SPORTSDAY

Posted by Gary M @ 9:56 PM Thu, May 10, 2007

my argument for jj would only be that he wasn't given enough reps during a game to succeed in that offense; mainly due to the fact that the cowboys rarely controlled the game and t.o.p....while i think he still could easily be a 1200 yrd back, the competition should be open because this is football and dallas is trying to get BETTER not average

Posted by Darren Lewis @ 10:48 PM Thu, May 10, 2007

I agree with the article. Barber could wear down defenses with his physical style of running, then we bring in Jones to break some big runs.

Posted by Steven @ 11:11 PM Thu, May 10, 2007

Why would you bench a running back who is in a contract year? If you are ever going to get anything out of JJ this year will be the year. He is auditioning for every single NFL team each time he takes the field. Add in the fact that the tandem has worked for the past two years and I see absolutely no reason to reverse their respective roles.

Posted by FREITO @ 12:32 AM Fri, May 11, 2007

OPEN UP THE BARBER SHOP BABY! it's time.

Posted by Mike @ 12:40 AM Fri, May 11, 2007

And Barber's breaking runs were on passing downs and his TD's were short yardage.

Didn't Hambrick do something like that? Do people never learn that you can't go by a 3rd down back's production in passing situations to annoint starting back status? That's a COMPLETELY different gig. It's a whole 'nuther ball of wax when you're running on 1st and 2nd down.

Not saying Barber can't do this, but just there's no body of work that says he can do this. 3rd down and goal line situations do not count.

Posted by Lunging Wolf @ 12:41 AM Fri, May 11, 2007

Yeah, yeah, lots of outlets steal your ideas for their Cowboy stories. Even the world wide leader. Get over it dudes. Its the eve of mini camp. Give us the scoop. Save SI.com for the slow times. There's gotta be someone running around the Ranch you can interview or something, right?

Posted by Whip @ 1:12 AM Fri, May 11, 2007

I like the way the Cowboys used the 2 backs last year. I like Barber being fresh in the 4th Qtr and finishing off games and drives.

Posted by Ted @ 6:07 AM Fri, May 11, 2007

Forget the contract year, Jones looked great during his rookie season. He consistently runs into lineman and to the ground. Barber has looked great every year, on part time duty. He runs with passion and determination. He has earned the starting role. However, I truly believe that Thompson is the diamond in the rough. I will ask this simple question.

If you had to chose to keep and release either Jones or Barber, which would you keep on the roster? The RB you choose should be your starter.

Posted by Evilinc @ 7:44 AM Fri, May 11, 2007

Barber is a "good" back, but I don't see anything special there. To me, the role he currently plays is ideal for him and where he'll be most productive. Julius is a bit of a mystery. There's no question he has flashed "special" ability at times, but also goes long stretches where he looks ordinary (he's also been tackled a great deal in the backfield which strikes me as o-line issues). It's a contract year, I'd like to see what he can do. Let him to continue to start unless he loses the job. In all likelihood, we're looking for a new RB next year anyway.

Posted by R @ 7:50 AM Fri, May 11, 2007

The only reason Barber had more yards in those games was because Parcells would limit Jones in those games. I would look at total carriers/yards average to compare the two. Barber does not have the vision to make people miss, but is a great power runner. Third and 5 I would use Jones. Third and 2 I would use Barber. Barber loses his appeal past the line backer. I think these two guys make one above average runner, apart two average runners when you look at the whole picture. Who starts should not matter, just the W at the end of the day.

Posted by ron mexico @ 8:27 AM Fri, May 11, 2007

Reversing roles only makes sense if the Cowboys' running game was bad. Why would the Cowboys reverse their roles for a rushing offense that was #6 in NFL rushing yards, #5 in NFL rushing attempts, and #8 in NFL yards per carry? Hmm, guess NFL teams don't miss Bucky too much.

Posted by Mike @ 8:34 AM Fri, May 11, 2007

Ah, just let them fight it out in camp. Let the best back when it, this is a good problem to have, having two good backs. They may neither be "special" backs, but not many teams have that anymore.

Posted by Wilson @ 8:47 AM Fri, May 11, 2007

Well, I feel the Cowboys should go with whoever gets the job done. I don't think the running game has been very good for a while now. It only worked because the passing game was good. I just hope that with the addition of Davis and a new offensive coordinator things will improve.

Posted by John Nice Guy @ 9:08 AM Fri, May 11, 2007

Right or wrong, how can Brooks possibly know that Barber is better tailored to the Cowboys' "power offense"? Or that the Cowboys will even employ a "power offense," whatever that means? We have a new OC, who's never been an OC before, so how can anyone know what kind of offense we'll run next year or who will be better suited for it?

This reminds me of another brilliant SI.com piece on next year's draft, where Michael Perloff predicted the Cowboys would take a DE, b/c Wade Phillips needs 2-gapping DE's for his defense. When I pointed out the many things wrong with this prediction, Perloff eventually edited it. But the episode demonstrated something I've long known about journalists: most of them are just lazy.

That probably explains why Brooks is writing stories for a living now instead of the much more demanding job of being a scout.

Posted by Brad V @ 9:10 AM Fri, May 11, 2007

Remember Troy Hambrick?

Posted by Ray @ 9:37 AM Fri, May 11, 2007

Well, if the esteemed Bucky Brooks says it, Jerry better listen.

Posted by Duane @ 10:03 AM Fri, May 11, 2007

I think that JJ might have a year comparable to his rookie year. I think that once he started to have injuries Parcells made him paranoid about getting injured. As a result, JJ was more concerned about not getting injured than he was about gaining yards!

Posted by LL from Austin @ 10:31 AM Fri, May 11, 2007

How are we supposed to take anyone named "Bucky" seriously?!?!

Posted by FREITO @ 10:39 AM Fri, May 11, 2007

Everyone needs to quit using the argument that Barber has had limited playing time and all his big runs are on 3rd downs and when the defense is tired. I believe Barber is much better than JJ, but not only because the yardage and touchdowns he has ran for. JUST WATCH THE GUY RUN. He runs HARD, with PASSION, and with ATTITUDE. He is just plain nasty. We have all see him run through guys and also run around them. Barber is the real deal, mark my words

Posted by Pokes @ 10:40 AM Fri, May 11, 2007

Love Barber, but he is unproven as a feature back. Can he carry the load?

Posted by Larry @ 10:50 AM Fri, May 11, 2007

THREE IMPORTANT THINGS TO CONSIDER:
1. Julius will not be a cowboy after this year.
2. Thompson probably has more potential than
either Julius or Barber.
3. There are two very good free agent rookie
running backs in camp who could upstage the
whole bunch.
ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, LETS LET THE COACHES DECIDE, NOT THE FANS OR SOME GUY NAMED BUCKY.

Posted by Bob @ 10:56 AM Fri, May 11, 2007

I did like how Jones ran with attitude in the Seattle game. They should use him more on outside runs and catches to take advantage of his speed. Barber would not be as succesful as a starter as he is as a backup.

Posted by Warden @ 10:57 AM Fri, May 11, 2007

As a Cowboys fans, I would not switch places with the Giants RB situation. How the hell does Bucky Brooks know that the Giants won't miss a beat after losing Tiki Barber, the best offensive player they ever had in like 50 years! We have two young guys in Barber and Jones who did it and proved it over the course of a year. The Giants have a backup and a has-been who may or may not work out.

Posted by Mike @ 11:14 AM Fri, May 11, 2007

May I remind everybody of a Barber who use to be a third down back and became a pain in the butt for the Dallas defense everytime. Tiki was a third down back and didn't do a bad job once he stepped into the starting roll.

Give Marion the chance. JJ to me is hurt too much, cannot carry a team, and gives up on the run too easily.

Posted by readyred @ 11:23 AM Fri, May 11, 2007

If its not broke don't fix it

Posted by Anthony @ 11:27 AM Fri, May 11, 2007

First, JJ is the guy that runs like Troy Hambrick because Troy couldn't break a tackle. The only argument I'm hearing is MB hasn't carried the load, well he hasn't had the oppurtunity, but check the games he started and check his yardage. All you guys are living off a rookie season and a few good games, but the NFL is about consistentcy and MB runs hard everytime he gets the ball. Marion Barber will be the feature back.

Posted by Mike @ 2:47 PM Fri, May 11, 2007

We also need better run-blocking before coming to a decision on Julius. Any runningback that is dodging defenders in the BACKFIELD first isn't going to have a product career unless his name is Barry Sanders and there isn't anohter one of those so that expectation is silly.