Rico Dowdle talks executing at a high level | Carolina Panthers

Rico Dowdle talks executing at a high level | Carolina Panthers

without going into too much detail. What did you see there? And then just take us through the process. Um just throughout the game, uh they was leaving a running back open in the flat. So, uh and we knew that going into the game like the flats is open, you’ll have some check down opportunities. I think most of my receiving yards came off a swing route. So, but just seen uh like I said, them leaving it open and told the coach that I wanted to run the screen. So, I thought them leaving it open with some llamas out in front of me. Should have waited on them on it. Um, but uh thought it would work. So, yeah, I seen that. Uh, I haven’t thought too much about it, but yeah, I I might. But for for a team that that wants to be a player, how much autonomy do you guys have to go to like, hey, or or to be listened to? Like, how how nice is that for you to to feel like you’re Um, it’s definitely nice when you got a coach like that. He’s open. He he tell you uh it’s something you want or something you see um come tell him. So uh he he definitely says that let him know and uh take the he says take the play she seat out my hand. Tell me you want that and um it’s just a matter like I said with me going I tell him stuff every week all the time. They probably tired of me honestly telling them stuff but uh yeah no he tell you um that’s what he want. Um he he listens. So yeah we hear the ones the play calls that work from you like are you feeding them a bunch of stuff that don’t see the field sometimes? No I just they just don’t call everything that I tell them to call. But no, I wouldn’t say I’m just feeding some stuff that uh doesn’t feel. I asked for another play that game and he would I think you can see on the clip he was explaining like they was backed off or something like that. We end up not running it. We nailed it out, went to overtime um and won the game. So yeah, but it’s coach’s choice and some sometimes they listen, sometimes um they got other points. So yeah. Ever as coach run? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It’s been I specifically remember back uh I think it was Dallas week call came in and uh I told Bryce go back to the sideline tell him let’s try something else and run it and he actually listened so um and we did that and it ended up working for us but yeah and then just a couple things but yeah so I’ I’ve asked him to call things and we ran it toss versus Miami and so yeah we did it a couple times it’s a feeling of the game got to see what they doing and how they playing us and then uh have better idea when you’ve got a a late game like this, y’all are used to playing Sundays at one. Like, what do you do to fill your Monday? Um, you know, just stay focused, stay locked in. Like you said, it’s a late game. Stay off your feet and uh get ready. It’s Monday night football, so and we know what’s at stake in what type of game this is, and you just got to be prepared to go out there, execute at a high level. Are you like playing cards, turning on reruns? Like, no, I’ll probably just be chilling, watching TV, talking to my kids and stuff. Girl, doing things like I’ll be chilling. Stay off my feet. probably wake up, get some treatment early that morning just to stay fresh. This is pretty much it. Uh I wouldn’t say in particular, but I’m I’m juiced up for every game. I look at all I just know this one right here is Monday Night Football. Panthers first our first night game of the season, we got to be ready to play, but I don’t I think I’m juiced up for every game. I got the same trying to stay focused and stay locked in neutral and come in the game the same way every time. Do you have any advice with the experience in Dallas they get? Do you have any advice for the young guys that haven’t played with game yet? Um, they’re going to try. It’s national television. Everybody watching, so don’t let them embarrass you and and stay focused and locked in. Yeah. Y’all have the statistically the toughest schedule remaining this season. Like how do you just mentally, physically, whatever prepare yourself for that gauntlet? Take it one game at a time. um got to win this one first and then we focus on the next one that’s come. I mean, we we show we can go compete with the best. So, it’s just all about going going one and0 each week and that’s what we got to focus on. Since everybody will be watching early game in town, you look at this as sort of an audition for you since you’re going to free agent after the season. Um, like I said, every week is an audition with me being on a one-year contract and things for everybody in here. It’s an audition. Um, every all 31 teams are always watching. So, I wouldn’t say just this week in particular, but I definitely know I got to go out there and do my best. From their team, um, fundamental. Um, and then they got some I know they got a couple of their key players out and Fred Warner and uh, Bosa and things like that, but the guys that came in and did a great job. So, just a very, uh, fundamental team and they fly around, fly to the ball. Is there any excitement or go ahead with the key guys being out? You’ve still been able to keep some of the larger runs to less than 10 yards for Harry. What are some ways that you feel like we can maybe up their defense and get some of those bigger play runs? Uh, it’s just all about coaches scheming it up. Um, us going out there and executing, that’s what it’s always about. Long as we can go get a hat on the hat and and line it up and execute at I think we’ll be fine. I’m sorry. kind of on that note, is there any excitement or a little bit of like knowing that this offense threw the ball all over the yard last week, so maybe defenses will start playing back again, give you a little bit more room? Um, I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s a lot of excitement, but I do know they got to respect both the run and the pass. So, uh, with the way we passed it last week and, um, coming into the past couple games, teams have been loading the box trying to just overnumber us and things like that. But now that we put it on film that we can throw it and, um, it’s always been the case we can throw. It just happened to be our best one last week. And, uh, so they definitely got to respect both and I think it’ll allow allow for our offense to open up completely. Been something that stood out to me. Take me through it. Like, how are you seeing the holes? Is it something that you are patient or just hard? Can you explain that to me? Um, yeah, I think vision is like one of the key components of a running back. So, um, yeah, just having a feel for what the defense doing, how they trying to cancel out gaps and gaps, and it’s just basically playing mouse game, mouse to cat game with them with the defenders and the linebackers just trying to open it up and find a crease in it. How long does it take you to kind of get a feel? Yeah, usually about one or two series, I say. Um, that’s when the team you going to know what they what they plan is for that game and for that day. So, about one or two series. Do you see a resurgence in the value of running backs this year with Jonathan Taylor having the year he’s having you’re having a great year? I mean there’s Chris McAffrey is having a great year. I mean is that or you think it’s just the same old thing people feel like you guys are expendable? Yeah. Um you know I really don’t know that’s really for all the other guys at the time but I I think one of the running back is one of the most important positions on the field. Um cuz you got to pass it, you got to run it, you got to catch it. So uh you got Yeah. You got to block. I meant not pass it. You got to pass block and catch it. So, I think running backs is one of the most valuable position. I wouldn’t say it’s a resurg. I think last year it started with Saquon and Derek Herring and all those guys last year um just setting a standard for running backs having them great season and this year um running backs been shown uh showing their value. So, definitely increasing the value of the position. [Music]

Watch Panthers’ running back speak to the media on Friday after practice.

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