Barber/Jones

[StanleySpadowski]

A lot of people seem to be under the impression that Barber should be the starter despite the fact that the way they split carries last year proved highly successful.

I think the thing that most fail to realize is that Barber's reckless style isn't conducive to the constant pounding of an everydown back. Look at his statistics from last year. Over the first 100 carries he averaged 5.14 yards per carry. On carries over 100, he averaged only 4.0 yards per carry.

Barber's a tremendous asset to the Cowboys if he's used correctly and he was used almost perfectly last year, maybe the only thing Parcells did right, and I hope that Phillips understands that.

 

[Coakleys Dad]

JJ isnt the answer

 

[Doomsday101]

I think Jones needs to establish himself as the main guy, he had 11 games where he average under 4 yards a carry. Barber had 5 games where he averaged under 4 yards a carry. Jones had 5 carries over 20 yards and Barber who has a lot fewer carries had 4 runs of over 20. I like Jones but he has to show more consistency and if he can't then I would give Barber the chance to show himself instead of saying what he can't do. We don't know what he can or can't do unless he is given the chance.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Trade for McGahee and test drive him for a year. If he plays well, resign him next year.

 

[EmSmith22]

Marion played surprisingly well his rookie year when he stepped in for JJ when he was sidelined a couple years back.

Perhaps those are the numbers you should be looking at and take into consideration that he has learned a great deal since '05. I think Marion would do well as an every down back and I trust Wade to make the proper adjustment.

 

[locked&loaded]

you forget that he was used mostly for short yardage.

 

[StanleySpadowski]

you forget that he was used mostly for short yardage.

???????

And he wasn't used in short yardage for the first 100 carries last year??


If you factor in times he wasn't tackled but the yardage accumulation ended thanks to the end zone, the numbers get even more skewed thanks to his higher TD percentage over the first 100 carries.

 

[MiStar]

I think we should use two backs, and I also think that Barber should get the majority of carries until we find someone some similar ability (i.e. not Jones)

 

[bbuck822]

Barber's a tremendous asset to the Cowboys if he's used correctly and he was used almost perfectly last year, maybe the only thing Parcells did right, and I hope that Phillips understands that.

What about benching Bledsoe or cutting Vanderjagt? I think that those were great decisions by BP! And those are only two that immediately come to mind.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

A lot of people seem to be under the impression that Barber should be the starter despite the fact that the way they split carries last year proved highly successful.

I think the thing that most fail to realize is that Barber's reckless style isn't conducive to the constant pounding of an everydown back. Look at his statistics from last year. Over the first 100 carries he averaged 5.14 yards per carry. On carries over 100, he averaged only 4.0 yards per carry.

Barber's a tremendous asset to the Cowboys if he's used correctly and he was used almost perfectly last year, maybe the only thing Parcells did right, and I hope that Phillips understands that.

Once Jones went over 150 carries last season, hi production plummeted with his YPC going down by almost .5 yards. They should still split carries but Barber needs the lionshare or Jones will not be as effective and disappear for huge tracts of the second half of the season again.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Uh, oh, Stanley... The "I Heart MB3" club is about to come in here with how their boy is the greatest...

But I agree with you. I like Julius' breakaway threat, and I like MB3's toughness. I think Parcells got the RB situation just about exactly right. Neither one is the next Walter Payton, but what's wrong with that? Together they are very effective.

 

[bbuck822]

Neither would have been as good as they were last year without the other!

 

[Doomsday101]

Uh, oh, Stanley... The "I Heart MB3" club is about to come in here with how their boy is the greatest...

But I agree with you. I like Julius' breakaway threat, and I like MB3's toughness. I think Parcells got the RB situation just about exactly right. Neither one is the next Walter Payton, but what's wrong with that? Together they are very effective.

Yet Jones had 5 runs of 20 yards or more and Barber 4 with about half the carries as Jones. I like Jones but he has to show he can do the job and as I mentioned 11 games he rushed for less than 4 yards a carry. Jones has to do a better job or this very well could be his last season with us. I hope he shows himself as a top back but other than spurts he has not shown it week in and week out.

 

[burmafrd]

AT that point is when BP was giving MB more carries. Might be a reason production went down. Most backs need a certain number of carries to get into a rhythym. When you only get 12 -15 carries a whole game its a little hard. It is interesting to note that both backs YPC went down later in the season.

 

[StanleySpadowski]

Uh, oh, Stanley... The "I Heart MB3" club is about to come in here with how their boy is the greatest...

But I agree with you. I like Julius' breakaway threat, and I like MB3's toughness. I think Parcells got the RB situation just about exactly right. Neither one is the next Walter Payton, but what's wrong with that? Together they are very effective.

I think I can handle 'em, I've got a three year old so I'm used to the mentality. :


The only way the rotation could improve is if Thompson comes back healthy and take 50-75 carries from Jones, keeping him even fresher for the postseason. If Thompson's not the guy, I wouldn't mind a third or fourth rounder on a new third RB.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

AT that point is when BP was giving MB more carries. Might be a reason production went down. Most backs need a certain number of carries to get into a rhythym. When you only get 12 -15 carries a whole game its a little hard. It is interesting to note that both backs YPC went down later in the season.

Not to mention that Julius started games and went against fresh defenses. Barber came in later as the "closer" when Ds were usually more tired.

I don't know what it all means, I just think that they both complement each other well. Some love to point how Julius isn't a Top-Whatevernumber Back, or as good as Steven Jackson, or the next Dorsett. Well, you're right. So what? He's still pretty good.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I just don't understand why people want to mess w/ a good system

 

[Doomsday101]

I just don't understand why people want to mess w/ a good system

Because Dallas ranked 13th in rushing and I think many want to see improvement. Myself I have no problem with Jones starting but he has to produce on a consistent basis. As far as I'm concerned I would make it an open competition for the starter’s role. What I don’t get is when people say what Barber can’t do when he has not been given the opportunity to get more carries.

 

[Rack]

A lot of people seem to be under the impression that Barber should be the starter despite the fact that the way they split carries last year proved highly successful.

I think the thing that most fail to realize is that Barber's reckless style isn't conducive to the constant pounding of an everydown back. Look at his statistics from last year. Over the first 100 carries he averaged 5.14 yards per carry. On carries over 100, he averaged only 4.0 yards per carry.

Barber's a tremendous asset to the Cowboys if he's used correctly and he was used almost perfectly last year, maybe the only thing Parcells did right, and I hope that Phillips understands that.

I'm perfectly happy with Barber in his current role. I'd like to see someone replace JuJo though. Just cuz it was "Successful" doesn't mean it can't be much better.

Plus, it wasn't very successful at the end of the season.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Not to mention that Julius started games and went against fresh defenses. Barber came in later as the "closer" when Ds were usually more tired.

I don't know what it all means, I just think that they both complement each other well. Some love to point how Julius isn't a Top-Whatevernumber Back, or as good as Steven Jackson, or the next Dorsett. Well, you're right. So what? He's still pretty good.

For the first 150 carries Jones was fine against those fresh defenses, then he went South. The entire time Barber's production remaned consistent.

im not saying that Jones shouldnt be used but his carries need to be limited to no more than 200 for a season or thereabouts. He fades and everyone wants to talk about the oline but he faded behind the same oline in the second half.