Cowboys Running Backs: Smash, Dash and Tash
by Jim Vance on Jun 1, 2009 11:22 AM CDT
in Dallas Cowboys General
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Print[Ed. Note by Grizz]: Jim Vance had a story about the three-headed monster at running back ready to go for today, but then I was sent a video by Tashard Choice's people highlighting their new nickname. If I'm not mistaken, our own Carl Shelton came up with Bash, Dash and Tash which I relayed to Tashard, who altered it to Smash, Dash and Tash. It looks like the guys want to make the name stick. Well, at least Felix and Tashard do, although Felix had trouble with the nickname. Barber was his typical "no where near the cameras" self. Enjoy the vid, then read Jim's article on how to use the newly-christened Smash, Dash and Tash. [End note]
[Begin Jim Vance's article]
The Cowboys have a very talented group of running backs in Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice. They Cowboys running back situation reminds me of the very wealthy gentleman who collects expensive vehicles. Barber is an Abrams tank, a punisher who fights for every yard. Felix is the sports car, weaving through traffic, accelerating smoothly and pulling away into the open field. Tashard Choice is the four-wheel drive SUV, good on any terrain - capable and reliable.
I have read and heard several theories about how we should utilize these three. Start Felix and sprinkle in some Choice, saving Barber as the closer. Start Barber and let him play the first quarter, then Felix plays the second quarter with Choice opening the third quarter, closing out with Barber again. How about the theory of alternating Felix and Barber all game long, only giving Choice an occasional carry or using him as a backup in case of injury?
The thought seems to be that by alternating these runners and saving Barber for the last quarter, the opposing defenses will be run down and then Barber will be able to hammer the ball and eat up the clock at the end of the game. This makes one big assumption - the Cowboys will need to be winning by a big enough margin at the end of the third quarter to be in position to bang it in there with Barber and run out the clock.
The smartest strategy for the Cowboys would be to use all three backs in different situations throughout the entire game. Why make it easy for an opposing defensive coordinator to plan for the Cowboys offense by giving them an idea of the lineup beforehand? Barber would come in on passing downs as well as running downs and so does Felix and Tashard. The defense cannot key in on what kind of play will be called, where it might go, or who it might go to, based on the running back (or backs) that might be in the huddle. When the fourth quarter arrives, not only is Barber still fresh, so are Jones and Choice because no one back has been playing a full game. The opposing defense will be worn down and we will still have the Three-Headed Monster Smash, Dash, and Tash looking to eat somebody.
In my opinion, that is the only way to use those running backs. All three of them, all the time.
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Maybe that nickname will grow on me.
But I’m not a fan of it, so far.
by Baked Potato Soup on Jun 1, 2009 11:38 AM CDT reply actions
not liking the nickname...
Can’t we be a bit more creative? Lendale White and Chris Johnson call themselves “smash and dash” so do Deanglo williams and Johnathan stewart. I personally like “Blood, Sweat, and Gears” barber, choice, jones
Bash, Trash & Stash
Good nick for gangstas, but for Cowboys RBs, it’s probably wrong.
Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.
What about Smash, Dash, and Slash
"We play to win the game" - Herm Edwards
by nicholas.rodriguez on Jun 1, 2009 10:30 PM CDT up reply actions
I like Rock, Steady, and Beebop
Is it too early to ask what round I should aim for Felix in my fantasy football league?
by Aaron Novinger on Jun 2, 2009 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions
This is going to be a very, very interesting season for us.
Dallas seems to be building their team around the talent already here—shoring up the holes/depth on D/ST, while developing the guys on offense.
I’m going with you, Jim. There is no one way to use these three backs. JG and Coach Wade will probably just end up going with the tempo of the game instead of dividing guys by quarters or whatever. I’m sure that if the Boys will be facing a slower, tougher D, then Garrett will factor in a little more speed with Dash. For 4-3 teams w/speedier, smaller LBs, you know Smash and Tash will be bashing away at them.
That video and this post really got me pumped for the season. Let’s just fly under the radar and quietly sneak up on the league. Playing the punks in the East and the NFC South will really push this team to excel at being physical. Glad we have a deep and solid running game to allow our O-Linemen to be as physical as they want this year.
Is it too early to ask what round I should aim for Felix in my fantasy football league?
I'm not a huge fan either...
But I think I may have the answer, with just two slight changes to the original.
Smash – of course Marion
Flash – Felix the Cat
Dash – Choice
" high and tight Martellus, high and tight."
Nicknames
shouldn’t be contrived, they should emerge from experience. Let these guys play and then we can figure out what name best describes them.
Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.
OK
obviously we have seen them play, but let’s see how they shape up as a trio for a while before we put a label on them.
If they deliver on production, we can call them Larry, Moe and Curly as far as I care.
Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.
Use them like early 70s Dolphins used
what is arguably the greatest trio of running backs: Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick and Mercury Morris…
and then have Romo throw 18 balls a game.
that will never happen
The Cowboys will try to become more balanced, but you simply don’t become a running team over night, especially when you have a franchise QB capable of putting up big numbers.
I see the RB trio getting around 25 carries a game and Romo throwing 25-30 times a game, that seems like good balance to me.
In Romo we Trust
Was kidding
I certainly don’t expect or want a ratio of 2 runs for every pass.
Whoa there guys
Smash and Dash has already been claimed by Lendale White and Chris Johnson. There’s no way you guys can use it
Welcome to Smashville, Tennessee.
Official Graphic Designer/Researcher of MCM.
Proud iPhone user. Take that, Jim Balls.
by Aditya T (smashville) on Jun 1, 2009 12:16 PM CDT reply actions
Oh yeah?
But do you have some Tash?
Everything's looking up, Milhouse!
by accidental innuendo on Jun 1, 2009 2:00 PM CDT up reply actions
Or Milli and Vanilli
Is it too early to ask what round I should aim for Felix in my fantasy football league?
by Aaron Novinger on Jun 1, 2009 2:09 PM CDT up reply actions
However we use them, the key is to use them
Don’t we win if nearly all the time if we can run 25+ times a game? That’s the key. Run more to eat the clock and keep the defense fresh and relentless, to control the game, and to improve Romo’s efficiency and cut his turnovers.
I think Barber and Choice already keep defenses honest because they run pretty much all the plays. Inside, outside, passing plays, screens, etc. I think the only guy they need to work into a complete package is Felix Jones. When he’s in the game, he should do his explosiveness thing, but they should also run him inside, outside, and by all means pass to him.
If all 3 guys can run all the plays, then the defense cannot key, and it will matter less who is in the game on a given play.
All three, all the time. Jim... Very good point
I don’t buy into this whole save Barber for the 4th Qtr when the defenses are worn down nonsense. If a defense is exhausted, it’s just as likely (possibly more likely) they would have trouble tackling someone who’s faster as opposed to someone who’s going to drive in and push them backwards. I hope they don’t pinhole any of the backs into “situation” guys. Let’s give em healthy doses of all three.
If we mix em up
Nobody will get into a groove… That includes the offensive line. Changing backs means the big guys have to adjust to the different runner. Some guys cut back more than others… Some hit the hole a little quicker… There are backs that are alot more patient and you have to hold your block longer…
I could be wrong… God knows I have never even sniffed an o-line. I bet they stink…
McGruber!
I'm with Jim
I used to think that each back should be put in based on the situation, but that almost telegraphs the play to the opposing coordinator.
I know MBIII and Choice can catch out of the backfield, and they’re both great runners. Felix is supposed to have decent hands, not that we saw too much of that last season, and he also looks superb as RB. Point is, they should be able to come in any time of that game and throw the defense off. No reason to assume that only Barber would come into the game when the Cowboys are in the red zone. We saw Felix take one home from 11 yds out early last year.
But as I pointed out elsewhere, it’s going to be very difficult to keep all three backs happy each game. One will always feel like they didn’t see the ball at all.
Everything's looking up, Milhouse!
by accidental innuendo on Jun 1, 2009 2:06 PM CDT reply actions
huh...
I hear what you are saying… I disagree… I think the point of having three unique guys is to take advantage of their skill sets. I think if you end up pitching it to Marion and pounding Felix you end up second guessing yourself.
I am not saying we should be predictable… I am just saying I don’t think you have to be predictable just because you have a speed back in the back field.
McGruber!
MBIII had a 73 yard TD against Arizona
pitching it to MBIII isn’t such a bad idea
by AustonianAggie on Jun 1, 2009 2:28 PM CDT up reply actions
You know what I don't like about Sporting New's DT rankings...
They have Canty as the number 5 DT, going COMPLETELY off of potential.
They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time.
Parcells on Potential
“Potential means you haven’t done sh!t yet”. I like that.
by GhostofGaryHogeboom on Jun 1, 2009 2:31 PM CDT up reply actions
LOL
"We play to win the game" - Herm Edwards
by nicholas.rodriguez on Jun 1, 2009 10:32 PM CDT up reply actions
It's All Contingent on the O-Line
If our offensive line has a good season, with few injuries and mental mistakes (hello, Flozell), we’ll head deep into the playoffs. Our running game will give any team a run for it’s money. And a “Romo-friendly” play action offense will provide big play potential.
by GhostofGaryHogeboom on Jun 1, 2009 2:31 PM CDT reply actions
Yep...
Of course you can pretty much say that about any offense that has a defense worth a damn.
Your offensive line plays well and generally you win ball games.
They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time.
Parcells on running the football...
Tongue in cheek, of course. This is an Onion article a few years ago on the Parcells offensive philosophy. My favorite alleged quote from the article…
Parcells explained that he developed his trademark style of possession-oriented, run-first, ball-control football in an effort to not spend too much time thinking about a game that he found “basically pretty freaking dumb.”
“No one was more surprised than I was when it worked,” Parcells said. "Surprised and damn disappointed, really. Turns out football’s really simple. Hell, a freaking ape could coach this game. Guys like Belichick, Cowher, Holmgren, you know why they’re successful? Because they’re actually too smart to coach football…
http://www.theonion.com/content/news/bill_parcells_hated_football S
I don't care to get too wrapped up in the details, but the mins are important
Minimum touches are needed for Felix. I don’t care if it is via pitch, handoff, pass or snap. The guy needs to put his hands on the ball a min of 10 times per game—I prefer 14. He is too good. The Forskins game last year is a coaching low for JG for not getting Felix any!
I think TC is a better back than MBIII, so I would like to see him start. I realize the salary limitations at play and that probably won’t be reality.
The one sure thing is that MBIII will get the ball on crucial short yardage and near the goal line. He is one of the best in the league at this.
Ultimately, I don’t care how they split carries among the backs as long as Felix gets his mins. Creative options are endless. Go get em Red!
The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.
-Winston Churchill
Tashard should start???
Don’t get me wrong. I love the guy. But he’s a “better back” than Barber? And if he’s starting, I guess you think he’s better than Felix as well. What in the world do you base that on? The Pittsburgh game? Not gonna happen.
by Boundforbeach on Jun 1, 2009 3:54 PM CDT up reply actions
He's better than Barber.
He played against tougher defenses with an offensive line that was supposedly falling apart by the end of the year, and had higher yards per carry, higher yards per reception and fumbled less frequently. Barber is a better blocker and short yardage runner, which is why all 3 guys need to be used.
by Baked Potato Soup on Jun 1, 2009 4:06 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't think you can make that assessment...
based on just a few games of fill-in duty. TC played admirably last year. But to say he’s an all around better player than Barber based on a limited body of work seems a bit of a stretch. And apparently the coaches — who are paid to make that assessment — don’t buy it either.
I’m not feeling the love for MBIII on these threads. Too much talk about what he allegedly can’t do (ie, long runs, catching, screeens, protect the football) despite having shown it on the field.
by Boundforbeach on Jun 1, 2009 4:49 PM CDT up reply actions
Entering last season, Barber's single-season high in carries was only 204.
And he had only carried the ball 20-plus times in four games. Now, he was marvelous in those games but doesn’t that also mean Barber was handed the starting job last year on the basis of “a limited body of work?”
Neither guy has went through a full season unscathed as a starting running back. Choice hasn’t had the opportunity and Barber got wore down as the only option on a hideously one-dimensional Bad Johnson-led offense which probably had a lot to do with him eventually getting injured. Back to Choice; for me the level of the opposition outweighs “limited sampling size.” Choice had five plays of over 20-yards against the Steelers, Ravens, and Giants. That’s pretty convincing to me.
I have no problem with Barber getting the majority of the carries again this season because he’s a damn good hard-nosed back in his own right and besides, that’s just business. Also if Choice ends up remaining with the team longer than Barber, it just means he’ll have less mileage on him when his day does finally come.
This reminds me of-
The old Troy Hambrick argument… He had better stats than Emmit for a while there but he was playing in the back-up roll.
I can’t believe I just compared Hambrick to Tash… I am sorry… So very sorry…
McGruber!
Not exactly, though.
Hambrick didn’t really carry the load like Choice was, and toward the end of his career, there, Emmitt was a shell of his former self.
by Baked Potato Soup on Jun 1, 2009 10:22 PM CDT up reply actions
I base it on what I saw last year
First off, I LOVE the way MBIII runs. He has so much heart and is a true Cowboy. I don’t want to say anything negative about him.
YPC is one of the things in TCs favor. 5.1 for him 3.7 for MBIII. MBIII had a tough time in the interior running game last year, from what I saw. Maybe his injuries slowed him up. TC just looked better than MBIII with the eyeball test. Whatever “it” is, TC has it. His interior running was fantastic and he looked faster than MBIII with the ball.
MBIII is clearly the better blocker and is the best option inside the 20. Between the 20s, I think TC is better.
By the way, what a great argument to have. We have 3 good choices at running back—about time.
The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.
-Winston Churchill
I believe
how each of them pass blocks will go a long way in determining their touches and how they are used. Barber is pretty much a known commodity in that area. Felix, probably not quite so much. Choice didn’t embarass himself in that area when he had to do it. Also, there is nothing preventing Wade from using both in the same backfield in a split back set or even an I-formation to cause some defensive confusion.
To coach the secondary while their secondary coach takes on Coordinator duties...
well thats what i think
"We play to win the game" - Herm Edwards
by nicholas.rodriguez on Jun 1, 2009 10:34 PM CDT up reply actions
The real reason
He was hired by the Eagles to they could beat our defense twice a year with inside information.
by steelyeyedmissle on Jun 1, 2009 10:51 PM CDT up reply actions
Tough to do now that
the Thong is a Bengal. Also, Stewart couldn’t coach his way out of a paper bag. Any info he gives Philly is worse than worthless. He single handedly makes that defense worse.
When did I become a Cowboy fan? When my mom told me I was.
This is the soundest theory
If all three of them earn playing time, play them all. Mix it up. Have two of the three on the field together often. We just don’t have a fullback that makes sense to give playing time over these three players. We have them, lets use them.
Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein.
Joe ThEEsman
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