Lance Dunbar, Darren Sproles and Instant Offense

[NeonDeion21]

Forget about the fumble for a second. The team could really use some explosive plays like this out of the backfield.

 

[tecolote]

they gave him the ball, but he fumbled it.

One time. Do you know who else fumbles the ball? Every running back in the history of the NFL.

 

[cowboys1981]

Flats and screens to Dunbar could open up a lot. I'd even use Harris or Beasley in the same manner. No more screens to Hanna lol

 

[ShiningStar]

Same thing was said about Bennett, Fasano and Amendola, they changed teams and all off a sudden the talent appeared. The same thing will happen with Escobar. Maybe Dunbar has no talent, but we will never find out with our horrible head coach. Let's keep running those -1 yard outs to Witten, that works!!

I will grant you that, yet again we have constructive talk. But where i saw it in Amendola, and Bennett, ill admit i didnt see it in Fasano and yes hes still in the league, kudos on that, I dont see i in Dunbar, and i can run the field on him. I dont even think another team can get a wiff of talent out of him.

I'll grant that list on merit of some kind of talent, tho im not even rueing losing amendola because i feel hes suited for how they use him. For some players that works. Bennett im mad at because we didnt even use him to the best use of his skills. And Escobar i believe will have to rise for another team before people get it on him as well.

 

[ShiningStar]

One time. Do you know who else fumbles the ball? Every running back in the history of the NFL.

that post was more in jest. i forgot the standard


[please forgive me

 

[Hoofbite]

There's no way Dunbar is 205 pounds.

That's only like 12 pounds lighter than Adrian Peterson despite 5 inches in height.

 

[links18]

One time. Do you know who else fumbles the ball? Every running back in the history of the NFL.

Yeah, can't figure out if he meant that as an indictment of Dunbar or the coaches?

 

[links18]

Flats and screens to Dunbar could open up a lot. I'd even use Harris or Beasley in the same manner. No more screens to Hanna lol

It wouldn't be a Garrett offense without short passes to the TE that are blown up before he catches the ball.

 

[NeonDeion21]

There's no way Dunbar is 205 pounds.

That's only like 12 pounds lighter than Adrian Peterson despite 5 inches in height.

That was his official weight at his pro day.

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=82508&draftyear=2012&genpos=RB

He is currently listed at 188. He was quite a bit heavier last season. Which explains why he looks noticeably quicker this year.

 

[XxTDxX]

Can we please just figure out how to use Dez correctly before we worry about Dunbar and Escobar and whoever else has some positive traits that in theory should allow them to make plays.. Dez makes plays not "in theory" but for real.

Edit: Not saying the OP doesn't have a point because I would like to see Dunbar utilized at some point I think he does have some talent and some positive traits but we need to figure out how to get our big time playmaker the ball.

 

[cowboys2233]

What if I told you there is a running back in the NFL who was injured and fumbled 13 times in his first two seasons, and then went on to have a great career, would you believe me? Fumbling is the easiest thing to fix for running backs.

BTW, that running back is Adrian Peterson. Players can improve over time.

Sweet, Dunbar was first compared to Sproles and now he's being compared to Adrian Peterson. If we try hard enough, we might be able to get Lance Dunbar into the Hall of Fame before the end of the day.

 

[xwalker]

Anyone who knows me knows that I live and breathe football. But I also follow the NBA pretty closely. And one of my favorite players in the NBA is Jamal Crawford of the Los Angeles Clippers. Crawford is small, doesn’t start for his team and doesn’t play much defense. He really doesn’t do much for his team but he can score. He comes off the bench and provides big plays. He can score quickly and effortlessly, carrying your team for spurts at a time. He’s what I call an “Instant Offense Player.” As soon as he comes into the game, you know he can heat up at any moment.

I mention this because the NFL has their share of players who can provide “instant offense” and can heat up offenses at any moment. Darren Sproles is a perfect example of a player who can provide instant offense to a team. He is listed as a running back, but he isn’t expected to carry the ball 20+ times a game. Sproles’ role in the New Orleans’ Saints offense is to provide quick mismatches and to create quick, efficient plays. I believe that the Dallas Cowboys have one of these players on their roster, but for whatever reason, haven’t yet figured out a way to use him. Lance Dunbar reminds me very much of Sproles in the sense that they can create impossible mismatches for defenses and can use their speed to make home run plays on offense.

The new trend in today’s NFL is to use smaller running backs that can make plays in the passing game. The NFL has now changed into a backfield by committee league instead of the one workhorse back. This is how Lance Dunbar measures up compared to some of the other smaller backs in the NFL:



Read the rest at: http://all22breakdown.com/?p=70

I would like to see them use Dunbar as a WR when they go with the 4 WR, 1 TE set. There is a good chance that defenses would keep an extra LB in as compared to what they would use against 4 actual WRs. If they don't keep the extra LB in, then change the play and move Dunbar into the backfield and run the ball.

 

[NeonDeion21]

I would like to see them use Dunbar as a WR when they go with the 4 WR, 1 TE set. There is a good chance that defenses would keep an extra LB in as compared to what they would use against 4 actual WRs. If they don't keep the extra LB in, then change the play and move Dunbar into the backfield and run the ball.

Agreed. In that one GIF, that's exactly what NO did with Sproles. It was an easy 15 yard pitch and catch.

 

[Roadtrip635]

For New Orleans, it's just not Sproles, but Pierre Thomas as well who has just as many receptions. Before the NO game they showed a stat that the Saints attempt somewhere around 70% of their passes to RB's and TE's. Sproles definitely has talent, but it's just as important in how that talent is used. The Saints don't have a remarkable rushing game but they effectively use the short passing game to the RB's to open up looks down field. Sproles has talent, but it works because it's an integral part of their offensive philosophy, RB's are not used just as outlets or afterthoughts. Dunbar may not have that kind of talent but, Murray could be effective if properly used in the short passing game. "Instant Offense" players are great, but you still need an offensive staff to figure out how to utilize them effectively. Ginger Clap and Co. struggle in creativity in getting the ball into playmakers hands.

 

[03EBZ06]

What if I told you there is a running back in the NFL who was injured and fumbled 13 times in his first two seasons, and then went on to have a great career, would you believe me? Fumbling is the easiest thing to fix for running backs.

BTW, that running back is Adrian Peterson. Players can improve over time.

Come on now, Dunbar can't carry AP jock and I'm just talking about this season, which to me is a disappointment thus far.

 

[joseephuss]

Bennett did flash talent in Dallas. Fasano has yet to show any talent anywhere. Amendola was only in Dallas one season and wasn't ready. It didn't matter what team he would have been on that first season because he needed some time to acclimate to the NFL game.

 

[Picksix]

He has speed, catches the ball well and has good moves, he should be used more.

He fumbled during the preseason, and again versus KC. He was getting limited touches to that point, and hurting the team when he did get them. Perhaps he shows the same lack of ball control in practice, such that the team doesn't feel they can trust him.

 

[Coy]

He fumbled during the preseason, and again versus KC. He was getting limited touches to that point, and hurting the team when he did get them. Perhaps he shows the same lack of ball control in practice, such that the team doesn't feel they can trust him.

Or maybe just maybe the coaches just don't have the slightest idea on how to use him, you at least have consider that, it really isn't out of the realm of possibillity, hey, they don't even know how to get the ball to one of the best receivers in the league so I don't count anything out.

 

[Picksix]

Or maybe just maybe the coaches just don't have the slightest idea on how to use him, you at least have consider that, it really isn't out of the realm of possibillity, hey, they don't even know how to get the ball to one of the best receivers in the league so I don't count anything out.

Oh, I have considered that, for sure. The staff could very well be clueless. I'm just not assuming it. And I know that, with pretty much any team, you lay the ball down a couple times, you don't see it a whole lot after that. It goes beyond physical skills and abilities. He has to know his assignments, and be able to be counted on, and maybe he's just not there yet.

 

[mahoneybill]

Bennett did flash talent in Dallas. Fasano has yet to show any talent anywhere. Amendola was only in Dallas one season and wasn't ready. It didn't matter what team he would have been on that first season because he needed some time to acclimate to the NFL game.

As does Williams who has shown both great progress , and some regression lately.