What Should Be Done with Dunta Robinson in the Offseason? [F-Tagged on 2/19!]

[popanot]

There's no way McNair lets DRob walk. McNair's proven over the years, regretfully in some cases (*ahem* Carr, DDavis...), that he'll take care of the guys who he feels are good for the franchise. I will not be surprised to see them make a deal without having to use the F-Tag.

[superbowlbound]

Dunta has been coming into my restaurant semi-regularly since the summer, and i've had the privilege of talking with him a couple times. Nice guy, solid tipper. He loves this city, and he really likes his head coach. Richard Smith is a different matter entirely. I think, if we get ourselves even a decent D-coordinator, he sticks around. I've heard a lot of talk about the franchise tag, which i'm all for if we can't lock him up long-term. The guy brings fire, which is something this D absolutely needs, especially since mario and demeco are pretty soft-spoken guys to begin with.

I'm with most of you that don't think Dunta is an elite, as in top 5, corner in this league, but he is solid in coverage, and is one of the best in the league in run support among corners. Letting him walk with zero compensation would be a titanic blunder. F-tag him if we have to, for sure.

[jppaul]

He is a great zone coverage corner, a good man coverage corner. As much as they are paying corners these days he might be hard to keep, but he is definitely one of my favorite players. I love the way that guy lays the wood on 230 pounders.

He is also a leader and I think our team would take a big step back if we lost him.

[Keith]

I usually despise bumping up an old thread, but it probably makes sense to revisit this conversation.

Steph did a Q&A with KC Joyner on her Chron blog, and talk of Dunta surfaced.

Me: The Texans are going to have to make a decision with Dunta Robinson who is a unrestricted free agent going into this offseason. They have the option to franchise him for a year if they want more time to assess how his damaged hamstring/knee heals up more this offseason. When Robinson was in the lineup in 2008, the Texans were 7-4 and with him in the starting lineup, they were 5-1. Any thoughts about Robinson's play?

KC: "I've had good and bad things to say about Robinson over the years but in the case of a franchise tag, all I can say is look at his YPA metrics over the past five seasons:

2008 - 7.5
2007 - 8.0
2006 - 7.4
2005 - 9.3
2004 - 6.6

To put these into perspective, consider that a YPA of 7.5 or better will typically rank a cornerback in the upper half of the league. Robinson's YPA has been at or near the 7.5 mark twice, has been below it once and has been above it twice. If that's a franchise level cornerback, I'm a Pulitzer prize winner. He's worth re-signing at the right price but I wouldn't break the bank on him."

There's plenty of other discussable topics in that link (like Joyner's thoughts on Fred Bennett and Jacques Reeves), so click it if you haven't read it already.

Anyhoo, my comment was that stats are awesome, but YPA alone (including in combo with other stats) fails to account for Dunta's intangibles. I'm sure Joyner realizes this, but he's been rough on Dunta in the past, too. Good read (thanks again, Steph) and interesting info nonetheless.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by Keith

I usually despise bumping up an old thread, but it probably makes sense to revisit this conversation.

Steph did a Q&A with KC Joyner on her Chron blog, and talk of Dunta surfaced.

There's plenty of other discussable topics in that link (like Joyner's thoughts on Fred Bennett and Jacques Reeves), so click it if you haven't read it already.

Anyhoo, my comment was that stats are awesome, but YPA alone (including in combo with other stats) fails to account for Dunta's intangibles. I'm sure Joyner realizes this, but he's been rough on Dunta in the past, too. Good read (thanks again, Steph) and interesting info nonetheless.

I'm wondering with Bennett, Reeves, and Molden on the roster; if the Texans draft a guy like Dominique Johnson in the 3rd round just in case things go bad in negotiations with Dunta.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Roy P

I'm wondering with Bennett, Reeves, and Molden on the roster; if the Texans draft a guy like Dominique Johnson in the 3rd round just in case things go bad in negotiations with Dunta.

As a UFA, Dunta would be free to sign with another team long before the draft comes around in late April, unless he is franchised.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by Keith

As a UFA, Dunta would be free to sign with another team long before the draft comes around in late April, unless he is franchised.

Let me re-phrase from "just in case" to "in case" then. We were able to squeak through without Dunta on the field. It was nice when he came back, but it's not like we are talking about Champ Bailey or Darrell Green.

[NBT]

They tried to compare Dunta with Gamble, who just resigned with $23M guaranteed, 6year contract for about $53M. Dunta turned it down after having been only about 90% last year. I may be wrong but I'm beginning to think he just wants out of here.

Smith said he wouldn't tag him earlier, but when the FA deadline was staring us in the face and Dunta refused to sign an offer on a long term, the team simply had to protect itself.

[coloradodude]

Good job to Rick Smith!

If Dunter wants to leave them make another team give us something for him. Had we not slapped him w/the franchise tag after he had turned down the team offer, another team would've gotten him for cheaper and we would've received nothing...as in the Capers years.

Now watch us pick a CB with our first pick. Want to play games D-gone? Want to wait until the season starts to re-negotiate? Here's the team's priority...

"Smith said he'd let things cool down as the team deals with things that have to be addressed sooner."