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

[jobberone]

Nope - I'm here all week.

Try the veal!

LOL. I needed the laugh. How can you not love Shrek? I do think it's pretty pathetic I can almost do the 'I Am Legend' scene. That's sad.

 

[CATCH17]

He was even more amazing years prior. I don't mean this as a knock on Barber at all, I still think he is a very good back, I just liked Choice better. That Pitt game was awful impressive.

Although I fully admit I may just have "look, shiny!!" syndrome.

On the whole though, the guy I am most excited to watch next season is Felix. If they don't get him on the field enough again next year someone better be arrested.

It has to be the look shiny syndrome.

Barber Blocks, Catches, and runs better than all 3.

He just isn't as much of a home run threat like the other 2 but Barber punishes the other teams defense.

If you were a defender who is the guy you would least like to try and tackle?

A lot of these millionaire pretty boys dont like it when a RB sticks his face mask right into their chest and runs them smooth over.

 

[Apollo Creed]

Barber will most likely be the odd man out. Someone will give up a ton for him next offseason. I love him as a person and a player. It just makes sense. We got the best years out of him, let someone else pick up that enormous contract - while we get Choice and Felix for practically nothing.

I didn't notice that he lost a step before the injury, but this is the NFL - and one Marion Barber carry is like 2 for any other back.

Either way I'll be pleased, but I really think he's going to be the odd man out. Especially after Jerry's comments last year (Which I thought were totally out of line).

 

[adbutcher]

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.

Great post. I would only add TO's leaping ability also.

I never did understand why we did not do more of this last year. A defense can have it perfectly covered and still give up six. I would dedicate 5 to 10 minutes of daily practice time on this.

 

[CATCH17]

Great post. I would only add TO's leaping ability also.

I never did understand why we did not do more of this last year. A defense can have it perfectly covered and still give up six. I would dedicate 5 to 10 minutes of daily practice time on this.

The day we traded for Roy Williams I said that Romo has to realise that the guy can be covered and still make a play.

Maybe with Mini Camps, training camps, and Kitna in his ear telling him he will understand that throwing it up for grabs to Roy Williams is about as unstopable as when the Giants lob it up to Plaxico.

 

[Vinnie2u]

Start Barber and Jones in the same backfield. From there move Jones around. Put him in the slot, on the end, motion him out. Make defenses commit to stopping him.. Use Choice to spell Barber 2nd and third quarter...

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Barber will most likely be the odd man out. Someone will give up a ton for him next offseason. I love him as a person and a player. It just makes sense. We got the best years out of him, let someone else pick up that enormous contract - while we get Choice and Felix for practically nothing.

I didn't notice that he lost a step before the injury, but this is the NFL - and one Marion Barber carry is like 2 for any other back.

Either way I'll be pleased, but I really think he's going to be the odd man out. Especially after Jerry's comments last year (Which I thought were totally out of line).

I agree.

I think he is too.

I think both Felix and Choice are more skilled at running the football.

I'd like to see Barber go back to about 150 carries, get a nice healthy 4.5 ypc average and then trade his arse come next offseason.

 

[Alexander]

It has to be the look shiny syndrome.

Barber Blocks, Catches, and runs better than all 3.

He just isn't as much of a home run threat like the other 2 but Barber punishes the other teams defense.

If you were a defender who is the guy you would least like to try and tackle?

A lot of these millionaire pretty boys dont like it when a RB sticks his face mask right into their chest and runs them smoother over.

When comparing Barber to Choice, that's important. Who do you think that opposing defenses would not want to have to play against more often? Again, no offense to Choice but Barber wins that vote hands down.

 

[wileedog]

When comparing Barber to Choice, that's important. Who do you think that opposing defenses would not want to have to play against more often? Again, no offense to Choice but Barber wins that vote hands down.

I just think the bigger, more physical defenses like Pitt or Philly will happily take the punishment if it means you're running game is going to get 3 yds/carry. You can't over-run everybody, and like I said I think Choice is quicker through the hole while still being physical enough to take the majority of the carries.

Its probably 6 one way half dozen the other in the long run, just my preference.

 

[wileedog]

Barber Blocks, Catches, and runs better than all 3..

I don't agree, Choice is definitely quicker than Barber, and showed good blocking and receiving skills for a rookie. He's only going to get better.

And you certainly can't say Barber runs better than Felix.

 

[jterrell]

Barber is light years better as a blocker, he is a much better short yardage and goal line guy and he is much more physical.

Felix is an elite speed guy but he isn't a proven between the tackles guy.
Best case he ends up as Brian Westbrook. More likely he is Reggie Bush.

Choice is a solid back but he is not special. He isn't very big nor extremely strong. He isn't fast nor particularly elusive. He does play the position well however and he gets the yardage he should.

Right now we want all 3 and we should continue to have all 3.

 

[CATCH17]

I don't agree, Choice is definitely quicker than Barber, and showed good blocking and receiving skills for a rookie. He's only going to get better.

And you certainly can't say Barber runs better than Felix.

Barber is a smarter and harder runner than the other 2.

The only thing I like better about Choice is his vision. The only thing I like better about Felix is his explosiveness.

I really like all 3 but Barber is the Pace Maker for this team and once we get him going we are almost impossible to stop.

Out of the 3 Barber is the best all around and he is our knockout punch.

He is the fist of the Dallas Cowboys and he punches people in the mouth.

 

[jterrell]

I don't agree, Choice is definitely quicker than Barber, and showed good blocking and receiving skills for a rookie. He's only going to get better.

And you certainly can't say Barber runs better than Felix.

Choice is no where near Barber as a blocker. Neither is Felix.

And it isn't just technique or preparation it is raw ability and size. Barber can handle blitzing LBs because he is 240 pounds, Felix is 210 soppin wet, Choice is 210 sopping wet.

And it depends on what he means by runs better.

Barber is the hardest of the 3 to tackle by a country mile. He is the one with the best nose for short yardage plays.

We have to be very careful not to overrate our youngsters.

Choice had a good rookie effort but he only had 92 carries for 472 yards and 2 TDs. That is a good month for a healthy Barber and he may well score more TDs in that ina single 4th quarter.

Felix has only had 30 carries with 3 rushing TDs. He has flashed special ability but we haven't seen that he can do that all season.

 

[BAT]

What, no takers?

I thought that was pretty clever!



Include Choice and you could have "Flash, Dash, and Bash."

It needs a "Smash" for the new FB.

 

[BAT]

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.

Now THIS is what I would love to see. Get all your playmakers on the field at the same time. Felix in the slot threatens opposing Ds moreso than Crayton in the slot.

 

[BAT]

I don't agree, Choice is definitely quicker than Barber, and showed good blocking and receiving skills for a rookie. He's only going to get better.

And you certainly can't say Barber runs better than Felix.

Choice is a natural runner, but he was clearly having problems hanging on to passes and recognizing blitzes. He will get better, but Barber is superior to him at those phases of the game, at this time.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

Use Felix like Reggie Bush..let him catch 40+ passes while mixing in some runs to make them honest.

Felix>Bush

 

[isawoj]

Barber is a smarter and harder runner than the other 2.

The only thing I like better about Choice is his vision. The only thing I like better about Felix is his explosiveness.

I really like all 3 but Barber is the Pace Maker for this team and once we get him going we are almost impossible to stop.

Out of the 3 Barber is the best all around and he is our knockout punch.

He is the fist of the Dallas Cowboys and he punches people in the mouth.

How is Barber a smarter runner than the other 2?

 

[wileedog]

Choice is a natural runner, but he was clearly having problems hanging on to passes and recognizing blitzes. He will get better, but Barber is superior to him at those phases of the game, at this time.

Sorry, didn't mean to imply that Choice is better in those areas right now, only that for a rookie he was quite good and will only improve. Its not a liability in his game.

Clearly Barber is better right now, agreed.

 

[thechosen1n2]

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)

Start Choice (only 20 to 25 carry back we have, though he would never get that many carries), have Felix in the mix everywhere (halfback, slot, wild cat, 2back formation, screens, kick off returns) keep him as the element of suprise so teams cant gameplan for him. Marion as the finisher.