Falcons

By Matthew Cafaro

August 24, 2005 04:22 PM | Link to this

I don’t think he get’s enough respect because no one, not here, not in Tampa, has given him the opportunity to be the man. He’s always had to share. First with Alstott, then with Duckett. Now, I love TJ (sometimes), but Dan Reeves is in idiot. Arthur brought Dunn in here to be the man.

Remember, the New York Giants have a running back who is tiny, but man, is he good. Tiki Barber has proven that he can be the man, to withstand the punishment. He and Dunn are the same guy. Why does Tiki get the chance, and not Dunn?

I can totaly understand where Dunn is coming from. Dan Reeves took Dunn’s chance to be the man away from him by drafting Duckett when we had more pressing needs (wide reciever / offensive line). I can see why he may be a little bitter.

He sees Tiki Barber’s career the last 4 years, and he KNOWS it could have been his.

Way to go, Dan!

By William Kitchens

August 24, 2005 04:46 PM | Link to this

Dunn deserves credit and applause for both. His contributions to this team and community all deserve praise.

But if anyone in the media is talking about the Falcons, it is Vick who is always going to get the ink.

Sharing time with Duckett is also hurting his career press kit… He is never going to lead the league in rushing, rushing TD’s or other RB stats sharing carries. This too keeps him out of the spotlight.

Unless Dunn decides to ask for a trade or act like other divas in the league, his face is probably not going to be featured on the cover of SI.

However his attitude, team leadership and professional skills still warrant praise. It will be up to number 28 how he chooses to complete the bio.

By MWilk

August 24, 2005 06:22 PM | Link to this

There is no question Dunn is the man off the field. On the field he’s got that Barry Sanders shiftiness that makes people miss in the open field; yet he avoids that 3 and 7 yard losses that were all too frequent for Sanders. He is also an amazing blocker as you see him routinely take down 250lb linebackers. I would like to see Dunn used more creatively in the offense: shuttle passes, flanker screens, or shot-gun with direct snaps going to him. Or can you image this: 2nd and 6, defense still has their run package in, shift him from the backfield to slot, he get’s a linebacker 1-on-1, send the WR on a lazy post to preoccupy the DB and suck in the safety, Dunn goes down-out-and-up. He has 2 steps on the LB at the break. With a little protection, a little accuracy, and a little luck - sound the fireworks.

By Casey Hudson

August 24, 2005 07:12 PM | Link to this

Dunn is a great person and a great player. But, Duckett is the one who should be getting the bulk of the carries. All he does is run slap over the defense every time. Maybe Dunn looks pretty dancing around in the back field. But, that doesn’t win Super Bowls. Dunn is like Barry Sanders. About once a game he breaks a long run 40, 50, 60 yards and the rest of the time he gets nothing. At the end of the game his stats look good. But did his team win? And how many Super Bowls did Barry’s teams win?

At the end of the game I want the guy who you can count on for 4 or 5 yards, that’s Duckett. On the goal line and on 3rd and 1 I want Duckett.

That said, it baffles me why everyone insists on this nonsense that you can have only one running back be “the man”. Who started that crap? If Dunn is a team player and he wants to win a Super Bowl he shouldn’t mind sharing the ball. The two of them have such opposite running styles that they should feed off each other and make each other better. And, Heaven forbid, the team might get better, too.

By Lazy

August 24, 2005 08:27 PM | Link to this

Uh, Casey: Duckett has had several opportunities to show he deserves to be the number 1 RB. Each time he has failed. Dunn is the better the back. Duckett is only sucessful when defenses are worn down.

By Jennifer Sabatier

August 24, 2005 09:56 PM | Link to this

The answers to the questions are yes…and no.

He’s my favorite player specifically BECAUSE he kicks a* at 180lbs. I’m not talking DESPITE being 180lbs. He spreads it all out like he’s 230.

Look, I will never forget see him stand up to and successfully block JULIUS PEPPERS. Kept him off of Vick over and over. No one said anything….but he does that routinely.

Again, look, he rushes like mad and he blocks like a maniac. What more can you freakin want???

Dunn is the man.

But it’s true that he’ll never shine as long as Vick is the third running back on the field. I don’t find he’s eclipsed at all by Duckett. Not even if you’re looking at only one stat, the TD.

By TJ

August 24, 2005 10:26 PM | Link to this

The reason why Dunn receives more recognition for his off the field “humanitarian” acts over his on field performance is because this praise basically mirrors his accomplishments in both.

While Dunn as a person is a great human being, as a football player he is very talented but he is not feature back material.

This is mainly due to his size, his body would take too much damage. He also lacks the power to run between the tackles on short yardage plays. Both Tony Dungee and Dan Reeves, the very intelligent coaches they are, were smart enough to know this. That is the reason why they complimented him with Mike Alstott and TJ Duckett, two power backs.

Dunn is most effective between the twenties where he can cut and slash. If you have him carry the ball on every play including short yardage, he will tire reducing his effectiveness since he relies on eluding defenders to be successful. It also could make him more prone to injury when he is too fatigued to use his elusiveness to avoid a hit.

The reason Dunn is able to play at the level he is now at this stage in his career is because he has not been exclusively the man. If he was used exclusively all his career he would probably be retired by now and not playing for the Falcons. He would be just another one of the undersized backs who are run into the ground and out of the league in six years tops.

In baseball where you have two players of the same position but one can hit and one can field, you play them at different times in the same game to utilize their strengths and compliment each other. Well that is what you do with Dunn and Duckett (or Alstott in Tampa).

By Matthew Cafaro

August 25, 2005 12:22 AM | Link to this

TJ, it’s people like you who’ve kept Dunn down his whole career.

It’s people like you who would have made Tiki Barber keep sharing snaps with that tub of crap Ron Dayne.

Like your buddy Terence Moore, you’re just spreading crap around.

Tiki Barber has taken the punishment as the man. And so can Dunn. He just needs the chance, and less idiots like you convinced that he can’t do it.

By Jennifer Sabatier

August 25, 2005 12:32 AM | Link to this

Warrick Dunn is the most underrated rb (or tb) of all time.

WD, if you ever read your own press, which you probably don’t, I think that you will be inducted into the NFL HOF after your career is over. It might not be until you’re good and done (dunn?) with football and moved on to other great things that people start noticing you. Well, it’s THIER loss.

Look, the sporting world has consistently yelled at you that you can’t. But you get better every year. And all the undersized but talented boys (and girls) are whispering “But he DID!”

I know that’s sickenly sweet and all, but I am full steam on this.

By TJ

August 25, 2005 01:46 AM | Link to this

Mr. Cafaro,

I turn around and once again there you are calling me out and using romper room insults to question my intelligence.

I am astounded that I am the reason why Dunn has been kept down his entire career. I had no idea I was the former coach of Tampa Bay and current coach of the Falcons. I wish someone had told me this so I could at least get field passes.

Your comparison of Tiki Barber to Warrick Dunn is baseless. Tiki Barber outweighs Warrick Dunn by 20 pounds and in world class atheletes such as them, that is 20 pounds of pure muscle.

This 20 pounds of muscle makes a significant amount of difference in the amount of punishment a person can take as well as their physical strength. That is why they have these things called weight classes in sports such as boxing and Greco-Roman wrestling.

Tony Dungee, Dan Reeves, and Jim Mora Jr. have all been around football most their lives and are or have been head coaches in the NFL. All three of them have had Dunn share running back duties with a complimentary power runner and have had success, so I trust their football opinion a lot more than yours.

I will state again that I am here to discuss sports and the articles in an intelligent manner. If you lack the mental capacity to do this and wish to resort to silly name calling like a three year old please leave me out of it.

By Brian

August 25, 2005 07:38 AM | Link to this

Sadly enough this is what happens to a guy who just goes out and plays ball. I am Dunn’s biggest advocate. After games last year, what I saw was an outstanding performance by Dunn but he never got the praise. I really think he is top ten in the league and more of a piece to the puzzle than we give him credit for. I’m sorry, I like T. J. but just give Dunn the ball. He said it last year, “give me the opportunity to carry the load and see what I can do” and he got the job done. It’s a helluva combo to have defenses loooking at 3/4 offensive threats a game. His off the field activities are a class act the sports world needs to show the guy some love for what he does on the field. He is not a novelty act like the guys on ESPN make him out to be. The preety much show his highlights without the bottom line 15-20 carries @ 100 yards sounds pretty darn good to me. He’s our number 1, option..Vick can’t tote it every down and we can’t throw it every down so he has the ball in his hands a lot. Dunn for President.

By Brian

August 25, 2005 07:44 AM | Link to this

Let’s get some facts straight. Dunn didn’t share the load last year. Dunn was the bonified starter last year T.J. made a mark late in the game but, Dunn was and is the number 1 guy from here on out. I think Mora is doing a helluva job, bcuz they game plan if they think Dunn won’t be as effective against the Ravens hey start T.J, but for once the contraversy was over Dunn was the number 1 back and TJ was Number 2.

By Brian

August 25, 2005 08:02 AM | Link to this

Dunn was the leading rusher last year with over a 1,000 yards. Had 265 attempts, which makes him durable, few injuries. He had to split carries, with Vick and TJ and still got 1,000. Consider this for you TJ fans : TJ carried the rock 197 times in 2004 and ended with 779 yards, Dunn carried 125 times (72 carries less) and finished with 672 yards (a 107 yards less). You do the math TJ had his shot at being the man, Dunn kept pace with him with 72 less attempts. He (TJ) only outgained him by 100 yards, 1 game… and he had 3 1/2 games worth of more carries (using 20 carries a game). T.J belongs right where he is on the bench until the defense is tired..

By Rod

August 25, 2005 09:52 AM | Link to this

Dunn deserves a lot more credit than he gets. To me, he is the glue that holds this offense together. While I love Vick, without Dunn, this offense would struggle. Our recievers aren’t great, and TJ doesn’t bring the eliment of speed needed to compliment Vick. I’ve watched Dunn go into a pile of players only to come out the other side and break out for a long TD run. This guy doesn’t fumble, he’s fast and elusive, and he can catch. Props to you Dunn.

By Rod

August 25, 2005 10:17 AM | Link to this

Yes, Dunn is small. However, he is the glue that has held our offense together. Now, I love Mike Vick, but our recievers are not the greatest. TJ is a great back, but lacks the game breaker speed need at HB. However, he does supply the goal line and short yardage back needed. Dunn brings the speed we need in the back field. Not only that, but he can catch the ball. I remember watching a game where he went into a pile of people only to come out the other side and break a long TD run. Our tandom of Dunn and Duckett is a great combo. We have power and speed. Dunn deserves more credit. The only problem I have is this. Look at the Partiots. No one on that team is wanting more credit, and they have won 3 championships lately. While I understand Dunn not wanting to be recognized for his off the field services only, I hope he is not trying to become an “all about me” player, and I don’t think that is the case.