(S24) - PT 4 - Trial by Fire

[SwankyPants31]

For Richard Gilbert, the change in competition from the DSFL level to the ISFL level was like an immediate slap in the face. Even just beginning in the DSFL, Gilbert came in playing in a backup role to Ed Barker, earning about a 60-40 split on the carries. He was able to make the most of his role on this team, while he wasn’t close to the league lead in yards he had a respectable YPC and actually had the second highest rushing touchdowns out of the entire league, so he was still useful. He really took off in his send down season, being one of the top running backs, one of the most efficient, and leading in combined rushing and receiving touchdowns. He even got a nod with a running back of the year nomination. The first year of being called up to the Colorado Yeti was a stark difference though. While he took on a larger role in the passing game than he had in the past, he was pretty much completely stymied on the ground. His rookie season saw him as one of the bottom RBs in terms of yardage, and he struggled to keep his YPC above 3. While his rookie year was definitely a challenge, he seems to be more in the swing of things his sophomore year, and will hopefully continue to trend upward.