Matt Mosley of ESPN Radio and FSSW wrote a piece on Felix Jones, dubbing him finally ready for the starting RB role on the Dallas Cowboys. His coach and teammates are confident in his 2011 physical and mental shape.

I’m not so sure.

Could it be that Dallas is pulling a Barber mistake ver 2.0 ?

Marion Barber should NEVER have been a starting running back. He was potent and powerful at the smash-for-short-yardage run. He’s a feature back, not a starter. And his body wore out under the strain of carrying the starter load.

Enter Felix Jones. Jones reminds me of Bryan Westbrook. He’s not what you’d consider a “true” running back, but more of a wing-pass, outside-edge type of player. He’s more similar to Reggie Bush than Chris Johnson, minus the kick returns. That explosive speed needs 3-4 steps to find the open hole and then he’s almost untouchable.

I don’t care what two preseason games have shown. Felix is not a run-between-the-tackles back. But he’s going to be played as one.

If Dallas had started Tashard Choice and brought Marion and Felix in as feature 3rd down backs, Dallas would have had the hottest running game going. Choice can run between the tackles and push through. He’s the blend of Smash and Dash. Not top speed and not maximum power. But he has enough of both to handle 50% of the carries while Barber and Jones shared the remaining 50%.

Running Back Assets

What could’ve been will never be, so let’s stop living in the past and look at what we have before us:

• Felix Jones
• Tashard Choice
• DeMarco Murray
• Lonyae Miller
• Phillip Tanner

Each of these players is deserving of some reps. I haven’t seen DeMarco Murray in the NFL, so I’ll reserve judgment on his capabilities. But there’s still room for a three back system. The complication comes when you start paying two or three of those running backs starter money. Then you have to justify their co-existence. Maybe that’s just a no-go for Red J.

Felix is ready to be the leader of the running backs, not necessarily the starter.He’s the most explosive. But he’s also historically the most fragile. You want your 3rd and 4th running backs getting enough reps to prepare them to carry the load when Felix gets injured. And we’re fairly certain that will happen this year. Why would this year be any different?

Then again, maybe the terms “starter” and “leader” are synonymous on this Cowboys team. If you divvy up the carries enough, starter is a relative term, primarily indicating who plays first, not necessarily most.

It will be interesting to see whether Jason Garrett changes his tune on Felix as the season gets underway.

Who do YOU give kudos to after this win?

The Cowboys finally did something they haven’t done since I was a senior in high school, win a playoff. The 34-14 win over the Eagles was the first playoff win for the Cowboys since 1996. It would seem that, for the most part, the demons of the past are going away from this team.

Marion Barber didn’t get much run in this game because he aggravated a knee injury. Barber finished the game with 3 carries for 4 yards and no catches. He sat out after the Cowboys’ 2nd offensive series and hopefully that time off and the extra day of rest will allow him to get healed up. The Cowboys are gonna need him.

Felix Jones just continues to round himself back into the form he was in before he got hurt last season. Felix finished with 16 carries for 148 yards and 1 touchdown as well as 1 catch for 30 yards and 2 kickoff returns for 29 yards. The touchdown run was a nice 73-yarder, the longest touchdown run in a playoff game in team history. The more I see from Felix, the more I don’t mind him the more featured back of the three. My only complaint with Felix is his use as a kick returner. As Felix’s role in the running game increases, I think it’s time to remove him from those duties. Let Kevin Ogletree and one of the other receivers handle those duties.

They finally listened to me about Tashard! Yes, they were keeping Marion from getting injured further, but it was good to see Tashard Choice get a chance to show what he can do in a meaningful game. Tashard had 14 carries for 42 yards and 1 touchdown and 1 catch for 6 yards. Tashard operated out of the “Razorback” a few times, to varying degrees of success. Whether or not Barber is 100% for the upcoming game, I hope we still see a good dose of Choice as he provides a nice change of pace.

Sunday afternoon, the Cowboys face the NFC North champion Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome (or Mall of America Field or whatever they call it now). Even though the Vikings slumped down the stretch, It’ll be a tough matchup for the Cowboys, with the crowd noise, Brett Favre, Adrian Peterson and that defense of theirs. Historically, though Brett Favre hasn’t had much playoff success against the Cowboys and the Vikings in general seem to have angered the playoff gods some time ago with the bad luck they’ve had in playoffs’ past. Let’s hope the Cowboys continue that unlucky streak Sunday.

GO COWBOYS!!!

Congratulations are in order for the NFC East champion Dallas Cowboys. After posting consecutive shutouts for the first time in franchise history in a 24-0 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, the Cowboys claimed their second division title in three years. The reward: a rematch against the one and same Eagles.

Now THAT’s the Marion the Barbarian we know and love. Marion Barber had 14 carries for 91 yards and 1 catch for 14 yards, included in that a nifty 32 yard run on the second play from scrimmage that led to the game’s first touchdown. Barber appeared to be more aggressive this time around and ran with a purpose. They were also able to spread out his carries over the course of the game as to not have a worn out Barbarian going into the 4th quarter.

Felix Jones seems to be rounding back into the form he was in before he got injured last season. Jones had 15 carries for 91 yards and 1 touchdown as well as 3 catches for 3 yards. The touchdown came on an impressive run down the left sideline, featuring an escort by Doug Free who provided some key blocks on the play. Felix is showing more speed and more burst each week. Hopefully he can stay healthy in the offseason and be full strength to start next season.

Not much to say about Tashard Choice since he didn’t log a carry or catch in this game. In fact, he suffered a concussion after taking a knee in the helmet in the 1st quarter. Reports are saying there’s a chance he’ll play Saturday night, be that remains to be seen.

The regular season is over and now the real fun begins, as the Cowboys host the Eagles in the Wild Card round of the playoffs Saturday night at the Death Star. It will be very interesting to see what kind of adjustments both teams make after facing each other less than a week before. I would expect a much more aggressive, physical approach from the Eagles and the Cowboys not only need to match that level of intensity, they also need to overcome whatever mental demons they may have as a team if they’re going to win their first playoff game since 1996.

GO COWBOYS!!!

The Cowboys went to Washington and got themselves a shutout, beating the Redskins 17-0. In the process, they snatched up the last available playoff spot in the NFC (thanks Giants!).If the Cowboys are going to advance in the playoffs, there are some issues that need to be ironed out in the run game.

Marion Barber. Oh, dear Marion Barber. What’s happened to the Barbarian we’ve all grown to love in these parts? Never mind the 17 carries for 63 yards and 1 touchdown and the 4 catches for 30 yards. Let’s talk about 3rd and 1. And, more specifically, 4th and 1.

One had to think the goal line stand the Chargers defense had against the Cowboys was a bit of an aberration, something that would work itself out in the future. After what I saw against the Redskins, I’m convinced that’s not the case. Yes, some of the fault lies with the offensive line, but ultimately the man with the ball in his hands has to find a way to get that yard. It depresses me to admit this, but Barber just doesn’t seem to have the ability to bang in the middle like he used to. If a similar situation comes up in the future, who do you give the ball to? Do you still trust Barber in that situation?

Felix Jones had himself a nice game with 10 carries for 58 yards and 4 catches for 27 yards. Felix slowly but surely appears to be rounding back into the form he was in before last season’s injuries. I liked that he didn’t have to return kicks either, allowing him to stay focused on the offense.

I’m making the call right here, right now. Give Tashard Choice some serious run. Dude should be getting more than 1 carry for 1 yard per game. If we’re still to believe Marion is still the Barbarian, then let Jones and Choice get the majority of the carries through the 1st 3 quarters, paving the way for Barber to close it out. Tashard is too talented to only be given a carry a game.

The NFC East title will be on the line Sunday afternoon as the Philadelphia Eagles visit the Death Star. With a win, the Cowboys not only clinch the division title, but if the Giants and Packers win on Sunday, the Cowboys would be the #2 seed in the NFC and have a first-round bye.

GO COWBOYS!!!

Swoon over? For one week, at least, you bet! The Cowboys stunned everyone but themselves by taking down the previously unbeaten New Orleans Saints at the Superdome, 24-17.

For the first time in a while, the Monster, two-thirds of it at least, played a significant part in the win, totaling 32 carries for 124 yards and 2 touchdowns, as well as 2 catches for 21 yards.

Marion Barber got the start and had one of his best games of the season, finishing with 17 carries for 62 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also caught a pass for 11 yards. It would appear that Marion is getting closer to full strength, as he looked more “Barbarian”-like than he has in recent weeks. We just need to remind Flozell to take it easy on Marion next time they want to celebrate a touchdown.

Felix Jones had a pretty good game himself, as he got 14 carries for 58 yards as well as 1 reception for 10 yards. He also returned 3 kickoffs for 90 yards. It’s good to see Felix show the bursts of speed that have been missing the last few weeks. One gets the feeling he’s due to break a big one any week now.

Tashard Choice only had 1 carry for 4 yards. At this point, Tashard appears to be way down on the list of weapons this offense is willing to use unless it is absolutely necessary. Hopefully, Jason Garrett can figure out a way to get Tashard more involved in the offense in the off-season.

The Cowboys can’t rest on their laurels following this big win, as the team travels to the nation’s capital to take on their longtime nemesis, the Washington Redskins, on Sunday Night Football. If the Cowboys win out, they win the NFC East, so it’s important the Cowboys keep the momentum from this victory.

GO COWBOYS!!!

When KRLD-FM asked Jerry Jones about Marion Barber’s role, he gave a very candid and (believe it or not) accurate response. According to ESPN.com, Jerry said,

I think the real question is, should he be finishing rather than beginning? In his Pro Bowl year, where he had his best year, [Barber was] finishing the game. If you recall, Julius Jones started the game. We injected the quickness of his speed there early.

I’ve only been saying this since Week 3. Why does Jerry understand the problem better than his head coach? Here’s what Wade had to say on the subject:

He’s able to carry the load. We want the power guy early in the game to start out to physically attack the other team, I think, and you want the same thing at the end of the game. Plus, he’s our best player. He’s our best back. You want your best player out there to start the game and finish it.

Let’s give Wade the benefit of the doubt and assume he didn’t actually intend to call Marion Barber their “best player”. Let’s move on to the REAL issue at stake here: you have a player who was a Pro Bowler when he was positioned as the closer. You gave him starter money and now you play him as a starter. And since the change, he’s not been nearly as effective. This is basic logic, Mr. Phillips. You compare the past with the present and you go back to what worked! This is not rocket science.

If you actually watched the damn games you were supposed to be coaching instead of arguing how much your players are “winners”, you might actually realize that starting Marion Barber isn’t working. It’s not the best use of his skillset.

The way it should be

Starter: Tashard Choice. I’ve been saying this since the season began. Give me Tashard to start. Will he break away for 20, 30, 40 yard runs? Maybe. Maybe not. He does have better speed than Barber in the open field. He has better moves and toughness than Felix. If anything, Choice is the closest thing to an all-around running back. I think Red Jesus would be pleasantly surprised with Choice’s production.

Specialty / Backfield Receiver: Felix Jones. Is there ANY doubt that Felix Jones could do EXACTLY what Brian Westbrook has done for the Philadelphia Eagles? They’re practically the same player. Give Felix a few handoffs throughout the game, but keep him in the backfield and swing him out into the wing as your last option receiver. He will make some plays. Guaranteed.

Closer: Marion Barber. IT JUST MAKES THE MOST SENSE. Barber played his best pro ball when he closed behind Julius Jones. That was the scenario that enamored all the fans and coaches and caused Jerry to cough up the big money. I don’t care what kind of logic Wade Phillips thinks he possesses. On this, he is flat wrong. You don’t find a gem and pay a star and then change up his approach. That’s just stupid.

Put Barber back in the closer position and let him punish tired defenses in the Second Half.

Unconvinced? Todd Archer of the Dallas Morning News put together some game changing stats.

Here’s Barber’s average quarter-by-quarter breakdown from 2009:

First – 4.1 carries, 18 yards
Second – 3.4 carries, 12 yards
Third – 2.5 carries, 8.3 yards
Fourth – 3.7 carries, 22.5 yards

Here’s Barber’s average quarter-by-quarter breakdown from 2007:

First – 2.1 carries, 9.3 yards
Second – 3.1 carries, 14 yards
Third – 2.6 carries, 12.6 yards
Fourth – 4.9 carries, 25 yards

You can clearly see that the 4th Quarter has always been his best slot for yards per carry. And the 2nd Quarter barely edges out the 3rd for next best. But it’s clear as day that Barber is historically weakest in the 1st Quarter. The stats don’t lie.

Take your “best player starts” mentality and go coach little league.

OOPS! The worst case scenario for the Cowboys is in full effect as Dallas fell to the Giants 31-24 at the Meadowlands Sunday evening. Along with that, the Eagles won Sunday, which puts them in a tie for first in the NFC East with the Cowboys with the Giants a game behind and holding the tie-breaker with the Cowboys. There are several area to look at in this loss and the ground game is one of them, as the “Monster” finished with 23 carries for 45 yards and 6 receptions for 20 yards. I think its safe to say you’re not gonna win many games averaging less than 2 yards a carry.

Marion Barber got the start and had easily his worst game of the season. He finished the game with 15 carries for 36 yards and 3 catches for 7 yards. Barber was also front and center in one of the biggest plays of the game, fumbling the ball after a reception with just over a minute left on the Cowboys’ 28 yard line. The Giants would score to take a 14-10 lead and momentum into halftime.

Felix Jones didn’t fare much better than Barber, totaling 6 carries for 6 yards and 3 carries for 13 yards. He also had 3 kickoff returns for 66 yards. Felix wasn’t given many chances to run in the game and when he did he was more often than not swallowed up in the backfield by several Giants defenders. He looked a little tentative whenever he did have the ball in space so I don’t know if the injury is still bugging him or if the cold weather got to him.

Tashard Choice didn’t see much action, and for once this season, it may not have mattered if he did as the Giants did an excellent job of bottling up the Cowboys’ rushing attack. Tashard was in for a couple of “Razorback” plays, totaling 3 yards on 2 carries. Choice nearly fell victim to a costly fumble as he appeared to put the ball on the ground inside the Giants’ 5 yard line, but the call was reversed on replay and the Cowboys were able to get a touchdown on the next play.

With the exception of three big plays, the Cowboys didn’t play a horrible game. I would like to have seen them at least match the Giants as far as intensity goes, especially in the second half. The Cowboys will need to cut down on the big plays this week as the red-hot San Diego Super Chargers come to the Death Star Sunday. The Chargers have won 7 in a row and quietly took the lead in the AFC West a couple of weeks ago. If the Cowboys want to prevent a true December swoon (again) they need to win this game because I don’t have much confidence in this team winning a Saturday night game in the Superdome.

GO COWBOYS!!!

WOW! For one week at least, the Monster got its groove back, finishing with 24 carries for 194 yards and one touchdown to go along with 4 receptions for 42 yards in the Cowboys’ 24-7 Thanksgiving Day thumping of the Oakland Raiders. The Monster was responsible for two of the biggest plays of the game and and had a much bigger impact on this game than in previous weeks.

Marion Barber got the start and turned out the be the least productive in the running game, finishing with 14 carries for 61 yards. He also had 2 catches for 41 yards. Barber had a 32 yard run and an impressive 42 yard catch and run.

Felix Jones began to look like the Felix from last year, finishing the game with 7 carries for 68 yards and 1 touchdown and 2 catches for 1 yard. Jones looks to be getting his burst back, along with some power and shiftiness. This was all on display on his 46 yard touchdown in the 2nd quarter that gave the Cowboys a 10-0 lead.

Tashard Choice, once again, had limited opportunities, but this time out, he was able to take advantage of his chances. Working primarily out of the “Razorback” formation, Choice was able to get 3 carries for 67 yards. The biggest play of the day for the Cowboys was Tashard’s 66 yard run in the 1st quarter, which led to a Nick Folk field goal, the first points of the game.

The Cowboys don’t play again until December 6th, when they make their final appearance in Giants Stadium against the hated New York Football Giants. New York is currently 2 games behind the Cowboys in the NFC East and will put forth their best effort in front of their home fans to try to stay in the division and playoff race. Let’s hope the Cowboys are up for the challenge and we don’t see the start of (yet another) December swoon.

GO COWBOYS!!!

We got our wish this week as extra emphasis was placed on the run game against the Redskins. What did we get for having our wish fulfilled? A lot of yards on the ground (149 total) but not much scoring. In fact, the once-vaunted Cowboys offense was once again held to a single touchdown on the day. Thankfully, Washington’s offense has been pathetic all year and that continued in a 7-6 Cowboys victory at the Death Star Sunday afternoon.

Once again, Marion Barber got the start and finished the game with 20 carries for 99 yards to go along with 1 catch for 1 yard. Barber was able to take advantage of Albert Haynesworth absence in the middle for some big runs throughout the game. Even though he is beginning to look more like the Marion the Barbarian we all know and love, I’d still like to see his workload reduced so Tashard can get some carries.

Felix Jones got to see his share of action, wih 10 carries for 49 yards, 1 catch for 1 yard and 3 kickoff returns for 66 yards. Jones, like Barber, was able to take advantage of Haynesworth’s absence in the middle of Washington’s defensive line. Felix looked more assertive this week than he has since returning from injury, though he still showed signs of tenativeness at times. This is a good sign going forward, as the Cowboys really need his ability to take a play to the house.

Do we need to put out an APB for Tashard Choice? We may have to after Choice registered 1 carry for 1 yard in this game. I understand Barber and Jones being the 1st and 2nd options in the run game, but it wouldn’t hurt to give Tashard more than one touch over the course of a game. Especially with Barber and Jones already having sustained injuries this season.

The Thanksgiving Day game tradition continues Thursday as the Cowboys welcome the Oakland Raiders to the Death Star. The Raiders will come in feeling pretty good about themselves, after their last second win over the AFC North-leading Cincinnati Bengals. I get the feeling the Cowboys may need to score more than a touchdown to win this one.

GO COWBOYS!!!