Barber needs to go

[Doctor32]

I really think people want to get rid of him too quickly. A change in his number of carries, and when he gets them, would do wonders.

Exactly. What needs to happen is a redistribution of carries and redfinition of the running backs' roles on the Cowboys. Barber is still an excellent player.

 

[Thomas82]

I would say that for Felix and Choice those are incredibly small sample sizes and would not draw any conclusions at all from them.

Barber has proven over the years that he does well against tired defenses. The problem about the "closer" role is that he is paid way too much for such a small niche. He also isn't a good short yardage runner. But the biggest problem is that Garrett overplays him so long as he has him because he values experience so much. The Barber option has to be removed from Garrett for this offense to progress. No one who saw the game can deny the fact that the offense stalled every time Barber went in against the Vikings. I'm not saying we win the game if Felix played, but maybe if Felix played, Flo didn't get injured and Free was in there instead of Colombo.

Also, Felix gives the linemen more margin for error because they don't have to hold their blocks as long with him in there.

 

[BehindEnemyLinez]

Exactly. What needs to happen is a redistribution of carries and redfinition of the running backs' roles on the Cowboys. Barber is still an excellent player.

QFT! Felix starts (12-15 carries/touches), TC (8-10) as a change-up, and MBIII (10-12) in his productive "punisher/fininsher" role. Of course, the numbers can/should change with the flow of the game and depending on who's most productive, but I think some sort of structure should be in place by Red/Peete to utilize our deepest offensive position.

 

[Jimz31]

All that you need to do to end this arguement is to look at the Oakland game.

All 3 RB's got into the game 2 of the 3 had the same amount of carries.....one had many more yet had fewer yards against the SAME defense.

 

[Jimz31]

Interesting to hear Norm talking about this issue.....he says:

1. FJ
2. TC
3. MBIII

And the issue isn't about flipping FJ and MBIII, it's about flipping TC and MBIII as FJ is now the starting RB.

I agree with him.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Toby Gerhart.

Seriously... I'd rather have him than Barber. Especially if you could get him with a 3rd rounder or so like you probably could.

Or if not him, some similar big power back to fill that role. I'm talking about a back with a naturally big body, not a guy like Barber who really a slow, blown up tailback.

I'll give Barber one possible pass, and that's if he was hurt much worse than anyone thought, and he might be 100% for next year. But if that isn't the case, and I don't think it is, the guy is a huge progress stopper right now. He's keeping better backs off the field, and that's a shame. As others have said, he can't produce anything unless he has a huge hole -- the type hole that Felix can score on from anywhere on the field.

Yes, it stinks to say this about someone with Barber's heart and effort, but it's the cold reality of the situation.

 

[Chief]

I'll give Barber one possible pass, and that's if he was hurt much worse than anyone thought, and he might be 100% for next year. But if that isn't the case, and I don't think it is, the guy is a huge progress stopper right now. He's keeping better backs off the field, and that's a shame.

Exactly.

We're watching Barber jump up and beat his chest after a 4-yard run, when there's a guy on the bench watching that could have gotten 10 yards on the same play.

 

[tomson75]

Seriously... I'd rather have him than Barber. Especially if you could get him with a 3rd rounder or so like you probably could.

Or if not him, some similar big power back to fill that role. I'm talking about a back with a naturally big body, not a guy like Barber who really a slow, blown up tailback.

I'll give Barber one possible pass, and that's if he was hurt much worse than anyone thought, and he might be 100% for next year. But if that isn't the case, and I don't think it is, the guy is a huge progress stopper right now. He's keeping better backs off the field, and that's a shame. As others have said, he can't produce anything unless he has a huge hole -- the type hole that Felix can score on from anywhere on the field.

Yes, it stinks to say this about someone with Barber's heart and effort, but it's the cold reality of the situation.

I'm going back to the fullback debate we had on here a while back when some of us wanted Schmidt from WVU (guilty), and some of us wanted Hillis.

How sweet would it be to have one of those hybrid fullback/tailbacks now? ala... Brian Leonard or Hillis?

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I don't think a hybrid FB is needed.

What is needed is a ferocious blocker first and foremost.

I don't think we need another guy who can carry the rock.

 

[jazzcat22]

I really think people want to get rid of him too quickly. A change in his number of carries, and when he gets them, would do wonders.

Right...people want to make a change...just to make a change.
Doesn't mean it is the right thing to do. They have a solid foundation. No need to change anything, except the few FA's we may sign, and the normal attrition through FA and the Draft.

I'm just going to sit back and chill and see what happens for a month or two. Then speculate on what may happen.

 

[hockix]

Exactly.

We're watching Barber jump up and beat his chest after a 4-yard run, when there's a guy on the bench watching that could have gotten 10 yards on the same play.

I really scratch my head with a lot of Garett's decisions.
I just don't understand why Barber was there on many plays.

On at least two plays in the first half I said... wow if it is Jones or Choice with the ball it is at least 8 yards... and Barber got caught in the backfield.

Even healthy he is not what he was a couple of years ago... imagine now.
We have to stop playing guys for what they've done but what they can still do... and Barber just can't it anymore.

 

[tomson75]

I don't think a hybrid FB is needed.

What is needed is a ferocious blocker first and foremost.

I don't think we need another guy who can carry the rock.

Well if that's the case, I think we have one in Phillips. He gets his pads incredibly low for a TE. IMO, at least from what I watched and payed attention to.....he was an outstanding lead blocker.

...and a threat out of the backfield to boot.

...but I'm not against a bruiser FB. I just don't see many of them around anymore. I was one of the ones drooling over Schmidt from WVU....and he's done very little in the NFL. He's not a bad player, but it seems like the traditional FB role is used less and less every season.

 

[Jimz31]

I really scratch my head with a lot of Garett's decisions.
I just don't understand why Barber was there on many plays.

On at least two plays in the first half I said... wow if it is Jones or Choice with the ball it is at least 8 yards... and Barber got caught in the backfield.

Even healthy he is not what he was a couple of years ago... imagine now.
We have to stop playing guys for what they've done but what they can still do... and Barber just can't it anymore.

I never really understood the infatuation with MBIII from the beginning. Does he run yard? Yes.

But guess what? A two yard run is STILL a two yard run. I called him "Bounce" a couple of years back when everyone was calling him "Barbarian". I used to like some of those hard runs as well, but still looked at how many yards he got and when you think about it, it only LOOKED impressive. A faster back may not even get touched where he does while he's having to ram-rod it for the yards that he WAS getting.

 

[tomson75]

I never really understood the infatuation with MBIII from the beginning. Does he run yard? Yes.

But guess what? A two yard run is STILL a two yard run. I called him "Bounce" a couple of years back when everyone was calling him "Barbarian". I used to like some of those hard runs as well, but still looked at how many yards he got and when you think about it, it only LOOKED impressive. A faster back may not even get touched where he does while he's having to ram-rod it for the yards that he WAS getting.

There is a lot of truth to that.

....but what you're missing is his effect on defenders. At one point he terrified defensive backs. That fear alone used to net us hundreds of yards a season.

Now, we're seeing defenders initiate contact with Barber. They're no longer afraid of him, and its making a huge difference. He can be beaten one on one by smaller players. He's been exposed.

 

[DallasDomination]

Barber needs to go

Bump this back to the top.

 

[George]

Barber needs to go

Bump this back to the top.

Nope. You need the mix of several running backs. Sorry MBIII is costing so much in the future but Felix and Tashard are not as durable or tough as MBIII. You lose either one of them and what do you have?

Our running game improved with the combination. I'd stick with that format.

 

[ThePlaymaker14]

can someone explain to me exactly what choice has done or shown to be annointed this great RB who is supposedly so much better than Barber?

 

[Thomas82]

Barber needs to go

Bump this back to the top.

Bump Bump Bump!!