Who Should Start at RB?

[Hoov]

Jones is no longer the flavor of the day. Anything he does well or solid will go unnoticed or poo-pooed for the most part.

I've actually been in chat on game days and people are upset when Julius is in the game. Some actually got P.O.d when he was in on some redzone plays. That's crazy to me. Julius is not a complete dud on the field.

Barber's a good player, and while he does some things well, he's also done some aggravating things too. He's not a perfect player, but he runs hard and that's all you can ask for.

I'll agree here... last year i was all for starting barber and toward the end of the season I prolly posted start barber as much as anyone. Barber is my favorite player on the boys right now and i'm not that big of a julious fan.

But to be fair, Julious has been playing well the past few games and i cant complain at all about his play. Its funny that now that he is actually playing better, there are more people calling for his head than last year when he was not playing as well.

I still would like to see Barber get more playing time than Jones because i think he can do more, but to be fair and objective I have to state that it sure seems jones has improved his play the past 3-4 games so i am not pushing for a change as much as i was before.

 

[kmd24]

I suspect it will take an injury to Jones for Barber to start, but I think that if he ever started, he would not relinquish the role.

I know the issue of number of carries keeps coming up, but Barber was a guy that carried the ball more than 25 times in several games during his final season at UM. In fact, he had 37 carries against Alabama in their bowl game. College and the pros are different, but a guy that can tote the rock 37 times in a game against a pretty physical Alabama defense can probably handle 18-20 carries on a regular basis.

 

[Doomsday]

Julius has been playing better the last few weeks but he still hasnt made any big plays on his own. Julius is a take what the defense gives you type of running back, where Barber is able to make people miss and create big plays on his own. I just want to see what Barber can do if he is given the ball 20 or 25 times a game. I believe he will wear defenses out with his running style.

 

[theogt]

Jones is no longer the flavor of the day. Anything he does well or solid will go unnoticed or poo-pooed for the most part.

I've actually been in chat on game days and people are upset when Julius is in the game. Some actually got P.O.d when he was in on some redzone plays. That's crazy to me. Julius is not a complete dud on the field.

Barber's a good player, and while he does some things well, he's also done some aggravating things too. He's not a perfect player, but he runs hard and that's all you can ask for.

He's not the flavor of the day because the majority of people realize he's just not that good. He's a JAG. His production could be replaced by 100 other backs. Hell, give Tyson Thompson his carries and he'd get at least the same production.

Most backs "almost break" long runs. What we do know is that Julius doesn't break them very often.

And people get upset when Barber isn't in, particularly in the redzone, because he gives the best chance of punching it in the endzone. It isn't some agenda for agenda's sake -- it's about people being convinced that one is better than the other. I find it hard to believe that 30+% of the voters actually believe that Julius is better, and aren't just irrationally repeating the "if it ain't broke" mantra.

 

[superpunk]

He's not the flavor of the day because the majority of people realize he's just not that good. He's a JAG. His production could be replaced by 100 other backs. Hell, give Tyson Thompson his carries and he'd get at least the same production.

Oh, the threads I could bump. Personally, I blame Parcells.

 

[hogwild]

mb3 should have started his rookie yr
jj is what he always was,3rd down back
change of pace back. i said it then and got slammed
but now everybody else seems to have come around
to the fact that's all he is and there is nothing wrong
with being a change of pace guy

 

[theogt]

Oh, the threads I could bump. Personally, I blame Parcells.

If you remember correctly, I never said he wasn't a JAG. And I still believe that Parcells negatively affected his running style. It's just that he's not very good, regardless.

 

[superpunk]

If you remember correctly, I never said he wasn't a JAG. And I still believe that Parcells negatively affected his running style. It's just that he's not very good, regardless.

So Parcells' coaching made him go from JAG to JAG.

That IS negative.

 

[theogt]

So Parcells' coaching made him go from JAG to JAG.

That IS negative.

It's more like one version of a JAG to another. I just wasn't aware that the non-Parcells version was also a JAG. Now we know, so we can just move along.

 

[WoodysGirl]

He's not the flavor of the day because the majority of people realize he's just not that good. He's a JAG. His production could be replaced by 100 other backs. Hell, give Tyson Thompson his carries and he'd get at least the same production.

Again that's why I say he's not the flavor of the day anymore. After the first year, it was all Julius all the time. The next this, the next that. Because he didn't live up to that, now he's suckage and should be put out to pasture. Flavor of the day.

Most backs "almost break" long runs. What we do know is that Julius doesn't break them very often.

And people get upset when Barber isn't in, particularly in the redzone, because he gives the best chance of punching it in the endzone.

Obviously the coaches think so and that's why Barber gets the bulk of the carries in the redzone, but it's not like Julius can't punch it in. And for the past two years, I don't even know what he can do in the redzone, because he's rarely on the field during those series.

It isn't some agenda for agenda's sake -- it's about people being convinced that one is better than the other. I find it hard to believe that 30+% of the voters actually believe that Julius is better, and aren't just irrationally repeating the "if it ain't broke" mantra.

For some people, it is totally agenda. They don't like Julius and it doesn't have a thing to do with Barber.

Forget the "it ain't broke" mantra, why is it hard for you to understand that some people do still believe Julius can get it done? Just because you don't, doesn't mean everyone else should. It's just about realizing that Julius' time here is done and believing that Julius can be effective elsewhere.

Barber's the new IT guy for a lot of folks. He's exciting. He runs hard. He produces with his opportunities...in this defined role. The question of whether he can handle it as the lead dog is the question. When Jones is gone next year, he should have his opportunity.

 

[Clove]

I think we're all still caught up on JJ's rookie year, and the fact that JJ has speed. We can't seem to get those 2 things out of our mind. No one said to bench JJ, just let Barber start. JJ will get the same amount of carries.

 

[silverblue]

No, he can't. It's a complete fabrication.

From the play-by-play charts on ESPN.com, Julius has 15 runs resulting in zero or negative yardage (19% of his carries) and Barber has 9 (11% of his carries).

Barber gets stuffed less, has a higher ypc, more big plays, more TDs - he's simply better, in every respect.

I tallied 14 for Jones and 11 for barber through the vikings game from the nfl.com play by play so you are right, I stand corrected. A few weeks ago, Barber surprisingly had the lead in this.

 

[WoodysGirl]

I think we're all still caught up on JJ's rookie year, and the fact that JJ has speed. We can't seem to get those 2 things out of our mind. No one said to bench JJ, just let Barber start. JJ will get the same amount of carries.

If he comes in on the 2nd series, does it really make that much of a difference? I guess my real question is what is considered starting?

Because to me, starting the game obviously doesn't mean much considering the rotation, not just with Barber and Jones, but the d-line and linebackers, too.

 

[03EBZ06]

No one said to bench JJ, just let Barber start. JJ will get the same amount of carries.

Yup, I don't see what it would hurt (other than JJ's feeling)to start off with MBIII, if anything for a change of pace, without taking plays from JJ. Give it a try and if it doesn't work then start JJ again.

I know there are many who say let JJ wear out the defense and let MBIII run wild on them in latter part of the game, but in my mind, JJ doesn't do enough to wear out the defense whereas MBIII's running style is more conducive to wearing out the opponent and allows speed back to finish off the defense.

 

[Ren]

I consider these slow starts we continue to have, something that needs improvement. We can get better.

Barber hasn't exactly set the world on fire with his early carries either, the problem ain't JJ it's the run blocking specially early in games.

We're 6-1 so obviously we're doing something right why stir things up when there doesn't seem to be a need for it

 

[Doomsday101]

Barber hasn't exactly set the world on fire with his early carries either, the problem ain't JJ it's the run blocking specially early in games.

We're 6-1 so obviously we're doing something right why stir things up when there doesn't seem to be a need for it

1st qrt carries for Barber he is getting 4 yards a carry. Compared to Jones 2.8a carry in the 1st qrt. I would agree run blocking could be better but a good back can also help his line.

 

[dooomsday]

Why is JuJo even an option!?

 

[dooomsday]

Yup, I don't see what it would hurt (other than JJ's feeling)to start off with MBIII, if anything for a change of pace, without taking plays from JJ. Give it a try and if it doesn't work then start JJ again.

I know there are many who say let JJ wear out the defense and let MBIII run wild on them in latter part of the game, but in my mind, JJ doesn't do enough to wear out the defense whereas MBIII's running style is more conducive to wearing out the opponent and allows speed back to finish off the defense.

However, I would limit JuJo carries to about 8-10. Any time JuJo has ther ball and not MB, its a bad play.

 

[TimeKeeper]

Barber then Jones

 

[theogt]

Again that's why I say he's not the flavor of the day anymore. After the first year, it was all Julius all the time. The next this, the next that. Because he didn't live up to that, now he's suckage and should be put out to pasture. Flavor of the day.

Flavor of the day has a derogatory connotation. He's the preferred back because he's better. He's the better flavor and there's nothing subjective about this.

Obviously the coaches think so and that's why Barber gets the bulk of the carries in the redzone, but it's not like Julius can't punch it in. And for the past two years, I don't even know what he can do in the redzone, because he's rarely on the field during those series.

This year, they're playing different roles. Barber is no longer the "situational back." And yet, he's still outproducing Jones -- by a very wide margin I might add.

For some people, it is totally agenda. They don't like Julius and it doesn't have a thing to do with Barber.

I don't get this "agenda" non-sense. Never have. My agenda is getting the best players on the field. Right now, Barber over Jones fits that agenda.

Forget the "it ain't broke" mantra, why is it hard for you to understand that some people do still believe Julius can get it done? Just because you don't, doesn't mean everyone else should. It's just about realizing that Julius' time here is done and believing that Julius can be effective elsewhere.

Sure he can get it done. A lot of different backs can "get it done." Tyson Thompson can get it done. But this isn't about that. It's about who is better -- Barber or Jones. And it's just hard for me to believe anyone is stupid enough to still think Julius is better. But then again, I'm amazed daily at how stupid some people are.

Barber's the new IT guy for a lot of folks. He's exciting. He runs hard. He produces with his opportunities...in this defined role. The question of whether he can handle it as the lead dog is the question. When Jones is gone next year, he should have his opportunity.

I assume by "the new IT guy" you mean that most people realize he's better than the alternative. He produces. The other guy doesn't.