have as quick of a first step or as much power.

Obviously we have Ramir for that speedy scat-back type roll. Then Emmett and Gabe offer more of a traditional RB roll. So, we have a decent complement, but nothing I'd call great.

I'm guessing Dowdell is more reliable in pass pro than E & G as that's been an issue with them, and also with Ramir throughout his career. I'd have to go back and watch though because honestly I'm just oogling over Dylan most plays now instead of seeing who can't block.

 
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ZRod said:
I'm guessing Dowdell is more reliable in pass pro than E & G as that's been an issue with them, and also with Ramir throughout his career. I'd have to go back and watch though because honestly I'm just oogling over Dylan most plays now instead of seeing who can't block.
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Pretty sure it's the opposite based on their usage.  And I think Satt alluded to that the other day.

 
ZRod said:
I mean... he's obviously more of a power back, but I'd say he has some top end speed just not an initial burst. If we want smash mouth he's probably who I'd want in the game. Like you said it's kind of his sytle. He almost reminds me of Imani Cross, but doesn't have as quick of a first step or as much power.

Obviously we have Ramir for that speedy scat-back type roll. Then Emmett and Gabe offer more of a traditional RB roll. So, we have a decent complement, but nothing I'd call great.

I'm guessing Dowdell is more reliable in pass pro than E & G as that's been an issue with them, and also with Ramir throughout his career. I'd have to go back and watch though because honestly I'm just oogling over Dylan most plays now instead of seeing who can't block.
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Dowdell is only a sophomore & barely played at Oregon last year (17 carries for 90 yards), so there is room for him to learn to start making cuts to avoid tacklers instead of just running them over.  I'm sure it will be something he works on throughout the season and especially in the offseason.

 
Mavric said:
Helps that we've played two teams that are not particularly interested in trying to run the ball but...
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Yeah context matters, however… in the last several years, we’ve played lots of teams that weren’t particularly good at (insert any facet of football here) and they went on to have career days against us.
 

Even if that stat is a tad misleading at the moment, it’s still nice to see the defense do what they should be doing. 

 
Mavric said:
I'm sure I'm late to the party here but...

Nebraska has given up two touchdowns this year.  Hartzog got beat on both of them.
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The one against Colorado is a tough assignment, I thought he played it reasonably well but it was a good route by a fast receiver and a good throw. I don't like the zero blitz coming from as much depth as it did, and Sanders just kept going back to have room. And I thought they at least implied there was a miscommunication on the UTEP one.

But yeah, at the end of the day those are both Hartzog one on one and he didn't win.

I do think he's better than some people give him credit for, but he is the weakest link in the secondary. No offense to him, but I think the rise of Derek Branch onto the two-deep is more of an indictment on the rest of the guys we have playing Safety than it is a true breakout. I would really like to see Ceyair Wright or Blye Hill force themselves into the conversation and get Buford moved back to Safety. I think he's been fine at corner, but we get better size at two positions if Wright/Hill can step up at corner and Buford can replace Hartzog.

 
Husker in WI said:
The one against Colorado is a tough assignment, I thought he played it reasonably well but it was a good route by a fast receiver and a good throw. I don't like the zero blitz coming from as much depth as it did, and Sanders just kept going back to have room. And I thought they at least implied there was a miscommunication on the UTEP one.

But yeah, at the end of the day those are both Hartzog one on one and he didn't win.

I do think he's better than some people give him credit for, but he is the weakest link in the secondary. No offense to him, but I think the rise of Derek Branch onto the two-deep is more of an indictment on the rest of the guys we have playing Safety than it is a true breakout. I would really like to see Ceyair Wright or Blye Hill force themselves into the conversation and get Buford moved back to Safety. I think he's been fine at corner, but we get better size at two positions if Wright/Hill can step up at corner and Buford can replace Hartzog.
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I'm not sure it's been so much the case this year.  But in the past, his biggest issue (imo) is he gambles to make the big play too much such that when he misses he gives up a big play.  That looked to be the case against UTEP - it looks to me like he let the gap close thinking he was going to break hard on an underneath route and when the receiver went deep, he couldn't catch up.  I wouldn't say that was really the case against Colorado, although I'm not sure why he was playing so much inside leverage.

 
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