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Christensen: Dunn is No. 1 back

New offensive coordinator adds Alstott could become more of a pass-catcher.

By ROGER MILLS

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 9, 2001

TAMPA -- Over the final six games last season, running back Warrick Dunn proved he was capable of carrying the ball 20 times a game.

[Times photo: James Borchuck] Christensen: "It's hard in this league to go 80 yards by inches. You need some chunks."

Now, he's going to get the chance to do it over a 16-game season.

In his first news conference since becoming the new Bucs offensive coordinator, Clyde Christensen said the strategy of splitting carries between Dunn and Pro Bowl fullback Mike Alstott is over.

Dunn, who rushed for 635 yards on 124 carries (5.1 average over the final six games) will be the man.

"We want to feed the ball to him," Christensen said Thursday. "We want to make sure that we feature him in the running game. ... I do think we can't divide the carries 50-50 and get enough carries. We've discussed it already and one of the priorities is to give Warrick the chance to be the feature guy, to be the guy who gets in the rhythm, who gets in the groove."

Through the first 10 games last season, the two shared the carries evenly, both entered the Nov. 19 game in Chicago with 124.

But after Alstott went down early against the Bears, Dunn did his best to overcome doubts that his 5-foot-8, 185-pound body could take the pounding.

He carried the ball 17 times against the Bears, then averaged 21.4 carries and 112 yards the next five games. The effort included 210 yards against the Cowboys and 145 yards against the Rams. The Bucs were 3-0 in games in which Dunn rushed for 100 yards or more.

"That's when Warrick got hot and gave us a lift in the middle of the year," Christensen said. "I think one of the things about Warrick has always been, "Hey, don't work him too much. Don't give him too much to do. Will he hold up for the 16 games? Will he have it for the playoffs?' I think we kind of got moved into featuring him and it showed a lot about what he can do when he gets enough carries."

While the plan is to make Dunn the No. 1 ball carrier, Alstott is not entirely out of the picture.

"I think there are some things we can do with Mike, personnel-group wise, as we've done in the past," Christensen said, "but also get his catches and get him involved in the passing game a little bit. Much like in his rookie year when he had (65) catches."

With the elimination of the H-back position put in by former offensive coordinator Les Steckel, Alstott is likely to get the ball more on dump-offs and in passing situations.

"We'll look for other creative ways to get the ball to Mike," Christensen said. "Certainly, one of those has to be the passing game and the play-action pass and then some personnel groups where we bring in an extra tight end and put him in as a feature back."

Alstott is signed through 2003, Dunn through 2002.

Christensen said his approach will be based firmly on the foundation established by coach Tony Dungy. He added, however, that there may be an increased inclination to look downfield and a definite desire to put the ball more in the hands of receiver Keyshawn Johnson.

"That'll be the fun one," Christensen said. "I have an advantage over last year because I got to watch him for a year. We'll determine what we feel like he can do best and then we'll build around those things and find ways to get him the football. ... You have a No. 1 receiver who is a special guy and does an awful lot of things good.

"We do want to have some explosive plays. It's hard in this league to go 80 yards by inches. You need some chunks, and that's why we went out and got Keyshawn Johnson."

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