Dave Canales’ telling comments hint a difficult conversation finally be coming regarding the split in the Panthers’ backfield
The split between Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard needs to be adjusted after Week 8.
Coming off a 40-9 loss at home to bring an end to a three-game win streak, usually there’s a lot to unpack and a lot to break down moving forward into the next game.
Yet, for the Carolina Panthers on Monday after Week 8’s loss to the Buffalo Bills, the majority of the questions being asked to head coach Dave Canales largely centered around the run game, and specifically the split between Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle.
All things considered, looking at the last four games for Carolina, it’s a rational area to focus on despite the team rushing for 114 yards while allowing 245 yards on the ground defensively. And Canales had some pretty telling answers about the state of the team’s backfield going into Week 9.
Dave Canales shares his feelings on the Panthers RB room and if any changes will be made to the rotation
Against the Bills, Chuba Hubbard once again led the team on the ground with 12 carries for 34 yards and one touchdown. Rico Dowdle, mixing in every other drive, added eight carries for a team-high 54 yards and looked like a much more dangerous player with the ball in his hands, much like he was during the two games when Hubbard was sidelined due to a calf injury.
However, since returning, Hubbard has started each of the last two games at running back with a near even split with Dowdle in terms of carries (26-25). Yet, Dowdle has averaged 5.3 yards per carry in those two games compared to Hubbard’s 2.5 yards per attempt.
“It’s a fair observation,” Canales told reporters on Monday. “Chuba’s meant a lot to this organization, certainly to the identity that we want to build our team on, and wanted to give Chuba the opportunity to go out there and to continue to impact our team in a positive way.
“We cannot ignore the fact that Rico has been exceptional in a couple of games and in the opportunities he’s had over the last two weeks. He’s made some excellent plays, love the tempo and violence that he’s running with. Things are all things that we’re talking about and working through this week as we look back on these last four games.”
The main change fans are calling for involves Dowdle starting the game at running back and featuring him more as a lead back in terms of the carries while mixing in Hubbard as a change of pace with his physicality. Ultimately, neither option fits either players’ strengths as a runner.
Hubbard’s shown during his first four years in Carolina that the more carries he gets, the more he can wear down an opposing defense. At the same time, Dowdle showed in Weeks 5-6 that with a lion’s share of the carries, he can make some explosive plays to propel this offense.
Eventually a tough conversation is going to be had with both players because the usage the last two weeks wasn’t ideal for anyone and as the head coach, Canales needs to come to a firm decision.
“The goal is to make sure that we put the right guys out there. That’s my job,” Canales added. “So, I really do have to look at that and evaluate it, and make the best decision for the Panthers collectively. For me, I have to make sure that I keep it about the football. At the same time, I’ve had a good amount of experience with Chuba and I’ve seen Chuba at his best. Now, we’ve seen Rico at his best. I have to make sure we have the right conversations all together and move forward.”
No one wants to have these kind of conversations and make these decisions, but that’s exactly why you pay a head coach to make these kind of important decisions. If the Panthers want to continue to be a run-first offense, Canales needs to figure out the most effective way to deploy his backs.
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