Dr. Z quotes Parcells on Barber/Jones
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com
Right now I can't think of a runner who plays with the passion of the Cowboys' Marion Barber. He starts each game on the bench. Ten out of 10 people would tell you he's a better player than the starter, Julius Jones. I can understand the theory ... sort of. Use Jones as a softening element, finish the other team off with Barber. It's the old shock troops approach popularized by Knute Rockne more than 80 years ago -- soften 'em up with his second unit, which he called, "my shock troops," then bring in his big guys when the enemy is tired.
It's a theory, but how come nobody else does it? What would happen, for instance, if the Chargers would give the opponent a heavy dose of their big hammer, 237-pound Michael Turner, for a while and then bring in LaDainian Tomlinson when the defense was starting to sag? Well, Tomlinson wouldn't like it. His numbers would go down, which probably would affect his contract. Turner wouldn't like getting yanked just when he was starting to warm up. The fans certainly wouldn't like it. There would be riots in the streets, bonfire rallies, angry call-ins during the Sunday sermons on the radio.
And I'm sure Barber would be happier with his role if he were the featured back, able to show what kind of stats he could really put up, given that status.
"He's so versatile that he's a perfect guy to finish a game for you," says Bill Parcells, Barber's coach at Dallas last year. "Actually his versatility hurts his status as a featured back. I'll tell you, though. If I'd have had a third down back at Dallas, a Dave Meggett type, I'd have made Barber my featured back."
I'm sure these are perfectly logical reasons. It just makes me a little sad to see three guys who throw so much passion into their work handed less than they deserve in return.
Right now I can't think of a runner who plays with the passion of the Cowboys' Marion Barber. He starts each game on the bench. Ten out of 10 people would tell you he's a better player than the starter, Julius Jones. I can understand the theory ... sort of. Use Jones as a softening element, finish the other team off with Barber. It's the old shock troops approach popularized by Knute Rockne more than 80 years ago -- soften 'em up with his second unit, which he called, "my shock troops," then bring in his big guys when the enemy is tired.
It's a theory, but how come nobody else does it? What would happen, for instance, if the Chargers would give the opponent a heavy dose of their big hammer, 237-pound Michael Turner, for a while and then bring in LaDainian Tomlinson when the defense was starting to sag? Well, Tomlinson wouldn't like it. His numbers would go down, which probably would affect his contract. Turner wouldn't like getting yanked just when he was starting to warm up. The fans certainly wouldn't like it. There would be riots in the streets, bonfire rallies, angry call-ins during the Sunday sermons on the radio.
And I'm sure Barber would be happier with his role if he were the featured back, able to show what kind of stats he could really put up, given that status.
"He's so versatile that he's a perfect guy to finish a game for you," says Bill Parcells, Barber's coach at Dallas last year. "Actually his versatility hurts his status as a featured back. I'll tell you, though. If I'd have had a third down back at Dallas, a Dave Meggett type, I'd have made Barber my featured back."
I'm sure these are perfectly logical reasons. It just makes me a little sad to see three guys who throw so much passion into their work handed less than they deserve in return.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:47 PM
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