haha and i usually put MB3 at fb

Or blocking? These are the only rational reasons I can think of as to why Garrett didnt utilize him more often when he was healthy.

I don’t think he’ll match those stats-he’s obviously not going to avg. 16 yards on every outside play, but if he holds up he should be the starter.

Except: 1) The small sample size, everyone needs to keep their pants on over this guy.

2) It just points out what a mistake MB’s contract was. I love the guy’s attitude, but RB is one of the easiest positions to fill and should never be overpaid. What a waste of cap space if he really does turn out to be the 3rd best back on the team! Not to mention that his style of play is going to cause more and more injuries.
    Let’s hope GM Jerry writes this one down and never puts big money into a RB again.

there was a lot of conjecture around here about putting both Felix and Barber on the field, maybe along with 2 tight ends, to create matchup problems (none of us guessed how good Choice would look too).
That never really happened w/ the injury, but I hope we can see some creativity on that, esp. in the red zone.

Maybe these guys are so good we don’t even keep a FB?? We do have roster issues, if we keep the second kicker, for instance. I like having a true FB and don’t really like relying on TE’s as blockers all the time, but it’s a consideration. Just as an idea.
But this isn’t Madden…….

Sure, it’d be nice to have a fresh MB3 to hammer defenders in the 4th quarter, but I don’t see why the opposite can’t work just as well. Let Barber pound away on a defense, then put Felix in the game as a complete change of pace. I like the fact that Choice is sort of the ‘tweener. Not as fast as Felix, or as powerful as Barber, but he’s that efficient “find the hole and go for it” type that can cause all kinds of problems for defenses, especially ones that have already had Barber and Felix shoved down their throats.

And I will second the whole “Barber probably shouldn’t have gotten such a big contract” notion. It was silly to pay the guy so much, especially when you drafted two excellent young RBs, one of which proved he can be a work horse, and the other a proven playmaker. I love having MB3 on the team, don’t get me wrong, but I think Felix/Choice would be just a potent of a combination. Oh well, I guess we’ll just have to “deal” with three excellent RBs.

28 runs is an awfully small sample size to make any valid prognosis. If you take out his longest runs of 62 and 33 yards (both outside), the averages come down significantly.

Now don’t get me wrong, I agree with Raf, and Felix is a homerun threat every time he touches the ball, but don’t go expecting these kinds of numbers over a full season, especially if he becomes a starter.

I would start with a mix of backs so the D can’t get settled with one style. Granted it probably also could put our O-line off a little – although this is something they could practice for every week, unlike the D. If we go with a set pattern like with the previous Jones it just makes us more predictable and thus easier to gameplan.

If we are in the lead you would close with MB3. If behind you use Felix more.

If MB3 goes back to his “closer” role he is going to have to address his fumbling. He is the anti-Tiki – gone from virtually no fumbles in his career to too many last year.

I’ll be happy

KC Joyner and his numbers are fun to kick around, but they are not the be all end all. Especially when you consider how small the sample is on Felix.

If these numbers really meant that much, then every NFL coach should just pick up KC Joyners books and coach accordingly.

I still feel like Barber is the fastball and Jones is the curve. The fastball is the bread and butter that sets everything else up. Part of the reason the curve looks so great is because you dont see it 5 times in an at bat.

so long as they both receive at least 10-12 touches per games minimum, either rushing or receiving.

He’s bulked up to 212 pounds this offseason

I hope it doesn’t take away his quickness and speed.

Maybe I’m the only one, but the thing that I took away from this article was how poor Barber was at outside runs. I mean 2.6 yards per carry is absolutely way too low to justify 94 outside carries for Barber. This to me just enhances the perception that Garrett needs to reevaluate his play-calling and emphasize Barber’s strengths versus Felix’s strengths. I understand that every carry for Barber can’t be up the gut, but the ratio definitely needs to get slid in favor of inside runs.

I think along w/ the great Felix stats, Raph has also given reason to use Choice over Barber. I love MB3 but I’d trade him for a quality DL, WR or OL. Not saying it’s possible but I’d dangle him out there if I was Jones.
Get rid of that huge contract and use 2 younger guys in the backfield.

Man, you know the masses are craving some football when a RB thread generates over 120 comments. I can’t wait for training camp to start.

Nobody claimed that Felix could average 8.9 for the rest of his career or even next season, so stfu about that.

Barber is not tradeable, and once again Jerry made a mistake by not letting him play under his RFA tender. Why does Dallas have to be the only team that won’t let their players just play out their contracts? Seriously, he resigned TO, RW1, Ellis (more gtd $$), etc. Barber is an excellent RB, but not worth what he’s getting paid.

Felix/Choice would be a hell of a (cheap) duo, but we’re stuck with Marion for at least 2 more seasons. Sure is nice when one of the only things you have to argue about is how to best use your THREE stud RBs.

:)

Barber can still take over games. When he sparks up the offense and bench by headbutting and punching some hated defender who is just trying to push him out of bounds is invaluable.
This offense needs that punch, that toughness, that gut this year. The NFC South and all 3 of our rivals will try to run our D into the ground. The best counter to that is to do it right back.
MB3 cannot be traded.

If Garrett is too concerned w/ ‘touches’ and is constantly pulling these guys in and out for series, that can hurt.

          “Flow” isn’t just an expression, I think running backs need a chance to carry and get a feel and actual vision of their blockers and the other team’s D matching up, where guys on the other side are moving and closing gaps, the speed, etc. So that as the game goes on they start to see tendencies and gaps better and better. A RB may get stuffed on a play but learn from that (esp. if the coaches are doing their jobs during the game) to see how it would have opened up, and then to take advantage of that next time. I’m not too sure about RB’s splitting carries too much. Two guys, yes, but not 3, unless that 3rd guy is like a straight ahead FB type of guy who just rams through (like Baltimore has, bad memory)

Isn’t it ironic that all Tuna said and did re: running backs was almost exactly what all above comments are saying – that is, give the ball to the three-headed monster backfield, control the ball, and Romo drives the bus – so here we are…back to square one, boys! Phenomenal post, Raf; you are the best at what you do.

Dallas would always regret not attempting him as a starter. His ability is amazing

My projected stats for “the cat”,provided he stays healthy,of course.
Rushing yards: 1650
Receiving yds: 1350
Touchdowns, rushing 17, receiving 8, st returns 4
Yes, we’re talking 3000 total yds and nearly Thirty tds. He’s that good. I just hope he can stay healthy and prove me(impressed by him since he was a razorback) right.
Anybody know the old charley pride song, “Is anybody going to san antone?”
Next week can’t get here fast enough people, this off-season has been the longest in my entire memory of being a cowboys fan, which dates back to my childhood in the ’70’s.
Peace.