News: DMN: Lance Dunbar says he’s 100 percent healthy; ‘excited’ about how he’ll be used

[FuzzyLumpkins]

There have been players who were hurt a lot their first 2 seasons but afterwards shook off the injury prone label. Here's to hoping Dunbar, Claiborne, and Lee all can do that

I get that there is a probability that all above will be heathly. I am talking it terms of likelihood.

 

[Bullflop]

Quickly? He was hurt in both of his seasons in the NFL and I believe it was an issue in college. He is an undersized guy playing the most physically deteriorating position in pro sports.

It's early yet. I haven't been able to find anything indicating an injury problem in college. Kindly show me otherwise if you can.

 

[jobberone]

We got six picks in the 7th.. Use one on De'Anthony Thomas out of Oregon... Let him and Dunbar duke it out...

If you can get Thomas with a 7th we are golden.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

It's early yet. I haven't been able to find anything indicating an injury problem in college. Kindly show me otherwise if you can.

I just looked it up and I was wrong at least from a games missed standpoint. He played every game they asked him to in college.

 

[Doc50]

There have been players who were hurt a lot their first 2 seasons but afterwards shook off the injury prone label. Here's to hoping Dunbar, Claiborne, and Lee all can do that

And I remember a couple of backs who were not too big, and took quite a lickin' and kept on tickin for several years -- Emmitt and TD.

 

[jobberone]

And I remember a couple of backs who were not too big, and took quite a lickin' and kept on tickin for several years -- Emmitt and TD.

Dorsett would scare me today although I suspect he'd still be great. I love a RB Emmitt's size. Give me that stature with big powerful legs, balance and vision.

 

[Idgit]

I just looked it up and I was wrong at least from a games missed standpoint. He played every game they asked him to in college.

'Liking' this because you bothered to look it up, and then owned it.

And that doesn't mean that your original point is not a good one. It's difficult to say with young players whether back:back injuries are trends or two separate instances of bad luck. It could be either. Hopefully, in Dunbar's case, it was bad luck, because he's a nice change-of-pace player when he's healthy, and not fumbling on simple draw plays in the red zone.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I just looked it up and I was wrong at least from a games missed standpoint. He played every game they asked him to in college.

Very cool thanks.

 

[Doc50]

Dorsett would scare me today although I suspect he'd still be great. I love a RB Emmitt's size. Give me that stature with big powerful legs, balance and vision.

You're right -- gotta have the powerful legs and glutes; and the elusive qualities of balance and vision -- difficult to describe, but you know it you see it.

Interestingly, we have seen glimpses of this from Dunbar and DM.

 

[TrailBlazer]

I believe Dunbar can provide Darren sproles like production if used correctly. JG had no idea how to use Dunbar last year when he was healthy. He has the explosiveness; get him the ball in open space at least 4 or 5 times a game. One thing that does concern me is his lack of ball security.

 

[jobberone]

You're right -- gotta have the powerful legs and glutes; and the elusive qualities of balance and vision -- difficult to describe, but you know it you see it.

Interestingly, we have seen glimpses of this from Dunbar and DM.

Dunbar is stronger than I thought he'd be for his size. He does run thru arm tackles at times. His speed and quickness are his biggest assets. Murray is a good every down back...when he can play.

 

[jday]

It didn't last season, anyway. I have a hard time getting around the state of our DL here. I know, the draft will change that, but until it does, it looks to me like we've got quite a hodgepodge in terms of our starting 11 defensively.

Don't get me wrong, I agree that the Dline absoultely should be addressed early and often in the draft, but fixing the Dl, IMO, doesn't fix this defense. Based on what we saw last year Brandon Carr (is he a #1 corner?), Morris Claiborne (Can he play in the NFL and stay healthy?) Sean Lee (Healthy?) Bruce Carter (can he take it to the next level and stay healthy) and Wilcox/Johnson (Can either play and stay healthy?) have questions to answer...and I don't think we can count on all of them answering in the affirmative. So, here's hoping the Cowboys have a really good run game.

 

[SportsGuru80]

I'm excited about him... Can be a real weapon in this offense with this game breaking speed.

However he must hold onto the ball, we play some GREAT defenses this year so it will be important to carry the ball close to his body.

 

[CF74]

We win an extra 3-4 games with a healthy productive Dunbar...

 

[big dog cowboy]

We win an extra 3-4 games with a healthy productive Dunbar...

He can play defense? J/K.

 

[CF74]

He can play defense? J/K.

Lol we just gotta play keep away and actually put up points when the opportunity arises.

 

[xwalker]

Don't get me wrong, I agree that the Dline absoultely should be addressed early and often in the draft, but fixing the Dl, IMO, doesn't fix this defense. Based on what we saw last year Brandon Carr (is he a #1 corner?), Morris Claiborne (Can he play in the NFL and stay healthy?) Sean Lee (Healthy?) Bruce Carter (can he take it to the next level and stay healthy) and Wilcox/Johnson (Can either play and stay healthy?) have questions to answer...and I don't think we can count on all of them answering in the affirmative. So, here's hoping the Cowboys have a really good run game.

Fixing the DL does not guarantee success; however, there is a good probability that the LBs and secondary are better this year.

Carr was good in 2012 when the scheme was not new and there was less chaos at the other positions. Claiborne was reasonably good in 2012 also. I think the odds are favorable that he improves after having a year+ to learn the scheme.

I think Holloman is a legit threat to replace Carter at WLB. Holloman was impressive at MLB in the final game of the season. I re-watched that game on the All 22 just to review his performance. The SLB is not a big issue because it's a part time position that is off the field in the nickel. They have several options there.

Church is a serviceable starter at one Safety spot. The huge question is at the 2nd Safety spot, but they do have some players there with very good physical ability (Wilcox, Matt Johnson and even Heath and Hamilton). Wilcox and Heath did get valuable reps in 2013. I don't know if the 2nd Safety spot will be good, it everything points to it being better than in 2013.

 

[jday]

I honestly do not believe Carr is a #1 corner. I think he would be great in the 2 spot, but elite receivers seem to give him problems. He lacks ideal height and speed.

Claiborne very well could put it all together this next year; I have higher hopes for him answering my questions in the affirmative than I do the rest of the bunch.

Heath was actually who I was talking about...not Johnson. There is no question about the physical side of his game...I've seen the side by side comparison and his physical measurments compare with the best safeties out there...they said something similiar about Wilcox if I'm not mistaken. The mental aspect of that position is were they seem to get separated from starter quality. That could change this year...but I'm not counting on it.

I was really hoping Bruce Carter would work out, and have not entirely given up on that happening, considering his 2012 season also painted a different picture. Holloman very well could be a solid peice, but he was one of the many who couldn't stay healthy last year; let's hope that is not another trend in the making.

I really don't have questions about Church. I think we know what we have in him, which is solid to really good. He, too, lacks the ideal range for that position, but he rarely gets caught out of position and plays really well with his instincts. I'd rather have that than someone who runs really fast in the wrong direction. I feel better about Church starting than most that have been penciled in to the defense so far.

 

[xwalker]

I honestly do not believe Carr is a #1 corner. I think he would be great in the 2 spot, but elite receivers seem to give him problems. He lacks ideal height and speed.

Claiborne very well could put it all together this next year; I have higher hopes for him answering my questions in the affirmative than I do the rest of the bunch.

Heath was actually who I was talking about...not Johnson. There is no question about the physical side of his game...I've seen the side by side comparison and his physical measurments compare with the best safeties out there...they said something similiar about Wilcox if I'm not mistaken. The mental aspect of that position is were they seem to get separated from starter quality. That could change this year...but I'm not counting on it.

I was really hoping Bruce Carter would work out, and have not entirely given up on that happening, considering his 2012 season also painted a different picture. Holloman very well could be a solid peice, but he was one of the many who couldn't stay healthy last year; let's hope that is not another trend in the making.

I really don't have questions about Church. I think we know what we have in him, which is solid to really good. He, too, lacks the ideal range for that position, but he rarely gets caught out of position and plays really well with his instincts. I'd rather have that than someone who runs really fast in the wrong direction. I feel better about Church starting than most that have been penciled in to the defense so far.

Carr is 6-1/8" tall. He is the tallest CB on the roster and taller than many past CBs like Newman, Jenkins, etc..

 

[jday]

Carr is 6-1/8" tall. He is the tallest CB on the roster and taller than many past CBs like Newman, Jenkins, etc..

Is it possible that he just plays small? Not sure...either way, I'm still not convinced he is a #1 corner.