SI: Should Marion Barber replace Julius Jones as the feature back?

[Gryphon]

NFC's burning personnel questions
Positional debates critical to each team's '07 success
Posted: Thursday May 10, 2007 3:43PM; Updated: Friday May 11, 2007 2:24PM

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.

 

[Rampage]

let jj do his thing cause we will get a real rb next year

 

[Gryphon]

With all the talk about Marion Barber taking the starting job, it's only fair to point out that Julius Jones had a big game and Barber was a nonfactor in the Cowboys' playoff loss to Seattle.

Jones, who professed his love that week for Qwest Field's "fast track," rushed for 112 yards on 22 carries. Barber gained 4 yards on three carries and 23 yards on three catches.

Jones' 35-yard run late in the fourth quarter put the Cowboys in field-goal position. That run would be much more memorable if not for the the little problem with the K ball a little bit later.
Posted by Tim MacMahon at 12:07 PM (E-mail this entry) | Comments (20)
__________________
for more updates visit http://gryphononcowboys.blogspot.com/

 

[Rampage]

barber only got 3 carries

 

[BouncingCheese]

No No No No No!!!

 

[baj1dallas]

I think it's only fair to give them both opportunities and to go with whomever is most productive in order to get the absolute most out of the offense as a whole. I do think MBIII should continue to be used in the red zone where he proved his effectiveness last year.

 

[Future]

Julius Jones should be the feature back. Barber has never proven he can do it, and you need a feature back who is a threat to go the distance.

 

[cowboyz]

anyone notice JJ really took off when he got pissed off and started running hard?

 

[THUMPER]

For the thousandth time already... NO!

Geez, do these people even watch the games? These are the same ones who keep talking about Romo's "late season struggles" when the fact is that Romo played very well down the stretch but was continually put in bad positions by the defense, or rather lack thereof. EVERY QB in the history of football struggles when put in those situations and throws more INTs than normal, every single one of them! Morons!

Julius will gain more than 1200 yards this season and will have more big runs due to an improved defense not putting us behind all the time, better blocking up front, and being allowed to run instinctively rather than worrying about doing it wrong all the time. That's with Barber gaining another 700-800 yards being used on 3rd downs and short yardage situations.

Getting rid of Parcells' "play-not-to-lose" mentality will make us a lot more productive on offense and we should be playing with a lead more often which means more runs for both guys.

 

[BouncingCheese]

Julius Jones should be the feature back. Barber has never proven he can do it, and you need a feature back who is a threat to go the distance.

I don't know about JJ being the feature back because I think he tends to wear down, but I definitely agree that Barber has never proven he can be the feature back.

 

[Yeagermeister]

anyone notice JJ really took off when he got pissed off and started running hard?

You'd get pissed off if someone punched you in the nads. :laugh2:

 

[NextGenBoys]

NFC's burning personnel questions
Positional debates critical to each team's '07 success
Posted: Thursday May 10, 2007 3:43PM; Updated: Friday May 11, 2007 2:24PM

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.

Yeah it may be because he was getting 11,11,10,13,10,10 carries a game over the last 7 games of the season. That might be a reason. He is like any other running back. They get better as the game goes on. Barber just happened to reap those benefits instead of Jones. Jones will do his thing this year, mark it down.

 

[actual29]

didnt BP even say somethin along the lines of not using JJ as much during the season so that he'd be healthy for the playoff because thats when they'll really need him?

i wouldnt be surprised if his season had everything to do with BP. I like JJ.... i think getting rid of him would be a mistake...
unless we get mcfadden of course

 

[JaiRiid]

Hopefully, getting P.O.'ed about trade rumors will give Julius more breakout performances than getting punched in the nads.

 

[BouncingCheese]

Since the draft; I have turned the corner on JJ because we had no chance to get AP... I think JJ is going to have a pretty solid year. Whatever happens, he is our back. Hopefully, they will have him catching passes like he was in his sophmore campaign to keep the defenses honest.

 

[el_chevo]

not enough speed...