FWST Blog: Would you start Felix Jones over The Barbarian?

[WoodysGirl]

Think about it. Assuming Felix Jones is back to full strength (after toe surgery), what about starting him and moving Marion Barber back to his former closer's role?

This question was posed to Jerry Jones recently by CBS 11's Steve Dennis in a one-on-one interview. Start Felix and you immediately come out with speed, finesse and home-run possbilities. Take a lead in the game or start to wear down a defense, then you pound Barber. It make better sense for Barber's strengths, but remember what this guy is getting paid -- last offseason he signed a 7-year, $45 million with $16 million in guaranteed money.

But also look at the facts. He had never been injured in the job-share role with Julius Jones. He becomes the featured back in 2008 and he's injured twice (ribs/toe) and missed one game and was totally ineffective down the stretch with the toe problem. Also, he posted his lowest career yards-per-carry at 3.7 this season.

Here's Jerry's answer to whether there is a possibility Felix could become the starter.

"I think this. It's a legitimate question because that's where Barber began and that's where he had tremendous impact on the success of our team. Really not behind behind Felix Jones or right behind Julius Jones, but using his skills when the defenses are worn down a little bit because of how physical he is. So that early going there's a chance you might ought to look at finesse or you might ought to look at speed. That's very legitimate. But to say that Marion Barber is not going to be involved or have the carries that we all think he would is not an issue at all. It's a question of the timing of those carries and when it will help us better win games."

First-half Felix, second-half Barber? How about Flash and Bash?
- Rick Herrin

Posted at 09:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

 

[BigBoy63]

I would so Marion can pound the rock when we need him to, and Felix can speed down the field on first downs.

 

[Hostile]

No, but I would use all 3 RBs differently than last year. First of all Felix on a screen would be pure dangerous. No one is better inside the Red Zone than Marion. I would use Choice to spell Barber the way Barber spelled Julius in 2006. Felix would be in on 3rd downs regardless of any formation.

Go with the hot hand. If Marion is killing people, give him the football. If Tashard is having one of those kinds of days, give it to him. If Bennett has a day where he cannot be covered throw it to him. I would definitely look to utilize his and Roy's jumping abilities in the end zone.

Create matchup problems and go with the hot hand. Some days guys simply have it. Some days they don't. Don't force the issue. There are too many weapons to need to force the issue.

 

[jterrell]

Excellent response by Jerry. Not sure how anyone can question that response which is basically saying yea we consider it a possibility without overstating anything and without belittling Marion.

I'd start both. If by start we mean the first play of the game. Put all the threats on the field on 1st downs and then move to Deon/Barber later on with Felix spread throughout so that his body isn't getting beat down.

While we want to see the very best of Barber we also want a maximally effective Felix which probably means no more than 15-20 touches per game. He is probably heading in that Westbrook direction but not quite there physically yet imho.

 

[Stash]

I don't think there's a chance of Felix 'starting' in the truest sense, but I can see him getting more carries early in a game.

It's funny that this article seems to question Barber as the starter based on injury, but doesn't seem to hold Felix to those same standards.

Barber is a fine starter and Felix a home-run threat, getting them both back healthy - with a commitment to the running game - will have this team in good shape for next year.

And in my opinion, Tashard Choice might be the player best-suited for a 'starter' role anyway.

This team is loaded with quality running backs.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I think I'd mix it up. Never let the defense get a good bead on who may or may not be opening a game, or a series, or whatever. Keep the defenses guessing as to who they're going to be chasing around out there.

 

[tunahelper]

Love this idea! Giants use this same formula with Jacobs and Ward in the past. Mainly just using them in this capacity and it doesnt really matter to me who officially starts.

 

[Hostile]

I don't think there's a chance of Felix 'starting' in the truest sense, but I can see him getting more carries early in a game.

It's funny that this article seems to question Barber as the starter based on injury, but doesn't seem to hold Felix to those same standards.

Barber is a fine starter and Felix a home-run threat, getting them both back healthy - with a commitment to the running game - will have this team in good shape for next year.

And in my opinion, Tashard Choice might be the player best-suited for a 'starter' role anyway.

This team is loaded with quality running backs.

I absolutely agree with that.

 

[big dog cowboy]

With 3 backs splitting carries does it really matter who starts?

 

[jterrell]

No, but I would use all 3 RBs differently than last year. First of all Felix on a screen would be pure dangerous. No one is better inside the Red Zone than Marion. I would use Choice to spell Barber the way Barber spelled Julius in 2006. Felix would be in on 3rd downs regardless of any formation.

Go with the hot hand. If Marion is killing people, give him the football. If Tashard is having one of those kinds of days, give it to him. If Bennett has a day where he cannot be covered throw it to him. I would definitely look to utilize his and Roy's jumping abilities in the end zone.

Create matchup problems and go with the hot hand. Some days guys simply have it. Some days they don't. Don't force the issue. There are too many weapons to need to force the issue.

Having all 3 guys be real options is a heck of a bonus as compared to last year where they were scared to death to let Felix or Tashard block early in the year. In fact Felix and Tashard showed much as runners they needed to focus a huge amount of their off-season on blocking.

I am really excited about what this 3-headed monster could do.

The Giants had that and perhaps not coincidentally had the best OL in football. Lost that as they did with injuries then the OL had some holes.

We run a run blocking OL scheme. The more we run the better the OL is and the more time Romo will have to go deep to his favorite primadonnas.

 

[dmoore]

No, but I would use all 3 RBs differently than last year. First of all Felix on a screen would be pure dangerous. No one is better inside the Red Zone than Marion. I would use Choice to spell Barber the way Barber spelled Julius in 2006. Felix would be in on 3rd downs regardless of any formation.

Go with the hot hand. If Marion is killing people, give him the football. If Tashard is having one of those kinds of days, give it to him. If Bennett has a day where he cannot be covered throw it to him. I would definitely look to utilize his and Roy's jumping abilities in the end zone.

Create matchup problems and go with the hot hand. Some days guys simply have it. Some days they don't. Don't force the issue. There are too many weapons to need to force the issue.

I guess it hasn't really set in that we're going to have all 3 guys healthy. Our running game is going to be outstanding. This might be one of the reasons I'd look at drafting a guard with our first pick just to make sure it stays on track. I think Barber should get more carries in the 1st and 4th quarters. Use Choice to spell him in the middle of the game, and mix Felix throughout. I really hope Garrett realizes just how could our backs are and leans on the running game more.

 

[tunahelper]

Excellent response by Jerry. Not sure how anyone can question that response which is basically saying yea we consider it a possibility without overstating anything and without belittling Marion.

I'd start both. If by start we mean the first play of the game. Put all the threats on the field on 1st downs and then move to Deon/Barber later on with Felix spread throughout so that his body isn't getting beat down.

While we want to see the very best of Barber we also want a maximally effective Felix which probably means no more than 15-20 touches per game. He is probably heading in that Westbrook direction but not quite there physically yet imho.

I like the idea of starting both and you can always threaten the defense with splitting Felix out. Also I would like to see those quick passes the Saints do to Bush where the WR's are lined up as twins on one side and he motions out of the backfield to the wide side of the field.

Brees will hit him in stride on a one step drop. He threatens a base defense everytime because of LB coverage switches to him and it leaves the middle of the line open for dives to Duece.

Sure would open options to TO & Witten as well.

 

[ENGCowboy]

No, but I would use all 3 RBs differently than last year. First of all Felix on a screen would be pure dangerous. No one is better inside the Red Zone than Marion. I would use Choice to spell Barber the way Barber spelled Julius in 2006. Felix would be in on 3rd downs regardless of any formation.

Go with the hot hand. If Marion is killing people, give him the football. If Tashard is having one of those kinds of days, give it to him. If Bennett has a day where he cannot be covered throw it to him. I would definitely look to utilize his and Roy's jumping abilities in the end zone.

Create matchup problems and go with the hot hand. Some days guys simply have it. Some days they don't. Don't force the issue. There are too many weapons to need to force the issue.

Seems to me this was Garretts problem last year too many toys to play with and never focusing on the one thats working on any given sunday.

 

[Hostile]

Seems to me this was Garretts problem last year too many toys to play with and never focusing on the one thats working on any given sunday.

Every coordinator struggles now and then. The struggles make you better. Read Tom Landry's biography for reference.

 

[arync]

let Barber start and get the first 2 series. Bring Felix in on 3rd downs and let Choice get the next 2 series similar with what they did with Julius. This way everyone is fresh and in the 4th quarter go with Barber to pound the rock

 

[STSINAZ]

best thing jerry has ever said

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I would do it in a heartbeat

Barber's style is more conducive to running against a D that is tired and who get sloppy in their tackling, that's when they try to take him head on, and he'll just stiff-arm them

teams have figured out to stop Barber, go for his legs, but when you're tired during games, you tend to forget about those small details

 

[Merlin]

Felix Jones is like Reggie Bush. He is not a featured back but you can line him up anywhere and create mismatches. Choice should start and Felix does his Reggie Bush thing and then bring Barber in the second half when the other team is tired. That's when Barber is at his best and his bruising style actually works.

Jerry overpaid Barber. No doubt. His agent got him a very good deal considering he was never the featured back. Jerry does tend to be to loyal at times and he has overpaid many times. But at least he drafted Felix and Choice, they come pretty cheap.

 

[jterrell]

Jerry overpaid Barber. No doubt. His agent got him a very good deal considering he was never the featured back. Jerry does tend to be to loyal at times and he has overpaid many times. But at least he drafted Felix and Choice, they come pretty cheap.

I think the Barber contract gets labeled as worse than it really is. It included 16 mil of guaranteed money which isn't bad at all.

The overall deal was 7 years and 45 mil but Marion never touches some if not most of that backend money.

By comparison, Brandon Jacobs made 4 years 25 mil with 15 mil of that in the first two years so he will likely see every cent of his deal.

3 years from now they'll probably both cost the same on the cap and its possible Barber is a bit cheaper.

And while Jacobs may be a bit higher ranked RB what Barber has done near the goal line is invaluable. That skillset of getting into the end zone is nearly priceless.

But there is no doubt you seldom want to offer a guy a contract coming off of his first pro bowl and that's what happened with Barber.

FWIW the other contract we signed about the same time is the one I question much more. TNew got 50 mil with 22.5 mil guaranteed. He is older and had been banged up a bit each season. So his play has fluctuated from elite shut down guy to just average sometimes from month to month.

 

[jobberone]

Now this is a football thread. Lots of good posts. I don't care who starts. I'd actually look at the matchups for each team then tailor my starter among the three. I do think Barber will get the majority of the snaps as starter.

All three are good matchups on LBs. They do need to work on the screens to all of them esp The Cat. My worry is that OL is just not going to do them well enough. It's so obvious they do some it makes me very suspicious it just wasn't a viable option for Garrett. Did we really run them in the early 90s?

I would also like to see the quick outs to a RB. I'd put The Cat and one of the others in the same backfield and try it first like that. And send Felix downfield like they did with Tony and Walker. His 40 times do not reflect his speed. That play would be a great one if the run game got established. Esp on third and short.