Flowery Branch, GA (Sports Network) - Atlanta Falcons running backs Warrick Dunn and Jerious Norwood are both listed as questionable for Saturday's game against the Dallas Cowboys.  Dunn is nursing a calf injury, while Norwood has a right knee problem.  "The big question for us and for everyone else is just Jerious and Warrick," said Falcons head coach Jim Mora. "We'll just have to see where they are as the week goes on."   Dunn left Week 14's 17-6 win against Tampa Bay midway through the third quarter and did not return. Norwood was injured later in the quarter and also did not return.

So good, so far.

If both backs are sidelined on Sunday, it is likely that Justin Griffith would see a bulk of the carries.

Oops!  In a word, wrong!  You see all running backs are not created equal.  Griffith did a yeoman's job Sunday, but he is a tailback.  Tailbacks are pass protectors and lead blockers, if the quarterback runs.  They do not "see a bulk of the carries."  They do catch passes.

At a minimum, I look to see more passes to backs this Saturday night like we saw in the second half Sunday.  If I can see that in my crystal ball, Dallas sees it in theirs too, still Mora isn't going to telegraph it.  Face it though, if your not sure your big dogs are ready to run, you have to see if you have some little dogs you might want to throw to.  And isn't this a big part of the old West Coast offense anyway?

Questionable does not mean doubtful, therefore it is mathematically probable that one of the two injured backs will be able to play at speed on Saturday night.  In fact, Michael Vick expects either Dunn or Norwood to be back on the field for the game.  Mora might have liked to have left this more up in the air to see if Dallas might overpractice for a "different" Falcon's attack.  However, Vick volunteered the info.

"If both backs are sidelined on 'Saturday' it is likely that Corey McIntyre, the third full back on the depth chart, who is getting more work this week, will be the man you see getting more carries than usual from the fullback position Saturday night.  In addition today the Falcons added Jamal Robertson to their roster at fullback and he got some carries in today's practice.  If neither Dunn nor Norwood can go, then you will see the tandem of McIntyre and Robertson getting most of the increase in carries.  Put this all together and you can see why Griffith will not get "the bulk of the carries."

Fred McCrary is also available to help Griffith at tailback.  As expected, both of their roles have increased. I expect they will see an increase in pass receptions this week.