As we get further and further into a lost season, there seems to be less and less reason to stay with Marion Barber if you are not sure about what is behind him. Is Felix Jones what we hoped? Is Tashard Choice really the best all-around back of the 3 like so many people say? Wouldn't the final 8 games be the perfect time to find out?
For reasons I cannot quite understand, the Cowboys for the last several weeks have basically told us that Barber is no longer worth dedicating a majority of the workload - and yet, they insist on giving him the first bunch of snaps to start each game.
Look, either he is your best option or he isn't. Stop this nonsense of telling us he should start the game and then telling us he is not worth any looks from the 2nd to 4th Quarters. Unless they are doing this to appease him (which is actually infuriating) then you should start each game with those who you think need to be seeing the action. Maybe with Emmitt Smith we should be careful about respecting him, but I think the $45 million contract Barber received is his respect.
If he is not part of the future then it should be Jones and Choice exclusively the rest of the way.
In the Green Bay game, we were led to believe that Choice was getting back in the mix, but with 5 minutes to go in the game, he had just 1 play on the field in the entire game. So, that was mere lip service.
TOTAL SNAPS FOR RBs vs Green Bay (48 plays)
| Half | 24-Barber | 28-Jones | 23-Choice |
| 1st | 6 | 16 | 1 |
| 2nd | 3 | 11 | 12 |
| Total | 9 | 27 | 13 |
One fateful play (3rd and 1 collision between Barber and Clay Matthews) had all 3 RBs on the field.
TOTAL SNAPS FOR RBs SEASON TO DATE (508 Total Plays)
| Half | 24-Barber | 28-Jones | 23-Choice |
| WK 1 | 28 | 28 | 13 |
| Wk 2 | 31 | 33 | 7 |
| Wk 3 | 30 | 17 | 10 |
| Wk 4 | 23 | 51 | 1 |
| Wk 5 | 24 | 33 | 0 |
| Wk 6 | 13 | 42 | 0 |
| Wk 7 | 22 | 38 | 8 |
| Wk 8 | 9 | 27 | 13 |
| Total | 180 | 269 | 52 |
In case this is your first time to check these numbers, this is all about snaps on the field - not touches or run plays. This is merely intended to see who is on the field and who is on the sideline for the Cowboys offense.
Bob Sturm is host of BaD Radio on The Ticket 1310 AM Mondays through Fridays at 12-3 p.m. He also hosts The Ticket's Cowboys pregame show. Follow Bob on Twitter at www.twitter.com/bobanddan Bob offers his exclusive analysis after games on SportsDayDFW.com
Read all of Bob's posts at this link:
http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/archives/bob-sturm
Sturm, who is behind the lip service?
ReplyDeleteDid Wade have any control over offensive personnel? If not, why would it be him telling Choice to get ready, only for Choice to be flatly ignored?