Lance Dunbar - Emphatic praise from Garrett, Brown, Witten

[Idgit]

When he's on the field, teams commit to blitzing because they question his ability to pick up the blitz.

Dunbar's actually good at getting where he needs to be. He just sometimes gets there only to be run over. But with our receivers and Romo's ability to make one guy miss, blitzing us isn't a gimme.

If our defense can get pressure, and our offense still scores points, teams aren't going to make a living giving up big plays to Dallas. They'll try it out, but once they're playing from behind, they'll knock it off, and we'll see us able to put pressure on the edges and with the screens. And teams that don't, we'll play a bigger back more often.

 

[CATCH17]

Actions speak louder than words and until you actually use this guy I will just say meh when I see an article like this.

 

[DFWJC]

I thought they overused Murray last year. There were times when defenses were gassed and a guy like Dunbar could have really taken advantage. Yet, they kept pounding Murray in there, and wore him out.

That Chicago game was ridiculous.
Murray was amazing, but at some point, give the guy a rest

 

[gimmesix]

A few years ago, when Murray was having trouble staying healthy, I thought Dunbar might be the better choice to be the starter because of his speed and elusiveness. I thought maybe he could be like a Brian Westbrook-type starter.

The last couple of years, I've seen the speed, but not enough of the elusiveness to believe he could play that role. Of course, that might be more because he's had so few chances.

Now, I don't know what to feel about Dunbar. I won't be surprised if he makes the team, but I will be surprised if he's used much more than Randle was last year because the team seems to view him as a change of pace, passing-game threat more than a potential every-down back.

 

[AmericasTeam81]

I believe this makes (3) years in a row we hear glowing praise from staff and teammates for the Great Lance Dunbar.

I guess great works out to about 50 touches a year and around 350 total yards.

 

[Plumfool]

The offense isn't versatile enough to use Dunbar consistently.

 

[Idgit]

I believe this makes (3) years in a row we hear glowing praise from staff and teammates for the Great Lance Dunbar.

I guess great works out to about 50 touches a year and around 350 total yards.

In fairness to Dunbar, he was playing behind the 2014 OPotY during that time. Sometimes it's ok to be a good player in a backup capacity. He didn't need to be stealing snaps from Demarco Murray to merit the compliments he got.

 

[Idgit]

The offense isn't versatile enough to use Dunbar consistently.

Really? I think we're about as versatile as an offense can get. I'd like it if we had a speed WR to stretch the Safeties, and I'd like a bruising RB for short yardage, but that's about all you could ask for from this offensive personnel.

 

[Plumfool]

Really? I think we're about as versatile as an offense can get. I'd like it if we had a speed WR to stretch the Safeties, and I'd like a bruising RB for short yardage, but that's about all you could ask for from this offensive personnel.

I'll clarify. Play calling isn't versatile enough. We have the personnel.

 

[reddyuta]

The offense isn't versatile enough to use Dunbar consistently.

with Murray gone i am hoping they use the whole playbook.

 

[Idgit]

I'll clarify. Play calling isn't versatile enough. We have the personnel.

Ah. I see what you mean. That makes more sense.

I have no idea why we don't call more screens. There's got to be some reason for it, but we've got the QB for it. We've got the zone blockers. It's not like play action where Tony has to turn his back to the rush or anything like that that would explain why we don't do it. And Dunbar sure seems like a guy who can run them. I keep saying I think this is the year we run more screens, and we never seem to. Regardless, I do think this is also the year we run more screens.

 

[JoeBoBBY]

Creating competition/pushing guys. Nice, good, hard fought, roster spot open. If you want it......

 

[jobberone]

Ah. I see what you mean. That makes more sense.

I have no idea why we don't call more screens. There's got to be some reason for it, but we've got the QB for it. We've got the zone blockers. It's not like play action where Tony has to turn his back to the rush or anything like that that would explain why we don't do it. And Dunbar sure seems like a guy who can run them. I keep saying I think this is the year we run more screens, and we never seem to. Regardless, I do think this is also the year we run more screens.

I've had a recurring dream about screens.

 

[AsthmaField]

Garrett made emphatic statements about Murray after last season because he wanted him to be re-signed.

That is pure speculation, IMO. Garrett would have raved on about Murray no matter what. Just like now that Murray is an Eagle, Jason still talks in glowing terms about him. That is just Garrett's way and he would have done that even if he and the team had agreed to let Murray walk.

I would be surprised if Jason didn't agree with the team's decision to let Murray go to Philly for $8M per. What would have surprised me is if Garrett (or Romo) would have said anything else publicly than, Murray was a great player and they wanted him to stay.

I'm curious is it's just media prompting that has caused Garrett and Brown to make these emphatic statements OR if there is some internal debate where the coaches really want to retain Dunbar but are concerned that the front office will cut him.

I seriously doubt that if Garret wanted to keep Dunbar that Stephen and Jerry would go ahead and cut him anyway. Garrett has clearly been putting the team together. Every aspect of the team's drafting and pro personnel changed the day that Garrett walked into the head coaching job and has been consistent ever since then.

Even if Garrett does want to keep Dunbar and the front office wants him gone... Jason wouldn't go to the media and try to sway anything in Dunbar's favor. He just wouldn't do that.

 

[Aven8]

Actions speak louder than words and until you actually use this guy I will just say meh when I see an article like this.

You beat me to it! I was about to say in before Catch17 says the scheme sucks! Which I've always agreed with you. But at least it was a whole lot better finally with Linny running the show.....finally!

 

[AsthmaField]

I've had a recurring dream about screens.

In this recurring dream about screens... were you peeking through one in it?

 

[jrumann59]

Lol it became pretty laughable when Dunbar would enter the game.

You knew it'd be a screen. Hopefully they correct that, like when "kill, kill" always used to mean a run.

It isn't like he is going to run between the tackles. And when Dwayne Harris came in we pretty much ran it with him "lead" blocking.

 

[jnday]

It seems like every offseason that Dunbar is praised and expectations are high. Reality hits when the season starts and he doesn't do much.

 

[Rainy]

I liked the way Dunbar was used in the Seattle game. I remember him converting on some long third downs when Romo had to check down. The dude was wide open because they were worried about our receivers down field
Also, something we all noticed late into the season was that teams were stacking the line on first down. Literally, linebackers and safeties were creeping up to the line right next to the D linemen. If we had ran a sweep type play to the outside with a back with some speed while our O line just collapses all the bodies in the middle, who knows...

(I'm no expert, I just have more success running sweep plays in Madden lol)

 

[xwalker]

That is pure speculation, IMO. Garrett would have raved on about Murray no matter what. Just like now that Murray is an Eagle, Jason still talks in glowing terms about him. That is just Garrett's way and he would have done that even if he and the team had agreed to let Murray walk.

I would be surprised if Jason didn't agree with the team's decision to let Murray go to Philly for $8M per. What would have surprised me is if Garrett (or Romo) would have said anything else publicly than, Murray was a great player and they wanted him to stay.



I seriously doubt that if Garret wanted to keep Dunbar that Stephen and Jerry would go ahead and cut him anyway. Garrett has clearly been putting the team together. Every aspect of the team's drafting and pro personnel changed the day that Garrett walked into the head coaching job and has been consistent ever since then.

Even if Garrett does want to keep Dunbar and the front office wants him gone... Jason wouldn't go to the media and try to sway anything in Dunbar's favor. He just wouldn't do that.

The Dumbar part is definitely speculation. It was really a question, not a statememt.

If you live here in DFW and hear all of the local media it seems definite that Garrett would have kept Murray. Garrett is a "company man" and will defer to Stephen/McClay. Did you see the war room during the Floyd non-pick? Garrett was unhappy about trading down and not picking Floyd. Teams can have differences of opinion in the front office and still have a healthy situation.