*IS* Marion Barber an "ELITE" RB?

[JohnnyHopkins]

A RB can NOT be considered elite if he can't take it to the house further than 20 yards away. He lacks the speed to be elite.

So, based on your criteria, Barber is an elite back since he had that 40 Yard touchdown against the Dolphins. We should go ahead and pay him the money, then.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I love MBIII, but he is not even the best player on the team. He is still behind Romo, TO, Newman, Ware, and Witten. When I think of an "elite" back I think of a team that centers around there running back. Long story short, hes not worth more than 30 mil.

to the board. Enjoy!!!

 

[Romo2Dez4six]

SODD opinions don't count :laugh2:

sorry:laugh1:

 

[Shady12]

Barber is quick, has burst, vision, power. The only thing he lacks is top end speed. You don't have to have that, you just need the other stuff. I don't know if he's elite, but does it even matter? Even if he's not elite he's still in the upper echelon of NFL backs. Sure he has to prove it next year as "the guy" but no reason to think he won't keep doing what he's done as the full-time guy. Might he have a short career? Maybe so but I'm sure he at least has about 4-5 great years and that's plenty. We shouldn't pay him now what a guy like LT makes, but if he ends up without a deal until he's a free agent and looks like a hoss and busts out 1,500 yards then you give him a big-time deal.

 

[Dallasfan2010]

haha thanks big dog!

 

[ctrous25]

Nope... but he will be after this year

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I love him but Jerry will be making a mistake similar to Roy if he pays him long term, big money.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

Well, presently MB can't be called elite. Given his opportunity, I figure he will put up good numbers in this offense, and some will consider him elite soon. I don't think he is the type of a back that can carry an offense and he will never be the first guy the defense will gameplan against. This is what I would define elite as, a guy that scares the coaches Monday morning, a week before the game starts.

There are elite backs in the league, problem is alot of them are past elite backs. Takes something special for them to be elite for a long period of time. One thing is true, a RB can't really carry a team without a surrounding cast, but he can hold a team back.

Barber has alot to prove this season, at a position with a very short span of life. It was easier to see Romo would succeed cause of what we saw from him when he took over for Bledsoe. We really have no idea on Barber, and thats a scary thing for a team with SB dreams.

We are saying the Lions should trade Roy or they might not get anything for him, yet we have Barber who could be in the same boat. We need to pay attention to our own glasshouse before we start casting stones.

 

[trickblue]

No, he is in no way elite at this point from what we know...

Now, he IS damn good and should get damn good money...

Give us a full year as a starter and we'll talk elite money if it is warranted...

 

[Eskimo]

Barber is quick, has burst, vision, power. The only thing he lacks is top end speed. You don't have to have that, you just need the other stuff. I don't know if he's elite, but does it even matter? Even if he's not elite he's still in the upper echelon of NFL backs. Sure he has to prove it next year as "the guy" but no reason to think he won't keep doing what he's done as the full-time guy. Might he have a short career? Maybe so but I'm sure he at least has about 4-5 great years and that's plenty. We shouldn't pay him now what a guy like LT makes, but if he ends up without a deal until he's a free agent and looks like a hoss and busts out 1,500 yards then you give him a big-time deal.

Barber is quite slow to the hole - he often has to make something out of nothing which he is quite good at. Look at Emmitt and see how a much slower back but with good vision and instincts just bursts through a hole as it erupts - Barber doesn't do that and I don't think he ever will. That is why I think he will never be anything more than a complimentary thumper to someone else's wiggle and speed.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Barber is quite slow to the hole - he often has to make something out of nothing which he is quite good at. Look at Emmitt and see how a much slower back but with good vision and instincts just bursts through a hole as it erupts - Barber doesn't do that and I don't think he ever will. That is why I think he will never be anything more than a complimentary thumper to someone else's wiggle and speed.

He bounces sideways on so many runs and runs stiff-legged. Very unique running style. His dogged determination and heart are what compensates for his lack in other areas.

 

[Dhragon]

I don't think anybody can say with any certainty. We all have our opinions but we won't know for sure until he has the opportunity. I've read opinions on both sides of the question and they all make valid points but we won't really know until he does it. I really like him - his talent - his heart - his effort - his enthusiasm, etc. He brings a lot to the table yet in the back of my mind is the nagging thought that he might not be a franchise RB. It is hard to get an Emmitt Smith, Tony Dorsett, Don Perkins, Duane Thomas, Calvin Hill, etc. out of one's system.

I highlighted the part which seems to almost always disappear or at least decrease dramatically whenever a RB signs a new big contract. So even if some think he might be "elite" now, he almost assuredly will not be after signing a nice fat contract.

If the Boys can find a good trade out there for him, they should do it now while he has value. Otherwise draft another RB high ( and not just a complimentary back ) and use MBIII while he is still hungry and out to prove something.

 

[Dhragon]

not to continue to be a homer, but didnt we have this exact conversation about romo last year?

So because ONE player worked out ALL will work out?
I'll be happy to be wrong, but I think MBIII is the offenses "Roy Willy" and if we sign him to a big contract, we'll be moaning about it in a couple years just like we do Roy.

 

[Dhragon]

i think emmitt had better straight line speed than barber... thats scary.

LOL, Emmitt broke a number of long runs off every year. Barber can't seem to take it more than 30 yards max, if even that ( what is his longest run ever? Can someone look that up? ).

If Barber wasn't set on being paid as a full time Probowl RB, he would be great. He is a fantastic goal line, part time back. But we can't afford to pay that price for a part timer.

 

[Dhragon]

Yea but Barber has a quicker burst out the gate..His cut is faster then Emmitt.

Top speed a little slower though..Just my opinion.

Also taking it tot he house has nothing to do with a Elite RB. Moving the chains consistantly and running harder then 99% of other Rb's = Elite RB.

WRONG! And if you think he will maintain that hard running style indefinitely, especially after signing for a truckload of guaranteed money, then find the woman with the tallest blue hair you can find and get a job at a nuclear plant.

 

[Dhragon]

So, based on your criteria, Barber is an elite back since he had that 40 Yard touchdown against the Dolphins. We should go ahead and pay him the money, then.

Did he have a 40 yarder? At least 10 more yards than I thought his longest run was. One longish run( or even a couple ) is an exception, not a rule. Did I miss him consistently ( or at least more than once vs the worst team in football ) running in 40 yard TDs this season?

 

[kmd24]

LOL, Emmitt broke a number of long runs off every year. Barber can't seem to take it more than 30 yards max, if even that ( what is his longest run ever? Can someone look that up? ).

If Barber wasn't set on being paid as a full time Probowl RB, he would be great. He is a fantastic goal line, part time back. But we can't afford to pay that price for a part timer.

Barber had two 40+ yard runs this year in 204 carries. That's two more 40+ yard runs that Clinton Portis has had in the last two years with nearly twice as many carries and the same number of 40+ yard runs as Ladanian Tomlinson had in 2007 with 50% more carries.

Barber averages a 20+ yard run every 31.8 carries. By comparison, LT has a 20+ yard run every 33.8 carries and Portis every 41.7 carries.

MBIII may not ever break a 90 yard run, but the idea that he hasn't been a big play back is just wrong.

 

[Royal Laegotti]

Was just watching MB3's agent, Drew Rosenhause on SportsCenter and he was talking about the kind of contract/money that MB3 deserves.

He said that he is a Pro Bowl running and should be paid like a Pro Bowl running back. He then said MB3 is an elite running back and he should be paid like an elite running back (not verbatim 'cept for "elite").

My question, IS Marion Barber III an "elite" running back in the NFL? Has he proven enough in his 2 years to warrant that label?

I love MB3, but I'd say no. Not as a 3year, 3game starter. We do have to realize that many of his yards came later in games w/ Dallas carrying a lead. Is he the kind of RB that can break open a game and take a lead away from an opponent? I most certainly hope so, but right now... I don't think we've seen enough to say yes for sure.

I'm just weary of ending up w/ a high priced change-of-pace guy

I think a better question is are the Cowboys elite without Barber, my opinion is no.

 

[theebs]

Did he have a 40 yarder? At least 10 more yards than I thought his longest run was. One longish run( or even a couple ) is an exception, not a rule. Did I miss him consistently ( or at least more than once vs the worst team in football ) running in 40 yard TDs this season?

Dude.

Calling him the offenses roy willy and not even being familiar with what he accomplished last year is pretty ignorant.

Might want to do some research on 40 yard runs and how that correlates to meaning that back is a "feature" back.

but then again, cowboys fans are fickle and nothing is ever good enough so bash away.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

Did he have a 40 yarder? At least 10 more yards than I thought his longest run was. One longish run( or even a couple ) is an exception, not a rule. Did I miss him consistently ( or at least more than once vs the worst team in football ) running in 40 yard TDs this season?

Then you also missed a 54 yarder that was tackled at the one, I suppose? How about his 37 yarder against Carolina? 36 Yarder against the Giants? Those don't matter anyway, because you already set the bar at one run of over twenty yards for a touchdown.