I'm really liking Lance Dunbar as a receiver

AzorAhai

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They will have to show a willingness to hand him the ball in the future, even if its mainly just for show. Pretty soon DC's will just sub into their nickel/dime packages if all he does is motion outside or run routes. He's a mismatch waiting to happen if he can just be serviceable as a runner. If they have a LB on him, motion him outside. If they have a CB on him, run the ball. Color me pleasantly surprised at his usage so far. He deserves all the kudos he's getting after all the grief people had over him, me included.
 
Tusan_Homichi

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RingOfHonor88 said:
They will have to show a willingness to hand him the ball in the future, even if its mainly just for show. Pretty soon DC's will just sub into their nickel/dime packages if all he does is motion outside or run routes. He's a mismatch waiting to happen if he can just be serviceable as a runner. If they have a LB on him, motion him outside. If they have a CB on him, run the ball. Color me pleasantly surprised at his usage so far. He deserves all the kudos he's getting after all the grief people had over him, me included.
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I was just thinking that this week. At some point, he needs to get carries just so he's still treated as an actual running back. Yeah, he's small, but sweeps and pitches would be ideal in getting him out into space.
 
Hailmary

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I'm glad you guys are recognizing him as a receiver. I think he should take Lucky's spot as a receiver and bring on Michael to take Dunbar's spot at RB.

Randle, McFadden, Michael, Clutts at RB. Williams, Street, Beasley, Butler and Dunbar at WR. If Lucky's not trusted to return punts, I don't see any reason to dress him on game day.
 
Bullflop

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The Cowboys have had such a reservoir of talented receivers in the past that guys like Dunbar often have gone unexposed. With Dez and Romo out of the equation now, that focus on Dunbar and Beasley have become a necessity, as opposed to an entertaining sidelight. I'm certain Weeden will be charged with shorter routes than what Romo routinely threw, for the purpose of ensuring him a safe aerial repertoire. Receivers like Dunbar, Beasley and also our RBs like Randle and McFadden offer great ability for adding yards after the catch.
 
Boyzmamacita

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Against the Eagles, both deep throws to Dunbar could've been TDs. The first was overthrown. The second was underthrown but he caught it.
 
JohnsKey19

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RingOfHonor88 said:
They will have to show a willingness to hand him the ball in the future, even if its mainly just for show. Pretty soon DC's will just sub into their nickel/dime packages if all he does is motion outside or run routes. He's a mismatch waiting to happen if he can just be serviceable as a runner. If they have a LB on him, motion him outside. If they have a CB on him, run the ball. Color me pleasantly surprised at his usage so far. He deserves all the kudos he's getting after all the grief people had over him, me included.
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He's not a bad runner at all. Obviously it would be ideal for him to face a light box so he can get some space. But I agree they will have to call some running plays just to put on film
 
cowboyschmps3

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Really like how we finally using Dunbar, guess it's all part of the process. Anyway I saw the Monday night game of the falcons against the pigeons they were really getting in trouble when Sproles got the ball in space, if we are able to exploit that match up Dunbar could have a very good game.
 
robjay04

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It's amazing we didn't use him this way for awhile. The excuse last season was Murray was too good to take off the field but we are using Dunbar more as a receiver than a running back so it doesn't make sense. You could easily have Dunbar and your RB on the field at the same time.
 
Biggems

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he needs to sellout for the pass...if he dives on the first one, it is probably a TD. I like how he is being used, and how it stresses the opposing D, but when the ball is a little off, you have to adjust and either jump or dive for it. He is a natural RB, so diving is not really second nature. Most WRs would have laid out for that first pass.
 
xwalker

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lane said:
Dude has been incredible and a big reason we are at 2-0.
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I feel like I was the only person that liked Dunbar before the season started. I posted several times over the off-season that he is a terrific receiver and that he could be a full time receiver if needed. All replies that I received were "cut him, he sucks".
 
JDSmith

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Biggems said:
he needs to sellout for the pass...if he dives on the first one, it is probably a TD. I like how he is being used, and how it stresses the opposing D, but when the ball is a little off, you have to adjust and either jump or dive for it. He is a natural RB, so diving is not really second nature. Most WRs would have laid out for that first pass.
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I don't think he even needed to lay out for the pass, he just needed to adjust slightly while it was in the air. He tried to reach to the side and stretch whet it got there because he hadn't adjusted. That's something natural for a WR, not so much for a RB. The majority of RBs couldn't catch a ball like that over the shoulder. It didn't help that the DB kind of dove for his right arm as the ball was getting there, looked like interference to me.
 
VACowboy

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Tenkamenin said:
We got to find mismatches with Dunbar and exploit them.
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Teams usually try to cover RB's with linebackers. You really have something when they have to start shadowing backs with corners or safeties.

Not many LB's can man up on Dunbar.
 
Nightman

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The problem with using Dunbar as a receiver out of the backfield is it got Romo hurt.

When Dunbar was the lone back the Eagles overloaded the middle with a Double Gap blitz.

Barwin fell back into coverage on Dunbar and there was no one there to pickup the free blitzer.

If they spread him out to get a matchup they need to bring a TE in to block.
 
TwentyOne

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bkight13 said:
The problem with using Dunbar as a receiver out of the backfield is it got Romo hurt.

When Dunbar was the lone back the Eagles overloaded the middle with a Double Gap blitz.

Barwin fell back into coverage on Dunbar and there was no one there to pickup the free blitzer.

If they spread him out to get a matchup they need to bring a TE in to block.
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IDK.
Dunbar is the security blanket and he was not really covered (2 steps in front of a DE). So the play is designed to help out the QB when under preassure. Also Romo should have seen that missmatch before the snap.

But Romo never adjusted to the blitz. Not the blocking (getting Witten to the line to block) or throwing to the RB.
Tried to hit the first read thru the whole play. To his buddy Witten. And gues what ? No 27 knew it all the way (like i guess half of the stadium after Romo starred at Witten for about 3 secs).

Thats a QB fault to me. And he paid for it.
 
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