Marion Barber=Troy Hambrick

[KJJ]

Barber hasn't shown much burst since his quad injury in week 2. His legs appear to be going dead especially later in games as the season goes on. You could clearly see this on the one break away run he had last night where he stumbled down without being touched. He looked exactly like Troy Hambrick on that play. Remember how effective Hambrick was when he use to come in and spell Emmitt but once he became the starter he wasn't as good. Everytime Hambrick would break into the open field he would start to stumble down without being touched. Barber is looking almost the same way in the open field. He runs very stiff legged in the open field and is starting to stumble without any contact. His quad injury occurred without any contact. You don't see the same burst and leg drive he use to show when he was the backup. His punishing billy goat rockem sockem style is starting to take it's toll on him with the more carries he gets. It's CLEAR he's not the same player he was in 07.

Teams are ready for him on short yardage and he simply doesn't have the burst or leg drive to pick up a yard anymore. I would either go with the wildcat in those 3rd and short situations with Choice or try Felix or Choice on conventional running plays. They both have some burst and can find small seams to squeeze out at least a yard. Braber use to be money in those situations but not anymore he's become more of a liability in those situations. This short yardage problem is going to come back to bite us in the butt if we don't stop giving Barber the ball on the same play everytime. How many times does it have to fail before we stop going to him?

 

[Smiles Baustin]

you`re right about him losing the burst he used to have...I remember that game in arizona in 2005 and he was playing with such pace and he had breakways back then,

but he`s not hambrick bad..He still runs hard, and in the 4th quarter, is still an absolute menace inbetween the tackles.....The hit he put on Vilma against the SAints was an indication of that

 

[ajk23az]

you`re right about him losing the burst he used to have...I remember that game in arizona in 2005 and he was playing with such pace and he had breakways back then,

but he`s not hambrick bad..He still runs hard, and in the 4th quarter, is still an absolute menace inbetween the tackles.....The hit he put on Vilma against the SAints was an indication of that

He was running over people all game yesterday. It's not always on the RB when he doesn't get yardage, the OLINE has to block first and not let them get into the backfield. Barber is still a good RB.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Barber is approaching Brandon Jacobs level of "Paid too much for too little production".

 

[Chief]

When I watch Barber play now, I'm reminded of the warnings Tony Dorsett (and Emmitt, too, I think) issued a couple of years ago. Guys who run like that get beat up and don't last long.

Barber is a shell of his former self. And aside from his lack of burst and speed, he's dancing around too much. Often times, he's almost completely upright when he takes the handoff and he shuffles left and right before moving forward.

He's had a critical fumble or two this year, too.

 

[Brooksey]

The field looked in terrible shape on that play where he fell down. Not to make excuses for the guy but on my TV set it looked like ripped up sod/dirt.

 

[Crown Royal]

He was running over people all game yesterday. It's not always on the RB when he doesn't get yardage, the OLINE has to block first and not let them get into the backfield. Barber is still a good RB.

This. I was never prepared to go with him as a starter, I thought it was asking too much of him, but he's still a productive back. Felix has his holes too, not sure you really want to see 20 carries by him a game.

Choise is really the only complete back I see, but there are issues there too.

 

[KJJ]

you`re right about him losing the burst he used to have...I remember that game in arizona in 2005 and he was playing with such pace and he had breakways back then,

but he`s not hambrick bad..He still runs hard, and in the 4th quarter, is still an absolute menace inbetween the tackles.....The hit he put on Vilma against the SAints was an indication of that

Granted Barber is not Troy Hambrick bad but there are some disturbing similarities between the two in the open field. Hopefully the Cowboys will come to grips sooner rather than later that Barber is not a feature back who scares anyone.

 

[AbeBeta]

The thread title really says it all ... unfortunately, it says more about the poster than the player

 

[Apollo Creed]

Put me in the minority that sees him as a great back. He catches well, picks up the blitz, and fights for every yard.

He isn't 100%, the line is terrible blocking in short yardage situations, and RJ isn't maximizing his potential as a closer.

 

[THUMPER]

I don't think Barber has a physical problem as much as a mental one. He hits the hole just fine on most downs but in short yardage situations he stops and looks for a hole instead of just going over the top or making a hole for himself. He loses momentum and is finished unless he can somehow sneak through.

IMO he is NOT a good short yardage back. I would rather see Choice or even Anderson in those situations than Barber.

That said, Barber did a very good job in the 4th quarter wearing down the clock which is a good role for him. He is averaging 5.7 yards per carry in the 4th quarter compared with 4.2, 3.6, & 3.3 in the other quarters.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

http://i73.***BLOCKED***/albums/i216/OnkelC/01forumpics/newthread-cat-bite.gif

 

[Crown Royal]

Put me in the minority that sees him as a great back. He catches well, picks up the blitz, and fights for every yard.

He isn't 100%, the line is terrible blocking in short yardage situations, and RJ isn't maximizing his potential as a closer.

I think there are other factors as well. He had some nice plays - if not for the 3 stuff jobs his ypc average would be up there with Felix Jones'. Good back. Not great, but good.

 

[KJJ]

The thread title really says it all ... unfortunately, it says more about the poster than the player

You didn't even attempt to make an argument so that says you have no argument. :shades:

 

[Plumfool]

Most of those short yardage situations are being horribly called. You don't call trap plays or have guards pulling. You run straight downhill. Man on man blocking. Take out your wideouts and put in extra beef.

 

[DallasCowpoke]

Hambrick had some of his best games against the Commanders, for whatever that's worth. Seems I remember him having a 150+ yard game, or close to it, against them?

Still, I'll take Barber at his worst over "What do voluntary mean?" boy.

 

[AbeBeta]

You didn't even attempt to make an argument so that says you have no argument. :shades:

That you even think this comparison is valid tells me all I need to know about where this "argument" is going. 43 TD vs. 9 TD is pretty much all you need to know.

 

[THUMPER]

http://i73.***BLOCKED***/albums/i216/OnkelC/01forumpics/newthread-cat-bite.gif

That is AWESOME!!!

 

[Gadfly22]

I think the problem is that MBIII has put on weight since his injury. Watch him as he trots to the sideline -- his butt is O-lineman size when it never was before. And that extra poundage is slowing him down and making him even less elusive than before.

But with the chronic failures on 3rd and 4th and short, something has to change.

 

[Hoofbite]

The guy looks so much better as the game goes on. He needs to get his carries in the 2nd half.