Steelers couldn’t beat two years 8.5 million

This may not be a transcendent rb class, but there is some very high end talent to be had in this draft not named Jeremiah Love

 

I'm not a huge fan of PFF grades for DBs and OL. But this is a good thing.

So we went with Dowdle.

Like Gainwell, good at rushing and receiving. Actually eerily similar. I think Bubbahotep had a post about this a month ago or so.

Over 1k yards the last two years. Getting about 235 carries both years. Gainwell got half that in both yards and carries last year. About a push here.

297 yards on 50 targets. KG had 486 yards on 85 targets. Pretty close to a push here too.

Basically the same guy, but a little cheaper. And has proven he can carry a full load of someone gets hurt (I think Gainwell could do this too, but he never has).

Kind of a meh move for me. Cheaper than Gainwell, but still think it's too expensive (2 years $12.25MM vs 2x $14 for KG).

I would have preferred we wait a little longer and go a little cheaper.

But this means we won't have to draft a RB I guess.

 

Dean is an upgrade. Stock up for the Steelers DB's.

 

This post and this entire thread did not age well. lol

 

Dowdle is a better runner, but not as good as a receiver. At least a lateral move, if not an upgrade.

 

That was my gut reaction too. And it might be true...although if it is, I don't think the differences in rushing or receiving are significant.

I think it's mostly that Dowdle got more carries and Gainwell got more targets. So it looks like one is better at rushing and the other is better at receiving.

They seem to be pretty similar.

Dowdle has had more work, so his "mean" is likely easier to trust.

But he's also older and has had more wear and tear.

I think we got basically the same back for almost the same price (but a little cheaper) than Gainwell.

 

Dowdle is more physical with more mileage on his body. They are less than a year part in age. Both have been in the NFL for five seasons. I love what Gainwell did for the Steelers last year, but this is likely an upgrade.

 

Let's see if he ends up being out best weapon this year first...

 

Rico...... upgraded the #2 RB
Dean.... upgraded the #2 CB
Pittman..... upgraded the #2 WR

 

They obviously didn’t want too. Duh….he had one decent year.

 

Or maybe Pierre didn't want to return because he read the NFLPA report and realized he'd rather move to the #2 team on the list.

 

Gainwell's greater value was that he was a de facto WR2 to go along with being RB2 (or RB1a). The Steelers found a legit WR2, and then upgraded the RB part of the RB2 position with another team's RB1. I'm always a wait and see guy, and I'm not happy seeing either Pierre or Gainwell leave, but not only have they both been replaced, but they have both likely been upgraded.

 

Dowdle - 9.0 YAC/rec; 36% 1st down rate
Gainwell - 7.4 YAC/rec; 31.5% 1st down rate

 

No, let's not. We have all the information we need right now. You implied that the Steelers made a poor decision by letting Gainwell leave. They upgraded for less money. Dowdle is about the same age with the same number of years in the league. He has been a far better runner than Gainwell. He is the one with experience in McCarthy's system. Hopefully, the Steelers won't be stuck relying on him as much as they did Gainwell.

They also upgraded from Pierre, so yes, this entire thread did not age well.

 

So hap

Happy they did not sign Special teams player Pierre.
I would have hated to see the Steelers sign Pierre and then try to think they had a starting CB.

 

You are thinking of the pre-2025 version of Pierre. He played like a legitimate low-end starter last season. Letting him go was only a good thing because they added a replacement who is even better.

 

And Love could free fall now with the Chiefs signing Walker.

 

I think Dowdle has more power than Gainwell and perhaps better break away speed.

 

Losing Gainwell is difficult to understand.

 

wait for it
wait for it Hammersmith
Now!

 

Hope this helps you:

https://thesteelersfans.com/forums/threads/rb-rico-dowdle-with-the-steelers.36456/

 

He followed his CB coach. It’s that simple.

 

He definitely runs with more power. He is far more effective running the ball. The guy has been over 1,000 yards the the last two seasons, both with a better average per carry than Gainwell.

 

No, it isn't. They signed a better back for less money, one who thrived in the new head coach's system in Dallas.

 

I read that Pierre went with the team with the best childcare facilities.