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5:41 PM Sun, Sep 13, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Richard Durrett/Blogger Bio | E-mail | News tips
TAMPA - Tashard Choice knew who was getting the ball with the Cowboys ahead in the final eight minutes against the Buccaneers on Sunday. After three quarters of utilizing all three running backs in various formations and situations, it was time to go to the closer.
"I walked over to Marion and I told him, 'Get your money's worth,'" Choice said. "He looked at me and said, 'I got ya.' We only needed three first downs and he drove it down there and we got them. He's the man. That's what he's there for. He got it done."
Barber carried the ball six times in the fourth quarter and scored on a 6-yard touchdown run around left end with 3:57 left to put the game away and send many of the 63,806 in attendance to the parking lots.
It was the final piece to offensive coordinator Jason Garrett's running back puzzle. And he was pleased with how it worked out on a day when the Buccaneers were committed to stopping the run.
"We were trying to be persistent with the run game and mix those guys through there," Garrett said. "Obviously, Marion got it the most, but the other guys got touches. When you're able to do that, you present something a little different to the defense. You also keep your backs fresh. I thought all those guys did a good job with the roles they had."
Garrett wouldn't commit to saying those would be the roles all season. But on Sunday, Choice was the primary third-down back and lined up behind center in the Razorback formation. He finished with two carries and 10 yards and also caught a couple of passes. Garrett said Choice did a good job of recognizing and handling the pressure Tampa Bay got in the backfield.
"I loved it," Choice said about his role. "Whatever chance or opportunity they gave me, I liked it. I had a chance to work on some plays, do a couple of wrinkles and work on special teams."
Felix Jones came in and carried the ball six times, mainly in the first half, for 22 yards. He didn't have a catch. And Barber finished with 79 yards on 14 carries, including a 23-yard run, the longest by any Cowboys running back on Sunday. He also carried the load down the stretch.
"At the end of the ballgame, we like the give the ball to Marion," Garrett said. "He's such a physical guy. He brings so much energy to our team. When you see a guy carry the football like Marion Barber does, it's hard not to be positively effected by it. So it's fun to give him the ball at the end of the game and he did his job awfully well."
Richard Durrett/Blogger Bio | E-mail | News tips
TAMPA - Tashard Choice knew who was getting the ball with the Cowboys ahead in the final eight minutes against the Buccaneers on Sunday. After three quarters of utilizing all three running backs in various formations and situations, it was time to go to the closer.
"I walked over to Marion and I told him, 'Get your money's worth,'" Choice said. "He looked at me and said, 'I got ya.' We only needed three first downs and he drove it down there and we got them. He's the man. That's what he's there for. He got it done."
Barber carried the ball six times in the fourth quarter and scored on a 6-yard touchdown run around left end with 3:57 left to put the game away and send many of the 63,806 in attendance to the parking lots.
It was the final piece to offensive coordinator Jason Garrett's running back puzzle. And he was pleased with how it worked out on a day when the Buccaneers were committed to stopping the run.
"We were trying to be persistent with the run game and mix those guys through there," Garrett said. "Obviously, Marion got it the most, but the other guys got touches. When you're able to do that, you present something a little different to the defense. You also keep your backs fresh. I thought all those guys did a good job with the roles they had."
Garrett wouldn't commit to saying those would be the roles all season. But on Sunday, Choice was the primary third-down back and lined up behind center in the Razorback formation. He finished with two carries and 10 yards and also caught a couple of passes. Garrett said Choice did a good job of recognizing and handling the pressure Tampa Bay got in the backfield.
"I loved it," Choice said about his role. "Whatever chance or opportunity they gave me, I liked it. I had a chance to work on some plays, do a couple of wrinkles and work on special teams."
Felix Jones came in and carried the ball six times, mainly in the first half, for 22 yards. He didn't have a catch. And Barber finished with 79 yards on 14 carries, including a 23-yard run, the longest by any Cowboys running back on Sunday. He also carried the load down the stretch.
"At the end of the ballgame, we like the give the ball to Marion," Garrett said. "He's such a physical guy. He brings so much energy to our team. When you see a guy carry the football like Marion Barber does, it's hard not to be positively effected by it. So it's fun to give him the ball at the end of the game and he did his job awfully well."
