AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2005 > October > 19
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Give Dunn his due
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Amid Michael Vick’s playing status, Dez White’s struggles, the problems stopping the run and a secondary that’s turning games into white-knuckle rides every time the ball is in the air, there’s been one dynamic constant: running back Warrick Dunn.
The tailback has delivered in just about every game this season, quietly going about his work while begging for some credit for being one of the league’s best running backs. He rarely gets mentioned with the Shaun Alexanders and LaDainian Tomlinsons, but Dunn has been the backbone of Atlanta’s offense and has emerged as the leading rusher in the NFC. His 577 yards on the ground are tops in the conference and fifth overall in the league.
Dunn will have a good chance to significantly enhance his numbers and just how good he’s been this season when the Falcons play the New York Jets Monday night. The Jets have the NFL’s 27th-ranked run defense — one notch better than Atlanta.
Dunn could get all the carries from the tailback position since his backup, T.J. Duckett, is uncertain because of a sprained right ankle. There’s been no official word on Duckett’s status, but the activation of rookie tailback DeAndra Cobb from the practice squad indicates the short-yardage bruiser might not play this week (fullback Justin Griffith likely would get some carries at tailback in relief of Dunn before Cobb would be tabbed).
Duckett has averaged around seven carries a game, while Dunn has logged 18.5. Dunn doesn’t think he’ll ever get 25-28 carries a game, but he would like to get a chance, claiming that with that many chances, he’s more prone to break off the big runs that have been so beneficial.
