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Dunn Ready For Running Game To Step Up

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By ANWAR S. RICHARDSON

arichardson@tampatrib.com

Published: December 13, 2008

TAMPA - There are two things Bucs running back Warrick Dunn has done with consistency throughout his illustrious 12-year career: Give away homes to deserving families and run the football.

Dunn provided down-payment assistance and furnished homes for two families earlier this week, something has done more than 80 times so far. He has 10,870 career rushing yards and 4,266 receiving yards, ranking sixth on the NFL's all-time combined yardage list.

As Dunn prepares to play against Atlanta, a team he spent the previous six seasons with, he is optimistic the Bucs can re-establish the running success they enjoyed earlier this season.

"It's been a work in progress, but everyone from the linemen to receivers is passionate about establishing the running game," Dunn said.

Tampa Bay's desire to run the ball stems from its previous accomplishments.

Bucs running back Earnest Graham had rushing games of 91, 116 and 111 yards in the first month of the season, while Dunn rushed for 115 yards in Week 6 against Carolina. Since Dunn's performance, no Bucs running back has reached 100 yards in a game.

Of course, the Bucs' backfield is a bit makeshift these days, with no one playing the role he was intended to play when the season began. With Graham on injured reserve since mid-November, Dunn has become the primary back, supported by Cadillac Williams, Clifton Smith and B.J. Askew.

Williams is coming off major knee surgery. Smith, an undrafted rookie, started the season on the practice squad. And Askew, a fullback who did not have a carry last season, is being called upon in short-yardage situations.

"It's something that we just need to pound away on," Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia said. "It's important to have a running game. Carolina has shown how important that is. Atlanta has shown how important that is. It is the key factor to our improvement as an offense, our effectiveness as an offense, being able to run the football."

The Bucs average 115.5 rushing yards per game, which ranks 13th in the NFL. Their 4.0 yards per rushing attempt is tied for 19th in the league. Dunn averages a respectable 4.4 yards a carry.

However, Tampa Bay has not committed to running the ball on first down, throwing 150 times and running 81. The 150 pass attempts on first down is 11th-most in the league.

"Of course you want to have a balanced offense," offensive lineman Davin Joseph said. "Of course you're striving to achieve that on any given Sunday, but with the loss of Earnest Graham, those 2 or 3 yards after the first hit, we're kind of losing that right now.

"Warrick is a wonderful running back. He's great at making guys miss, but he's carrying the load by himself right now until Cadillac Williams gets back into it."

The Bucs' offensive linemen believe getting back to basics will help their running game.

"Up front, we have to get into details. It's not a catastrophic problem, but it's more of one little breakdown here and one little breakdown there that keeps it from being a 30-yard run, 20-yard run or 15-yard run," center Jeff Faine said. "There's been some times when the hole has been there, but one guy slipped off a block. It's not just one guy. It's one of those things, all together, that we have to tighten down a little bit and really focus on the details."

Dunn's ability to focus made him into the dynamic player and person he is today.

He just would love for Tampa Bay's running game to have the same consistency.

"When you have your cracks at it, you've got to break tackles and hopefully get some long runs," Dunn said. "We have to be consistent and gain 3, 4, 5 or 6 yards, and I think Coach Jon Gruden would have confidence that we could be consistent running and we'd run the football more.

"We want the big plays to happen, but we try to force things instead of letting things be natural. We've just got to get back to what we've been doing. We've been close. We've had some really good games running to help the team win, but we haven't had that big game to where people recognize the running game is special."

Reporter Anwar S. Richardson can be reached at (813) 259-8425.

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