To start the season Nebraska Husker Head Coach Matt Rhule said that the running backs would be handled by a four-man committee which including Rhamir Johnson, Emmett Johnson, Gave Ervin Jr and new Oregon transfer Dante Dowdell. And that’s exactly what happened in the season opener at UTEP on 31 Aug 24. Dowdell, at the time, seemed like the go to back and was certainly the most electrifying before he fumbled somewhere around the 10-yard line on a scoring drive, costing points. Many, including myself, questioned where in that rotation he would be versus Colorado. Especially given how turnovers soured the game against Colorado, I did not know if he would get many opportunities.
Well, turns out I was both right and wrong about Dowdell. Right in the fact that he was clearly our best running back, and wrong in that he may need to be limited in carries. Dowdell had 17 carries for 74 yards and scored two of the Huskers 3 offensive touchdowns. He was truly a difference maker on the field. Behind him, R. Johnson had 9 carries for 33 yards. Ervin and E. Johnson had few carries in garbage time with Ervin having 2 carries for 6 and E. Johnson having 1 for three.
Today, a new depth chart was released which showed Dowdell and R. Johnson as Co-RB1. That was the way in which in play out at Colorado and Rhule during his weekly press conference said they wanted to release a depth chart and be transparent about where things stand. Clearly at this point it seems Dowdell is the back, and Johnson is the receiving, slash change of pace back. However, Rhule also said R. Johnson was better at picking up blitzers and during the Colorado game appeared to be the pass blocker. Rhule mentioned that maybe he was nurturing Erving too much coming off an injury, alluding to a bigger role for him in the future as well.
For now, the rotation seems to have settled down. We will see how it bears out against an FCS opponent this week that prides themselves on stopping the run. Go big red.
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