DMN Blog: Emmitt believes Barber should ease up a bit

[AbeBeta]

Emmitt should know better than anyone that a leopard can't change his stripes.

 

[WoodysGirl]

I understand where everyone is coming from here, but just because the man was arguably the best running back in the history of the game doesn't make him the best coach...or make him capable of offering the soundest of advice.

Longevity is great, but only if you can achieve it without altering one's natural running style. Emmitt was obviously an exception to the norm, and to expect other running backs to be able to do what he did is folly...although there is no harm in trying.

I'm all for Barber taking in what he can get from Emmitt, as long as Emmitt realizes that they aren't the same type of runner....which I'm not sure Emmitt is really grasping.

I don't think a RB's style should be messed with if it works...I seem to remember a recent example where coaching up a RB backfired. Let him run they way he already does....and that's 110%....every play. I just don't think that Barber has "longevity" in him. While he's here though, let him play his arse off.

IMO, of course.

Doubt Emmitt is comparing himself to Barber or at least that's not what I got out of his comments.

I think the difference lies as it relates to the longevity of Barber. His current style isn't conducive to that. I want Barber here for the long haul, especially if the team is about to give him $30million. I want him to continue to go balls out, but still protecting himself in the process.

What's the use of paying him all this money and he not do what it takes to stay on the field and earn it... Doing what it takes means protecting his body against the big hits. If he doesn't, then in two years, the excitement about him will have died down and folks will no longer be calling him Barber the Barbarian. He'll be Barber the Bust.

 

[Sarge]

Emmitt is totally correct - if Barber continues at this pace, he'll be 'Earl Campbelled' out in 2 years......IMO/FWIW.

Gotta love his intensity though, no doubt.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Emmitt is just saying choose your spots. When its 3rd and 4 and Barber is running up the sideline already having got 6 and the safety comes up what does he do? He lowers his shoulder and makes it 8. Thats great and all but in the fourth quarter when its 3rd and 3 in the fourth quarter and hes met in the hole by a LBer that extra two yards could be better spent there.

Emmitt's advice is solid and really he has both Barber and our best interests in mind becasue quite frankly if Barber keeps going as such hes not going to make it 3 more years.

 

[Little Jr]

Thats so true anybody who says that Emmitt is of base in his comments doesn't know what they are talking about.

So is Emmitt like our RB coach now or something.

That loss to the gaints must of hurt Emmitt seeing how barber didn't show up in the 2nd half of the game.

Yeah, all of them 4 carries in the 4th showed everything.



I say let him run like he wants. I understand the taking it out of bounds instead of taking a hit stuff. I just dont see how anyone can expect MBIII to this. That is his style. If he changes it, he'll feel like he isnt giving 110%. By asking him to do it is asking him not to give 110%.

 

[Chief]

"I agree with Emmitt. Marion should tone it down."

-- Adam Archuleta, Chicago Bears safety

 

[Sarge]

"I agree with Emmitt. Marion should tone it down."

-- Adam Archuleta, Chicago Bears safety

.........................

 

[Baileyneverfailey]

"I agree with Emmitt. Marion should tone it down."

-- Adam Archuleta, Chicago Bears safety

 

[the kid 05]

just give him a BFC Monster before the game and at half time

bfc v.s. normal

 

[Eskimo]

Emmitt is totally correct - if Barber continues at this pace, he'll be 'Earl Campbelled' out in 2 years......IMO/FWIW.

Gotta love his intensity though, no doubt.

That's why I don't like the idea of giving him a 5 or 6 year deal. I would give him no more than 4 years.

 

[Chuck 54]

Emmitt is totally correct - if Barber continues at this pace, he'll be 'Earl Campbelled' out in 2 years......IMO/FWIW.

Gotta love his intensity though, no doubt.

Your point is well-taken, but dayum...I'd love to get 5 years of Barber reminding me of Earl Campbell even if that was the end of his career. Problem is...MBIII is no Earl Campbell. I think he needs to continue to run like a man possessed, but get a little smarter about going out of bounds or taking contact head on after he has a first down or when a run has petered out.

Every runner is different...I don't think Barber can be productive running like Emmitt, and I know Emmitt would have sucked running like Barber...and we know what JuJo did trying to run more like Barber....ugh.

Barber is an overachiever...I want him to run hard all year this year to see where we can go with him...I think it's up to the coaches to hold him back enough for 3 quarters that he can be at full strength during the 4th.

 

[Scotman]

I think it relates more to taking unnecessary hits. Emmitt was not one to give up on a play, but he was seldom hit clean. Barber punishes people, and as fans, we love it. Emmitt is merely suggesting putting that effort into running and not hitting.

My 2 cents anyway.

 

[AbeBeta]

I know that BP used to say stuff like "sometimes a give up is a good play" or, about Julius (in reference to not always looking for the big play) "getting 2 yards can be a good play"

I have speculated before that may be why Barber didn't get more carries under Parcells and also that 12-13 carries a game is probably a good per game goal for MBIII. Seems that Emmitt agrees.

 

[FLcowboy]

I agree. I understand what Emmitt is saying, but I don't know that Barber could turn it off and on and still be as effective as he was last year. He needs to go at 110% every time, and spend enough time of the field to be effective for 4 quarters.

He also needs to know when to go down instead of fighting for the last six inches of a gain.

 

[Brandon]

Barber needs to play how he plays all the time.

Barber isn't going to be a 25 carry a game back. He'll get anywhere from 15-20 a game, that allows him to keep his bruising mentality. Both Jones and Choice need to respond as solid back-ups for Barber to be FULLY effective.

 

[AbeBeta]

He also needs to know when to go down instead of fighting for the last six inches of a gain.

but but that play against NE was on all the highlight shows.

 

[AbeBeta]

Barber needs to play how he plays all the time.

Barber isn't going to be a 25 carry a game back. He'll get anywhere from 15-20 a game, that allows him to keep his bruising mentality. Both Jones and Choice need to respond as solid back-ups for Barber to be FULLY effective.

I agree with everything but the 15-20 - over a full season that is close to 300 carries -- and that's too much for him.

 

[iceberg]

Emmitt believes Barber should ease up a bit
1:29 PM Sun, May 04, 2008 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon E-mail News tips
Emmitt Smith admires Marion "The Barbarian" Barber's bruising running style. However, the NFL's all-time leading rusher thinks Barber ought to pick his spots to put his shoulder down now that he's the lead horse.

"I think he spends a lot of energy that may not be necessary," Emmitt said during yesterday's visit to Valley Ranch. "For a starting back, I'm all about putting your heart into it, but you're doing a lot of kicking, running up, bucking and you're exerting a lot of energy. We need you for four quarters -- and I'm going to say we because I'm a Cowboy, too. We need you for four quarters.

"If Marion has to carry the load for four quarters, there's no way he can handle it."

Emmitt has 18,355 yards and 164 TDs (plus playoff totals) of expertise on this topic, so it'd be foolish to dismiss his opinion on the matter. But I will respectfully disagree.

Barber is a very good NFL back because of his relentless style. I don't think you can expect him to tone that down and continue to produce at a Pro Bowl level.

Emmitt mentioned that Felix Jones' presence will help Barber. It's up to the coaches to monitor Barber's workload to make sure that he's fresh for fourth quarters. He just needs to keep on running hard every time he touches the ball.

i was hoping emmitt would say something about easing up on the contract demands and come to reality. : )

 

[tomson75]

i was hoping emmitt would say something about easing up on the contract demands and come to reality. : )

Amen.

 

[big dog cowboy]

MBIII might not know how to tone it down.

We don't want to BP him and make him a robot.