DMN Blog: Is Bucs' RB trio better than the Cowboys' committee?

[WoodysGirl]

4:45 PM Tue, Sep 08, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon/Blogger Bio | E-mail | News tips

The trio of Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice should be one of the NFL's elite running back committees. But it might not be the best seen Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.

The Bucs boast a trio of Cadillac Williams, Derrick Ward and Earnest Graham. Unlike the Cowboys, Tampa Bay has declared how playing time will be split in the backfield. Williams, the former top-five pick who has come back from two serious knee injuries, will start and play two series. Ward will play the next two series. Graham will play the next series. The 2-2-1 rotation will repeat throughout the game.

Last season's stats don't tell the whole story when comparing these committees for several reasons. Jones' rookie season was cut short by hamstring and toe injuries, and Barber limped on a dislocated little toe down the stretch. Williams didn't play most of the season due to a knee injury. Ward put up impressive numbers for the Giants, so it remains to be seen if he can have the same success with his new team.

With that disclaimer, here is a comparison of the committees' 2008 rushing totals:

COWBOYS
Marion Barber - 238 carries, 885 yards, 7 TD
Felix Jones - 30 carries, 226 yards, 3 TD
Tashard Choice - 92 carries, 472 yards, 2 TD
Total - 360 yards, 1,563 yards, 12 TD

BUCS
Cadillac Williams - 63 carries, 233 yards, 4 TD
Derrick Ward - 182 carries, 1,025 yards, 2 TD
Earnest Graham - 132 carries, 563 yards, 4TD
Total - 377 carries, 1,821 yards, 10 TD



Comments (11) Leave comment | E-mail entry

 

[Ren]

No, just no

they're not better then MB, Felix and Choice :laugh2:

 

[casmith07]

I read the title, and I lol'd.

Then I came in here and skipped the article to post this.

 

[texbumthelife]

4:45 PM Tue, Sep 08, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon/Blogger Bio | E-mail | News tips

The trio of Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice should be one of the NFL's elite running back committees. But it might not be the best seen Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.

The Bucs boast a trio of Cadillac Williams, Derrick Ward and Earnest Graham. Unlike the Cowboys, Tampa Bay has declared how playing time will be split in the backfield. Williams, the former top-five pick who has come back from two serious knee injuries, will start and play two series. Ward will play the next two series. Graham will play the next series. The 2-2-1 rotation will repeat throughout the game.

Last season's stats don't tell the whole story when comparing these committees for several reasons. Jones' rookie season was cut short by hamstring and toe injuries, and Barber limped on a dislocated little toe down the stretch. Williams didn't play most of the season due to a knee injury. Ward put up impressive numbers for the Giants, so it remains to be seen if he can have the same success with his new team.

With that disclaimer, here is a comparison of the committees' 2008 rushing totals:

COWBOYS
Marion Barber - 238 carries, 885 yards, 7 TD
Felix Jones - 30 carries, 226 yards, 3 TD
Tashard Choice - 92 carries, 472 yards, 2 TD
Total - 360 yards, 1,563 yards, 12 TD

BUCS
Cadillac Williams - 63 carries, 233 yards, 4 TD
Derrick Ward - 182 carries, 1,025 yards, 2 TD
Earnest Graham - 132 carries, 563 yards, 4TD
Total - 377 carries, 1,821 yards, 10 TD



Comments (11) Leave comment | E-mail entry

Interesting, if not completely unfounded, article. The qualifications he uses to characterize the stats essentially sap any credibility they might have.

I am intrigued to see what the Bucc's running back's can do this season though. I would love to see Cadillac bounce back. If he puts up 800 yards and 6 touchdowns and makes it through the season, he wins Come Back POTY easily.

I think Ward was a one-year wonder, somewhat of an an enigma, and think if Cadillac reemerges they will be looking to trade him at the end of the year. Good luck with that contract though.

Ernest Graham is one of the most underrated running backs in the league IMO.

Luckily, we know exactly what we are getting with our triage of running backs.

 

[TD-33]

For Leftwich's sake he better hope they can get the run game going because if he has stand in the pocket much we could be seeing the first Rated:R football game. :


Warning: This NFL Presentation is Rated: R

Graphic Violence
Gore
Brief Nudity
Sobbing & Crying

 

[Boyzmamacita]

Last season's stats don't tell the whole story when comparing these committees for several reasons. Jones' rookie season was cut short by hamstring and toe injuries, and Barber limped on a dislocated little toe down the stretch. Williams didn't play most of the season due to a knee injury. Ward put up impressive numbers for the Giants, so it remains to be seen if he can have the same success with his new team.

He should've stopped after this disclaimer. In fact, he never should've started because of it.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

For Leftwich's sake he better hope they can get the run game going because if he has stand in the pocket much we could be seeing the first Rated:R football game. :


Warning: This NFL Presentation is Rated: R

Graphic Violence
Gore
Brief Nudity
Sobbing & Crying

Oh My.

 

[SDogo]

He should've stopped after this disclaimer. In fact, he never should've started because of it.

Only the Dallas media would write this, Even the Bucs beat writers would never of dared.

 

[28 Joker]

Derrick Ward lit up Carolina. I mean he torched them.

I watched that game, and I remembered thinking this:

Felix would destroy them.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Ward had 40% of the Giants rushing snaps last season. The three Cowboys RBs split rushing snaps. Enough said.

 

[ologan]

Interesting, if not completely unfounded, article. The qualifications he uses to characterize the stats essentially sap any credibility they might have.

I am intrigued to see what the Bucc's running back's can do this season though. I would love to see Cadillac bounce back. If he puts up 800 yards and 6 touchdowns and makes it through the season, he wins Come Back POTY easily.

I think Ward was a one-year wonder, somewhat of an an enigma, and think if Cadillac reemerges they will be looking to trade him at the end of the year. Good luck with that contract though.

Ernest Graham is one of the most underrated running backs in the league IMO.

Luckily, we know exactly what we are getting with our triage of running backs.

My God,is one of our RBs' hurt? That would certainly disrupt our "triad".

 

[MONT17]

the Boys Trio, is only a trio if MB3 or Felix gets hurt... Choice will be used the same way he was used last year. In case of injury!


where are all the threads about the Boys lack of RB depth?

 

[SaltwaterServr]

Not to worry. If one does get hurt, Jerry will fly in a triumvirate of the heads of medicinal research to lead a trident-point approach that will have the aforementioned injured player howling at the 3/4 moon like Cerberus in heat.

 

[searchlights]

Tim Mcmahon, concern troll extraordinaire.

OK maybe that's unfair. But still, there's objective analysis and there's wild overcompensation for the possibility of underestimating a team that is unlikely to beat us. This is the latter.

 

[WarDaddy]

If you don't think the Bucs trio is at least comparable to the Boys trio you are showing some homerish tendencies.

I love the RBs we have here but the Bucs RBs are more accomplished and one can argue they complement each other better. The Boys bring more variety but the Bucs appear to be interchangable.

If I'm running a team, I would not be upset with Ward, Graham and Cadillac as my backfield. At all. I wouldn't be upset with the Cowboys backfield either. But let's be real. We have a back as the starter who was best as a backup and two backups in their second year and one of them has only played in 5 games (Now, he was outstanding but it was only 5 games).

I think we should hold off on crowning them the league's best.

Tampa, Carolina, San Diego, New England, Giants, Jets, Commanders all have something to say about that and I may have left off a few teams. Dolphins, Falcons...

I can't wait for this season to start.

 

[texbumthelife]

My God,is one of our RBs' hurt? That would certainly disrupt our "triad".

I was a homage to Pittman's thread...

 

[casmith07]

My God,is one of our RBs' hurt? That would certainly disrupt our "triad".

You've got to go read Pittman4Two's post

 

[SaltwaterServr]

If you don't think the Bucs trio is at least comparable to the Boys trio you are showing some homerish tendencies.

I love the RBs we have here but the Bucs RBs are more accomplished and one can argue they complement each other better. The Boys bring more variety but the Bucs appear to be interchangable.

If I'm running a team, I would not be upset with Ward, Graham and Cadillac as my backfield. At all. I wouldn't be upset with the Cowboys backfield either. But let's be real. We have a back as the starter who was best as a backup and two backups in their second year and one of them has only played in 5 games (Now, he was outstanding but it was only 5 games).

I think we should hold off on crowning them the league's best.

Tampa, Carolina, San Diego, New England, Giants, Jets, Commanders all have something to say about that and I may have left off a few teams. Dolphins, Falcons...

I can't wait for this season to start.

Outstanding would be putting up almost 500 yards rushing as a 3rd string back up playing behind a line with it's third option at LG and a guy who shoulda been in the hospital at LT.

Dropping 424 combined yards against three of the best 5 defenses in the NFL behind that same line, that's freaking phenomenal.

 

[NextGenBoys]

I read the title, and I lol'd.

Then I came in here and skipped the article to post this.

:laugh2: ftw

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

Oh, I can't wait, I can't wait! I know what Barber can do. I'm ready for this team to prove what Choice and Jones can do. Bring in the season already!