Why Lance Dunbar Is the Right Choice for Cowboys #2

[Coach Bill Lewis]

When the Cowboys drafted Oklahoma State running back Joseph Randle in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft, they saw DeMarco Murray 2.0. There are some similarities between the two players, too. Both are tall, upright runners who found success in college as pass-catching backs. Randle hauled in 108 passes in his three seasons at Oklahoma State, a large number for a collegiate running back, and averaged 5.5 yards per carry (YPC) in a competitive conference.

The primary difference between Randle and Murray, however, is that Randle doesnt have outstanding straight-line speed. At just 198 pounds, he ran a 4.63 40-yard dash. Meanwhile, Murray checked in at 213 pounds and ran a 4.41, putting him in elite company.

Weve had this talk before, and yes, there are slower running backs who have found success some guy named Emmitt comes to mind. But when we use any stat, were not looking for perfection. Rather, we want to tilt the odds in our favor. And using the 40 time as one of the tools to grade rookie running backs is a smart move. Since 2005, the most successful backs in the NFL in terms of approximate value have been the fastest, and it isnt even close.

Read more: http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/article-JonathanBales/RTN-Why-Lance-Dunbar-Is-the-Right-Choice-as-the-No-2-RB/3a0afc34-b849-4dfb-a35b-7e82c774942b