Cowboys Strive for Redemption Amidst Challenges
The Dallas Cowboys find themselves in a challenging phase this season, holding a 3-6 record with a string of four consecutive losses. As they prepare to face the Houston Texans, the Cowboys are leaning heavily on emerging star Rico Dowdle, their undrafted running back from the University of South Carolina.
Dowdle has stepped up as the leading running back after Tony Pollard departed for the Tennessee Titans. Despite the adversity of injuries and his undrafted beginnings, Dowdle has embraced his role with determination and pride. "Undrafted to now being the starting running back for America's Team," Dowdle reflected. "Definitely, I take great pride in that. That [injuries] was one of my things that was hindering me I guess when I broke my hip two, three years ago."
Dowdle has been a bright spot in an otherwise difficult season, amassing 374 rushing yards on 83 carries, averaging 4.5 yards per carry, and scoring three receiving touchdowns. His standout performance came in Week 5 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he achieved a career-high of 87 rushing yards and a 22-yard receiving touchdown.
The Burden of Expectations
With quarterback Dak Prescott sidelined for the season due to hamstring surgery, the Cowboys have had to adjust their game plan significantly. The team's offensive approach has seen struggles, as they average only 83.7 rushing yards per game, the second-fewest in the league. As a result, Coach Mike McCarthy has been vocal about the need to rely more on Dowdle to drive the offense forward. "Definitely, you have to get him the ball," McCarthy stated. "That's my focus to continue to get him opportunities. He's the lead back. I thought he had a really good first half [against the Eagles], and I think that's really illustrated by the attempts. Rico needs to touch the ball."
Dowdle acknowledges the trust placed in him by the coaching staff, saying, "It means a lot coming from Coach McCarthy. Showing that they got confidence, and they trusted me as the starting running back of the Dallas Cowboys. I take that with great pride."
A New Phase for the Cowboys Offense
The return to a more focused offensive strategy has seen Dowdle taking a more prominent role, as the "committee approach" previously employed didn’t yield the desired results. Dowdle noted, "The committee approach was something that wasn't working for us, so I stood firm on wanting to find that rhythm since the beginning. You want to be able to get out there and get the bulk of the carries and find that rhythm. ... It's all about finding that rhythm."
As part of their strategy moving forward, rookies Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe are being integrated into the offensive line to support Dowdle and help bolster the Cowboys’ struggling run game. Backup quarterback Cooper Rush reinforced the importance of Dowdle's contributions, stating, "Yeah, Rico's running hard. He's running fast, running hard. He broke a couple long ones there for us last week. He's been doing that all year. He's been consistent, and we look forward to every time he touches it."
Looking Towards Houston
As they gear up to face the Houston Texans, the Cowboys understand the challenge that lies ahead. The Texans’ run defense ranks 11th in the league, posing a stern test for Dowdle and the offensive line. Nevertheless, Dowdle remains confident in his ability to perform at a high level. "In my past, it was all about the injuries and things like that, but now I feel that I've got my body in the best shape and best position possible for me. So I definitely think I can go out there and operate at a high level of consistency," Dowdle expressed.
With pressure mounting on the Cowboys, both Dowdle and his coaches are focused on turning the season around. Whether through powering through defenses or creating opportunities from the backfield, Dowdle has become a pivotal element of the Cowboys’ ambitions to redeem their season. It’s a daunting task but one for which Dowdle’s determination and resilience have more than prepared him.