DMN Blog: Wade Phillips doesn't want Marion Barber to change his style
by Tim MacMahon
When Emmitt Smith visited Valley Ranch earlier this month, he suggested that Marion "The Barbarian" Barber learn how to conserve energy now that he's a starter.
"I think he spends a lot of energy that may not be necessary," Emmitt said. "For a starting back, I'm all about putting your heart into it, but you're doing a lot of kicking, running up, bucking and you're exerting a lot of energy. We need you for four quarters -- and I'm going to say we because I'm a Cowboy, too. We need you for four quarters.
"If Marion has to carry the load for four quarters, there's no way he can handle it."
With all due respect to the NFL's all-time leading rusher, Wade Phillips would rather Barber not take Emmitt's advice on this issue. Phillips doesn't want or anticipate Barber changing his bruising style.
"He's going to run the way he runs, and that's why he's successful," Phillips said. "His health has been good. He hasn't had any problems as far as that's concerned, so his style doesn't seem to hurt him that way.
"It looks like he hits them harder than they hit him most of the time. When the hits come, he's the guy hitting. He doesn't take a lot of big licks really. He gives some."
Phillips dismissed fatigue as a factor for Barber in the playoff loss to the Giants, when he had 101 yards in the first half and finished with 129 yards on 27 carries.
And fatigue shouldn't be a factor for Barber this season with Felix Jones around. It's Barber's job to keep running hard. Let the coaches worry about when he needs to rest.
When Emmitt Smith visited Valley Ranch earlier this month, he suggested that Marion "The Barbarian" Barber learn how to conserve energy now that he's a starter.
"I think he spends a lot of energy that may not be necessary," Emmitt said. "For a starting back, I'm all about putting your heart into it, but you're doing a lot of kicking, running up, bucking and you're exerting a lot of energy. We need you for four quarters -- and I'm going to say we because I'm a Cowboy, too. We need you for four quarters.
"If Marion has to carry the load for four quarters, there's no way he can handle it."
With all due respect to the NFL's all-time leading rusher, Wade Phillips would rather Barber not take Emmitt's advice on this issue. Phillips doesn't want or anticipate Barber changing his bruising style.
"He's going to run the way he runs, and that's why he's successful," Phillips said. "His health has been good. He hasn't had any problems as far as that's concerned, so his style doesn't seem to hurt him that way.
"It looks like he hits them harder than they hit him most of the time. When the hits come, he's the guy hitting. He doesn't take a lot of big licks really. He gives some."
Phillips dismissed fatigue as a factor for Barber in the playoff loss to the Giants, when he had 101 yards in the first half and finished with 129 yards on 27 carries.
And fatigue shouldn't be a factor for Barber this season with Felix Jones around. It's Barber's job to keep running hard. Let the coaches worry about when he needs to rest.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:42 PM
<< Home