Barber bashing should stop, it's unmeritted.

[LarryCanadian]

I'm a bit surprised by the Barber bashing. He had a toe injury, they suck.

When he played early in year and healthy he was effective. He made first down. He did put ball on the ground too often, but he ran and caught the ball well as well as blocked relatively well. In fact, Barber's pass catching was very effective and somewhat unexpected in effectiveness.

I thought he was more reliable at keeping chains moving than Julius Jones was, and it's not his fault that Felix wasn't used more to complement him early in the season.

This guy is the heart and soul of offense. Team lifts when he's in there. I've seen many posts saying how he was ineffective on 3rd downs and short yardage, but IMHO the majority of time he fought and got the extra yard or two, often when the blocking wasn't there and someone was hitting him before or at line of scrimmage. He closed out a couple of games nicely.

All that being said, I'm totally in favour of a 3 headed monster at RB, because I believe all 3 backs are very good and superb complements in style. All 3 can run, block, and catch AND all 3 bring different weaponry. Most importantly, running the ball more and more effectively should reduce the turnovers and take pressure off Romo as well as reduce the blitzing against us. Win win win.

Just my humble opinion, but I don't think Barber's execution was an issue this year. His toe health was, but I don't put toes down as wear and tear type injuries either. Shoulders, ribs, knees, groins, etc maybe, but not a toe that got stomped on.

LarryCanadian

 

[Venger]

Haven't seen any "bashing", hell by some measures our owner/GM has bashed him more than I've read.

The Cowboys had something really nice with Barber the past few years - the change of pace back who ran and hit like a sledgehammer. But they tried to change him to the starter, and it didn't really work out well.

I look for good things out of him next year as the change of pace back. Problem is, we paid him starters money - 1600 yards per year money. He isn't that back. He can't be. His running style is 18 carries a game over the year, max, or you'll break him.

As to his injury - yeah, that ended his season. He lost playing time, and wasn't at speed or comfortable when he came back.

 

[locked&loaded]

people dont seem to get how bad our oline played this year.

 

[Sarge]

Where is all th bashing you speak of?

 

[big dog cowboy]

The reason Barber was ineffective down the stretch is pretty obvious. It's also pretty obvious he wasn't his fault.

 

[5Countem5]

Why didn't you put this in the thread bashing Barber?

 

[Rush 2112]

people dont seem to get how bad our oline played this year.

Good thing Wade/Garrett put in another OL when Choice started carrying the load.

He would have sucked behind the line Barber played with.

 

[CF74]

Nobody is bashing Barber just like nobody is bashing Ratliff by wanting him to play in his true position. Barber is a short yardage back and a closer, Ratliff is an end...

 

[LarryCanadian]

There is a thread about his contract coming back to bite us in butt. In that thread, I see quite a few posts putting a lot of blame on him.

There are a number of other posts/threads regarding Choice (whom I think is excellent, and a real decent slasher with above average vision), wherein Barber is seen as limiting.

I can agree with comments about the contract numbers as Barber hadn't proven that 30 carry a game all year type ability, BUT, this league is about multi-player backfields now. The Emmitt Smith days are a total exception, even during the 90's.

If healthy, the guy is one of those dependable, quiet, team guys, that help you win. He is also the type that I think will (while probably not loving it) accept and eventually appreciate a 3 headed monster as it will prolong his career and make him more effective, as well as help the team win.

I say keep opponents guessing and get these guys all in the game, BUT, don't give each a series, mix it up mid-series, and call plays to their strengths. Play a couple at same time.

To get into STARTER/CLOSER debates seems ridiculous on this team now. Need to play the guys that are excecuting and create competition and team attitude. But Barber has huge value as a yardage fighter, redzone specialist, and clock killer, and can also carry a full load if needed (it just isn't needed with other good backs). Just because he has a big contract shouldn't mean anything in terms of field strategy. Parcells was always good about that, whereas I think Jerry thinks too much about draft position and contract.

LarryCanadian

 

[Kangaroo]

There is a thread about his contract coming back to bite us in butt. In that thread, I see quite a few posts putting a lot of blame on him.

There are a number of other posts/threads regarding Choice (whom I think is excellent, and a real decent slasher with above average vision), wherein Barber is seen as limiting.

I can agree with comments about the contract numbers as Barber hadn't proven that 30 carry a game all year type ability, BUT, this league is about multi-player backfields now. The Emmitt Smith days are a total exception, even during the 90's.

If healthy, the guy is one of those dependable, quiet, team guys, that help you win. He is also the type that I think will (while probably not loving it) accept and eventually appreciate a 3 headed monster as it will prolong his career and make him more effective, as well as help the team win.

I say keep opponents guessing and get these guys all in the game, BUT, don't give each a series, mix it up mid-series, and call plays to their strengths. Play a couple at same time.

To get into STARTER/CLOSER debates seems ridiculous on this team now. Need to play the guys that are excecuting and create competition and team attitude. But Barber has huge value as a yardage fighter, redzone specialist, and clock killer, and can also carry a full load if needed (it just isn't needed with other good backs). Just because he has a big contract shouldn't mean anything in terms of field strategy. Parcells was always good about that, whereas I think Jerry thinks too much about draft position and contract.

LarryCanadian

No one is bashing barber they are bashing the contract that overpayed him

 

[Rack]

I'm a bit surprised by the Barber bashing. He had a toe injury, they suck.

When he played early in year and healthy he was effective. He made first down. He did put ball on the ground too often, but he ran and caught the ball well as well as blocked relatively well. In fact, Barber's pass catching was very effective and somewhat unexpected in effectiveness.

I thought he was more reliable at keeping chains moving than Julius Jones was, and it's not his fault that Felix wasn't used more to complement him early in the season.

This guy is the heart and soul of offense. Team lifts when he's in there. I've seen many posts saying how he was ineffective on 3rd downs and short yardage, but IMHO the majority of time he fought and got the extra yard or two, often when the blocking wasn't there and someone was hitting him before or at line of scrimmage. He closed out a couple of games nicely.

All that being said, I'm totally in favour of a 3 headed monster at RB, because I believe all 3 backs are very good and superb complements in style. All 3 can run, block, and catch AND all 3 bring different weaponry. Most importantly, running the ball more and more effectively should reduce the turnovers and take pressure off Romo as well as reduce the blitzing against us. Win win win.

Just my humble opinion, but I don't think Barber's execution was an issue this year. His toe health was, but I don't put toes down as wear and tear type injuries either. Shoulders, ribs, knees, groins, etc maybe, but not a toe that got stomped on.

LarryCanadian

Barber was running tentatively BEFORE his toe injury.

His best role (as I stated before the end of last season) is as a backup.


I'd rather start Choice or Felix and have Barber come clean up. It's not about who the "Starter" is, it's about putting the players in the best roles for them and the team.

 

[LarryCanadian]

I didn't put this in the "thread bashing Barber" because I felt the negative "bashing" was spread out, and the main thread I saw it in has a title more subjective of his contract being a problem based on his effectiveness.

If the moderators feel it should be merged I defer to their wisdom.

A few factors I think make Barber look statistically less effective this year:

Later in season he obviously didn't contribute because of injury. We don't remember how well he played early in year.

The 3 games we were without Romo AND Felix Jones our speed threat was hurt, so Barber was the defensive focus of the other teams because our backup Quarterback play was so significantly lacking.

The toes injury made his carries in 2nd half of season less effective (rather an obvious one, but the injury was worse than many thought/expected).

Was more of a general "disbelief" post on my part that Barber was getting negativity/blame (perhaps bashing was a touch heavy).

As for Raitliff, I agree that he is undersized in middle and would likely be more effective at end. I thought he wore down last couple of games, and Nate Newton was saying how his body was just beat to heck game in game out. He isn't a fat body despite being quite big, so he feels the licks more at 300 than the 350 fatboy space eaters. Rat was quiet last few games.

I still don't agree Barber has to just be a closer, or that any of our backs need to be labelled. They all seem capable of each role, but I do agree that each has their strengths and Barber (if he doesn't put ball on ground) is probably the ideal 4th quarter guy to run out a clock, while Choice is more effective against aggressive blitzing teams with his good vision and quickness cutting and finding the seam. Jones is speed, and should be used MORE period.

LarryCanadian

 

[Rack]

I still don't agree Barber has to just be a closer, or that any of our backs need to be labelled. They all seem capable of each role, but I do agree that each has their strengths and Barber (if he doesn't put ball on ground) is probably the ideal 4th quarter guy to run out a clock, while Choice is more effective against aggressive blitzing teams with his good vision and quickness cutting and finding the seam. Jones is speed, and should be used MORE period.

LarryCanadian

"Capable" is irrelevant. Like I said, it's about putting players in their BEST role for them and the team.

Sure Barber is "Capable", but his best role is as a closer. That's barely even debatable.