What about Choice?

[Stautner]

Be careful what we wish for.

Choice may get exposed if asked to carry a starter's load over the course of a season.

Think Troy Hambrick. It is much harder to be a guy that starts and gets game-planned against then a fresh back up.

Choice has been impressive at times and offers some useful tools but statistically he isn't as impressive as Felix even last year. Felix did look heavy last year but all three backs performed poorly which is probably an indication our OL really was just about terrible.

First, this isn't the same situation - we have Felix. Felix will get the first chance to carry the bigger share of the load, and even if Choice did Felix would still be in the picture if he failed.

I just think Choice has earned the right to get more touches - to show if he can carry a bigger load. I think a split load between him and Felix makes the most sense with Felix getting maybe 2/3 of the carries or more.

 

[5Stars]

I bet Choice would love to get traded to the eagles! Just look at how many gloves he can get signed "for his nephew".


Like KJJ says, a big power back to go with Felix is what I would like to see.

 

[Stautner]

He certainly didn't earn more of a look after that very costly fumble on opening day last season. He saw a grand total of 10 carries the next 10 games.

Granted he looked good as a rookie replacing an injured Barber in 08 but that was 3 years ago and he's done very little with the opportunities he's been given since.

As average as Barber has been Choice still isn't getting many carries so it's obvious the Cowboys aren't very high on him. He's quick and shifty but he's not very big and he doesn't have great speed.

He wouldn't make a good compliment for Felix the Cowboys need a big power back to share carries with Felix.

As for getting into a flow none of our backs have a chance to get into much of a flow with the rotation the Cowboys have.

The Cowboys are a pass first team so our backs have to take advantage of every opportunity they get running the ball because rarely do any of them get more than 12-15 carries a game.

For a back to get into a flow they have to carry the load you can't just keep going away from them every time they make a play.

Choice will be 27 at the end of next season if the Cowboys are going to get anything for him they need to start making a move as soon as there's a new CBA because he will not be resigned once his contract is up.

I would rather get a 5th or 6th round pick for him than nothing and that's what's going to happen if the Cowboys don't trade him soon. His stock will continue dropping the longer the Cowboys hang on to him.

Anyone who would make a perpetual judgement about a guy based on one play really has no credibility. Yes it was bad and costly, but if you actually believe one play defines a guy. That would be nuts, and if a coach did that it would be just as nuts.

Yes, our RB's don't get to carry the ball more than 12-15 carries a game, so it's not that easy to get into a flow, but imagine how much harder that is for a RB who gets 2-4 carries a game.

As for your agument that the Cowboys don't let him play a lot, so they can't believe in him very much, why don't you ask Doug Free, Miles Austin, Tony Romo and Bradie James how they feel about that method of evaluating players. Jay Novacek and Mark Tuinei come to mind from the 1990's.

As I said, Choice may not prove to be any better than average, but I just can't imagine he hasn't earned an opportunity to get the chance to show if he has more than that.

 

[Stautner]

I bet Choice would love to get traded to the eagles! Just look at how many gloves he can get signed "for his nephew".


Like KJJ says, a big power back to go with Felix is what I would like to see.

How many big power backs are there that can also step in as the full time RB if the starter gets hurt? It's great to say we need a brusier who can get the tough yardage on 3rd and short or at the goalline, but that may not give you the depth at RB you need.

 

[5Stars]

How many big power backs are there that can also step in as the full time RB if the starter gets hurt? It's great to say we need a brusier who can get the tough yardage on 3rd and short or at the goalline, but that may not give you the depth at RB you need.

Well, the Boyz have carried 3 backs, so pick 2 runners and a big back. Not a fullback type, but a big bruiser type...someone like Brandon Jacobs. (i really hate that punk).

 

[KJJ]

Anyone who would make a perpetual judgement about a guy based on one play really has no credibility. Yes it was bad and costly, but if you actually believe one play defines a guy. That would be nuts, and if a coach did that it would be just as nuts.

I'm not making a judgement about the guy based on one play claiming it defines him I simply pointed out he only carried the ball 10 times after that fumble during the next 10 games.

My judgement on him is based off the amount of opportnities he's gotten the past 3 seasons and what he's done with those opportunities.

The last 4 games last season Choice only averaged 2.3, 3.5, 4.0 and 2.9 yards per carry.

Yes, our RB's don't get to carry the ball more than 12-15 carries a game, so it's not that easy to get into a flow, but imagine how much harder that is for a RB who gets 2-4 carries a game.

There's a reason he gets few carries it's because he has 2 backs ahead of him who the Cowboys think are better. He got 15 carries against Washington late last season and only averaged 3.5 a carry.

He looked good in only one game last season against Indy a game where the entire team played well. Choice got 7 carries against Philly's backups in the season finale and only averaged 2.9 a carry.

As for your agument that the Cowboys don't let him play a lot, so they can't believe in him very much, why don't you ask Doug Free, Miles Austin, Tony Romo and Bradie James how they feel about that method of evaluating players. Jay Novacek and Mark Tuinei come to mind from the 1990's.

Romo, Free and James weren't ready to start right away they all had to "earn" their right to play that's why they're starting. As for Austin when he got his opportunity to start he made the most of that opportunity.

Austin has size and speed going for him at the WR position which is something Choice doesn't have going for him at the RB position. Austin is a game changer at WR and Choice isn't a game changer at RB.

As for Novacek the Cardinals rarely used a TE in their offense so they made him available in plan B free agency. The Cowboys fit him into their offense immediately and he blended in well with the talent the team had on offense.

As for Tuinei he started 10 games as a rookie in 83 and 16 games in 84, 85 and 86. He blossomed when the Cowboys became a great team in the early 90's. It was the same thing with Novacek.

What has Choice done to "earn" his opportunity to start or get more carries?

He got 24 carries during preseason last year and only averaged 3.1 a carry. He got plenty of opportunities during preseason and didn't look impressive.

He got carries in 11 games last season and only averaged over 4 yards a carry in 2 of those games.

He's not big he's not fast he's simply not a threat to a defense and he certainly wouldn't be a good compliment to Felix.

As I said, Choice may not prove to be any better than average, but I just can't imagine he hasn't earned an opportunity to get the chance to show if he has more than that.

Choice has already proven he's average look at his numbers last season. He did nothing to earn more of an opportunity than what he got.

He'll be gone either by trade or when he becomes a free agent.

 

[KJJ]

How many big power backs are there that can also step in as the full time RB if the starter gets hurt? It's great to say we need a brusier who can get the tough yardage on 3rd and short or at the goalline, but that may not give you the depth at RB you need.

The Cowboys need a back who would provide a good change of pace from Felix.

It doesn't necessarily have to be a 250 pound back it can be a 230-235 pound back who's a good inside runner that can move the pile on 3rd and 2 or at the goalline.

The Cowboys need a back to go along with Felix who can wear on a defense and do what Barber use to be able to do late in games.

 

[CowboyMike]

Choice averaged 3.7 a carry last season he's an average NFL back who doesn't get a lot of carries because the Cowboys know he's an average. He isn't the game changer Felix is. Felix bulked up last season and it slowed him down as well the Cowboys pathetic run blocking.

He's taken off the weight and if the OL improves I expect Felix to have a very good season this year.

So Felix has a down year and you blame it on pathetic run blocking, but when it comes to Choice you don't take that into account? They ran behind the same line, unless we imported the Pats line when Choice was in the game and I didn't know about it.

If you're going to use an excuse for one, apply it to the other as well.

 

[urface59]

I could care less if he's even on the team this year. He's the definition of JAG only he's got a big mouth.

 

[KJJ]

So Felix has a down year and you blame it on pathetic run blocking, but when it comes to Choice you don't take that into account? They ran behind the same line, unless we imported the Pats line when Choice was in the game and I didn't know about it.

If you're going to use an excuse for one, apply it to the other as well.

Felix had a down year? He rushed for 800 yards which is more than he rushed for in 08 and 09. He caught 48 passes which is more than double his total from his first 2 seasons and he produced 450 yards which is almost triple the receiving yards he had during his first 2 seasons.

The only numbers that were down last season was his rushing average which was still 4.3 a carry and his TD total which was 2 compared to 3 in 08 and 09.

Felix still had a good season despite the crappy OL.

 

[laythewood28]

The thing with Choice is we don't know how good he can be. I say let him compete for the starting job in camp and if he loses cut him. I see no reason to keep him if he can't win outright.He's not much of a short yardage or a a goal line back and I don't see him being successful with limited touches.

 

[CowboyMike]

Felix

had a down year? He rushed for 800 yards which is more than he rushed for in 08 and 09. He caught 48 passes which is more than double his total from his first 2 seasons and he produced 450 yards which is almost triple the receiving yards he had during his first 2 seasons.

The only numbers that were down last season was his rushing average which was still 4.3 a carry and his TD total which was 2 compared to 3 in 08 and 09.

Felix still had a good season despite the crappy OL.

You said it yourself that he was slowed by weight and a bad oline. Why do you not use the same excuse for Choice. Way to dodge the point of my post.

 

[KJJ]

You said it yourself that he was slowed by weight and a bad oline. Why do you not use the same excuse for Choice. Way to dodge the point of my post.

I said he was slowed by weight responding to others who said he looked slower. He would have had well over a 1000 yards had he not added weight and been playing behind a solid run blocking OL.

No one is dodging anything you claimed Felix had a down year and the stats I posted refuted that.

 

[CowboyMike]

I said he was slowed by weight responding to others who said he looked slower. He would have had well over a 1000 yards had he not added weight and been playing behind a solid run blocking OL.

No one is dodging anything you claimed Felix had a down year and the stats I posted refuted that.

Then why not acknowledge that Choice's problems can be attributed to the bad oline as well? Why not admit that his decreased numbers are partly due to atrocious run blocking just like you claim it was for Felix? That's all I'm trying to get out of you.

 

[KJJ]

Then why not acknowledge that Choice's problems can be attributed to the bad oline as well? Why not admit that his decreased numbers are partly due to atrocious run blocking just like you claim it was for Felix? That's all I'm trying to get out of you.

Not all of Choices problems can be attributed to the OL. His decreased numbers are mostly due to the fact that he doesn't get many opportunities and when he gets opportunities he doesn't produce. It's crystal clear the team isn't very high on him.

In 09 Choice had 59 carries in the first 11 games. He also had 15 receptions during that period. He started being fazed out the final 5 games that season where he only had 6 carries for 19 yards and zero receptions.

During preseason last year he wasn't impressive. He was going up against a lot of bubble players and averaged only 3.5 per carry which was down from his 4.2 yards per carry during the preseason the previous year.

His last 4 preseason games last season he averaged 1.8, 3.2, 2.5 and 0.3 yards per carry and you have some fans here who think he deserves more of a chance.

Against Washington on opening day last season he had 5 carries averaging 3.6 a carry and had a very costly fumble that helped cost the Cowboys the game. He had 2 receptions for -2 yards he was DREADFUL!

After getting 59 carries during the first 11 games in the 09 season he was only given 14 carries during the first 11 games last season. He went 4 straight games without a carry.

By the time Barber got injured in week 13 Choice only had 14 carries. Had it not been for Barbers injury he probably wouldn't have gotten 20 carries all season.

The fact is Tashard Choice is an average NFL back and it's only a matter of time before he's playing for another team because he will not see a second contract in Dallas.

 

[UnoDallas]

hes a JAG - we could find plenty of guys just like him

that asks Micheal Vick for his Autograph on National TV

opps wrong move

 

[CowboyMike]

Not all of Choices problems can be attributed to the OL. His decreased numbers are mostly due to the fact that he doesn't get many opportunities and when he gets opportunities he doesn't produce. It's crystal clear the team isn't very high on him.

And not all of Felix's numbers can be attributed to the OL. That's what I'm saying. If you're going to use it as an excuse for Felix, then admit the OL was a factor for Choice's numbers as well. Just admit it.

In 09 Choice had 59 carries in the first 11 games. He also had 15 receptions during that period. He started being fazed out the final 5 games that season where he only had 6 carries for 19 yards and zero receptions.

You're not telling the whole story here. Choice's carries were up during that time because of injuries to both Felix and Barber at different points during the beginning of the year. Remember the KC game in 09? Choice was overshadowed by Miles Austin that game, but he toted the rock 8 times for 92 yards, while in the same game Barber carried 11 times for just 53 yards.

Why did his carry allotment get phased out? Well Felix and Barber came back full strength. He still did get 14 carries in the playoff game, which was the second most he had had all season. In the end though, he was third on the depth chart, and that's the kind of action he got, even though he arguably was better than MB3 that season.

During preseason last year he wasn't impressive. He was going up against a lot of bubble players and averaged only 3.5 per carry which was down from his 4.2 yards per carry during the preseason the previous year.

His last 4 preseason games last season he averaged 1.8, 3.2, 2.5 and 0.3 yards per carry and you have some fans here who think he deserves more of a chance.

I'm just going to pretend you didn't just cite preseason games as valid evidence for a player's production. Seriously? Choice was playing behind scrubs for an OLine much of the preseason, plus this past preseason the entire team was rather horrible to watch. It was just a premonition of what was coming in the regular season. The whole team sucked.

Against Washington on opening day last season he had 5 carries averaging 3.6 a carry and had a very costly fumble that helped cost the Cowboys the game. He had 2 receptions for -2 yards he was DREADFUL!

After getting 59 carries during the first 11 games in the 09 season he was only given 14 carries during the first 11 games last season. He went 4 straight games without a carry.

By the time Barber got injured in week 13 Choice only had 14 carries. Had it not been for Barbers injury he probably wouldn't have gotten 20 carries all season.

Like I said, Choice was the third back. We have/had a coaching staff that was hesitant to go against the norm and pull carries away from Barber. Even before MB3 was injured, both Garrett and Jerry admitted that Choice should get more carries, and that's what happened the rest of the season even after Barber came back from injury.

And how did Choice respond by getting more responsibility the rest of the season? He averaged 4 yards a carry the last 5 games of the season, including only the second time a Dallas running back ran for 100 yards in a game, against Indianapolis. The only other time being Felix earlier in the season against Tennessee.

The fact is Tashard Choice is an average NFL back and it's only a matter of time before he's playing for another team because he will not see a second contract in Dallas.

That remains to be seen.

Now, let's look at both backs during their first two years vs. last year.

In 2008 and 2009, Choice's avg yards per carry was 5.3.

In 2010, it was 3.7.

Felix experienced a similar decline. In 2008 and 2009, 7.4.

In 2010, it was 4.3.

Felix's ypc actually dropped more than Choice's. And what was the common denominator behind both these guys and their respective ypc dropping in 2010?

Oh yeah, that's right, the crappy O-line play.

 

[birdwells1]

He certainly didn't earn more of a look after that very costly fumble on opening day last season. He saw a grand total of 10 carries the next 10 games.

Granted he looked good as a rookie replacing an injured Barber in 08 but that was 3 years ago and he's done very little with the opportunities he's been given since.

As average as Barber has been Choice still isn't getting many carries so it's obvious the Cowboys aren't very high on him. He's quick and shifty but he's not very big and he doesn't have great speed.

He wouldn't make a good compliment for Felix the Cowboys need a big power back to share carries with Felix.

As for getting into a flow none of our backs have a chance to get into much of a flow with the rotation the Cowboys have.

The Cowboys are a pass first team so our backs have to take advantage of every opportunity they get running the ball because rarely do any of them get more than 12-15 carries a game.

For a back to get into a flow they have to carry the load you can't just keep going away from them every time they make a play.

Choice will be 27 at the end of next season if the Cowboys are going to get anything for him they need to start making a move as soon as there's a new CBA because he will not be resigned once his contract is up.

I would rather get a 5th or 6th round pick for him than nothing and that's what's going to happen if the Cowboys don't trade him soon. His stock will continue dropping the longer the Cowboys hang on to him.

Part of the reason he hasn't played more is politics. Jerry has to justify that Barber contract and Felix Jones draft position this wouldn't happen in N.E. or Pitts.

 

[dbair1967]

I still think he's a JAG with a questionable attitude.

I agree. Honestly I hope he's replaced. Him and Barber both.

 

[superonyx]

I agree. Honestly I hope he's replaced. Him and Barber both.

Choice has not shown anything since his rookie year. And even that was just a good little stretch. Not great. I cant remember the last time I saw him break a tackle.

As for his attitude..Totally agree. I would like to see guys like him somewhere else. I believe he has a me first attitude. He wants to be like his idols TO and Vick yet he doesnt have the talent of either one.

This team has plenty of talent. Most NFL teams have enough talent to win. The key is finding the right coach and the perfect mix of coachable Team Players to put together a great team. Look at the Saints. They won a SB with average or less than average Backs. The Patriots also. The eagles were better than us last year not because of talent but because they played as a team. If Choice has a questionable attitude then he should be playing somewhere else. Same for Martellus Bennett. Neither guy is so talented that they cant be replaced.