SI.com- NFC's burning personnel questions

[Spontae]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/bucky_brooks/05/10/personnel.questions/index.html

"DALLAS COWBOYS

Should Marion Barber replace Julius Jones as the feature back?

Barber's tough, physical running style makes him an ideal runner in the Cowboys' power offense and he should be better than Jones over the course of a 16-game season. After rushing for over 90 or more yards in five of the first seven contests, Jones only rushed for over 100 yards once and failed to gain over 75 yards in the remaining contests. His declining production over the course of the season is a concern and one of the reasons why changing their roles makes the most sense."

 

[dalboy]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/bucky_brooks/05/10/personnel.questions/index.html

"DALLAS COWBOYS

Should Marion Barber replace Julius Jones as the feature back?

Barber's tough, physical running style makes him an ideal runner in the Cowboys' power offense and he should be better than Jones over the course of a 16-game season. After rushing for over 90 or more yards in five of the first seven contests, Jones only rushed for over 100 yards once and failed to gain over 75 yards in the remaining contests. His declining production over the course of the season is a concern and one of the reasons why changing their roles makes the most sense."

No we need that 2 punch its like saying is stackhouse pos. he plays better when he dosen't start.

 

[Portland Fanatic]

Honestly I like both alot...don't care who starts or gets the most carries. I expect both to play big rolls on this team. We are obviously moving to a heavy power run game with the beef up front...so we need both.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Well let's see, Julius Jones wasn't getting the ball down the stretch like he should have... I can't see that being any fault of his own.

 

[shnagy]

JJ seemed to be running pretty hard against the Seahags, but I guess we should just ignore that .

 

[speedkilz88]

Barber had problems in December too, makes me think it was the line.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Can anyone say Michael Turner in 08?

Wade can.......

 

[actual29]

im not sure why everyone's sooo high on michael turner?
havent really seen much from him... did i missing something?

(reminds me of the matt schaubb discussions last season)

 

[big dog cowboy]

Can anyone say Michael Turner in 08?

Wade can.......

Who didn't see this post coming?

CC, are you on Turners payroll?

 

[BouncingCheese]

Finally, someone is acknowleging that Barber is not ready/proven to carry the load as the main setback. He didn't even hold down the starting spot in college;why would other people think that he could do it now? He is so physical, but he may be too small to take all those carries. It is funny that he is so small and yet plays so large. That is actually benefitial that he is so small that he can get lost behind the line.

 

[Alexander]

Finally, someone is acknowleging that Barber is not ready/proven to carry the load as the main setback. He didn't even hold down the starting spot in college;why would other people think that he could do it now?

Laurence Maroney split carries at Minnesota also. Why is he not mentioned as "not ready/proven"?

A lot of college backs split time these days. Chris Henry was taken by the Titans and he started but a handful of games at Arizona and even in high school.

 

[BouncingCheese]

Laurence Maroney split carries at Minnesota also. Why is he not mentioned as "not ready/proven"?

A lot of college backs split time these days. Chris Henry was taken by the Titans and he started but a handful of games at Arizona and even in high school.

Lets not even start to compare Maroney and Barber as even being equal.. If Barber was valued so high, he wouldn't have been drafted on the second day in the fourth round, while Maroney was drafted in the first round, pick no 21. I like Barber, but Maroney is a much better back.

Well, Maroney has JJ's agility and cutback abiltiy and agility and can catch the ball, and run it in the hole strong like Barber (maybe not as strong, but he is still very servicable)...

I mentioned Barber's inability to carry the load in the COLLEGE GAME, against lesser competition, as a good indicator of how he would fare in the NFL. Chris Henry is an injury liability and is not really valid in this conversation because he can't stay on the field; besides, he sucks.

I don't really care what other teams do regarding if they have backs that split carries; really what it boiled down to at the end of the year was that Barber was worn down by the volume of carries he was recieving week by week. Part of that could be how teams just stacked eight in the box as soon as Barber came in and Barbe couldn't handle it, or that Barber wore down, or both.

 

[Alexander]

Lets not even start to compare Maroney and Barber as even being equal.. If Barber was valued so high, he wouldn't have been drafted on the second day in the fourth round, while Maroney was drafted in the first round, pick no 21. I like Barber, but Maroney is a much better back.

First, I was not referring to the draft status.

You used the "never carried the full load" stance. Well, neither has Maroney. Jones didn't do it at Notre Dame either. Regardless of what round they were chosen in, your comments don't tell the whole story. As another example, had Michael Bush been healthy, he would have been a first or second round choice. He never carried the full load at Louisville either. So does that make him automatically unable to start or receive the bulk of carries?

I mentioned Barber's inability to carry the load in the COLLEGE GAME, against lesser competition, as a good indicator of how he would fare in the NFL. Chris Henry is an injury liability and is not really valid in this conversation because he can't stay on the field; besides, he sucks.

Maroney didn't carry the full load at Minnesota (he split with Russell and Barber before that). Why is he exempt from your blanket analysis? Is it his draft status? Again, Henry never carried the load, nor started.

Part of that could be how teams just stacked eight in the box as soon as Barber came in and Barbe couldn't handle it, or that Barber wore down, or both.[/quote]

He didn't look worn down in Atlanta. He received poor blocking against Philadelphia. And as for Seattle, he was not nearly as good of a weapon to attack that defense as they were peeling their safeties into coverage. Jones was faster and was more logical to use in that game.

Again, people continue to use the idea that Barber can't start because of these myths. I don't know if he can or cannot. I have my suspicions, but I certainly won't use flimsy evidence to try to support them. I leave that to those who think he is strictly a part-time player because he was "only" a 4th round draft choice.

 

[adamknite]

Finally, someone is acknowleging that Barber is not ready/proven to carry the load as the main setback. He didn't even hold down the starting spot in college;why would other people think that he could do it now? He is so physical, but he may be too small to take all those carries. It is funny that he is so small and yet plays so large. That is actually benefitial that he is so small that he can get lost behind the line.

Ronnie Brown was drafted before Cadillac Williams too.... What is your point?

Also, Marion Barber is 6-0 220 lbs..... what about that is small and "could get lost behind the line"?
he's at a good size for an NFL running back.

 

[burmafrd]

This guy also says the Giants will not miss Tiki Barber in the running game.
And that the skins will do OK without a normal pass rush since their secondary can hold on long enough for exotic blitzes, etc to work.

 

[Paniolo22]

Well let's see, Julius Jones wasn't getting the ball down the stretch like he should have... I can't see that being any fault of his own.

It's a contract year. Let's finally see what JJ can do. If he gets hurt, we have a great option to start behind him in Barber. Keep your eye on Battle, who I think will surprise a bunch of people.

 

[BouncingCheese]

Ronnie Brown was drafted before Cadillac Williams too.... What is your point?

Also, Marion Barber is 6-0 220 lbs..... what about that is small and "could get lost behind the line"?
he's at a good size for an NFL running back.

Are you his brother or something? Why are you acting so offended? Chill, I am just voicing my own opinions which may be different than your own.

In regards to Marion Barbers size, I am talking comparatively, to larger back who play with his style of being a straight-line type runner who would rather pound the ball in between the tackles than a cutback style of runner. Barber looks alot like Julius Jones physically, but we both know how different their playing styles are. Because Barber has such a strong running style similar to larger backs like Jamal Lewis or Larry Johnson, but is smaller than both of those guys, I am saying he "could get lost behing the line" comparatively.

In regards to Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams, that is a different case. Teams draft mostly in regards to either need or preference , such as with the Dophins prefering Brown. Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown are like sugar or salt, they both have thier own different attributes. The Dolphins wanted/ were hoping Brown was going to be another version of Ricky Williams rather than the shiftier Cadillac... The fins were planning to give Brown a boatload of carries and he certainly has the physique to match that sytle of play. Honestly Cadillac Williams and Ronnie brown don't really match my argument about Maroney and Barber since both were drafted in the top five overall picks; Maroney was selected 21st overall while Barber was selected 109th overall.

 

[BouncingCheese]

First, I was not referring to the draft status.

You used the "never carried the full load" stance. Well, neither has Maroney. Jones didn't do it at Notre Dame either. Regardless of what round they were chosen in, your comments don't tell the whole story. As another example, had Michael Bush been healthy, he would have been a first or second round choice. He never carried the full load at Louisville either. So does that make him automatically unable to start or receive the bulk of carries?



Maroney didn't carry the full load at Minnesota (he split with Russell and Barber before that). Why is he exempt from your blanket analysis? Is it his draft status? Again, Henry never carried the load, nor started.

Part of that could be how teams just stacked eight in the box as soon as Barber came in and Barbe couldn't handle it, or that Barber wore down, or both.

He didn't look worn down in Atlanta. He received poor blocking against Philadelphia. And as for Seattle, he was not nearly as good of a weapon to attack that defense as they were peeling their safeties into coverage. Jones was faster and was more logical to use in that game.

Again, people continue to use the idea that Barber can't start because of these myths. I don't know if he can or cannot. I have my suspicions, but I certainly won't use flimsy evidence to try to support them. I leave that to those who think he is strictly a part-time player because he was "only" a 4th round draft choice.

[/QUOTE]

We'll see, Okay? Hey, I like Barber personally and I hope you are right. However, I didn't like/ do not like the idea of Barber possibly bieng held the reigns to the starting RB spot after this year, when JJ is probably going to be gone. If we pass or don't have the ability to draft Mcfaddedn I am concerned he may wear out fast.

I never said that Barber should be considered a part-time player because he was a fourth-round choice... I am just saying that Maroney really does have a wider skill-set than Barber because of his ability to catch the ball, run the ball equally effective both inside and outside and cutback run.
Barber is talented but he doesn't have those abilities.
Because of that I don't think they should be compared to each other.