When the Cowboys got rid of Julius Jones last season I truly thought that Marion Barber would finally be the featured running back for the Dallas Cowboys. While Barber is the Cowboys' #1 running back, there is another Jones vying for carries this season. Granted, he probably wouldn't have seen as much playing time if Barber wouldn't have gotten injured in the 3rd quarter, Felix Jones made quite a case for himself as a close #2.
Scoring a TD on the very first carry of his career, Jones burst on to the scene in a big way. He almost shook off defenders for a second touchdown later in the game. With Barber injured, but probable for this weekend many are wondering if Jones will carry more of the load now that he has proven he can handle the job.
I will always wonder what Wade Philips original plan for Jones would have been, had Barber not have gotten injured and given Jones the chance to steal the spotlight for a bit. But the truth is that Jones proved something on Sunday and now Wade Philips has to decide what to do about it.
In his first 2 seasons with Dallas Marion Barber played in all 16 games, averaging nearly 5 yards a carry. You can not tell me that he would have been that healthy or that productive if he wouldn't have been sharing the backfield with Julius Jones. I understand that fans want that clear cut #1 guy, but let's face it. Marion Barber is not and will never be Emmitt Smith.
Barber had more yards in limited playing time this past Sunday than his individual game averages for both of the past two years. That has to say something. Right now this kid is healthy and ready for the grueling NFL season.
I don't believe that this one minor injury will set him back, and if fans and coaches want him to be nearly as productive and efficient as he was a year ago than the Cowboys are going to need someone like Felix Jones to help out. Dallas should feel privileged to have such a promising young running back behind Barber. Because in the end it's not about having a thousand yard back on your roster, it's about winning football games.
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Barber will stay the #1 back as long as he's healthy. Despite outstanding speed, Jones has never been a feature back. He stayed out of the limelight in Arkansas and just spelled McFadden when needed and still raked in the yards. He will be used as a change of pace back now just as he was in college. He was in the secondary before the Browns knew what him them. That will keep up throughout the season as Marion the Barbarian and the big uglies up front will wear d-lines down and give creating canyons for Jones to run through. Every team in the NFL wishes that they had a tamdem like one in Big D. Looks like Jerry Jones has done it again.
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