Panthers backfield

[show me the murray 52]

What do people think is going to happen with Chuba and Dowdle? 

Chuba looked awesome this week, maybe he’s finally fully healthy. Could be an annoying committee but I feel Canales and Co have been DESPERATE for Chuba to win this job back. Could be his now.

I have both and locked up playoffs last week - it’s annoying they’re on bye next week as we can’t get any more evidence on what the split will be. Although they play the Saints so it may not matter! 

Probably gonna roll with Chuba week 15. What do others reckon? 

[rotisserieking 79]

Chuba has looked better than Rico for a couple weeks now, and with the Panthers starting to get some momentum and the $ they spent on him, I imagine the split might start going 60/40 or 70/30 Chuba.

[weepaws 3,376]

Hard to imagine that Hubbard takes over, Dowdle has had some really big performances, I think it’s a risk counting on get it right.  

[show me the murray 52]

Oh for sure a risk. It seems though that Dowdle showed his displeasure at his lack of usage week 12 against the 49ers, then in week 13 they were splitting time right out of the gate. Chuba was starting drives and he was way more productive. 

With a bye it could mean a shift back to Chuba, who’s getting healthier and has way less tread on the tires. I’d guess in a good matchup they could both do well. In a tougher one, give me the guy that’s in on all third downs though, and that’s Chuba. 

[Ray_T 792]

17 hours ago, weepaws said:

Hard to imagine that Hubbard takes over, Dowdle has had some really big performances, I think it’s a risk counting on get it right.  

true but Dowdles huge performances were against terrible Run Defenses.

at the time the boys and the phins were getting absolutely GASHED on the ground.   its the RB who performs against a good D that makes the difference to the bottom line.

since those two games its been meh.  one solid game vs Green Bay and the rest less than 80 yards and YPC varied some.  but he had some reasonably ineffective games in there.

Chubba admittedly hasnt been much better.  last year he was a volume based fantasy player and he was ok.

but we are in a situation where this could easily be a timeshare where they go with the hot hand.

only thing Rico has going for him is those 2 amazing games.  but arguably nobody was gameplanning for him.   now that defenses are aware of what he does, they have adapted and his stats are now more in line with Chubbas.

 

 

[weepaws 3,376]

Last four with both of them healthy Rico hasn’t reached 80 yards, but , last game was the first of those four games that Hubbard was better, the other three , Rico had more total yards, and Hubbard in 11 games, and reached 80plus rush yards once, that was this last game.   It’s a game of roulette. 

[Hardcore troubadour 15,952]

7 hours ago, Ray_T said:

true but Dowdles huge performances were against terrible Run Defenses.

at the time the boys and the phins were getting absolutely GASHED on the ground.   its the RB who performs against a good D that makes the difference to the bottom line.

since those two games its been meh.  one solid game vs Green Bay and the rest less than 80 yards and YPC varied some.  but he had some reasonably ineffective games in there.

Chubba admittedly hasnt been much better.  last year he was a volume based fantasy player and he was ok.

but we are in a situation where this could easily be a timeshare where they go with the hot hand.

only thing Rico has going for him is those 2 amazing games.  but arguably nobody was gameplanning for him.   now that defenses are aware of what he does, they have adapted and his stats are now more in line with Chubbas.

 

 

130 yards and two td’s is “solid” ? Ok 

[show me the murray 52]

That Green Bay performance was awesome too. Three great games for Rico.

The main thing for me is just the contract situation. They signed Chuba to a huge extension and Rico to a one year deal. I just think they badly want for Chuba to be ‘the guy’ that they could use week 13 as an excuse to make him the starter again.

I do think it’ll be pretty close to 50/50. But Chuba will get more high value touches. Just my two cents. 

[Ray_T 792]

7 hours ago, show me the murray said:

That Green Bay performance was awesome too. Three great games for Rico.

The main thing for me is just the contract situation. They signed Chuba to a huge extension and Rico to a one year deal. I just think they badly want for Chuba to be ‘the guy’ that they could use week 13 as an excuse to make him the starter again.

I do think it’ll be pretty close to 50/50. But Chuba will get more high value touches. Just my two cents. 

I'm sure the contract situations will play a large part.

chubba is signed 33 mil over 4 years.   so if they want to go with Rico, they need to find someone who will take that contract.  its not like they can just walk from a contract like that.  it will cost them.

so depending on what Rico is demanding, this may be about money when it comes time to re sign

in the interim, while Rico has (on average) been better, Chubba is also the incumbent.  some coaches firmly believe that a player shouldnt lose their job due to a short term injury so its not a given they hand it to Rico.    from what I've seen it looks like they are making this into a competition of sorts.    so both players are essentially fighting for this job.

until the team is decided on who is the better player for them, this could very well be a committee.  possibly for the rest of the season.

I know a lot of you are wanting to hand this job to Rico based on the big games.   but that is rarely the way these things work.   you also dont see what goes on in practice and how the players get along with their teammates etc.   so there is a bit more to it than JUST this.

thats the takeaway.   it may seem clear cut to a lot of us, but it may not be to them