Our backfield is overrated.

[UnoDallas]

Dude your sig is way over the top. Barber is injured not heartless. In fact it's the opposite, he should not have been playing at all till he fully recovered...

dude I will state my opinion in the way I see fit

did his fumble cause the Gaints to gain the momentum - I say yes

never said he was heartless- just not a starter quaility RB - you did

so if hes hurt he should be sitting - and you know this how ?

play the home run hitter instead - like in the Oak game what did Felix do broke through the line an took it to the house - our other two RB's would have been caught

he still averages 6.4 yard per carry

its time he started

JM humble opinion

 

[Deep_South]

I think if one sat down with Jason Garrett over a beer, he would say that the problem is that the Boys are being blitzed fully 50% of the time and as a result blitz pickups are as important or more important than actually running the ball. What he can do with the backs is limited by their ability to block, and Barber is best at it so he has to be in there as much as possible.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Or could it be that the O line is collapsing without its linchpin, Colombo? And that's not good for the running game.

These O liner are average players now and the line depth is abysmal. And I fear that the Boys line will make me spell that word again before it is all over.

 

[AdamJT13]

Barber 4.4 YPC
Jones 6.4 YPC
Choice 5.6 YPC

Terrible, just terrible.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

Even freaks like Chris Johnson or Ray Rice werent running w/ that blocking.

Theyll be better in 3 of the next 4.

 

[kramskoi]

I think if one sat down with Jason Garrett over a beer, he would say that the problem is that the Boys are being blitzed fully 50% of the time and as a result blitz pickups are as important or more important than actually running the ball. What he can do with the backs is limited by their ability to block, and Barber is best at it so he has to be in there as much as possible.

...at some point you have to wonder why is it that Romo is the most blitzed quarterback in the league...why is it that blitzing, rather run or pass, is more times than not the answer to the Cowboys riddle on offense...

 

[DasTex]

Holes or no holes...Barber isn't close to being the same back that he's been in the past.

Now, is that because of injury - I sure hope so!! The guy looks like he's running in molasses these days. He's never been fast, but he use to have a quick burst, with the boom to soon follow. Thats gone this year.

The fire still seems to be there, but something just isn't right...

 

[craig71]

I think inconsistent play has made things look worse than what they really are.Now that is not to say that there isn't room for improvement.

The line needs to be more consistent in their play.On one play they open a hole a Mack truck can drive through,two plays later the line looks like a sieve.This scenario happens week in week out all to many times in my opinion.

Barber needs to quit bouncing outside everytime after first contact.I like the effort he brings in trying to make a play but sometimes you need to take the short yard.Barber just needs to run north-south, pound the ball and drop the Barry Sanders routine.

Garrett needs to reduce the workload on Barber and give some more carries to Felix and Choice.I think he has his reasons for not playing either one of them more,but it's time to shake things up.

Craig

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

I wouldn't say our backfield sucks. I'd say we're not living up to our potential. I want to say we're one-dimensional, but that's not the right word. We're somewhat predictable, non-innovative and I don't think we give much prudential thought to our running game. As most of you know, the running game has become somewhat of afterthought. I don't see much changing though when we're passing with so much success. I think the RBs get tired of pass blocking, especially Barber,and this wears them down.

Other than that. No real complaints personnel-wise. I'd like to see this team gel with the potential it has. Until then, I'd like to see Scandrick get less playing time. At this point, he's the only liability I really see. Our backfield should be OK, Gods willing.

 

[masomenos]

We have the second best rushing attack in the NFL in terms of YPC. We have the 8th most rushing yards per game. We are tied for the 7th least fumbles. According to Football Outsiders, we have the best rushing offense in the NFL.

Maybe I missed the part where our backfield was overrated.

 

[Ren]

I think if one sat down with Jason Garrett over a beer, he would say that the problem is that the Boys are being blitzed fully 50% of the time and as a result blitz pickups are as important or more important than actually running the ball. What he can do with the backs is limited by their ability to block, and Barber is best at it so he has to be in there as much as possible.

Then why is Choice the back on obvious 3d and long passing downs?

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

Then why is Choice the back on obvious 3d and long passing downs?

Fresh legs and he's not too bad at blocking either. Blocking is the acquired skill, it takes time to cultivate in rookies.

 

[odog422]

Fresh legs and he's not too bad at blocking either. Blocking is the acquired skill, it takes time to cultivate in rookies.

This excuse kills me...so you take your best blocking back, and in order to keep him fresh, instead of substituting him on first or second down with one of two other starting quality RBs, you take him out on the downs when your QB can get killed.

Oh yeah, add in that we get blitzed like crazy regularly on passing downs.

Just like with his running style, fans fall in love with crushing hits, so since Barber has a few of those on his resume, he becomes the de facto best blocking back on the team. Witten is proof that you don't need to "blow up" someone to be very good blocker. Novacek was another. It's technique and willingness. Both, obviously, of which Choice has.

The fact of the matter is, NO HC/OC is going to sacrifice his QB's protection to rest a RB in a pass heavy offense like ours. Especially when he has options in the backfield to allow rest on 1st and 2nd down.

To the point of the thread: Barber excels in the role he had when we had Julius - spots early, close late. We have the talent in the backfield to allow him to do that again. Unfortunately, due to situations beyond the HC/OC's control, that won't happen. And that's really too bad.

 

[CF74]

dude I will state my opinion in the way I see fit

did his fumble cause the Gaints to gain the momentum - I say yes
Yes, So do I

never said he was heartless- just not a starter quaility RB - you did
Your sig implies it with the over paid part like somehow he didn't earn it.
so if hes hurt he should be sitting - and you know this how ?
He has a broken thumb and he just doesn't run the same, it's obvious.
play the home run hitter instead - like in the Oak game what did Felix do broke through the line an took it to the house - our other two RB's would have been caught

he still averages 6.4 yard per carry

its time he started
I agree, Felix or Choice should get the majority of the carries, no brainer there.
JM humble opinion
Nothing humble about your sig, Barber has to much heart and deserves better than that...

 

[Disturbed]

Holes or no holes...Barber isn't close to being the same back that he's been in the past.

Now, is that because of injury - I sure hope so!! The guy looks like he's running in molasses these days. He's never been fast, but he use to have a quick burst, with the boom to soon follow. Thats gone this year.

The fire still seems to be there, but something just isn't right...

All players seem to play for the 'big payday" contract...once they get it, they are never the same again. This was predictable... He is still a good back, just not putting it on the line each play to prove himself (he has already done that)...