Tailback tandem continues to shine
By CHUCK CARLTON
The Dallas Morning News
IRVING – There is nothing like making your new boss look like a genius on a key early call.
Marion Barber turned Wade Phillips' first gamble as Cowboys head coach into a winner, and ignited the offense in the process.
The 18-yard touchdown run began a sequence that saw the Cowboys score 35 points in less than two quarters of elapsed time, ending with Terrell Owens' 47-yard touchdown catch early in the fourth quarter.
The Cowboys' tailback tandem of Barber and Julius Jones combined to finish with 131 yards on 27 carries.
The debate is likely to continue over which back deserves the majority of the carries. Nobody in the Cowboys locker room was choosing sides.
"It's a great combination to have because they're both so versatile," new offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said. "People think one guy is one kind of runner and the other guy is another kind of runner.
"I make the argument that they're both multidimensional players."
No run was bigger than Barber's dash to the outside on fourth-and-1 in the second quarter.
The Cowboys trailed 6-3 despite dominating the time of possession.
Barber turned the corner with more than a first down in mind. He eluded two tackles, ran over Corey Webster at the 10-yard line and dove into the end zone despite the efforts of Sam Madison.
"I thought it would boost our team," Phillips said, "because we had problems with fourth down last year."
Phillips started Jones and then used Barber's physical, almost-angry running style, as a change of pace.
Jones was effective early and was back in the game when the Cowboys were trying to expand their lead early in the fourth quarter. By that time last year, former coach Bill Parcells had usually turned to Barber.
"Our tailbacks run hard," receiver Patrick Crayton said. "I'm saying it now, we might have the best one-two punch in the league."
The Dallas Morning News
IRVING – There is nothing like making your new boss look like a genius on a key early call.
Marion Barber turned Wade Phillips' first gamble as Cowboys head coach into a winner, and ignited the offense in the process.
The 18-yard touchdown run began a sequence that saw the Cowboys score 35 points in less than two quarters of elapsed time, ending with Terrell Owens' 47-yard touchdown catch early in the fourth quarter.
The Cowboys' tailback tandem of Barber and Julius Jones combined to finish with 131 yards on 27 carries.
The debate is likely to continue over which back deserves the majority of the carries. Nobody in the Cowboys locker room was choosing sides.
"It's a great combination to have because they're both so versatile," new offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said. "People think one guy is one kind of runner and the other guy is another kind of runner.
"I make the argument that they're both multidimensional players."
No run was bigger than Barber's dash to the outside on fourth-and-1 in the second quarter.
The Cowboys trailed 6-3 despite dominating the time of possession.
Barber turned the corner with more than a first down in mind. He eluded two tackles, ran over Corey Webster at the 10-yard line and dove into the end zone despite the efforts of Sam Madison.
"I thought it would boost our team," Phillips said, "because we had problems with fourth down last year."
Phillips started Jones and then used Barber's physical, almost-angry running style, as a change of pace.
Jones was effective early and was back in the game when the Cowboys were trying to expand their lead early in the fourth quarter. By that time last year, former coach Bill Parcells had usually turned to Barber.
"Our tailbacks run hard," receiver Patrick Crayton said. "I'm saying it now, we might have the best one-two punch in the league."
posted by The Gryphon at 7:42 AM
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