Speculation: Julius Jones & Marion Barber III updates

[Gryphon]

from Sporting News

Julius Jones, RB — Dallas Cowboys Feb. 1, 2007 - 11:55 a.m.

Jones' yardage numbers have increased each year since his 2004 debut, but his TD totals have dropped. The good news is Jones might not have to worry about Marion Barber III stealing the scores next season. The bad news is it would be because the Cowboys are considering sending Jones elsewhere.

Marion Barber III, RB — Dallas Cowboys Feb. 1, 3:46 p.m.

Dallas has to continue to figure out ways to get Barber and Julius Jones on the field at the same time to take advantage of their strengths. Neither one is an ideal blocker, but a package featuring the duo could create significant matchup issues for the opposition. There will be an intense competition for the starting job in training camp, and Barber has a real chance to win it.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Dallas has to continue to figure out ways to get Barber and Julius Jones on the field at the same time to take advantage of their strengths.

We have a history of doing that already. Our backfields have really been blessed thru the years.

 

[UDcowboysfan]

Troy Hambrick 2?

 

[burmafrd]

The question with MB3 is what happens if you run him 20+ times a game- with his hard hitting and punishment giving and taking style- will he last?

 

[Future]

We have a history of doing that already. Our backfields have really been blessed thru the years.

Like who?

 

[CowboyJeff]

from Sporting News

Julius Jones, RB — Dallas Cowboys Feb. 1, 2007 - 11:55 a.m.

Jones' yardage numbers have increased each year since his 2004 debut, but his TD totals have dropped. The good news is Jones might not have to worry about Marion Barber III stealing the scores next season. The bad news is it would be because the Cowboys are considering sending Jones elsewhere.

Marion Barber III, RB — Dallas Cowboys Feb. 1, 3:46 p.m.

Dallas has to continue to figure out ways to get Barber and Julius Jones on the field at the same time to take advantage of their strengths. Neither one is an ideal blocker, but a package featuring the duo could create significant matchup issues for the opposition. There will be an intense competition for the starting job in training camp, and Barber has a real chance to win it.

I love the Sporting News . So which is it? The Cowboys are going to send Jones elsewhere? or are they going to figure out ways to get Barber and Julius Jones on the field at the same time to take advantage of their strengths? Talk about predicting every possible scenario.....

 

[skinsscalper]

The question with MB3 is what happens if you run him 20+ times a game- with his hard hitting and punishment giving and taking style- will he last?

That's why I've never been a big proponent of MB III being the starter. It's not that I think he can't do it, but rather because he's already effective at what we have him doing. A lot of people are low on Jones because he is seemingly less effective than Barber, but alot more of that boils down to O-line play. Watch the Chargers O-line, or even the bears for that matter. The holes createdby those lines would make JJ look pretty good too. True, that Barber does a better job of mashing it up in there and churning out tough yards, but would he be able to sustain that type of play with the number of touches that JJ gets? You can't say for sure that he wouldn't, but you certainly can't say for sure that he would. Barber toted the rock about half as much as JJ and statistically was a less effective pass catcher (Barber averaged 8.5 yards a catch and Jones averaged 15.8) though Barber was given more pass opportunities. Should their roles be reversed? It's a compelling arguement, but there's no sure answer until it's tried. It wouldn't surprise me either way if it was a smashing success or an utter failure. I don't think that the answer is to ship Jones, though. Thompson should be the nervous one.

There's a decent chance that the Cowboys pick up a RB in the draft. If that's the case, then I expect ALL the Cowboys RBs to be in a very heated battle for PT. Which bodes well for any of us rooting for the silver and blue!

SS

 

[fortdick]

If it ain't broke, why break it?

 

[AbeBeta]

I figured after Julius put us in a position to win the Seattle game that folks would be off the MBIII for starter bandwagon.

 

[Wrangler87]

Please don't start the so-called "breakaway" factor in regard to Jones.

I can count on one hand his breakaway TD runs in his career.

Barber may not have the speed, but he is so much like Ricky Williams, it's ridiculous. Same size style and toughness, and a tad bit slower than your average back.

I think you would see Barber our feature back, along the same lines as the way Turner used Rick Williams in Miami. Come the 3rd quarter, no one wanted to tackle Ricky Williams.

By the way, I know Turner has not officially been hired, but common sense points that way.....like it or not.

 

[burmafrd]

JJ made a big play to set us up for the FG. But what I heard right after was: " He should have scored a TD!" For some people its never enough.

 

[burmafrd]

I would not use Ricky Williams as an example- all things considered. BUT my premise still stands: how sure can we be that MB3 can take 350+ carries a year the way he runs?

 

[Wrangler87]

I would not use Ricky Williams as an example- all things considered. BUT my premise still stands: how sure can we be that MB3 can take 350+ carries a year the way he runs?

Well, the drug thing, but look at the way they run. They are mirror images all the way around. They both get better with more carries. Ricky was very ineffective unless he carried the ball 15 or more times. Then, he became unstoppable. Barber seems like he gets better the more carries he gets, though we only really pumped him the ball that way one game, against Arizona two years ago. Turner will use him like he used Ricky.

 

[Rack]

I would not use Ricky Williams as an example- all things considered. BUT my premise still stands: how sure can we be that MB3 can take 350+ carries a year the way he runs?

I'd say he's earned a chance to find out, wouldn't you?

 

[RealCowboyfan]

Neither one is an ideal blocker, but a package featuring the duo could create significant matchup issues for the opposition.

This is hog wash right here, we all know that Marion Barber is one hell of a blocking runningback. He took on some big names this year like Julius Pepper, Darren Howard, Dwight Feeney, and I even seen in one of the games this year he keep a Defensive Tackle at bay. He's a fearless runningback when it comes to running and blocking, he rarely miss a catch.

I believe we should get a deal for the runningback in Atlanta, Jerious Norwood. I believe we should trade Julius Jones off for him. I believe it's 50/50. Julius Jones could be a real threat by himself and they have Warrick Dunn, I feel Warrick Dunn could help Julius out, and Jerious could give us that break away back threat with Marion as the starter and Tyson Thompson as the third string. I believe all three of them should compete for the starting position.

 

[burmafrd]

Maybe he has. BUT so did Hambone. Its almost the same situation- except of course that MB is about 100 times a better player. BUT the point still is- just how sure can you be that a guy being the backup and not getting more then 10 touches or so a game can take the whole load? A LOT of backup players that looked great that way flunked the exam for fulltime. And remember that MB has NEVER been the guy- not even in college.

 

[burmafrd]

Its hard to take some people seriously when they exagerate so much.

 

[Cochese]

Maybe he has. BUT so did Hambone. Its almost the same situation- except of course that MB is about 100 times a better player. BUT the point still is- just how sure can you be that a guy being the backup and not getting more then 10 touches or so a game can take the whole load? A LOT of backup players that looked great that way flunked the exam for fulltime. And remember that MB has NEVER been the guy- not even in college.

And Julius had some scrub start over him at the start of his senior season. You are too funny, you mention people exaggerating then bring up Hambrick when talking about Barber.

 

[burmafrd]

Not that there is any real point in trying to use sense on some people, but Hambone was brought up earlier in this thread. Maybe if some people would try and control their hate and actually read the whole thread they might not look so stupid. And JJ was held back because that great coach Ty Willingham was not sure of him coming off that year long academic suspension. BUT the last 9 games or so he was the man and took the load. MB was never in that position in college.

 

[Cochese]

Not that there is any real point in trying to use sense on some people, but Hambone was brought up earlier in this thread. Maybe if some people would try and control their hate and actually read the whole thread they might not look so stupid. And JJ was held back because that great coach Ty Willingham was not sure of him coming off that year long academic suspension. BUT the last 9 games or so he was the man and took the load. MB was never in that position in college.

In 45 total games for the Irish Jones had 635 carries, in 38 total games for the Gophers Barber carried 575 times. Yea, I would say Barber was the man in college.