DMN: BLOG: Would Marion the Barbarian make a difference?

[Cbz40]

October 16, 2007


Would Marion the Barbarian make a difference?

LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN​

Todd Archer put the Cowboys' first-quarter offensive futility in perspective, noting that no NFL team has scored fewer points in the first 15 minutes of games.


One popular potential solution is to start Marion "The Barbarian" Barber over Julius Jones. It couldn't hurt, considering the Cowboys have failed to pick up a first down on their opening possession in the last five games.


However, Wade Phillips shot down that idea, saying he plans to stick with the same running back rotation. The stats suggest Barber wouldn't make much of a difference anyway.


As good as Barber has been this season, it's not like he comes flying out of the gates. The Cowboys haven't scored on the first series Barber started the last five games, going three-and-out in the last four games.


Barber has rushed for 18 yards on seven carries in those five series. Jones has rushed for 11 yards on seven carries on the opening possession the last five games.


The Cowboys' early impotency isn't something you can pin on one position.




Posted by Tim MacMahon http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/icons/email.gif at 9:45 PM (E-mail this entry)

 

[utrunner07]

Im pretty sure these guys just get their stories straight from this board...

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

Maybe its just in my head, but it seems like we try too hard to get the run going right at first and the moment we start passing, we start finding a little success. I know Romo is also a slow starter, but could solve that with some short passes to get him into a rhythm.

Not sure it's ever been an issue with the back who gets the first carries, but more to do with the fact that the playcalling is a little suspect early in the game.

 

[Cbz40]

Im pretty sure these guys just get their stories straight from this board...

It's very obvious isn't it....

 

[RomoFan4ever]

Maybe its just in my head, but it seems like we try too hard to get the run going right at first and the moment we start passing, we start finding a little success. I know Romo is also a slow starter, but could solve that with some short passes to get him into a rhythm.

Not sure it's ever been an issue with the back who gets the first carries, but more to do with the fact that the playcalling is a little suspect early in the game.

Or execution-on the first 2 possessions, Garrett DID call short passes, but they went for minimal gain.

I dunno-the players just seem to get alot of early game jitters to me.

 

[TheCount]

I fail to understand why they aren't even willing to TRY it. There's no rule set in stone that says if Barber starts one game, he can never go back. We're not talking about a QB switch here.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

Or execution-on the first 2 possessions, Garrett DID call short passes, but they went for minimal gain.

I dunno-the players just seem to get alot of early game jitters to me.

You may be right. It's probably a combination of a bunch of things that is causing us to falter early in games. I think our execution in general is just a little sloppy. Romo makes up for a lot of it though. As good as we think our o-line is, they are not only a penalty machine, but it seems like a lot of the times someone completely whiffs on a block and Romo bails them out with his feet.

Nor can we really run when we have to. Maybe our o-line is just overrated.

 

[badleelee]

Im pretty sure these guys just get their stories straight from this board...

It does seem to me that alot of what i hear. I hear from this board first.

 

[2much2soon]

Logically you'd want the physical, power back (Barbarian) in the there at the start to soften up the defense for the faster, finesse back (Jones), right?
And Barbarian's 'tude might get the offense going sooner as well...

 

[baj1dallas]

Or execution-on the first 2 possessions, Garrett DID call short passes, but they went for minimal gain.

I dunno-the players just seem to get alot of early game jitters to me.

He's got a point, they're not all that aggressive early it seem like.

 

[ddh33]

I get it when they talk about how Barber isn't a cure all. Like they said, the evidence has shown that the team doesn't start quickly no matter who is the RB. But I don't think it can hurt either - unless the Cowboys think Julius would somehow quit on the team for not getting a start or something, and I just can't imagine it being that much of a difference for him.

I just don't think it would hurt too much to have a little more fire and attitude in the huddle to start the game. Barber seems to supply a little more of that.

 

[Zman5]

Bottom line. We need to get better at run blocking. Period.

 

[Achozen]

Bottom line. We need to get better at run blocking. Period.

We also shouldn't be so predictable.

1st down: Incompletion

2nd down: JJ stuffed for no gain

3rd down: Romo overthrows T.O

What about trying a reverse or a quick slant, something.

 

[Cali'sFinest]

Logically you'd want the physical, power back (Barbarian) in the there at the start to soften up the defense for the faster, finesse back (Jones), right?
And Barbarian's 'tude might get the offense going sooner as well...

I thought about that too..If Barber starts early and weakens the D then Jones should run all over the tired D.

Unless you think Jones can't get the job done even with a tired D...

I really don't care who starts, just don't run 3 running plays in a row on the first or second drive ><.

 

[Canadian BoyzFan]

To answer the title of the thread.....NO.

 

[03EBZ06]

Would Marion the Barbarian make a difference?

Maybe, but we won't find out if we don't give it a try. I don't think it hurts anything (other than JJ's feeling) to start MBIII to see if he could do better than JJ.

 

[superpunk]

Maybe, but we won't find out if we don't give it a try. I don't think it hurts anything (other than JJ's feeling) to start MBIII to see if he could do better than JJ.

We need some sort of spark early in games in our run game. Yes, our entire offense is bad early in games, but the notion that "Well, we're just gonna stick with the same thing and hope it changes" is quickly passing from loyalty to the players - to stubbornness - to flat out stupidity.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Personally, I would like for them to switch roles.

 

[RomoIsBack]

i can't wait to see sunday how we start after that loss because it finally got us

 

[burmafrd]

Just maybe Wade knows that it is mostly the O line on running plays and Romo on passing plays- so he sees no reason to change something that would not matter.