Dunbar

[jarntt]

I know a lot of people don't believe in him or think because he has one or two career fumbles that he is fumble prone, but I'm telling you this kid is going to be an explosive weapon for us this year. Damn shame our team was too stupid to realize his worth early in the year last year. Perfect compliment to Murray IMO.

Cowboys RBs coach Gary Brown said Lance Dunbar can line up anywhere on the field, including "tailback, at wide receiver, in the slot."
"He's a guy that's going to be a complete weapon," Brown added. "We're looking forward to using him." Cowboys.com's Nick Eatman issued a fantasy alert on Dunbar after spring practices, saying Dunbar needs to be owned in every league. There's plenty of late-round flier appeal. New OC Scott Linehan got healthy RB2 production out of Joique Bell in Detroit last season behind Reggie Bush.

 

[ROMOTOOWENS]

They said the same thing last year and then he fumbled vs Arizona in preseason. I dont hold that against him at all. I wanted to see him on the field more. I think he can be a great weapon, but the problem is everytime he touches it it takes away a touch from someone else. I dont have a problem with that either. The point Im trying to make is there are only so many plays in a game. I would love to see him get 5-7 touches a game. Murray is a nice reciever too. We keep hearing an increased role for him is likely coming. Escobar supposedly looks tremendous so I expect him to catch 25 passes. Beasley and Williams will both be around 50 apiece. Dez 90- 100. Witt- 60- 80. I just dont know if he will really get a chance. Ive heard the Sproles , McCluster, Bush, etc comparisons. I think more David Palmer - the guy that used to play for the Vikings about 8-10 yrs ago maybe longer. The Vikings always had a package for him.

 

[ROMOTOOWENS]

Now Palmer was more of a return specialist too and that was part of his touches.

 

[es4m11]

I think Dunbar is set for a big year - if he can stay healthy. Linehan's system is great for a guy with Dunbar's skill set. I could see Dunbar being our version of Darren Sproles. Give him a few carries in space every game and turn him lose in the screen game. I'm not too concerned about the fumbles, he can be taught not to fumble - see Tiki Barber.

 

[ROMOTOOWENS]

I think Dunbar is set for a big year - if he can stay healthy. Linehan's system is great for a guy with Dunbar's skill set. I could see Dunbar being our version of Darren Sproles. Give him a few carries in space every game and turn him lose in the screen game. I'm not too concerned about the fumbles, he can be taught not to fumble - see Tiki Barber.

I hope so- I just think it will be tough to get opportunities

 

[es4m11]

I hope so- I just think it will be tough to get opportunities

5-7 touches a game, on average, is what I see for Dunbar. Murray should see 18-20 carries a game, Dunbar another 3-4, and Williams can clean up what is left. Get Dunbar another 3-4 touches in the passing game every week and he can be a big contributor to this offense.

 

[scotsman1948]

5-7 touches a game, on average, is what I see for Dunbar. Murray should see 18-20 carries a game, Dunbar another 3-4, and Williams can clean up what is left. Get Dunbar another 3-4 touches in the passing game every week and he can be a big contributor to this offense.

if the Cowboys are committed to having a running game i can see Murray getting the 18-20 carries you indicate but i see Williams getting 7-10 carries and Dunbar 5-6

 

[es4m11]

if the Cowboys are committed to having a running game i can see Murray getting the 18-20 carries you indicate but i see Williams getting 7-10 carries and Dunbar 5-6

I wouldn't mind a distribution like that, but I don't see Dallas running it 30+ times a game week in and week out. I think Williams would see maybe 3-4 carries per week.

With Dunbar being the designated "3rd down back", I think Murray will be a bit fresher throughout the game and Williams will be relegated to more of a reserve role.

 

[ROMOTOOWENS]

We ran just over 20 times a game last yr out of 58 plays. If we could get that number to 25 times a game, it would be great IMO.

 

[jarntt]

I wouldn't mind a distribution like that, but I don't see Dallas running it 30+ times a game week in and week out. I think Williams would see maybe 3-4 carries per week.

With Dunbar being the designated "3rd down back", I think Murray will be a bit fresher throughout the game and Williams will be relegated to more of a reserve role.[/QUOTE]

I don't think he will be the designated 3rd down back. I think he will certainly get some 3rd down opportunities though.

 

[es4m11]

I wouldn't mind a distribution like that, but I don't see Dallas running it 30+ times a game week in and week out. I think Williams would see maybe 3-4 carries per week.

With Dunbar being the designated "3rd down back", I think Murray will be a bit fresher throughout the game and Williams will be relegated to more of a reserve role.[/QUOTE]

I don't think he will be the designated 3rd down back. I think he will certainly get some 3rd down opportunities though.

Maybe, maybe not. I can't say for sure, but from what I have been reading that seems to be the plan for him.

 

[Otis B. Driftwood]

We ran just over 20 times a game last yr out of 58 plays. If we could get that number to 25 times a game, it would be great IMO.

With the continued improvement up front, I would also hope we can see the running game have more focus. It would make everything so much easier on offense...

 

[jarntt]

Maybe, maybe not. I can't say for sure, but from what I have been reading that seems to be the plan for him.

He needs to improve his blocking to be the #1 option on 3rd downs. Also, Murray is quite good as our 3rd down back, so he will get plenty of snaps in that role regardless of who else is around

 

[scotsman1948]

We ran just over 20 times a game last yr out of 58 plays. If we could get that number to 25 times a game, it would be great IMO.

i'm seeing that go up to 30-32 runs a game with our OL this season

 

[Otis B. Driftwood]

i'm seeing that go up to 30-32 runs a game with our OL this season

I sure hope so. Better time of possession with our defense is key.

 

[es4m11]

He needs to improve his blockiNg to be the #1 option on 3rd downs. Also, Murray is quite good as our 3rd down back, so he will get plenty of snaps in that role regardless of who else is around

Agreed!

Murray, imo, is one of the most complete backs in the league. He is very good on third down.

Sounds like to me that Linehan wants to stretch defenses out on third down. Perfect opportunity to get Dunbar in space. He can run the draw, the screen pass, or come out of the backfield and work underneath.

 

[ROMOTOOWENS]

Converting a better percentage of 3rd downs and our defense being able to get off the field will obviously increase this number of rushing attempts for our team. Its easy to say before the game that we are going to run it 30 times and pass it 30 times. I would love to get more Time of Possession and run 65 to 70 plays a game: but I just think the balance thing is skewed some.

 

[Otis B. Driftwood]

Converting a better percentage of 3rd downs and our defense being able to get off the field will obviously increase this number of rushing attempts for our team. Its easy to say before the game that we are going to run it 30 times and pass it 30 times. I would love to get more Time of Possession and run 65 to 70 plays a game: but I just think the balance thing is skewed some.

... and - that's the key here isn't it? If we aren't getting stops and are forced to play catch-up continuously, then the balance thing goes right out of the window.

 

[ROMOTOOWENS]

Absolutely, but so much of the game situation dictates what we are going to do. For example, lets say we get the ball on our own 20 with 1:50 left in the half. 8-10 passes are coming in a row maybe more if we are successful. We might run a draw in there but it is still a passing drive. So up to that point lets say we were 13 passes to 11 runs . Now we are 23 passes to 12 runs. Now we go into the second half and stay perfectly balanced with 12 runs and 12 passes. At the end of the game it reads 35 to 24 and the media goes nuts because we didnt run the ball enough. Sometimes numbers do lie

 

[Otis B. Driftwood]

Absolutely, but so much of the game situation dictates what we are going to do. For example, lets say we get the ball on our own 20 with 1:50 left in the half. 8-10 passes are coming in a row maybe more if we are successful. We might run a draw in there but it is still a passing drive. So up to that point lets say we were 13 passes to 11 runs . Now we are 23 passes to 12 runs. Now we go into the second half and stay perfectly balanced with 12 runs and 12 passes. At the end of the game it reads 35 to 24 and the media goes nuts because we didnt run the ball enough. Sometimes numbers do lie

Yes they do... and therefore make it really easy for the leering press to generalize using those numbers instead of taking the more holistic look at what happened.

And once again - if the defense isn't doing the job and the offense is forced to play a different game than originally schemed, then the numbers are skewed even more. As you correctly note - situation dictation.