SPORTSDAY

Posted by Charles - ATL @ 2:49 AM Thu, Jun 28, 2007

Another situation where stats don't present the entire picture. Marion comes in on 3rd downs most of the time and many times with long yardage to go. Also, the opposing defenses are in pass-defending modes mostly in those long yardage situations. My point is Marion's chances increase in not having lost yardage and possibly breaking off longer runs on 3rd and long. I do think Marion is a better short yardage runner (thus more opptys at the goal line and disproportionate number of TDs) and a far better receiver. Sure he could be a #1 back, but let's see what JJ does this year to see what those stats comparisons look like then.

Posted by Saint Jimmy @ 3:26 AM Thu, Jun 28, 2007

Timmy, you keep making idiotic comments and we will revoke your NFL creditentials. The statistical evidence. Don't make me laugh.

The stat about the yards per carry. Complete BS. Did Ravits eliminate MB3's runs when it was 3rd and 28 when the defense didn't give two squirts if Dallas ran the ball? I'm willing to bet the number of times the defense wasn't worried about the run outnumbers MB3's TD's by 2 to 1. Did Revits ever take that into consideration before he started twisting and mangaling the stats?

Of course MB3 is going to have an impressive runs for loss stat. How many times did he run the ball against 4-6 man fronts? Quite a big percentage of his runs came when the defense wasn't worried one bit about the run. Let's see what happens when the defense is zeroing in on him for a change.

Again, only and peabrained idiot would forget that MB3 often ran the ball when it was 3rd and 28. I'm willing to bet 3 of his 4 runs of 20+ came when Dallas was in 3rd and impossible. Where as JJ got his runs of 20+ yards when it was 1st and 2nd down and the opposing defense had to at least keep the run in mind.

I'll give you credit for mentioning that MB3 got the bulk of his carries when the defense was getting tired. It shows you're not a complete bird brain when it comes to football.

A lead horse in a 2 back system? Have you ever thought about the other back? MB3 may be a more consistant starting RB and he may not be. But I'd be willing to bet you that JJ is not as good of a finisher and goaline back as MB3 is. So you're already getting diminished returns on your running game before you even played a down.

Why would you want to mess with a 1700 yard system? And with the addition of Leonard Davis one could hope that we'll get 2000 rushing yards from our RB's this year. 1200-1400 from JJ and 600-800 from MB3. Why would anyone but an idiot want to mess with that?

EDITOR'S NOTE: You have to know how to spell "credentials" before revoking them, oh wise one.

Posted by Dubie @ 5:32 AM Thu, Jun 28, 2007

Julius Joness is the more dynamic back. I agree with him that Parcells didn't use him right, you draft a speedy slashing back and don't ever let him break it outside. Also, two years ago the draw worked great, remember the Seattle overtime game, the 'Boys maybe ran it 5 times last year, doesn't make sense. I like Barber alot but J.J. can just do more things, if he's allowed to. Finally, remeber when Hambrick looked so good behind Emmitt, but didn't work out so well when he had the chance to carry the full load. Give J.J. a chance! (unless we can trade him and one of next year's 1st round picks for Larry Johnson)

Posted by john @ 7:33 AM Thu, Jun 28, 2007

I am still amused at these so called experts. I am not saying MB could not be a full time starter, he may well be capable of doing so. But, we all must realize the difference in being on the field for 1st and 2nd running downs ( as JJ was ) and being on the field on 3rd downs, passing downs, and 3rd quarter when the D was tired and he was fresh. Have we not learned anything from the Troy Hambrick days? How good did he look to all untill he became the full time starter?

Posted by DAVO @ 8:13 AM Thu, Jun 28, 2007

i actually think that barber will get a chance to win the starting job...seems to me that phillips is willing to change things if he sees something he likes...

Posted by Bill, Washington, DC @ 8:41 AM Thu, Jun 28, 2007

My wife tends to pick 'favorites' among 'Boys players, Barber is one of her favorites. She firmly agrees with the 'Barber should be the starter sentiment'. I'm on the fence. I still have a sneaking suspicion that JJ is capable of much more than Barber. I have no particular empirical evidence to back the 'feeling' however. I was very put out at Parcells pulling JJ at the goal line last year since I had JJ on my fantasy team (I won my league anyway, but a few more TDs from JJ would have helped).

I'm not sure Barber would be an improvement over JJ as a starter, teams would study him more as the starter and he isn't nearly as fast as JJ. He gets to the hole faster (or at least it seems that way) but that may have been due to the way Parcells was coaching JJ.

The pre-season will be interesting at this position I think.

Posted by Big Kev @ 9:04 AM Thu, Jun 28, 2007

Why does everyone in Dallas always want the back up to play? You also have to consider that Barber was the third down back and he got a lot of yards from those third down and long draw plays that Parcells loved to run. I'll bet at least two of his 20+ yard runs came on a 3rd and 10+ yard plays where big Bill was just trying to avoid a sack. If you take those out as well, I wonder what his yards per carry was.

Posted by Saint Jimmy @ 10:08 AM Thu, Jun 28, 2007

Looks like my arguement touched a nerve when I get made fun of not knowing how to spell a word that I have used like 5 times in my life (are the press and hollywood types the only person that still use that word where the real world uses 'qualifications'). But seriously, why is this topic even an issue? If it's not broke then don't fix it. Dallas had 1900 rushing yards and the 3rd most rushing TD's in the NFL (and only 2 behind for 2nd place).

Could things improve? There's almost always room for improvement. And hopefully getting rid of Rivera's sorry butt will help.

Posted by incognito @ 10:32 AM Thu, Jun 28, 2007

Saint Jimmy, don't you have a job? Tim, you give this guy way to much attention. At first, his posts were humorous, now, just annoying. It's become the Tim/Saint Jimmy blog.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Feel free to fire off your opinion. Saint Jimmy might whine a lot, but at least he does his homework and presents interesting arguments.

Posted by inconito @ 10:44 AM Thu, Jun 28, 2007

Agreed, but even to much chocolate can make one nauseated.

Posted by Andrew S. @ 11:18 AM Thu, Jun 28, 2007

Interesting article ... but do you know what it reminds me of? The 2003 49ers.

Garrison Hearst, the incumbent starter, had a decent, injury-shortened season of 3 TDs and 700-something yards, with a 4.3 YPC. But the backup - big, bad Kevan Barlow - was stellar when he came in behind Hearst.

Rushing on third downs, and starting four games at the back end of the season, Barlow put up an impressive array of stats: over 1000 yards and 6 TDs, all with a 5.1 YPC.

Of course, the 49ers let Hearst go after that season to make Barlow their feature back. But as it turns out, teams play better run defense on 1st and 2nd down .... Barlow rushed for only 800 yards with a dismal 3.4 YPC the next year, starting 14 games.

Moral of the story? Stats can be deceiving.

Posted by Rafe Hollister @ 11:56 AM Thu, Jun 28, 2007

This whole argument is academic. At the end of 2007 Jones will be gone, Barber will be resigned, and so will our new franchise running back taken in the first round of the draft in April 2008.

New 1-2 punch 2008 - McFadden/Barber. Best in the league.

Posted by Mark @ 12:21 PM Thu, Jun 28, 2007

It is put up or shut up year for JJ. I am actually excited this year for him. He has been working like a dog to get stronger and faster. Wade's preaching that you should use players in ways that benefit them, well that may work for JJ. If not then away he goes!

Posted by Rafe Hollister @ 12:58 PM Thu, Jun 28, 2007

SAINT JIMMY, I have always enjoyed your postings but all of a sudden you have become a smug, know it all, and insulting blog poster.

You need to chill out a bit and come to grips with the fact that your opinions are not the only valid opinions and often are not any more accurate than those you call bird brains and idiots.

This blog is about cowboy fans expressing their feelings. You don't have to jump down the throats of everyone who you disagree with. And certainly you can express yours in fewer words.

Posted by Chester @ 1:10 PM Thu, Jun 28, 2007

My Brothers! Cut Saint Jimmy some slack. He's comming off an All-Pro Blogging Season. Spring Training is still a few weeks off...he'll shake off the rust, hit the editing room, and once again be The Saint!

Posted by DCFanatic @ 1:17 PM Thu, Jun 28, 2007

I will reference one play that tells me that Julius Jones should be on the field more often than Marion Barber III.

Against the Saints last season on the Cowboys second offensive play of the game Julius hit a hole and took the ball 77 yards for a TD. Marion Barber can't now nor will he ever be able to outrun a defense like that.

Julius Jones has the 'potential' to do that each and every time he touches the football. This is why he should get 20 carries and MBIII should stick with his 10-12 carries a game.

Posted by gerald @ 1:34 PM Thu, Jun 28, 2007

incognito and Hollister are right on. The more Saint Jimmy posts, the more out of control he becomes. He's become almost diva like.

Rafe Hollisters last sentence hit the nail on the head. More is not always better. Anyone who posts at 3:40 in the morning has too much time on their hands. This is MY opinion.

Posted by Ms. Crabapple @ 1:51 PM Thu, Jun 28, 2007

My wife started reading Leo Tolstoy's "War and Peace" at the same time I started reading SAINT Jimmys last blog. She finished 1st.

Posted by Big Dog @ 3:09 PM Thu, Jun 28, 2007

Julius Jones has never been a great back. In college he was not dominant at Notre Dame, he was a steady plodder. He has never been an explosive runner. Parcells reached for the guy when he drafted him, was obviously a huge fan, and still didn't utilize Jones by himself (and allegedly made him Mr. Roboto).

The only reason Barber shared the load at Minnesota was that he had a guy named Laurence Maroney back there with him and Minnesota had no passing attack, meaning they had to run 40-50 times a game.

Either the Cowboys make Barber the feature back or risk doing the same stupid thing when they let Herschel Walker go and kept Dorsett. They were only bailed out because of that ridiculous deal Minnesota gave them.

Posted by Chip @ 3:10 PM Thu, Jun 28, 2007

Ms. Crabapple...love a woman that makes me laugh!
Hope your wife doesn't mind my flirting.

Posted by Joe @ 3:14 PM Thu, Jun 28, 2007

DC Fanatic is right. Barber is too slow, he couldn't outrun my 80 yr. old grandmother. MBIII would get caught behind the line of scrimmage on 1st and 2nd down. Please give up the Barber for starter argument, its ridiculous.

Posted by kameleon_o @ 3:44 PM Thu, Jun 28, 2007

Andrew S., the Barlow analogy is the perfect example of why we should just let this work itself out in training camp. It's a better comparison than even Troy Hambrick. I remember that after the way Barlow ran as a backup Parcells even tried to trade for Barlow, he was that impressive. Ran hard and hit the hole fast, just like Barber.

I have every confidence that Phillips is going to start the back that shows him the most. He's not married to either one.

Posted by Gerald @ 5:13 PM Thu, Jun 28, 2007

Barber for lead back ... and president, too!

Posted by evilinc @ 5:57 PM Thu, Jun 28, 2007

Julius remains an enigma for me, and for the reason that the suggestion of Barber as the lead makes me uncomfortable. Barber looks like a good back, and his numbers were good, but I've never seen anything particularly special from him. I'd describe him as solid.

While it's all too infrequent, and I have no idea why, there have been occasions when Julius has been absolutely special. I wish I could understand why he disappears for such long stretches and then, suddenly, and all too briefly, looks like one of the best backs in the league, but that's the difference. If anyone can figure out how to get the kid that has two of the highest rushing games in Cowboy history to appear more regularly, then we'd be in business.

By the way, does the "stuff" statistic reflect on the RB, or the o-line? Seeing that Jones was stuffed more matches my recollection, but I also recall numerous times Julius was tackled while getting the handoff. hard for me to fault him for that.

Posted by kameleon_o @ 7:39 PM Thu, Jun 28, 2007

"While it's all too infrequent, and I have no idea why, there have been occasions when Julius has been absolutely special. I wish I could understand why he disappears for such long stretches and then, suddenly, and all too briefly, looks like one of the best backs in the league, but that's the difference. If anyone can figure out how to get the kid that has two of the highest rushing games in Cowboy history to appear more regularly, then we'd be in business."

Great point evilinc. That's exactly the way I feel about Julius. I think that with Parcells gone, and Garret and Phillips saying that they're going to do everything possible to put JJ in a position to succeed, that we're going to see exactly what JJ can do and whether or not he's the RB we thought he was.

Posted by Mr C. @ 7:48 PM Thu, Jun 28, 2007

This has got to be one of the most annoying questions yet. Please less not forget about those backup runners that come into a game an perform as part timers. I think parcell, messed jj running style up wanting him to follow his blockers. MB would not stack up good as the feature back when defenses are keying on the runner. Let MB keep doing what he do. I think we will see a different back in JJ tis year if phillips let him play.

Posted by theamps @ 10:15 AM Fri, Jun 29, 2007

Julius Jones is so overrated- does anybody remember when he was caught from behind late in the fourth quarter in the Seattle game last year? That would have made the botched FG snap a non-issue. Julius is another one of Parcells' overrated picks. Of course the Dallas Media always puts the TUNA on a pedestal and believes that he does no wrong.......but that is another story. Trade Jones for any kind of value and let MB3 get most of the carries. Parcells took Julius Jones instead of Steven Jackson- think about that- then think about the first and goal in the Seattle game. Good riddance Parcells and hopefully soon it will be good riddance to Julius Jones.

Posted by Charles - ATL @ 11:05 AM Fri, Jun 29, 2007

Hmmmm...Big Dog, you are waaaay off on your Herschel Walker/Dorsett analogy. The Herschel trade had nothing to do with Dorsett. Trade with Minnesata was in 1989. Dorsett was traded in 1988 to the Broncos and was practically done with them in 89 because of injury in training camp.

Posted by Jason S @ 12:38 PM Fri, Jun 29, 2007

Do people write these idiotic blogs for the sole purpose of ticking people off? I've got two words for you: Troy Hambrick. He was a change of pace back, had an amazing yards per carry average, didn't get stuffed behind the line of scrimage much, but what happened when he got the starting nod? Not much. Now Barber is an upgrade from Hambrick, but Barber isn't cabable of making a few guys miss, then taking it 70 yards for a touchdown. Heck, he's so slow that if he did break a few tackles and had open real estate, a defensive lineman could probably catch up to him. Jones is going to have a great year this year. He's going to run more on instinct like he did his rookie year, and he's going to be a game breaker this year. Just wait and see.

Posted by AdamJT13 @ 6:30 PM Fri, Jun 29, 2007

Nate Ravitz needs to check his facts. Julius' stuff percentage of .097 was nowhere close to being one of the "worst in the league." Out of the 47 running backs who had at least 100 carries last season, Julius' stuff percentage ranked 26th-lowest, so he was just a little worse than average.

Among the 21 backs with a higher stuff percentage were Ladell Betts (0.98), Tiki Barber (.1009), Clinton Portis (.1024), Laurence Maroney (.1086), Shaun Alexander (.1230), Willis McGahee (.1236), Reggie Bush (.1419), Kevin Jones (.1436) and DeAngelo Williams (.1653).

Larry Johnson's was only slightly better (.096).

Posted by AdamJT13 @ 2:12 PM Sat, Jun 30, 2007

I had a typo in my previous post. Ladell Betts' stuff percentage was 0.098, not 0.98.

Posted by bfloyd @ 4:06 PM Sat, Dec 22, 2007

WOW i bet your eating your words now.. barber haters! my boy is in the pro bowl....1st backup to do so i mite add