Mailbag: Will The Cowboys Be Healthy For December Stretch?

[jobberone]

Mailbag: Will The Cowboys Be Healthy For December Stretch?
Posted 2 hours ago

CONSTANTIN DUHAMEL
MONTREAL, QC

What does Lance Dunbar's injury on Thursday mean for the 'Boys and his future here as a whole?

Rowan: I don’t think it means much in terms of his future with the team (he’s signed through the 2014 season), but it’s a dagger for Dunbar and the running game. The combo of DeMarco Murray and Dunbar against the Raiders was the best 1-2 punch we’ve seen for the Cowboys for a while, and it makes you wonder why it couldn’t be utilized better earlier in the year. Murray’s power near the line combined with Dunbar’s quickness and straight-line speed had the Raiders off balance all game. I’m not sure there’s another backup running back on the team who can provide that kind of a spark, but I imagine Joseph Randle will get that opportunity.

David: Now that we’ve all seen what Dunbar can do in a real-deal game, I’m sure the speculation around him in the offseason and heading into training camp will only get larger. He’s valuable, and the Cowboys doubtless will be hoping he can make an effective recovery. I don’t think I’d be surprised to see them use another late-round draft pick on a running back, though. In the meantime, hopefully Randle will take advantage of the smaller depth chart and catch some eyes in these last few weeks.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/a...-Stretch/a55d40b0-80aa-41b0-89a6-03c61b668562

 

[Future]

In terms of staying healthy, I'd be shocked if someone else didn't go down. Its another 4 games...hard to play that many without someone getting hurt.

 

[Fredd]

injuries, injuries, injuries....this team has been so snake-bitten the last two years, especially on defense....getting Lee, Mo back ( and hopefully Harris, et al) will be like trading for someone (think baseball reference) to help the team down the stretch...

 

[jobberone]

injuries, injuries, injuries....this team has been so snake-bitten the last two years, especially on defense....getting Lee, Mo back ( and hopefully Harris, et al) will be like trading for someone (think baseball reference) to help the team down the stretch...

Couldn't hurt.

 

[Idgit]

In terms of staying healthy, I'd be shocked if someone else didn't go down. Its another 4 games...hard to play that many without someone getting hurt.

Yep. Both for us, and for the other teams in the NFC playoff hunt. Losing one or two guys can unravel a unit, and there's no way to anticipate it. We've lost our share, but our defense is about to get as healthy as it's going to get. We'll just have to see where that gets us. Four weeks is a mini-season of its own in the NFL.

 

[cowboys2233]

Couldn't hurt.

Agreed. But I heavily rue the Dunbar injury. As Rowan said, Randle will likely get the opportunity. And Randle will fail. He simply does not have NFL-level burst in his game. I'm more interested in what Tanner can bring -- at least he's a "one-cut then go north" kind of runner who can lay the wood. Randle has...nothing.

 

[jobberone]

Agreed. But I heavily rue the Dunbar injury. As Rowan said, Randle will likely get the opportunity. And Randle will fail. He simply does not have NFL-level burst in his game. I'm more interested in what Tanner can bring -- at least he's a "one-cut then go north" kind of runner who can lay the wood. Randle has...nothing.

I certainly don't like Dunbar being out. I see Randle more favorably. I think he has NFL talent. He'll show you burst if there is an opening but he's just average. I follows and sets up blocks, gets skinny, has enough vision to see the hole and has good lean and finishes his runs. He doesn't have a great deal of miss'em and doesn't have real quicks. He looks like a steady backup to me. I don't know about him breaking tackles.

 

[cowboys2233]

I certainly don't like Dunbar being out. I see Randle more favorably. I think he has NFL talent. He'll show you burst if there is an opening but he's just average. I follows and sets up blocks, gets skinny, has enough vision to see the hole and has good lean and finishes his runs. He doesn't have a great deal of miss'em and doesn't have real quicks. He looks like a steady backup to me. I don't know about him breaking tackles.

I sincerely hope you're right. As it stands, we would be perfectly fine as long as Murray stays healthy. Without Murray, we're screwed. And to that point, I would limit Murray's touches to less than 15 per game, in an effort to keep him healthy for the playoffs. Even less if we have the game in hand. Because here's the thing -- I really don't think we have to have an effective running game to win at this point. But we DO need the threat of a running game. Murray, simply with his talent, provides that threat, regardless of whether the running game has been successful or not. Even if a defense has shut our running game down, they still have to stay honest throughout a game because a guy as talented as Murray can go off at any point. Without Murray, we lose even the threat. And that could, and would, doom us.

 

[Idgit]

I sincerely hope you're right. As it stands, we would be perfectly fine as long as Murray stays healthy. Without Murray, we're screwed. And to that point, I would limit Murray's touches to less than 15 per game, in an effort to keep him healthy for the playoffs. Even less if we have the game in hand. Because here's the thing -- I really don't think we have to have an effective running game to win at this point. But we DO need the threat of a running game. Murray, simply with his talent, provides that threat, regardless of whether the running game has been successful or not. Even if a defense has shut our running game down, they still have to stay honest throughout a game because a guy as talented as Murray can go off at any point. Without Murray, we lose even the threat. And that could, and would, doom us.

I'd run Murray, and every dang last player on the roster into the ground and the heck with the consequences. We're as deep as any of these second tier teams at this point in the long season. We've absorbed the massive DL hits. Just play full-throttle from here, be aggressive, play to win the games, and see what happens. The team is showing signs of resiliency and of playing well over the last 7 full weeks. Just let them do their best, recognize the dread for the conditioned emotion it is, and play through it. This Eagles team has impressed me only inasmuch as I don't think highly of their current roster. They have a ton of holes of their own that can be exploited here in December. As always, the best team is going to win in the end, and we'll get better only as our roster continues to get better. Skill, and then talent, is the name of the game in the NFL. It always has been, and it probably always will be.

 

[cowboys2233]

I'd run Murray, and every dang last player on the roster into the ground and the heck with the consequences. We're as deep as any of these second tier teams at this point in the long season. We've absorbed the massive DL hits. Just play full-throttle from here, be aggressive, play to win the games, and see what happens. The team is showing signs of resiliency and of playing well over the last 7 full weeks. Just let them do their best, recognize the dread for the conditioned emotion it is, and play through it. This Eagles team has impressed me only inasmuch as I don't think highly of their current roster. They have a ton of holes of their own that can be exploited here in December. As always, the best team is going to win in the end, and we'll get better only as our roster continues to get better. Skill, and then talent, is the name of the game in the NFL. It always has been, and it probably always will be.

I agree we need to take a very aggressive stance at this point but I think we can do so without running Murray very often. I think Murray brings an incredible amount to this team just by being out there, regardless of whether he touches the ball or not. Whether or not we have established the running game, play action WILL work if Murray is out there because he is always a threat. Again, the running game itself is nearly irrelevant in today's NFL. But the threat of a running game is crucial. The running game no longer sets up the passing game. But the threat of a running game does. Without Murray, the threat is gone. Because all that is behind Murray is Randle and he's utterly pathetic (IMO). Defenses will take one look at him and pin their ears back and go after Romo regardless. Even if they guess wrong, Randle isn't doing much damage.

 

[Idgit]

I agree we need to take a very aggressive stance at this point but I think we can do so without running Murray very often. I think Murray brings an incredible amount to this team just by being out there, regardless of whether he touches the ball or not. Whether or not we have established the running game, play action WILL work if Murray is out there because he is always a threat. Again, the running game itself is nearly irrelevant in today's NFL. But the threat of a running game is crucial. The running game no longer sets up the passing game. But the threat of a running game does. Without Murray, the threat is gone. Because all that is behind Murray is Randle and he's utterly pathetic (IMO). Defenses will take one look at him and pin their ears back and go after Romo regardless. Even if they guess wrong, Randle isn't doing much damage.

For play action to work, you just need to fake the run convincingly to whatever back is in there. It's not like a lb is going to try hard to tackle Demarco Murray and not try hard to tackle Phillip Tanner. We just don't use PA enough, overall.

 

[Fredd]

For play action to work, you just need to fake the run convincingly to whatever back is in there. It's not like a lb is going to try hard to tackle Demarco Murray and not try hard to tackle Phillip Tanner. We just don't use PA enough, overall.

It seems like they used it a little more in the last two games and the team has had success...let's see if that continues...must keep the opposing defense off-balance

 

[visionary]

why are we worried about dunbar being out and murray potentially getting hurt when the 'running game has no correlation with winning'?

inquiring minds want to know

 

[hutch1254]

I think an option for the running game that continues to be overlooked is the opportunity to use Harris in a Percy Harvin type role. Mix in maybe 3 to 5 plays a game with him in that role. He has a wiggle that seems to find areas to run through. I think we could also get Randle involved in a screen game. He doesn't have Dunbar speed but he is reliable catching the ball. We can look inside first at our options before running out and grabbing someone off the street.

 

[Risen Star]

I think an option for the running game that continues to be overlooked is the opportunity to use Harris in a Percy Harvin type role. Mix in maybe 3 to 5 plays a game with him in that role. He has a wiggle that seems to find areas to run through. I think we could also get Randle involved in a screen game. He doesn't have Dunbar speed but he is reliable catching the ball. We can look inside first at our options before running out and grabbing someone off the street.

Harris has a RB's body. I wouldn't mind that at all.

I don't think much of Randle. That was a weird pick. He lacks the size to be a featured back and lacks any explosiveness to be very effective as a sub. I don't know what they think he does well enough to warrant that draft pick. I don't think he's a terrible player but I don't see what he brings that a guy in UDFA couldn't.

 

[burmafrd]

for play action to work the D must have at least respect for your running game. With Murray in there and a somewhat decent O line blocking they have to take it into account. Without Murray and with our O line the way it was the last couple of years I would not respect the Dallas running game at all. ESPECIALLY if they are in the shotgun with our notorious and very well known tendency to make it 90% pass from that formation. Another reason that we need to be under center as much as possible.

Landry brought the Shotgun back to be used in purely passing situations where everyone in the world knew you HAD to pass. It had your QB several yards farther away from the D line and would give the QB more time to set and throw or dodge pass rushers. It is a terrible formation to run from because your RB is also several more yards from the line and thus gives the D more time to recognize and react before he can get positive yards.

 

[Idgit]

why are we worried about dunbar being out and murray potentially getting hurt when the 'running game has no correlation with winning'?

inquiring minds want to know

With Dunbar, for me, it's mostly the screen game that I'm expecting to miss. But I've been avoiding making the running game effectiveness argument because I thought it would otherwise be a distraction to the thread.

 

[khiladi]

Dnbar had one break-out game, when he looked awful in other games. I think we need to reserve a 'huge impact' for a full season of play. I think some packages he can potentially provide a spark as the Raiders game showed, but it shouldn't be make-or-break. If we started blaming the woes of the offense on Dunbar, we've hit rock bottom, which I thought couldn't be done.

 

[visionary]

With Dunbar, for me, it's mostly the screen game that I'm expecting to miss. But I've been avoiding making the running game effectiveness argument because I thought it would otherwise be a distraction to the thread.

excuse makers usually ignore inconvenient truths

 

[Idgit]

excuse makers usually ignore inconvenient truths

I'd love at some point to have one civil exchange with you, visionary. Anyway, I was digging Dunbar on the screens, and we don't have a replacement for him in that regard. It's a bummer.