Barber over Jones is a non-starter for now
A liberal dose
September 15, 2007
IRVING -- Cowboys running back Marion Barber holds a straight face and claims he didn't hear a thing.
He didn't hear the loud cheering last week at Texas Stadium when he ran onto the field for the first time against the New York Giants -- and Julius Jones exited. Barber wants to avoid the spotlight, but he can't avoid being the fan favorite and the one they want to see starting.
But things won't change, at least for now. Jones remains the starter, although, unlike last year under Bill Parcells, how the running backs are used might be more of a true rotation this year under Wade Phillips and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. They plan to implement more of a 'mix-and-match' approach with Jones and Barber.
'If it ain't broke, don't fix it,' said Barber, who scored an NFC-best 14 rushing touchdowns last year. 'I feel like everything is working out, and you have to find your role and however they want to use me, I have to be ready.'
Jones led the Cowboys with 16 carries for 66 yards (4.1 average) and Barber had 11 carries for 65 yards (5.9 average) and a touchdown against the Giants.
Phillips said the system could be one in which both backs get equal carries, or he could ride the hot hand one game. A more balanced attack means more of Barber, with his dreadlock-flopping spark-plug flair.
'As long as we're productive, that's what we're looking for,' Phillips said. 'I don't think you can say definitely what we're going to do all of the time. But if we can start getting 18-20 carries for both guys. then you're doing pretty well running the ball. That's what we would like to see.'
The Cowboys had 11 offensive series against the Giants, and the plays were mostly split in half. Barber took the majority of the snaps on two of the first three series -- a change from how things were under Parcells.
Barber was mostly a third-down back, a red-zone specialist who had more carries in the second half of games last season. But the Barber-for-starter campaign wants him with a bigger role early. He did that without starting against the Giants. His 18-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-1 had a huge impact in the second quarter. It gave Dallas a 10-6 lead and helped Phillips dodge a major second-guess.
'The fourth-and-1 is a big play,' Phillips said. 'The coach is fixing to get run out of town if you don't make it. He helped me out.'
However the system works, the Cowboys expect to have two backs with fresh enough legs to make a difference late in the season. Jones also carries the pressure of needing a big season in the final year of his contract while he fights the Everybody Loves Barber atmosphere.
'He's an explosive runner,' Phillips said of Barber.
It remains a one-two punch with more results from the two, as in Barber.
'You can just see he's [Barber] got the desire to score,' Miami coach Cam Cameron said. 'He has that mentality that I'm not going to be stopped once I get close to the goal line.'
Barber averaged eight carries last season and Jones 16. Jones' carries faded down the stretch last season and he questioned his role. He won't likely need to question it this season, because it appears whoever produces remains in the game.
'You just have to stay hungry,' Barber said.
Hungry to get more carries.
Cowboys at Dolphins, 3:05 p.m. Sunday, KDFW/4
September 15, 2007
IRVING -- Cowboys running back Marion Barber holds a straight face and claims he didn't hear a thing.
He didn't hear the loud cheering last week at Texas Stadium when he ran onto the field for the first time against the New York Giants -- and Julius Jones exited. Barber wants to avoid the spotlight, but he can't avoid being the fan favorite and the one they want to see starting.
But things won't change, at least for now. Jones remains the starter, although, unlike last year under Bill Parcells, how the running backs are used might be more of a true rotation this year under Wade Phillips and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. They plan to implement more of a 'mix-and-match' approach with Jones and Barber.
'If it ain't broke, don't fix it,' said Barber, who scored an NFC-best 14 rushing touchdowns last year. 'I feel like everything is working out, and you have to find your role and however they want to use me, I have to be ready.'
Jones led the Cowboys with 16 carries for 66 yards (4.1 average) and Barber had 11 carries for 65 yards (5.9 average) and a touchdown against the Giants.
Phillips said the system could be one in which both backs get equal carries, or he could ride the hot hand one game. A more balanced attack means more of Barber, with his dreadlock-flopping spark-plug flair.
'As long as we're productive, that's what we're looking for,' Phillips said. 'I don't think you can say definitely what we're going to do all of the time. But if we can start getting 18-20 carries for both guys. then you're doing pretty well running the ball. That's what we would like to see.'
The Cowboys had 11 offensive series against the Giants, and the plays were mostly split in half. Barber took the majority of the snaps on two of the first three series -- a change from how things were under Parcells.
Barber was mostly a third-down back, a red-zone specialist who had more carries in the second half of games last season. But the Barber-for-starter campaign wants him with a bigger role early. He did that without starting against the Giants. His 18-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-1 had a huge impact in the second quarter. It gave Dallas a 10-6 lead and helped Phillips dodge a major second-guess.
'The fourth-and-1 is a big play,' Phillips said. 'The coach is fixing to get run out of town if you don't make it. He helped me out.'
However the system works, the Cowboys expect to have two backs with fresh enough legs to make a difference late in the season. Jones also carries the pressure of needing a big season in the final year of his contract while he fights the Everybody Loves Barber atmosphere.
'He's an explosive runner,' Phillips said of Barber.
It remains a one-two punch with more results from the two, as in Barber.
'You can just see he's [Barber] got the desire to score,' Miami coach Cam Cameron said. 'He has that mentality that I'm not going to be stopped once I get close to the goal line.'
Barber averaged eight carries last season and Jones 16. Jones' carries faded down the stretch last season and he questioned his role. He won't likely need to question it this season, because it appears whoever produces remains in the game.
'You just have to stay hungry,' Barber said.
Hungry to get more carries.
Cowboys at Dolphins, 3:05 p.m. Sunday, KDFW/4
posted by The Gryphon at 10:16 AM
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