Green vs Clayton - MBIII carrying the load - 7/5/08

[DallasDomination]

people need to stop with the hype on Choice, he will not back anybody up. he will not spare nobody or get any reps. Unless barber gets injured or felix gets injured there wont be a need for Choice.

 

[tomson75]

people need to stop with the hype on Choice, he will not back anybody up. he will not spare nobody or get any reps. Unless barber gets injured or felix gets injured there wont be a need for Choice.

Well since you asked nicely.

Ever hear of special teams, DD?

 

[JackMagist]

I look at it this way: what teams running backs would you rather have than what we have in Dallas?

Chargers: Yes LT getting old and Turner gone...Maybe
Raiders: Heck no. D-Mac unproven but he ups the anti for their RB's...I think you underestimate their other talent...Fargas had 1000+ last year and Jordan can be productive...So Id's go with Yes
Chiefs: No.
Broncos: No.
Browns: No.
Steelers: Maybe. Parker, and who else?...I don't think so
Ravens: No.
Bengals: No.
Bills: No.
Jets: No.
Patriots: Yes. Maroney and Faulk? Maroney is as good...but no better than MBIII...I like Felix's potential over Faulk's pedistrian experience
Dolphins No.
Jaguars Yes. Maybe...Jones Drew is pretty good...buy Fred Taylor is old and often injured
Colts: Maybe Adai and M-Hall? ...Maybe at best
Texans: No.
Titans: No.

Giants: Yes Jacobs is an oddity with his size but he does't impress me...Bradshaw came on and looked pretty good...Droughns and Ward are JAGs...So not really
Commanders: No
Eagles: No
Bears: No
Vikings: Yes Petterson...nuff said
Packers: No
Lions: No
Niners: No
Rams: No
Seahawks: haha no.
Cards: No.
Saints: No. If duece could stay healthy ya, but he's downside now.
Bucs: No.
Falcons: No.
Panthers: No.

So the way I see it, its kinda dumb for sports shows to argue about the Dallas RB's where there are only 5 teams who I would trade with right now. Two unproven guys just out of college, however, we are talking about the RB spot. RB's are the most likely to contribute as rookies, and Barber is a stud.

Tomlinson, Petterson and D-Mac are really the only players that make any RB combo look more attractive than ours. And LT is aging and has no one behind him now.

 

[peplaw06]

Bottom line is, Barber hasnt proven he CAN carry the load. We dont know cause Barber himself doesnt even know cause he's never been put in the position. It's too much of a risk to assume he's gonna get the job done, especially when you got an unproven rookie who hardly ran the tackles at college in Felix Jones.

MB3 had 40 more carries than JJ last season. I'd say he carried the load on this team.

He also was 21st in the league in rushing attempts, while not being the starter for one regular season game.

Adrian Peterson only had 34 more carries than MB3 last season... and he had an injury. Yet no one really thinks he "can't carry the load" on his team.

I don't expect MB3 to suddenly be a 300 carry back. There were only 6 of those in the NFL last year. All this angst about whether he can carry the load or not is a little odd, considering he's probably going to average 2-4 more carries per game than he did last season. That would put him at around 250 carries for the year -- which would have been 13th in the league last season.

 

[Sarge]

I think in order for MBIII to be totally effective he needs to be in the area of 12 to 15 times per game as a result of his running style.

If Felix turns out to be what some of us think he will and can be, that number might even be lower.

Time will tell.

 

[burmafrd]

It will be interesting after the first 6 games to see how many carries MB is getting. I do doubt he will average more then 15-16.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

This is a non-issue. How many carries MBIII gets per game will be dependent on the team and defense we are playing and the scheme they show up in.

MBIII will be the starter in the base offense. Felix Jones will have certain packages in which he is the starter, again depending on the personel package and the defense. Choice will be a backup who will be active only if he's a starter on Special Teams.

If a defense is afraid of our passing game and sits in the nickel with a 6 man front, MBIII could get 25 carries or more if he's being effective. Another team may load up against the run and clog the lanes...then we may see a 1-back system with Felix getting carries on the draw and sweeps.

I don't think it will be a case of Felix and MBIII spelling each other to stay fresh the way JJ and MBIII did. I really think these two guys will really be all about the package we're running and what's working on the defense.

Let's not forget that Felix and Choice are both rookies. I expect MBIII to get lots of carries in the first 4-6 games while these guys are eased in.

Let's also not forget that we have a very potent passing game, and I don't see Jason Garrett even wanting to pound it the way the coaches wanted to pound it with Emmitt. I think Jason wants to run it just enough to make the defense commit someone to it and then he wants to pass it, not prove they can still grind it out.

Very good post Wayne.

A lot of reality in there.

This isn't a Cowboy offense that's going to have 40+ carries per game.

Barber will have about 15
Felix will have about 10
Choice will get a few and then you have Romo with a couple carries per game along with the standard "end-around" a time or two.

And all of a sudden we have 32-34 carries, which is about right.

 

[Hoofbite]

I continue to believe that Barber will be the starter in name but not substance. Felix Jones will do what Julius Jones did, provide the quick hit, take-it-to-the-house performances, and Choice will spell Barber a lot until the game is on the line in the 3rd and 4th quarters. Garrett will keep all of them fresh by not overworking them, IMO.

:starspin

Except Julius never did that.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

I believe MBIII will be able to carry it 20 to 25 times... But I think Felix Jones will be the home run hitter...