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

[superpunk]

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.

Possibly.

But at what point can you no longer ignore the fact that the backup is simply more talented? Barber's accumulated over 100 more yards on 5 less carries. I don't care when he's getting them, or how - that is an outrageous discrepancy. Continuing to ignore the fact that our first quarter offense needs help, and we continue to trot out our less talented running back to start games, is just flat out foolish on the part of our coaching staff.

 

[Cbz40]

October 17, 2007


Getting started


When I read Tim's post on Marion Barber, I immediately thought about something Laurence Maroney said to me last week.


Barber and Maroney rank among the most impressive 1-2 tailback tandems in NCAA history, together in 2003 and '04 at Minnesota as the first pair to post back-to-back twin 1,000-yard seasons in college football history. With the Gophers, Barber was the starter with Maroney coming off the bench.


Remarkably, if you add up the numbers from those two seasons, Maroney (2,469 yards) and Barber (2,465) have rushing numbers separated by just 4 yards.


Maroney started just four games in that, all either with Barber also on the field as a slotback, or because of injury. One reason, of course, was probably seniority. But Maroney brought up another one that had to do with the style each brought to the game -- Maroney being the slasher and Barber the banger.


"We played off each other well," said Maroney. "He was more of a pounder, I was more of a speed guy. He’d go in there and get the defense all bruised up, and I’d just run past them. He made it a lot easier for me."


Is it possible that Barber could set up defenses for Julius Jones the same way he did for Maroney? Well, generally, you'd want your bruiser to be in there in the fourth quarter against a worn down defense. But something needs to be done about the slow first quarters an otherwise explosive offense is dealing with (as Todd wrote today), and maybe this is the kind of shake-up that could work.




Posted by Albert Breer http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/icons/email.gif at 10:35 AM (E-mail this entry)

 

[03EBZ06]

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.

We only scored three points in six 1st quarters this year, this is an issue, a known issue. One can blame O-Line or other aspect of the game but again, what would it hurt to changing up little bit to see if we can get better result?

As is now, it is becoming very apparant that MBIII is getting nearly same amount of carries as JJ so what does it matter if JJ or MBIII starts first offensive series?

JJ had his chances to get the running game started in first quarter but nothing is happening so let MBIII start to see he can get the running game going early.

I will concede that our first quarter woe is more than just a running game, Romo hasn't exactly lit up in first quarter either, he is only completing 46% of his passes with surprisingly low QB Rating of 22.6 (mostly due to Bills game) so WP need to come up with a better passing scheme early in the game as well.

 

[jterrell]

Dallas should start Barber because he's the better player; period. Belichek hinted it, the Cowboys players allude to it, everyone knows. Its no longer a secret.
Barber is better.

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.

This is supposed to be telling??? Barber is struggling at only 2.57 yards per carry average. BUT Jones is more awful at 1.57 yards per carry. So on two carries Barber makes is 3rd and just under 5 yards to go while it's 3rd and just under 7 yards under Jones' two carries. Something tells me the Boys have a lot more leeway with 5 to go then they do at 7.

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

I agree there but I also think the attitude we are going to go out and strike right away would be helped if the team believed it had its best weapons in to start the game.

 

[Cali'sFinest]

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 ><.

&&

October 17, 2007


Getting started
"We played off each other well," said Maroney. "He was more of a pounder, I was more of a speed guy. He’d go in there and get the defense all bruised up, and I’d just run past them. He made it a lot easier for me."

Posted by Albert Breer http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/icons/email.gif

ta duh!