DC.COM: Progress Starter: Garrett Should Start Thinking Like A GM

[WoodysGirl]

Josh Ellis
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
Email (http://www.dallascowboys.com/contact_us.cfm?cat=Ellis) | Follow DCStarJEllis on Twitter (http://www.truebluefanclub.com/twitter.cfm?curTwitUser=DCStarJEllis)

IRVING, Texas - As head coach, Jason Garrett now must make a lot more tough decisions. Two-time Super Bowl winner and documentary film star Bill Parcells once shared a saying about those.

"Some say it's going up. Some say it's going down. Whatever you do is wrong. Act immediately," Parcells said.

So here's a decision Jerry Jones is going to have to make in the offseason that Garrett might as well take off his hands. Tashard Choice should take over Marion Barber's role in the offense for the rest of the season.

Read more: http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/editorial.cfm?id=9A2421C5-A1FF-C09D-559BFE554C8F4223

[big dog cowboy]

Since they came into the league, Choice and Felix Jones are actually better in short-yardage situations than Barber. On third- or fourth-down situations with two yards or less to go, Barber has converted 32 of 52 attempts (62 percent) for first downs or touchdowns since 2008. Choice, meanwhile, is 12 of 16 (75 percent), and Jones is a perfect 4-for-4. This is supposed to be where Barber excels - not even talking about all the yards he leaves on the field on any other random run, or the fact he only has two carries over 12 yards all year.

Holy moly. That is an eye opener.

[Chocolate Lab]

Holy moly. That is an eye opener.

Maybe the DC.com blogger can forward those numbers to the OC.

[Seven]

Holy moly. That is an eye opener.

Yeah, it is, but first he drops this little gem.

"Choice actually averages less per rush than Barber, but since the third-year guy only has 14 carries, it's difficult to compare the two. Choice's sample size just isn't there."



How do they differ? One is not exclusive to the other in the same context, Right?

[CoCo]

Choice's most relevant body of work IMO are his two starts from a couple years back (Pitt & Baltimore). They were positive obviously, not earth shattering and not definitive proof.

Would I love to see Choice get increased opprtunities? Absolutely. But I'm not going to go overboard on the guy when the data honestly is not conclusive.

The short yardage stats comparisons IMO are almost meaningless. But at the same time I do think Choice has short yardage potential. He's not big and powerful but he is efficient, and slippery.

All this hand-wringing is so reminiscent of Emmitt's last year here and what Hambrick and his sparkling stats was going to do once he became the man. Pffft!

I mean no disrespect to Choice and I DO like his potential. But we really don't know the story on what this guy would end up doing with consistent touches week after week. Looks like we'll get a sample Sunday but I don't want it to erode Felix touches too much.

[Joshmvii]

Yeah, it is, but first he drops this little gem.

"Choice actually averages less per rush than Barber, but since the third-year guy only has 14 carries, it's difficult to compare the two. Choice's sample size just isn't there."



How do they differ? One is not exclusive to the other in the same context, Right?

The writer is saying TC only has 14 carries this season, so you can't compare YPC for this season between he and Barber for any real meaning. 14 carries means nothing. You have to have a larger sample size so the very short or long run runs aren't skewing the data.