Barber is faster than thought

[LarryCanadian]

He's a heavy footed runner and really has a powerful lean, but he's not as high-steppy as he was his first couple of years. He looks much quicker with his feet, and while not a glider, his burst is much smoother. As a result he seems to be past tacklers a bit quicker than in the past instead of having to go through them, and it makes him even harder to bring down running straight ahead.

Still an underrated player. Hope those ribs are ok, and they just bruised, with team taking precautions and wanting Felix and Choice to get some nice work.

Felix Jones is night and day different from Julius Jones. Huge upgrade from the Julius Jones of last couple of years. Huge. Choice is a hustler too, with good experience.

Great blitz pickups for majority of game by all 3 backs.

LarryCanadian

 

[Jimz31]

He's a heavy footed runner and really has a powerful lean, but he's not as high-steppy as he was his first couple of years. He looks much quicker footer and while not a glider, his burst is much smoother. As a result he seems to be past tacklers a bit quicker than in the past instead of having to go through them, and it makes him even easier to bring down running straight ahead.

Still an underrated player. Hope those ribs are ok, and they just bruised, with team taking precautions and wanting Felix and Choice to get some nice work.

Felix Jones is night and day different from Julius Jones. Huge upgrade from the Julius Jones of last couple of years. Huge. Choice is a hustler too, with good experience.

Great blitz pickups for majority of game by all 3 backs.

LarryCanadian

Don't forget that JJ looked great his first year as well....then went backwards.

Barber seemed a little bit faster to me as well...he's just still not "fast", though.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Marion Barber is legit 4.5 runner with power...

 

[LarryCanadian]

Barber has gotten better each season though, although if you are referring to wear and tear, that can happen to any back, and might happen sooner to bruisers.

I just am really impressed with how Barber is hitting the line and the hole. Last couple of seasons he seemed to expend so much energy bouncing laterrally at the line, whereas pre-season and today he was really bursting forward and getting past the first line of defense with minimal contact. He'll be fresher with the quicker burst at line as he won't have to break initial contact. Just surprises me a bit and I've been on the Barber bandwagon from beginning. Kudos to Oline for giving him gaps to run through of course.

LarryCanadian

 

[Eskimo]

I think part of it has been his running style and the lack of holes opened up by the OL in the past. He always had to be prepared to break tackles or make his own hole to have much success.

This year it looks like the run blocking is much better so Barber is free to run more freely through the LOS so he can get onto the second level quicker.

There is, however, a difference in explosiveness when compared to Felix - that dude hits daylight fast and has great feet in space.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

MB III has some speed.

 

[Clove]

MB III has some speed.

:laugh2: I wonder if Barber was hurting when he missed that blitz that cause Romo a sack.