Tampa Bay is apparently looking to try to get running back Warrick Dunn back.

Here is a link to the story.

http://www.pewterreport.com/articles/view/3955

What can Falcons fans tell me about Dunn. Does he have any gas left in the tank?

redbuc - 03 March 2008 09:47 PM

Tampa Bay is apparently looking to try to get running back Warrick Dunn back.

Here is a link to the story.

http://www.pewterreport.com/articles/view/3955

What can Falcons fans tell me about Dunn. Does he have any gas left in the tank?

If you watched him at all when he played against Tampa, he does not have the speed to get to the corners as much anymore, and he is not the straight-ahead running back that Alstott filled the role of.  He is best used as an option player coming out of the backfield that can catch the ball and run or just run with it.  Sort of the way Michael Pittman was used this past season, situational running and a lot of pass catching.  I can see Dunn being a additional receiver out of the backfield and an occasional runner, but not much more.  The guy is just getting too old at 33 sad as it is.  Pittman is even older so despite his incredible physical conditioning (monster arm strength), he is no longer on the team.

Dunn is a better back than Pittman with a better knack for the big play. Thats the vaulue he brings to the Bucs or any team he is playing for. He is on his last legs, but he could catch two or three rejuvinated years back in a Bucs uniform. Garcia came in on his ‘last legs’ and look where they got us. RB would be complete with Dunn, but the better choice is Julius Jones.

Garcia was not on his last legs - he was not even thought that when brought to Tampa.  He single handedly brought the Eagles back into the playoffs and won a playoff game the previous year when the starter never played well enough to even get the team to a winning record. 

Dunn is a different situation, as a player in decline.  Running backs as a general rule take a bigger pounding every down compared to a QB, and as a result, statistically do not last as long as a durable QB.  A RB is regarded as having a very good career if he lasts 10 years.  Dunn is beyond that.  A QB can be known to perform well for as long as 12-15 years, as Brett Farve proved.  Anyone is hard pressed to show a RB who has lasted as long as 15 years anywhere.

I think the Bucs are looking at Dunn as a one year, perhaps 2 year, stop gap option.  They may give him a three year contract but that is really pushing it.  To think differently is just not realistic.

Please................no another aging star. Can we move beyond that. He played great for us several years ago but that’s ancient history now. Six years is long time and you can see his skills have diminished. Bad move by Bucs.

A little Graham here, a little Dunn there, a lotta Michael Bennett through the gaps. the defense is going to look like weezing old men trying to keep up with this three headed monster. Dunn and Graham can catch out of the backfield. So now its not a “pittmans in they must be throwing him the ball’ play. Its a ‘what are they going to do?” deal. Dunn’s signing was a good pick up. We dont need a career back up (mewelde moore) and we dont need a rookie (weve gotten caddy, darby in the last two drafts.) its time to focus on his year, two years for dunn, and caddy will be ready mid season, or next season. I love Cadillac Williams. I absolutely love him, but he’s just become expendable. If he IS healthy, we could trade him to get that higher pick everyones talking about. Bucs are slowly piecing things together, check out ‘WHAT ARE THEY THINKIN”

Cadillac Williams is not tradable right now.  No team in the NFL with a mind would ever trade for him with the injury he has.  He has to prove he is back nearly 100 percent before anyone would touch him, and even then it will be a hard trade to do.

Dunn is exactly what I said early in this stream - a third RB to the mix for pass-catching situations and occasional runs.  A younger Pittman.  For everyone who says that Dunn is no Pittman you are right, Pittman lead the bucs with over 100 yards rushing in a super bowl.  Dunn has not come close to the Super Bowl except when Atlanta blew it that one year.  I don’t disrespect Dunn, as he is a solid player and original Bucs draft pick.  He is just a lot older now and is going to be a situational player to end his career in a bucs uniform.  Nice for a guy who kept his home in Tampa all these years.  A good solid person who would make a great neighbor if you know what I mean.

I for one am really glad to see Warrick Dunn back in Tampa.Everything that guy does on and off the field just can’t be measured. Though it could be a little weird if he isn’t wearing #28 this year.