MB3 - 2nd String Is Where He Belongs

[odog422]

I know it was only the first preseason game, but IMO, JJ #1, MB3 #2, without question. I felt like our first drive stalled once JJ was taken out, was pleasantly surprised with the production from JJ on third down and out of the backfield, and felt MB3 may have been pressing just a bit (reading fan press clippings) trying to bounce, hop, etc.

I was not impressed at all with his performance against the 1st string. Not for the first time I am reminded of the clamoring for Hambrick based on his huge YPC on limited carries and what happened once he was inserted as the starter.

Don't they say the back-up is always the fan favorite? Not saying JJ set the world on fire, but I think the one-two pecking order is correct, and I think I'd rather see JJ get a series or three off rather than automatically come out every 3rd down and inside the 20.

 

[juck]

i agree he just doesnt have the speed.he can be our Bus .

 

[VA Cowboy]

I like Barber, but I agree he's best used in short yardage in and in the second half.

After seeing Julius for a couple of years and Barber for over a year, unless something drastic changes, I'm totally leaning for a franchise caliber RB with our top pick next spring.

 

[dargonking999]

Like i've said before, there is a reason BP kept barber at #2. Because he didn't do as BP said. There were many times i saw him bounce a run from the hole and lose yards against the first team last night. He tried to hard to get extra yards, instead of taking what the defense gave him.

 

[aikemirv]

I like Barber, but I agree he's best used in short yardage in and in the second half.

After seeing Julius for a couple of years and Barber for over a year, unless something drastic changes, I'm totally leaning for a franchise caliber RB with our top pick next spring.

Well, with our current talent mix, and if there were a guy like Calvin Johnson available, I would take a Calvin Johnson over a guy like McFadden.

I definitley think we can win it all with the RB's on our team, but if we were to lose TG or TO, I am not so sure. With their age they are not going to be around but so much longer.

 

[VA Cowboy]

Well, with our current talent mix, and if there were a guy like Calvin Johnson available, I would take a Calvin Johnson over a guy like McFadden.

I definitley think we can win it all with the RB's on our team, but if we were to lose TG or TO, I am not so sure. With their age they are not going to be around but so much longer.

The beauty of it is we have two #1 picks. I think there will be some quality WR's in the latter portion of round one.

 

[AbeBeta]

Like i've said before, there is a reason BP kept barber at #2. Because he didn't do as BP said. There were many times i saw him bounce a run from the hole and lose yards against the first team last night. He tried to hard to get extra yards, instead of taking what the defense gave him.

I think there is a reason he didn't want Barber bounce runs outside -- it is because that isn't the kind of back he needs to be to be effective. You note exactly what the problem is with that sort of play -- he is going to lose yards far more often than gain them doing that. He's a tackle breaker - and you don't generally break tackles running sideline to sideline.

 

[sago1]

At this point I'd identify our big needs as: RB, WR, CB & NT; The first 3 should be quality talent who could start immediately/sooner rather then later with a NT who can quickly develop to help Ferguson for 1-3 years but who definitely is his successor. Of course this is assuming Spencer comes on along with Ellis return to form & back on the practice field. We might also need add a backup QB cause I doubt Matt could win that job in 08.

 

[Yeagermeister]

I thought JJ looked good last night. He seemed to have the quick feet back and Barber looked slow.

JJ still made a few wrong cuts though. :

 

[dargonking999]

I think there is a reason he didn't want Barber bounce runs outside -- it is because that isn't the kind of back he needs to be to be effective. You note exactly what the problem is with that sort of play -- he is going to lose yards far more often than gain them doing that. He's a tackle breaker - and you don't generally break tackles running sideline to sideline.

Thats my problem, with barber, they call him a "bus", but he's constantly taking things to the outside instead of lowering his head and running someone over. Anyone can run a S over, if there going full speed one way and the S is just standing there trying to make the tackle

 

[THEHEREAFTER]

I don't know why so much is being made of this but I do agree with the op. Barber lacks speed and it looks like he was pressing a little being the reigning NFC leader in TD's. Barber does run hard though and hits the holes with authority and purpose. He started to come on a little later. I love his versatility. It will be interesting to see how they're used this year.

 

[thewireman]

Barber is one of my favorite players on the team but he did look slow and tired last night...its preseason so I'l think he'll be the Barber that runs over people in the regular season

 

[dargonking999]

I don't know why so much is being made of this but I do agree with the op. Barber lacks speed and it looks like he was pressing a little being the reigning NFC leader in TD's. Barber does run hard though and hits the holes with authority and purpose. He started to come on a little later. I love his versatility. It will be interesting to see how they're used this year.

I can come on against 2nd and 3rd teamers

 

[zeromaster]

It did seem like he was trying to do too much at first.

 

[JonJon]

I don't know why so much is being made of this but I do agree with the op. Barber lacks speed and it looks like he was pressing a little being the reigning NFC leader in TD's. Barber does run hard though and hits the holes with authority and purpose. He started to come on a little later. I love his versatility. It will be interesting to see how they're used this year.

and that is the problem. Against tired defenses and backups, Barber looks great, but against a fresh starter unit (not even full starter unit for Indy with some starters not playing) Barber was getting stuffed. JJ, while not the caliber RB that Tomlinson or Tiki Barber is/was, still produces. I did see JJ looking to make cut backs and trying to hit holes hard. When he does get through the hole, he can pick up a chunk of yardage in a blur. I think this will only get better once the complete starting O-line is on the field and the run blocking improves. As for now, MB3 is exactly where he needs to be. I also agree that Jones needs to sub series with MB3, not plays. I think it is ridiculous to take JJ out once we get inside the 20. If anyone else remembers his rookie season, JJ was a terror once he got inside the 20.

 

[aikemirv]

By the way, wasn't it weird to see the number of dump offs to the RB in the middle of the field. That was reminiscent of the 90's offense and where Emmitt got most of his receiving yards.

JJ made one very nice gain off one of his receptions! Him in the open field is very exciting to me.

 

[odog422]

Like i've said before, there is a reason BP kept barber at #2. Because he didn't do as BP said. There were many times i saw him bounce a run from the hole and lose yards against the first team last night. He tried to hard to get extra yards, instead of taking what the defense gave him.

Actually I think last night was a testament to the fact that he DID do as Parcells asked because a number of those runs he made last night he wouldn't have made/attempted last year.

Barber is a downhill runner when at his best. This was how he endeared himself to fans. That combined with the aggressiveness he runs with blew him up and produced all the calls for him to be our starter. But as Parcells knew, this is best in small doses. Last night reinforced that fact, and the fact that maybe Barber needs someone to remind him of the fact he is best going downhill.

 

[odog422]

I think there is a reason he didn't want Barber bounce runs outside -- it is because that isn't the kind of back he needs to be to be effective. You note exactly what the problem is with that sort of play -- he is going to lose yards far more often than gain them doing that. He's a tackle breaker - and you don't generally break tackles running sideline to sideline.

Precisely. You get cut down. Unless you possess breakaway speed, which, obviously, he does not.

 

[odog422]

I thought JJ looked good last night. He seemed to have the quick feet back and Barber looked slow.

JJ still made a few wrong cuts though. :

I don't know that barber looked slow to me as much as indecisive. As I said orginially, I think he was trying to do too much to meet the hyped expectations.

I think Julius is really going to find his rythym -- he at least looked to be "seeing" things.

 

[AbeBeta]

Thats my problem, with barber, they call him a "bus", but he's constantly taking things to the outside instead of lowering his head and running someone over. Anyone can run a S over, if there going full speed one way and the S is just standing there trying to make the tackle

Of course, he will have occasional success going outside -- and that makes folks scream that he should be the starter.

I think he is so successful in short yardage because those are the situations where he is forced to just hit the hole and try to make a few yards.

I can tell you this -- if BP were still the coach, Barber would have been sitting - some of those decisions were awful. I hope someone on the offensive staff gets on MBIII about that.