Don't get me wrong I like Barber but he's simply not what you want as a feature back. MB was terrific in the role he had prior to last season. In 06 and 07 he averaged 4.8 a carry and scored 24 TD's. He made the pro bowl in 07 spitting carries. He had more yards rushing in 07 as a backup than he did as the starter last season and he stayed healthy. The biggest problem with MB as a feature back is he doesn't have great speed or vision and is not able to get to the outside and turn the corner affectively. He's not able to make defenders miss so he plows into them. He only averages 2.6 a carry when he's bounced outside. The Giants unveiled the blueprint for defending him in our playoff game in 07. Barber torched them in the first half but NY stacked the box in the second half forcing him to bounce outside and he went nowhere. His legs appeared dead by the second half. He sure didn't have the same pop he had early in the game. Washington did the same thing to him a couple of weeks prior to our playoff game in the season finale and Barber finished that game with a franchise low -1 yard. He had 5 games last year where he averaged under 3 yards a carry and he was healthy in 3 of those games.
When Barber is the focal point of our running game the Cowboys lose their explosiveness because he's a ball control back who lacks big play ability. The Cowboys don't score many points when he's the feature back. He's not a homerun threat which causes defenses to crowd the line and risk his 10-15 yard bursts because they know he can be run down from behind. After 2 preseason games he again is averaging under 4 yards a carry. Defenses can't crowd the box with Felix in there or they risk seeing the back of his jersey as he's running to the endzone. He puts fear in defenses and Barber doesn't. Felix makes one defender miss and it can be see you later! He makes a big play every few touches but for some reason the Cowboys are under using him and over using Barber. If the Cowboys keep pounding Barber early in games he'll continue averaging less than 4 yards a carry and he'll probably come up with another injury by the end of the season. He's never going to be a 1200 yard back. He hasn't had a 1000 yard season yet and probably never will. With his rockem sockem billy goat style he won't stay affective another 2 years if they keep banging him early in games. Barber seeks out contact and that's not conducive to longevity.
Felix Jones with his speed, vision and cutting ability can do in one play what it takes Barber 10 plays to do. Felix can be another Tony Dorsett. He's a much better player than Julius Jones. It was Julius not living up to his end that caused the Cowboys to make the switch to Barber as the starter. Barber was gaining big yards as a backup because he was worked into games and the Cowboys picked his spots. The rotation kept him fresh and he was able to destroy winded defenses in the 4th quarter. Barber is finding out as the starter the holes aren't as big early in games against fresh legged defenders. Barber is a BEAST in short yardage, redzone, goalline and as a closer. If I were the Cowboys I would go back to using him the way they did prior to last season. He was tremendous in that role. I would use a three headed monster attack starting Felix and rotate him with Choice. I would use MB in short yardage, redzone, goalline and to pound defenses into submission in the second half. I think that would be a great strategy and would allow us to use all the talent we have at the RB position to the best of their ability. Plus this type of rotation will keep our backs fresh and would probably limit injuries.
