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When RB1 and RB2 are running effectively, why risk injury to WR1 and WR3? CeeDee Lamb is one of the best receivers in the league, but he's not particularly large, physically. And Kavonte Turpin has now proven that he should be WR3, but he weighs all of 155 pounds. Not to mention what he means to the return teams. So why risk wide receivers unnecessarily in the running game? – Kevin Newberry/Brownwood, TX
Patrik: Oh so you want me to get fired today, I see. All jokes aside, I've made no secret about two things: 1. loving the playcalling by Schottenheimer going into the Bears game and 2. flat-out loathing the decision to give a handoff to the franchise, record-setting wide receiver in a season wherein you have a running back that leads the league in yards per carry and was running all through and around the Bears to that point in the game. I've also said on Talkin' Cowboys (shameless plug), specifically, that you have packages at halfback for Turpin and, seeing as he was in the game, I can not wrap my head around the decision. Wanna get the ball in his hands in that way? Jet sweep, as per usual, not a handoff in a singleback set.
And this isn't a hindsight take based on the outcome being an injury, either, because in the days ahead of the contest I said — on that same podcast — under NO circumstance would I give Lamb a handoff in 2025, thanks to Javonte Williams. And, well, here we are, so let's see if George Pickens can make the trade look even better than it already did when it happened.
Tommy: The purpose is to get your best player the ball quickly and let him do what he does best. I think Lamb's case is an example of a freak accident. I don't necessarily hate the idea of setting things up to get Lamb the ball quickly because he is such a great player in open space and can make guys miss, but the fact that they did it with Javonte Williams playing as well as he has is a bit puzzling. It's not like the Cowboys are the only team using their best receivers out of the backfield as running backs. Don't believe me? Look right across the sideline on Sunday, as the Bears have lined up DJ Moore out of the backfield a number of times to open the season. No matter who lines up as a running back, regardless of their true position or where they stack up on the depth chart, there's a risk for injury. That's just football. In this case, it happened to be Dallas' best offensive player, and now they'll have to find out how they can turn the page offensively.
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