Post by matt51180 on Sept 2, 2008 15:18:36 GMT -6
From DMN.com
IRVING – When the Cowboys open the season Sunday in Cleveland, there will be no question about who is the No. 1 running back.
No more arguing over a two-back system. Julius Jones is long gone.
Hard-charging Marion Barber is the Cowboys' starting running back for the foreseeable future. He signed a six-year contract extension in May. Now comes the hard part. Can the 25-year-old with a bull-headed running style stay healthy enough to become an NFL star?
Legendary Cowboys running backs Tony Dorsett and Emmitt Smith say they believe Barber has what it takes. His first start last year came against the New York Giants in the playoffs. He posted a career-high 129 yards on 27 carries in the loss. But starting an entire season is different.
Smith, the NFL's all-time leading rusher, said if Barber has to carry the ball for four quarters for the entire year, "There's no way he can handle it."
"I think he spends a lot of energy that may not be necessary," Smith said when he attended Cowboys practice this spring. "For a starting back, I'm all about putting your heart into it, but you're doing a lot of kicking, running up, bucking and you're exerting a lot of energy.
"We need you for four quarters. And I'm going to say 'we' because I'm a Cowboy, too. We need you for four quarters."
Hall of Famer Dorsett called Barber a diamond in the rough.
"He can make a run that can get the crowd involved here at Texas Stadium and get his teammates revved up as well," Dorsett said. "I like this guy. I like him a whole lot. My only concern is that this is a very physical league.
"When you take a lot of hits over a period of time, it takes its toll on you. I just hope he becomes a little wiser and smarter about some of the hits he takes."
Smith and Dorsett didn't have perfect attendance during their NFL careers. But they were incredibly durable.
Smith started 219 out of 226 games in his 15-year career. He averaged a whopping 19.5 carries per game en route to becoming the NFL's all-time leader in rushing attempts. Dorsett averaged 17.0 carries during his 12-year career.
During his college career at Minnesota, Barber split the workload with Laurence Maroney. Still, Barber finished third in school history with 3,276 rushing yards and had 14 100-yard games.
Ever since he joined the Cowboys, Barber has been known as the change-of-pace back behind Jones. He still led the team in rushing yards last season (975) and made the Pro Bowl as a backup.
This season, Barber may end up sharing the workload with rookie Felix Jones. That would allow Barber to get considerable carries without taking a beating the entire game.
"Felix Jones, once he becomes more familiar with his surroundings, what's happening and the blocking schemes, he's even going to become even more explosive," Dorsett said.
Barber didn't look like a player concerned about preserving himself during the preseason. Against Houston, he jumped over one would-be tackler and crashed out of bounds. He also dived over a pile and flew into the end zone for a touchdown – and almost landed headfirst.
Preston Pearson, who played for the Cowboys during the 1970s, said someone must help Barber temper that aggressiveness.
"That's his style. That's who he is," Pearson said. "That can resonate throughout the team. What he brings to the table is his energy and his aggressiveness. If you play the game of football, you've got to have those things. But for his longevity and his health and his ability to help the team, he's got to remain healthy and upright."
The current Cowboys aren't about to ask Barber to duck out of bounds or avoid big hits.
"I think that's where you get in trouble, when you start telling a guy to do things he doesn't naturally do," coach Wade Phillips said.
Receiver Terrell Owens said: "You can't dictate a way a guy approaches or plays the game. That's just the way he is. Obviously he wouldn't be Marion 'The Barbarian' if it wasn't for his playing style."
IRVING – When the Cowboys open the season Sunday in Cleveland, there will be no question about who is the No. 1 running back.
No more arguing over a two-back system. Julius Jones is long gone.
Hard-charging Marion Barber is the Cowboys' starting running back for the foreseeable future. He signed a six-year contract extension in May. Now comes the hard part. Can the 25-year-old with a bull-headed running style stay healthy enough to become an NFL star?
Legendary Cowboys running backs Tony Dorsett and Emmitt Smith say they believe Barber has what it takes. His first start last year came against the New York Giants in the playoffs. He posted a career-high 129 yards on 27 carries in the loss. But starting an entire season is different.
Smith, the NFL's all-time leading rusher, said if Barber has to carry the ball for four quarters for the entire year, "There's no way he can handle it."
"I think he spends a lot of energy that may not be necessary," Smith said when he attended Cowboys practice this spring. "For a starting back, I'm all about putting your heart into it, but you're doing a lot of kicking, running up, bucking and you're exerting a lot of energy.
"We need you for four quarters. And I'm going to say 'we' because I'm a Cowboy, too. We need you for four quarters."
Hall of Famer Dorsett called Barber a diamond in the rough.
"He can make a run that can get the crowd involved here at Texas Stadium and get his teammates revved up as well," Dorsett said. "I like this guy. I like him a whole lot. My only concern is that this is a very physical league.
"When you take a lot of hits over a period of time, it takes its toll on you. I just hope he becomes a little wiser and smarter about some of the hits he takes."
Smith and Dorsett didn't have perfect attendance during their NFL careers. But they were incredibly durable.
Smith started 219 out of 226 games in his 15-year career. He averaged a whopping 19.5 carries per game en route to becoming the NFL's all-time leader in rushing attempts. Dorsett averaged 17.0 carries during his 12-year career.
During his college career at Minnesota, Barber split the workload with Laurence Maroney. Still, Barber finished third in school history with 3,276 rushing yards and had 14 100-yard games.
Ever since he joined the Cowboys, Barber has been known as the change-of-pace back behind Jones. He still led the team in rushing yards last season (975) and made the Pro Bowl as a backup.
This season, Barber may end up sharing the workload with rookie Felix Jones. That would allow Barber to get considerable carries without taking a beating the entire game.
"Felix Jones, once he becomes more familiar with his surroundings, what's happening and the blocking schemes, he's even going to become even more explosive," Dorsett said.
Barber didn't look like a player concerned about preserving himself during the preseason. Against Houston, he jumped over one would-be tackler and crashed out of bounds. He also dived over a pile and flew into the end zone for a touchdown – and almost landed headfirst.
Preston Pearson, who played for the Cowboys during the 1970s, said someone must help Barber temper that aggressiveness.
"That's his style. That's who he is," Pearson said. "That can resonate throughout the team. What he brings to the table is his energy and his aggressiveness. If you play the game of football, you've got to have those things. But for his longevity and his health and his ability to help the team, he's got to remain healthy and upright."
The current Cowboys aren't about to ask Barber to duck out of bounds or avoid big hits.
"I think that's where you get in trouble, when you start telling a guy to do things he doesn't naturally do," coach Wade Phillips said.
Receiver Terrell Owens said: "You can't dictate a way a guy approaches or plays the game. That's just the way he is. Obviously he wouldn't be Marion 'The Barbarian' if it wasn't for his playing style."
