DMN: Blog: Marion Barber/Felix Jones combo has coaches' creative juices flowing

[Cbz40]

Marion Barber/Felix Jones combo has coaches' creative juices flowing

8:21 PM Sun, Aug 03, 2008

Tim MacMahon http://www.***BANNED-URL***/blogs/images/email-icon.jpg E-mail http://www.***BANNED-URL***/blogs/images/email-icon.jpg News tips

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It seems like every day we see a different look that puts Marion "The Barbarian" Barber and Felix Jones on the field together.


We've seen them line up in an offset I formation with Barber at fullback. We've seen Barber as the lone back with Jones split wide or in the slot. We've seen them start out in a two-back look with Jones going in motion. We've seen Jones motion from the slot to the backfield. We saw them on sandwiching Tony Romo in the shotgun formation this afternoon.


"It's not very big now," Jones said of the section of the playbook that has the backs on the field together, "but it's growing everyday."


Wade Phillips has noted that the two-RB looks (a reader suggests calling these formations the Marion Jones packages, but the NFL tries to steer clear of steroids-related issues) put defenses in a tough personnel bind.


Do they put their nickel package on the field to get a DB on Jones in the passing game? That softens the middle of the defense, a scary deal for a defense facing Barber. But if they stay with their base package, the Cowboys can try to take advantage of a LB covering Jones.


It'll be interesting to see what the creative minds of Jason Garrett and Co. come up with for the Barber/Jones combo. But Jones believes we can count out a Cowboys version of Wildhog, Arkansas' formation that put him at RB next to shotgun QB Darren McFadden.


"I think Tony Romo is the guy at the quarterback spot," Jones said with a smile.

 

[STSINAZ]

if felix jones turns into another westbrook it's going to be scary how good we are ....cant wait to see what happens

 

[Cbz40]

if felix jones turns into another westbrook it's going to be scary how good we are ....cant wait to see what happens

Looking forward to seeing Felix in the backfield myself......Barber and Felix, well it could be something special.

 

[Pick6TerenceNewman]

Marion Barber/Felix Jones combo has coaches' creative juices flowing

8:21 PM Sun, Aug 03, 2008

Tim MacMahon http://www.***BANNED-URL***/blogs/images/email-icon.jpg E-mail http://www.***BANNED-URL***/blogs/images/email-icon.jpg News tips

http://cowboysblog.***BANNED-URL***/NS_27CowboysR-thumb-250x389.jpg
It seems like every day we see a different look that puts Marion "The Barbarian" Barber and Felix Jones on the field together.


We've seen them line up in an offset I formation with Barber at fullback. We've seen Barber as the lone back with Jones split wide or in the slot. We've seen them start out in a two-back look with Jones going in motion. We've seen Jones motion from the slot to the backfield. We saw them on sandwiching Tony Romo in the shotgun formation this afternoon.


"It's not very big now," Jones said of the section of the playbook that has the backs on the field together, "but it's growing everyday."


Wade Phillips has noted that the two-RB looks (a reader suggests calling these formations the Marion Jones packages, but the NFL tries to steer clear of steroids-related issues) put defenses in a tough personnel bind.


Do they put their nickel package on the field to get a DB on Jones in the passing game? That softens the middle of the defense, a scary deal for a defense facing Barber. But if they stay with their base package, the Cowboys can try to take advantage of a LB covering Jones.


It'll be interesting to see what the creative minds of Jason Garrett and Co. come up with for the Barber/Jones combo. But Jones believes we can count out a Cowboys version of Wildhog, Arkansas' formation that put him at RB next to shotgun QB Darren McFadden.


"I think Tony Romo is the guy at the quarterback spot," Jones said with a smile.

Bring back the WishBone set. Have Jones/Choice go on wheel routes taking the LBer's leaving Barber to go ahead against the remaining LBer's. We Win!

Having the old WishBone set is probably not going to happen but having Barber, Jones and choice will create lots of headaches for D coaches.

 

[ddh33]

I loved the addition of Felix Jones to this team. Very excited about him. I think he's going to be a star.

 

[Bizwah]

I'll admit that I was not for Jones. But my gosh does it appear that we had a plan for him.

Impressive sounding player.

If anyone can find a way to get FJ and MBIII on the field together it would be Garrett.

Let's put that Princeton education to work.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

None of this would have been possible if the Cowboys had picked Mendenhall. Mendenhall would have only backed up Barber.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I predict that everyone in Cleveland will be going in a few weeks.

 

[Nexx]

this combo makes me wet.

 

[LeonDixson]

I'll admit that I was not for Jones. But my gosh does it appear that we had a plan for him.

Impressive sounding player.

If anyone can find a way to get FJ and MBIII on the field together it would be Garrett.

Let's put that Princeton education to work.

Agreed. The sky is the limit depending upon how creative Garrett can be in drawing up plays for these two.

I like McMahon's suggestion that they throw the formation out there then call the play depending on who the defense puts on the field.

 

[DallasDW00ds0n]

None of this would have been possible if the Cowboys had picked Mendenhall. Mendenhall would have only backed up Barber.

Mendenhall was actually a pretty good threat in the passing game too.

Referring to college of course.

And what makes you so certain that Mendenhall is not the better runner than Felix? We haven't even seen them play, and please dont tell me this is the new Ware-Merriman debate.