What Does Warrick Dunn Mean For The Buccaneers?
With the recent acquisition of fan favorite running back Warrick Dunn, tons of questions have been pondered.
Rather than form my own question's that may never be answered, I have formed my idea of what Warrick Dunn spells for the Buccaneers and quite possibly the NFL.
Firstly, I wonder whether or not Tenard Jackson will take one for the team.
The young stud & steal of a safety the Buccaneers took in last years draft currently owns the right to Tampa Bays #28 jersey. This item must be of much interest to Dunn, who many hope to someday call the teams all-time leading rusher.
Though Warrick has come off as the character who won't bring attention to the surface, I believe it's the only number Dunn should be wearing. For a young man to sacrifice his number to a player who's already established himself as a figure in the teams history, it certainly can't hurt the teams maturity and morale.
Secondly, we all saw how hard it was for the "A-Train" to go.
When Mike Alstott retired nearly a month ago, it didn't look as if one of the most remarkable players of his position during his generation had wanted to leave in those circumstances. He didn't seem like he knew it was the right decision, instead he looked and acted as if somebody took the sport he loved away. The bad had finally out-weighed the good and it was time to call it quits.
Now, with a running mate of 6 years ago back in Training camp for the next two seasons, I can only imagine the excitement that'd strike the Buccaneer community if Mike Alstott came back for another run at Thunder & Lighting. Certainly, it's a stretch by all means, but it can't possibly be out of reach. In addition to that idea, it's especially possible with Warrick's opening to maybe become the teams premiere back.
Which leads me to my next point. It's quite possible Warrick Dunn starts in Tampa Bay.
You can call me a Carnell basher, but since his arrival to the league I've never been sold on his abilities. Now, more than ever, I doubt Cadillac Williams' future with the team.
This opens an extreme opportunity to those competing during training camp and pre-season for the Buccaneers starting Running back position. It's assumed Warrick will, but with who? Currently, Tampa Bay has yet to re-sign both Earnest Graham and Michael Pittman.
If you ask me, Warricks got the skill set to outshine the two Running backs in the event we re-sign them both, however that's unlikely. In my personal opinion, Warrick Dunn will be the teams starting Running back during their 2008 campaign.
To further my thought process, Warrick Dunn is better than any receiving threat at Running back the team has had since his departure. In 6 seasons for the buccaneers, Michael Pittman has caught an average of 47 receptions a season.
In addition to that, his worst statistical season came last year when he posted just 26 catches. That same season, Earnest Graham caught 49 passes himself that season. In 2007 alone, Jeff Garcia completed 75 passes to his running backs. Dunn can only contribute to those kind of numbers that almost accommodate his running style.
If Warrick starts for the team in 2008, he'll be well on his way up(or down for that matter) the leagues all-time leading rushing list. With 10,181 yards in his 11 seasons in the NFL, Dunn sits 23rd in league history. During his career, the undersized back out of Florida State University has averaged 925 yards a seasons. With that pace, it'll only take him 4 more seasons to be considered the leagues 5th All-Time leading rusher ahead of Jerome Bettis, Erick Dickerson, Tony Dorsett, Jim Brown, Marcus Allen and Marshall Faulk.
Seems unlikely, but due to the fact that Warrick Dunn has averaged over 1,200 yards in his previous 4 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons and that Emmit Smith was nearly 38 years old when he retired, it isn't out of the question.
What does that mean for the NFL?
In a time that players and coaches tenures are seldom longer than even the contract they sign, and the increased athletic ability and intensity in which we play the game, it's rare to see an ever-lasting approach to ones career. We saw one end this past month on Brett Favre. Given the chance, we could again experience that excitement with Warrick Dunn.
Signed for less than the average change-of-pace back for many teams in the league, Warrick Dunn was easily this years most important and football-smart moves during the off-season.
Though some believe the thrill of watching Warrick Dunn in a Tampa Bay Buccaneers uniform has passed, some like myself, imagine it has merely begun. We'll have to find out. If anything, we'll continue to watch.