Dunn the most intriguing RB option
When the Brian Westbrook news broke last week, MTC immediately asked if you thought the Eagles needed to add a veteran running back.
Dunn the most intriguing RB option
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
When the Brian Westbrook news broke last week, MTC immediately asked if you thought the Eagles needed to add a veteran running back.
The response was mixed.
Some of you disagreed with me on Edgerrin James. Some preferred different options. And others thought they could get by with LeSean McCoy, Leonard Weaver and Lorenzo Booker.
Here's my take on the situation.
James doesn't make sense for the following reasons:
** He won't be happy if he's not touching the ball.
** He said he wasn't successful last year because the Cardinals were a pass-first team. Well, what exactly are the Eagles?
** Frankly, after having watched him last season, I don't think he has much left.
A little more on the last point. I think it's funny what we choose to remember. James carried 61 times for 236 yards in the playoffs last season, a 3.86 average. There's no question he looked rejuvenated at times during the Cardinals' run, but let's not get carried away here. The way some are talking, you would be led to believe he put Arizona on his back as the Cardinals maneuvered through the NFC.
Meanwhile, Westbrook had 50 carries for 119 yards in the Eagles' three playoff games, a 2.38 average, and obviously not a good mark. But do we just want to erase from our memories the 71-yard touchdown catch against the Vikings? Wasn't that the Eagles' only offensive touchdown that day? Didn't it come at a crucial time when they were clinging to a two-point lead in the fourth quarter?
C'mon people. Let's be fair here.
Aside from James, some other names have emerged in the past two days. Jeff McLane over at Birds' Eye View put together a list with the following guys: Warrick Dunn, Rudi Johnson, Deuce McAllister, Ahman Green, Michael Pittman and J.J. Arrington.
ESPN.com's Sal Paolantonio put together a similar list, which also included DeShaun Foster and Chris Perry.
The group is filled with players who are either old, beat-up, or both. That's why they're available.
But there's one name that intrigues me: Warrick Dunn.
Let's address the negatives first: He's old (34), and he didn't do much down the stretch last year when the Bucs were fighting for their playoff lives.
Yes, both points are valid. But here's why he makes more sense than the other guys.
Dunn is the consummate professional and teammate. Between him and Westbrook, you couldn't ask for two better mentors for LeSean McCoy.
And when you look at the numbers, Dunn was still surprisingly productive last season. On the ground, he carried 186 times for 786 yards, a 4.2 yards per carry average. He's always been a solid receiver, last year catching 47 balls for 330 yards. Overall, 1,116 yards from scrimmage. Not bad.
He also had three games of 20 carries or more last season. Westbrook had four. So he can probably carry the load in spurts if he needs to.
And there's more. Despite being 34, Dunn has missed just one game in the last five seasons. Has he been banged-up from time to time? Sure. But he's still been remarkably durable since his 30th birthday, an unusual occurrence for NFL running backs.
So there's my case for Dunn. I don't know if the Eagles need to add a running back. They'll have to monitor Westbrook's recovery, see how McCoy is picking things up and go from there. We'll be able to tell how confident they are in their situation by seeing if they make a roster move, or at least attempt to.
If they do, Dunn should be the choice. He can block. He can catch the ball. He can be the man if the team suffers injuries during the season. And he's a high character guy who would fit well in the locker room.
I agree Sheil...if you remember, the Eagles almost signed Dunn about 4 years agao when he was a free agent. He visited the Nova care center...it was a good idea then and a good idea now.— Dr. Michael
Put it this way, who would you rather have on the roster, Dunn or Booker? Should be obvious, but then so was getting Tony Gonzalez last year. But Reid wouldn't give up what he gave up for Booker. The Iggles could afford to pay Dunn and cut their losses on Booker, but they won't. Reid is too stubborn to admit his mistakes this quickly (see "Pinkston, Todd" and "Justice, Winston").— tornadoh- We would never had this problem if we would have drafted another RB. Hmm... instead of drafting 2 or 3 linemen on every years draft. You always have to prepare for the worst. I would say Dunn would be a good fit for Da' Birds and he catches the ball too.— tonygreeneagle5
- You make a solid case such that i think it is a no brainer to sign Dunn as Dunn's character and remaining skills will allow him to give it solid go attempt if needed or be a mentor to McCoy and a locker room plus if he is but on standby for situations and/or an injury crisis. Also keep in mind Tampa Bay's offensive line was average at best. I would feel MUCH better having him available than not available. As for Booker, he has shown me nothing in two years. Sign Dunn to a one year contract.— HoagieHead
- Totally agree with you on Dunn. He would be a nice fit in this offense. I wanted them to sign an RB even before Westbrook got injured because Booker should not even count. Pittman also interests me because he can catch but he is def not a high character guy like Dunn— Lemur
- I also agree that Dunn is the best fit since he's also a good pass catcher. I just want McCoy to get a lot of carries sinc ehe has amazing abilities and can make tacklers miss. I watched the guy a lot in college and he's definately got some rare skill. Do the Eagles see something in Booker that we don't? The guy looked like a deer in headlights last year when he did get the ball. Think about the possibilities with Westbrook (when healthy), McCoy, and Dunn - and with a FB and big tackles to lead the way! GO EAGLES!— Dish
- Dunn is my choice if they go for another back, Agree with the inkman in that one, my second choice in McAllister, but I immagine AR will stand pat with what he has (never know though, stranger things have happened) ye know, typical Andy!!!— FireChief
- A/R apparently sees something in Booker that nobody else does, either he's much improved or they don't want to admit they got snookered! Will give coach the benefit of the doubt, maybe Booker will surprise us in the pre-season :) Yes, Dunn would be a good aquisition!!!— FireChief
Comment removed.- we need a RB on the team like dunn as insurance and depth purposes anyway...if bwest went down 4 an extended period of time it would be askin a lot of mccoy to b the guy...let booker stay in his role as the human victory cigar.....— the tru 1
- Of course they need an RB now, B-West is a question mark now, and it's unclear how ready he's going to be for the season opener, and he could go down again, and they need more depth anyway, 'cause they have no one established behind B-West as it is; I would even have been OK w/ Buck if he were still an Eagle, you can't just throw McCoy out there and count on him, he's a rookie...I've thought for awhile that Dunn would be a good option for the Eags, he played pretty well last year an has the skills the Eags like, but the Eags are probably too "smart" to pick him up....brilliant moves by Andy, once again showing disrespect for the running game, they're now incredibly thin in the backfield behind B-West, and B-West being out w/ the ankle surgery drives that point home real well...if they carried two legitimate backs, then B-West's current injury situation wouldn't be such a threat...— JimCC
- Okay. It's a Dunn deal then. As soon as Brian returns he is history anyway.— The Marco Islander
- I agree that Dunn would be good insurance. Westbrook's health is simply not reliable any more. That is reality. I cannot imagine him having a full year. Warrick could step right in. It makes all the sense in the world. Hopefully it makes sense to the Eagles front office.— Horlet
- Of course the Eags should pick up an RB; even if B-West is ready for the season, you don't know when he may be down w/injury again; with B-West a question-mark, the backfield is obviously thin now; even Buck, if he were still an Eagle, would be OK; you can't count on McCoy as a rookie to carry the load without B-West...Dunn is a good option for the Eags, given the skills they want...B-West's injury is another reason why having 2 legitimate backs is preferable, in the event one gets banged-up, like B-West has...most likely though Reid & Banner are too "smart" to make the logical move & pick up Dunn, as Reid & Banner are once again discounting the running game, and heve left themselves without depth in the backfield...— JimCC
- I hope the Eagles sign Dunn, if nothing else, to give the other RBs a break during training camp. He can catch and he still has some juice in the tank... BUT it makes too much sense, so it's not gonna happen...— MarvelousMCNJ
Follow
Sheil on Twitter. And become
a fan of Moving the Chains on Facebook.
Download our NEW iPhone/Android app for even more Birds
coverage, including app-exclusive videos and analysis. Download it here.
