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With biggest chance yet, Lance Dunbar comes through for Cowboys
Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas -- For the last couple of years the Dallas Cowboys have talked about wanting to get Lance Dunbar involved in the offense, but it never really went into action.
The Cowboys weren’t going to take away snaps from DeMarco Murray last year. In 2013, Dunbar was limited to nine games due to injuries.
In Sunday’s 27-26 win against the New York Giants, the Cowboys backed up their Dunbar talk by putting him in the action.
Dunbar caught a career-high eight passes for a career-high 70 yards. Though he did not get a carry, his receptions served almost like a running game. Dunbar’s previous career high was four catches against Seattle last season. He had 52 yards in a loss to Arizona last season.
He had more catches Sunday than he had in 2012 (six) and 2013 (seven).
“I finally got a chance to make plays, help this team win,” Dunbar said. “We did a good job. My teammates did a great job. Tony [Romo] did a great job trusting and believing in me [that] I can make a play. I was just out there doing my job. That’s what we all were trying to do.”
In the preseason, Dunbar had just one carry for 1 yard. He caught two passes for 3 yards. Some fans questioned the wisdom of keeping him on the 53-man roster, however, there was never a doubt Randle would have a role on the team. In fact, his role is the most set of all the running backs.
Dunbar opened the Cowboys’ game-winning drive with catches of 24 and 16 yards, running away from linebacker Uani' Unga to get Dallas to the New York 32.
“It was a good matchup,” Romo said. “As I am going through the reads I’m thinking that he is as good as some other guys if they’re going to play him man to man. I was hoping they would and the call was the right call.”
Without a timeout Dunbar took a risk in turning up field instead of going for the sidelines, but he had so much space to work that his gamble paid off.
“I know in two-minute they’re going to be dropping back and they’re going to give up the pass to the back all the time,” Dunbar said. “I was just getting the yards I could at the time and hurrying up to get ready for the next play.”
In 2013 with the Detroit Lions, Scott Linehan had two running backs -- Reggie Bush and Joique Bell -- catch more than 50 passes. Last year Murray caught 57 passes.
Dunbar could be the fourth back in three seasons to catch 50 passes under Linehan.
“Anytime we’ve given him opportunities in the past, he seems to be productive with them,” coach Jason Garrett said. "Either as a runner or as a receiver, coming out of the backfield and also when he lines up outside, he’s just a darn good football player.”
Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas -- For the last couple of years the Dallas Cowboys have talked about wanting to get Lance Dunbar involved in the offense, but it never really went into action.
The Cowboys weren’t going to take away snaps from DeMarco Murray last year. In 2013, Dunbar was limited to nine games due to injuries.
In Sunday’s 27-26 win against the New York Giants, the Cowboys backed up their Dunbar talk by putting him in the action.
Dunbar caught a career-high eight passes for a career-high 70 yards. Though he did not get a carry, his receptions served almost like a running game. Dunbar’s previous career high was four catches against Seattle last season. He had 52 yards in a loss to Arizona last season.
He had more catches Sunday than he had in 2012 (six) and 2013 (seven).
“I finally got a chance to make plays, help this team win,” Dunbar said. “We did a good job. My teammates did a great job. Tony [Romo] did a great job trusting and believing in me [that] I can make a play. I was just out there doing my job. That’s what we all were trying to do.”
In the preseason, Dunbar had just one carry for 1 yard. He caught two passes for 3 yards. Some fans questioned the wisdom of keeping him on the 53-man roster, however, there was never a doubt Randle would have a role on the team. In fact, his role is the most set of all the running backs.
Dunbar opened the Cowboys’ game-winning drive with catches of 24 and 16 yards, running away from linebacker Uani' Unga to get Dallas to the New York 32.
“It was a good matchup,” Romo said. “As I am going through the reads I’m thinking that he is as good as some other guys if they’re going to play him man to man. I was hoping they would and the call was the right call.”
Without a timeout Dunbar took a risk in turning up field instead of going for the sidelines, but he had so much space to work that his gamble paid off.
“I know in two-minute they’re going to be dropping back and they’re going to give up the pass to the back all the time,” Dunbar said. “I was just getting the yards I could at the time and hurrying up to get ready for the next play.”
In 2013 with the Detroit Lions, Scott Linehan had two running backs -- Reggie Bush and Joique Bell -- catch more than 50 passes. Last year Murray caught 57 passes.
Dunbar could be the fourth back in three seasons to catch 50 passes under Linehan.
“Anytime we’ve given him opportunities in the past, he seems to be productive with them,” coach Jason Garrett said. "Either as a runner or as a receiver, coming out of the backfield and also when he lines up outside, he’s just a darn good football player.”