Recap: Training Camp Opening Press conference @ 2pm CDT

[Alexander]

I'm not a Dunbar fan but those are not the only two possibilities. Another possibility is that we're wrong.

Well, by wrong is more in the first point. When you see a talent bloom elsewhere, it usually means the team that had them first didn't find a way to make the talent fit, whether it be scheme, fit, placement on the depth chart, you name it.

I don't see it that way. I don't think he's a special player. I used the Ogletree example before. That is him as far as my untrained, amateur eye goes.

 

[starfrombirth]

Lots of phrases change in depth of meaning.

Perhaps "Square One" would have been better.

not for nothing but please don't be another one of the overly politically correct, thin skinned, "offended" by everything crowd. I really enjoy most of your posts. I'm just not agreeing with this one.

 

[Idgit]

I'm not a Dunbar fan but those are not the only two possibilities. Another possibility is that we're wrong.

It can also be that we knew just how to use him, but we previously had other players we preferred to use instead. That Murray and Beasley, for example, were covering him up and so Dunbar was on the roster in the event we ended up needing a backup at some point in the season, which is a perfectly legitimate explanation for how he'd been used. With Murray gone and not replaced, that may well change. I can't imagine Dunbar stealing many receptions from Beasley.

It doesn't mean that the player can't play, or the staff couldn't figure out how to use him. It can simply be that he was a tool that we didn't happen to need but one who can produce when called on. His effectiveness in the screen game and ability to make big plays in space like he did v. OAK or WAS were fairly apparent to me. Escobar's another player who I think has been in that situation. He delivers fairly well when called on, we just haven't needed to call on him.

 

[jrumann59]

I think Dunbar's biggest detriment is he cannot be a RB in all the formations, because they that they use in in very limited formations and teams know his one trick and usually sniff it out enough that he is not really a threat.

 

[stilltheguru88]

Dunbar should be used more, especially in the passing game. Teams knew what Shane Vareen would do and Pats still did it. Enough excuses.

 

[darthseinfeld]

He is a shiny object that nobody can figure out how to use.

So we have two things, one of which must be true.

An incompetent staff how to use a talented player. Or an UDFA with some interesting traits that simply is not good enough to trust more.

Dunbar is a CFL player to me. His ability and play style would go over well there. There game is geared more towards smaller quicker backs.

 

[jazzcat22]

Interesting. This is the first one of these that was not dominated by lipsmacks, emms and Jerry Jones-isms. He even deferred a good question from Clarence Hill to Stephen.

Maybe our GM is all grown up now....

 

[jazzcat22]

He's a Buckeye. Don't overestimate or ask too much of him.

We don't recognize him as a Buckeye!!!

 

[tyke1doe]

The "Ground Zero" phrase has been around a lot longer than 9-11-2001.

But it got "co-opted" with 9-11. Sometimes, an event has such magnitude that it captures the essence of a particular word. Just saying.

 

[Staubacher]

I think our offense is gonna be hella good this year. Hella good.

 

[erod]

not for nothing but please don't be another one of the overly politically correct, thin skinned, "offended" by everything crowd. I really enjoy most of your posts. I'm just not agreeing with this one.

I don't like that crowd either, believe me. PC has this country in a catatonic state.

I just don't want the season to be titled the same as site of the worst terrorist attack in American history. Just sounds weird.

 

[erod]

I think our offense is gonna be hella good this year. Hella good.

All this (understandable) chatter about our running backs, but I agree. This offense is going to light it up even more than last year overall.

 

[xwalker]

Over the top nonsense. Reminds me of the "Kevin Ogletree runs routes as good as Terry Glenn" days.

Then again, Garrett can't evaluate RBs. He preferred Felix Jones over everyone.

If something happened to Beasley, Dunbar might be his replacement. I don't know if Dunbar would have the same feel for getting open, but he should be able to do what Beasley does physically. They did split Dunbar out a few times when they went empty backfield.

As a RB, I just don't know about him. He has not really had enough snaps to either succeed or fail in a significant way. He has good ability on those screens, but if he only runs those, then defenses will be ready for it.

I keep seeing people say his is the 3rd down back, but IMO the 3rd down back needs to be a really good pass blocker and McFadden is the best pass blocker of the group.

 

[xwalker]

He runs great routes for a RB but let's not get carried away. Going against LBs and DBs are two different animals.

He should be able to perform Beasley's role If something happened to Beasley. Dunbar is obviously not an outside WR, but neither Is Beasley.

 

[JohnsKey19]

He should be able to perform Beasley's role If something happened to Beasley. Dunbar is obviously not an outside WR, but neither Is Beasley.

You think so? That's a stretch IMO to assume that Dunbar can defeat DBs in pass coverage in live games, even in the slot. If he were that talented, they would have found a way to get him on the field by now. And I like Dunbar, so I'm definitely not bashing the guy...

With no clear cut featured RB, this is Dunbar 's opportunity to make his mark as a nickel RB.

 

[xwalker]

You think so? That's a stretch IMO to assume that Dunbar can defeat DBs in pass coverage in live games, even in the slot. If he were that talented, they would have found a way to get him on the field by now. And I like Dunbar, so I'm definitely not bashing the guy...

With no clear cut featured RB, this is Dunbar 's opportunity to make his mark as a nickel RB.

I'm going on Garrett's word that Dunbar is a very good route runner combined with the fact that physically he should be able to do anything that Beasley can do.

Here are their Pro Day numbers and Dunbar seems to be even faster then the numbers indicate. There is a video where they asked several players who is the fastest player on the team and all of them said Dunbar except for Scandrick who said himself.

The 3rd RB should get a few more snaps than last year because they probably want to limit Randle's and McFadden's snaps as compared to the snaps that Murray played last year. Dunbar had 6% of the carries last season and his actual snaps played were higher than Randle's but I don't have those exact numbers. I could see his carries as high as 20% this season.

Cole Beasley
Height: 5077
Weight: 175
40 Yrd Dash: 4.49
20 Yrd Dash: 2.66
10 Yrd Dash: 1.57
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.40
3-Cone Drill: 7.16

Lance Dunbar
Height: 5081
Weight: 205
40 Yrd Dash: 4.47
20 Yrd Dash: 2.61
10 Yrd Dash: 1.54
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.07
3-Cone Drill: 6.87

 

[starfrombirth]

I'm going on Garrett's word that Dunbar is a very good route runner combined with the fact that physically he should be able to do anything that Beasley can do.

Here are their Pro Day numbers and Dunbar seems to be even faster then the numbers indicate. There is a video where they asked several players who is the fastest player on the team and all of them said Dunbar except for Scandrick who said himself.

The 3rd RB should get a few more snaps than last year because they probably want to limit Randle's and McFadden's snaps as compared to the snaps that Murray played last year. Dunbar had 6% of the carries last season and his actual snaps played were higher than Randle's but I don't have those exact numbers. I could see his carries as high as 20% this season.

Cole Beasley
Height: 5077
Weight: 175
40 Yrd Dash: 4.49
20 Yrd Dash: 2.66
10 Yrd Dash: 1.57
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.40
3-Cone Drill: 7.16

Lance Dunbar
Height: 5081
Weight: 205
40 Yrd Dash: 4.47
20 Yrd Dash: 2.61
10 Yrd Dash: 1.54
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.07
3-Cone Drill: 6.87

Those just don't seem like numbers that should belong to the "fastest" person on the team.... is it just me?