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

[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.

[Joshua]

I agree that Dunta wasn't his old self when he returned and certainly wasn't a lockdown corner. In fact, he probably never was. At his best, he was an above average, but not elite, cover corner. However, he made up for any coverage deficiencies with his play in the running game, leadership, competitiveness, etc. It appears as though Joyner's metrics only involve coverage. If that is all he is considering in evaluating Dunta, he's sorely missing the whole picture.

While it's impossible to divvy up credit or blame, the Texans were 5-1 with him in the starting lineup and 3-7 without. While the franchise tag is steep, if they can't get a deal done, I think they need to use it.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Roy P

We were able to squeak through without Dunta on the field.

Squeak through? The Texans were 1-4 before his return to part-time status in the Lions game. He joined a defense that has since lost by choice both its coordinator and DB coach. That is a mighty uninspiring squeak.

While I won't make the direct connection that Robinson was responsible for the late season surge by the defense (improved play from the D-line and LBs, in addition a possible retreat of authority from Richard Smith seem every bit as if not more integral), it does seem a bit too coincidental to dismiss, too.

I get that Dunta has not been a 'top 5' (or even a 'top 10') CB and that he is replaceable... but I am uneasy right now turning the secondary over to Bennett and Reeves and pinning hopes on Molden, who played little CB as a rookie plus maybe someone drafted in April.

Maybe Bennett will return to form, maybe Molden will develop, maybe Reeves will turn around to look for the ball.... I dunno, that's a lot of maybes. And it's not like the defense can call upon some great safeties to overcome any deficiencies, either.

So yeah, maybe Dunta isn't the best cover corner ever, but I'd prefer to have in on the roster in 2009... in addition to the possibility his play might improve, he might have a positive influence on guys like Bennett and Molden as a mentor, too.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by Keith

Squeak through? The Texans were 1-4 before his return to part-time status in the Lions game.

Take a look at the teams we played against in those 1st 5 games and what their records were at the end of the season.

Did we need Dunta to win against Detroit, Cincinnatti, and Cleveland? He just wasn't enough to keep the Raiders in check.

My point is, a single player who is not a top 10 player at his position should not be paid like one. Would I like to keep him? Yeah, I like what he brings to the team. Would I pay him more than Reeves? Yeah, simply because we paid him too much, so it's only fair to overpay Dunta too.

[Joshua]

With all this talk about top 10 salaries and whether Dunta is worthy or not, I thought I'd post the USA Today's database of corner salaries for 2008 -

http://content.usatoday.com/sports/f...n.aspx?pos=139

[coloradodude]

Originally Posted by Roy P

My point is, a single player who is not a top 10 player at his position should not be paid like one.

Solid point regarding any player or any position.

[sinnister]

Originally Posted by Roy P

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.

At this point, I feel it is imperative to resign Dunta, or if necessary, franchise him to see how he does this year. To lose him would be to lose what little intangibles we have on D. He isn't a lockdown CB, but make no mistake, before he came back, I felt like I could get open against the Texans CBs. Ok, that is an exaggeration.

I do feel that Bennett will play better next year, and having Dunta will continue to help him. I have hopes that Reeves will play better as well....He certainly played better in the 2nd half of the season than the 1st. We don't know what Molden brings to the table since he rarely saw the field.

So, I am hoping the Texans are able to find D help in the draft, but not at the CB position. We are in dire need at the S position, a space eating tackle, and an edge rusher. We are able to fill more holes with Dunta than without him, and I havent seen anyone able to fill his leadership role.

[popanot]

This defense has been the achillies heel of the franchise for the past 4+ years. We need all the good players we can get on that side of the ball, and without a doubt, DRob is a top quality player. Perhaps not he's amoung the top-5 in the league, but he's definitely the best we have and certainly good enough to justify paying him top-level money if that's what it takes. It would be asinine for this franchise to let him walk and not have him as a key part of building a top-notch defense. Going into the '09 season with Bennett, Reeves, Molden, Petey or -insert Draftee or FA here - without DRob would be a serious step backwards, IMO.

[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."