Marion Barber III

[brickman]

Is it just me or does MBIII looking like he is dancing too much before hitting the hole? I don't know if it is just me, but it seems like either the O Line is giving him the hole he is expecting, or he just is very indecisive about where he wants to go. He seems to be doing that on almost every run. Does anyone else see this?

 

[tomson75]

I said the very same thing to my father yesterday.

This past sunday he had noted how Maroney looked just liked Barber in how he hit the hole so hard and punished defenders at the line of scrimmage. He couldn't believe that the two of them shared the same backfield in college. (this was after a particularly hard run by Maroney where he cleaned two guys clocks in one play for a 12-15 yard gain.)

I told him that Barber doesn't really run like that very often anymore. he dances too much before the hole...and that he was starting to look like (*gulp*) Julius Jones at times.

Don't get me wrong, I love Marion, but anyone that thinks he plays with the same fire as he did two years ago isn't watching the same player that I am. Its a tough position to play the way he played it.

 

[brickman]

Yep, that's the same thing I see. He definitely is not the same running back he was 2 years ago.

 

[viman96]

I think Barber is still hurt. His burst is not what is was and he does not seem to have a second gear.

 

[Dallyjake]

I agree and think he should sit and watch Felix and Choice play. Barber is still nursing that quad and is not 100%.

 

[Faerluna]

Yesterday, it looked to me like his run was a little lopsided. Instead of equal power to both legs, he was favoring one of them.

I'm betting that he's still nursing it a bit, and doesn't want to re-injure it since we have to get through a brutal December and hit the playoffs at full speed.

 

[Derinyar]

I think Barber is still hurt. His burst is not what is was and he does not seem to have a second gear.

I don't remember Barber ever really having a second gear. The difference is in the past he was running over DBs as opposed to getting tackled by them.

 

[Sarge]

Yesterday, it looked to me like his run was a little lopsided. Instead of equal power to both legs, he was favoring one of them.

.

Agreed.

 

[locked&loaded]

he gets confused in open space.

 

[brickman]

I don't remember Barber ever really having a second gear. The difference is in the past he was running over DBs as opposed to getting tackled by them.

Agreed. Even on his 20+ yard run yesterday, it seemed like he went away from the hole, stutter stepped, and it just happened to open up in front of him. Either he doesn't trust the line opening up the hole where the play is designed, or he's just trying to wait until something big opens up in front of him. This is especially evident on draws or delays.

 

[craig71]

I think that what a person sees isn't necessarily the whole picture,I don't think it's any one thing but rather a combination of things.
Some possible combinations:

1) He's making a business decision
2) He's not 100%
3) He's regressing
4) Lack of trust in the line
5) Bad play design
6) Good defensive play
7) He can't exhibit a trait he doesn't have
8) Bad line play allows penetration

Craig

 

[Angus]

Barber has been a great back and still could be if he were used correctly. As a starter he is only a good back. Garrett is following the Peter Principle: keep promoting a superlative man until he is in a position in which he can no longer be superlative.

He has never been as quick to the hole as Choice, nor as consistent as an every down back. Garrett does not employ the Dallas backs in a wise way. That goes for his use of Felix Jones, too.

 

[rwilliamsfan]

Maybe I'm mis-remembering this, but didn't Barber lose weight this off-season in an effort to gain speed? Perhaps he realized his career won't last as long if he is a battering-ram on every run?

Just throwing it out there.

 

[CATCH17]

I don't remember Barber ever really having a second gear. The difference is in the past he was running over DBs as opposed to getting tackled by them.

Hes been much faster in the past.

There is no telling how many times he has bounced runs to the outside and scored off of them from a way out.

He's also been a threat out of the backfield with the wheel route in the past.

He is obviously hobbled and you can see it when he runs.

 

[CF74]

He probably shouldn't even be playing right now till his quad heals but that's how the barbarian is...

 

[tunahelper]

Didnt Peete say it would take 10 weeks for his leg to heal?

 

[Derinyar]

Hes been much faster in the past.

There is no telling how many times he has bounced runs to the outside and scored off of them from a way out.

He's also been a threat out of the backfield with the wheel route in the past.

He is obviously hobbled and you can see it when he runs.

In his career he's had 4 plays of over 40 yards, and one of them was yesterday. The evidence just really doesn't support him being a fast player in the past, the present, or the future.

Me might not be 100% healthy, but hes not a guy with a great top gear even when fully healthy. That's why he is probably a better closer than he is an opener.

 

[Vinnie2u]

I know its been said but I want Choice to start.. Marion needs to be the Closer...

 

[Derinyar]

I know its been said but I want Choice to start.. Marion needs to be the Closer...

If he's healthy I'd probably say Felix needs to start.

 

[Vinnie2u]

If he's healthy I'd probably say Felix needs to start.

I dont think Felix can handle the workload.. I rather keep him as a situational back..