Cowboys’ running back Lance Dunbar saw a season-high 19 snaps against the Giants on Sunday night in Dallas’ dreadful offensive performance. Like his teammates around him, he did little with these opportunities, most notably being out there on the final desperation drive instead of Ezekiel Elliott – as the Cowboys went on to gain not a single yard.
On an expiring contract, Dallas has not gotten much out of the once-explosive Dunbar. His status with the team could now be in jeopardy, as Jerry Jones told the media after the loss that he expects Darren McFadden to be moved to the active roster ahead of another Sunday Night Football match up with Tampa Bay.
Jerry Jones said Darren McFadden will be moved to the active roster this week. Also said Lucky Whitehead will play against Tampa Bay
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) December 12, 2016
Jones, a long-time fan of his fellow Arkansas Razorback in McFadden, announced a few weeks ago that the team would activate the veteran running back. With no setbacks over the past three weeks, the time for a decision on McFadden has come, and that decision could be bad news for Dunbar.
Ezekiel Elliott is clearly the engine that drives the Cowboys offense, and that engine has sputtered these past few weeks. This most recent offensive inefficiency has little to do with Zeke, as he touched the ball just eight times in the second half in New York.
Perhaps too focused on saving their rookie workhorse for the playoffs, the Cowboys now need a reliable runner to get meaningful snaps. While Dunbar has been anything but that, McFadden proved in 2015 that he can gain yards with a bunch of quarterbacks that shouldn’t be mentioned in the same breath as Dak Prescott Brandon Weeden, Matt Cassel, and then Kellen Moore.
Way back in the summer days of training camp, before McFadden’s injury, the competition at RB2 was believed to be between Alfred Morris and McFadden. When Morris was handed the keys to this job, he initially started off strong, but has carried the ball just four times over his last four games – with no carries last night – for a total of 26 yards.
A healthy Darren McFadden could really help the Cowboys down the stretch right now. They are built on their running game, and the depth at running back shows that pretty clearly. With four RBs and a FB in Keith Smith on the roster, it is time to get something out of a back not named Elliott.
As opposed to giving them something, Lance Dunbar has given the Cowboys virtually nothing. His chances may have ran out.
The Cowboys are off and running towards the playoffs, and this most recent setback against the Giants could mean we’ll see a lot more of #20 running – with no #25 in sight.
I’d be just fine with that. I’m not a fan of Dunbar. It’s not about just about him, but how this team seems hellbent on using him. One dimensional players, or players that make an aspect of the team one dimensional, are a gift to defenses. McFadden can at least run the ball, which may be more than we can say about Alfred Morris; that guy is just struggling this year.
They need a guy that can just run the ball right now. Run it out of “11” too, so they’ll be no need to put 25 on the field as a pass catcher. Really think McFadden is going to have an important say on how the rest of this season plays out.
Dallas need fresh legs and DMAC will help the running back system better. Dallas Cowboys need to be similar to 2006 and 2007 as DMAC and Felix Jones and Peyton Hillis so It will give Dak pretty much rest for Dak’s arm to throw. Elliot and Darren and Alfred will take care of it. Dunbar should stay with Kickoff Returner at least for now.
I agree, going to need to run McFadden a bit here to get the most out of this running game in December. Or Morris, but like Bryson said, he’s simply struggling (such limited carries too).
Thank you for the response!
Morris was running as well as he ever has, earlier this year. There might be a groin pull or something they are not reporting, or he is not reporting with McFadden ready behind him.
As the Cowboys (presumably) put games and home field away, I think it’s clear the plan is to rest Elliott. It’s a longer season against generally bigger defenders than college, so no problems here with doing so. We’ll see if McF has rust, fresh legs or both.
If they are both in good gear in the playoffs, I like the idea of letting Elliott pound away at defenses and then a fresh McF getting some 2nd half carries with his speed.
It is time IMO to use the speed of both players in the pass game, and to the edge with pitches and stretch plays. One way to neutralize talented front 7’s like NYG and MN is to make them run. Dak also. More bootleg or keepers against a team that defends plays from the pocket well.