Jones, Barber would benefit from Turner being coach of Cowboys

Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer

Running backs Julius Jones and Marion Barber should be rooting for Jerry Jones to hire Norv Turner as the Cowboys’ seventh coach.

Turner, San Francisco’s offensive coordinator and the man many league observers and Valley Ranch insiders consider to be a lock to get the job in Dallas, is best known among Cowboys fans as the quarterback guru who helped develop Troy Aikman into a Hall of Famer.

But Turner is also a big proponent of a punishing ground game. With him as either their team’s offensive coordinator or coach, these backs all enjoyed 1,000-yard seasons: Emmitt Smith, Terry Allen, Stephen Davis, LaDainian Tomlinson, Ricky Williams, Lamont Jordan and Frank Gore.

Allen and Davis both reached the 1,300-yard plateau while Turner was coach of Washington from 1995-2000.

Williams topped 1,800 and 1,300 yards during Turner’s stint in 2002-2003 as Miami’s offensive coordinator.

Turner’s penchant for producing 1,000-yard rushers should go over well in Dallas. With Turner’s help, Jones and Barber would flourish, making the Cowboys stronger on both sides of the ball.