Am I too harsh on Marion Barber?

[Galian Beast]

I mean he IS one of my favorite players, but I don't see his consistency. I think he needs to be put in a role playing position.

I see our running back corps like a pitching rotation in baseball.

Starter - Mid reliever - Closer

Felix Jones is the starter, Tashard Choice is the mid relief, and Marion Barber should be the closer.

I want to see Marion Barber in the game in the redzone, 3rd and short, and in the 4th quarter.

DYI Marion Barber who is ranked 17th in the NFL in active career touchdowns (36). Has more touchdowns than any other runningback who entered the league after 2005. (and is damn near tied with Steven Jackson and Willis McGahee who have 37 and 38 with a year more playing time). He is 4 years younger than Larry Johnson (19 more touchdowns, 2 more years playing).

I think if we can extend his career and allow him to flourish by doing what he does best, he will be the player we want him to be, and for a long time.

I honestly don't think he is an every down back. Which explains why he is the 21st ranked rusher in the nfl in yards per attempt... Which really places him between 21-28th overall.

Look at the types of running backs that lead the category....

Adrian Peterson
DeAngelo Williams
Michael Turner
Tatum Bell
Maurice Jones Drew
Frank Gore
Brandon Jacobs
Fred Taylor

You've got a couple brusiers, but most of these are speed guys. Felix Jones is that speed threat that we need handling the ball the majority of the game. Mix Tashard Choice in there as a good complement. He was really effective against some of the best rushing defenses in the nfl last year.

 

[Everlastingxxx]

I believe Marion being injured was the biggest injury that impacted the Cowboys last season. I think Tashard has been greatly overated. He did a fine job, but when you look back at the games, he made alot of mistakes, slipping, missing blitzers or dropping hand offs. Felix hasn’t even proven he can take the beating of a full game.

I believe had Marion played in the last games, it would have taken us to the playoffs. He is an everydown back and a playmaker.

 

[Doomsay]

Don't forget that Felix went down and eventually migrated to IR with 2 non-contact injuries in his rookie season. Hopefully it's an aberration.

 

[Four]

When julius was here everyone knew barber should be the starter.

Barber gets dinged up and never really played healthy last year and now you know that he isn't starting material.

I think you, and many others, jumped to conclusions based on some misinterpretation of the facts.

Why don't we wait till barber plays this year to make up our minds?

 

[Galian Beast]

If you look at Barbers numbers for the entire year, thats before he got hurt... they were fairly pedestrian...

in only 3 games did he average more than 4 yards per carry with 20 touches in the game.

He had just as many fumbles and he did touchdowns... and almost all of them came before he got hurt.

 

[Four]

If you look at Barbers numbers for the entire year, thats before he got hurt... they were fairly pedestrian...

in only 3 games did he average more than 4 yards per carry with 20 touches in the game.

He had just as many fumbles and he did touchdowns... and almost all of them came before he got hurt.

I don't really think last year was a clear indicator of the talent and potential on this team.

O-line issues were just one of the things that could have hurt barber's effectiveness.

Last year sucked, I don't it's fair to judge quite a few guys based on last years production.

He is the starter, maybe it will change, but day one I want barber as the starter and if problems show themselves we should deal with them, but not before.

 

[Galian Beast]

tashard choice put up far better numbers than marion barber did, with the same offensive line, and against the toughest run defenses in the nfl...

It wasn't ALL offensive line... Lets just realize that Felix Jones and Tashard Choice give us more consistency than Barber. Choice was still a rookie last year, but he RAN better than Barber. The blocks, and blitz picks ups will come with time.

Barber did best playing a role, and for some reason we wanted to change it.

Jonathan Paplebon is a great closer, why isnt he starting? Because his role as a closer is one that he fills perfectly. Pitching at full force, and being called on to do so often, but for a short period of time.

Barber's skillset and running style mirror that of a closer in baseball, perfectly.

Thats what he is, a closer. You ask him to run the entire game though... and the results aren't good.

 

[Four]

julius fooled a lot of fans into thinking he was something he wasn't his rookie year.

The rookies showed some spark, but experience should have taught us to take it with a grain of salt.

as for the rest of the stuff you said, I am not there yet.

and I think it's really too soon to tell what barber isn't capable of.

I believe in him, and I believe he is the steam that makes our team click at times, I like the thought of that in the first.

time will tell who is right.

 

[Galian Beast]

You're right Julius did fool a lot of us (myself included). That said I still have faith in Felix Jones. I see him doing things neither Barber or Jones could ever do.

 

[TheHustler]

Barber will be more effective this year with a lighter workload. Smash, Dash and Tash should get 2,500 all purpose yards.

 

[Galian Beast]

We're gonna need more than 2,500 all purpose yards out of our running back corps this year.

 

[CF74]

tashard choice put up far better numbers than marion barber did, with the same offensive line, and against the toughest run defenses in the nfl...

It wasn't ALL offensive line... Lets just realize that Felix Jones and Tashard Choice give us more consistency than Barber. Choice was still a rookie last year, but he RAN better than Barber. The blocks, and blitz picks ups will come with time.

Barber did best playing a role, and for some reason we wanted to change it.

Jonathan Paplebon is a great closer, why isnt he starting? Because his role as a closer is one that he fills perfectly. Pitching at full force, and being called on to do so often, but for a short period of time.

Barber's skillset and running style mirror that of a closer in baseball, perfectly.

Thats what he is, a closer. You ask him to run the entire game though... and the results aren't good.

:fact: Spot on. Jonathon who?

 

[UnoDallas]

I don't think hes starting RB material

Jerry jump the gun on giving him such a big contract

he should have frachised him

with us getting Felix and Choice

I don't know who will trade bait Barber or Choice

 

[The Ominous]

I like Barber as the starter. I want teams to gameplan against him as the main back so we can throw Felix and Tashard at them.

I also like him as the finisher.

I personally believe he can do both because of our RB depth.

 

[Eskimo]

I don't think hes starting RB material

Jerry jump the gun on giving him such a big contract

he should have frachised him

with us getting Felix and Choice

I don't know who will trade bait Barber or Choice

Jerry Jones didn't even have to franchise him. He was tagged as a RFA and could have been ours for $2M last year instead of the gargantuan, overbloated contract that he never earned.

He is a JAG at RB - one with an interesting running style but otherwise no more than a role player. He is definitely not among the top RBs in the league.

 

[The Ominous]

Jerry Jones didn't even have to franchise him. He was tagged as a RFA and could have been ours for $2M last year instead of the gargantuan, overbloated contract that he never earned.

He is a JAG at RB - one with an interesting running style but otherwise no more than a role player. He is definitely not among the top RBs in the league.

Well, that "interesting running style" is widely considered to be one of the strongest in the league.

Many players think Barber is one of the toughest players to tackle in football. I think Barber puts fear into defenders, and that's what seperates him from others. Now, I'm not saying he's the best, but his agressive running style can be a huge turning point into the hearts of opponents.

Throw in the talent we have behind him, and Barber = Logical Starter

Why do fans constantly want the next guy in line to be the starter? I love Choice and Felix but really are they proven starter material?

Ultimately, I like our RB situation.

 

[UnoDallas]

Well, that "interesting running style" is widely considered to be one of the strongest in the league.

Many players think Barber is one of the toughest players to tackle in football. I think Barber puts fear into defenders, and that's what seperates him from others. Now, I'm not saying he's the best, but his agressive running style can be a huge turning point into the hearts of opponents.

Throw in the talent we have behind him, and Barber = Logical Starter

Why do fans constantly want the next guy in line to be the starter? I love Choice and Felix but really are they proven starter material?

Ultimately, I like our RB situation.

hes paid like a starter we will see how he does - so let him start


Choice and Felix but really are they proven starter material?

has Barber showed you anything to prove that he is starter material ??

I say no -

hes biggest year was 417 yards

thats a 1010 career yards

 

[dcfanatic]

I love MBIII for his passion and his running style.

But...

If I am being honest I was pretty disappointed that he wasn't willing to take the pain killing shot last season so he could play at full strength down the stretch.

Have no idea if we win against Pittsburgh or Baltimore if he's in there either.

 

[Soth]

Barber will be our starter this year.

He had a down year last year and now you want to bench him in favor of 2 unproven 2nd year RBs? FJ and TC had a few good games last year, but that's not enough to take the starting job over a player like Barber.

I know this is a "what have you done for me lately?" league, but this is crazy. Barber should start, and if he doesn't produce then he should lose his starting job.

I still think Barber will be back in full force this season.

 

[The Ominous]

hes paid like a starter we will see how he does - so let him start


Choice and Felix but really are they proven starter material?

has Barber showed you anything to prove that he is starter material ??

I say no -

hes biggest year was 417 yards

thats a 1010 career yards

I think Barber has shown signs of being a complete back. A 2-3 down power runner with quick feet and good hands. Also blocks well.

Sounds good to me. We just need him healthy.