Do you ever get tired of not using the internet? Dowdell averaged 3 carries per game in the six games he played. So he got scrap carries in blowout games his freshman year at Oregon. Look at his stat sheet from that season. As far as EJ and Barthel are concerned, some of you think coaches delight in putting players on the bench that clearly could be helping them. Or somehow they are much dumber than you and can't see the true value in the player they watch practice every day. In truth, EJ exhibited talent early, but was far from the complete back he now is. He initially played behind more experience players his RS freshman year but was promoted when two of them were lost for the season, and ended up outplaying Grant. His next year he was the second back in an offense that was trying to be more downhill. He became the lead back when Holgerson took over, and Holgerson's approach has no doubt aided his stat sheet.
EJ has shown consistent improvement in the three years he has played. He has had one coach during this time and that is Barthel. So to review, Barthel coached a kid who portaled from Oregon and that kid became an effective power running back who was great in short yardage situations. He also coached a kid with a pretty thin offer sheet and that kid became an All-American level running back. In truth, there are a number of RB coaches who could do as good or better job than Barthel. One of them shows up to Memorial Stadium on Mondays and his name is Ron Brown. I just think the jihad against Barthel on the part of some posters is pretty half-a**ed.
. Are you a better high school coach now than you were your first year? Hiring that kid wasn’t ideal but Rhule was thrown a curve ball at the last minute and needed a body.
