More By Committee
Barber Can't Do It Alone, Felix Needed, Bad
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IRVING, Texas - Not trying to be greedy here, but the Cowboys need to get four players back this week.
Just getting Tony Romo back under center should be like an eight-year-old getting his first bike on Christmas morning. But forgive the Cowboys if they want a few more presents this week, too.
Like, Kyle Kosier and Terence Newman back in the lineup. Those two should help for a couple of reasons. Not only are they simply better than the backups who have been occupying their spots, but we're talking about a couple of experienced vets. And the more guys who you can bring with you into a "really-need-to-win" environment like they're going to face Sunday in Washington, the better.
But I'm sorry, those three just aren't good enough. They'll certainly benefit from the return of Romo, Kosier and Newman.
But this team needs Felix Jones, too.
The offense needs him. The special teams units need him.
Marion Barber needs him.
Say what you want about Felix Jones' role on this team. You could argue the big plays in a limited time - like the 98-yard kickoff return against the Eagles, the 60-yard run for a touchdown in Green Bay or the 33-yard touchdown run around the edge against Cincinnati.
You can also say that there must be a reason why the Cowboys were so reluctant to use him when he was healthy. Like the zero offensive touches against Washington. Or just three carries in the first three quarters against Arizona, in a game Jones suffered this hampering hamstring injury in the first place.
We all see that Felix Jones needs to be out there in some way. He needs the ball in his hands and he's even shown he can be effective without it, like in that first Redskins game. Jones might not have touched the ball on offense, but on one offensive play he went in motion from the backfield, taking away a linebacker and a safety, which left an open lane for Jason Witten to haul in a first-half touchdown.
Defenses are aware of Felix Jones. They're starting to recognize when he's on the field. Yet, he still finds a way to be productive.
We're talking about an 8.9 yard-per-carry average. He has just two catches for 10 yards. And before he was injured, he was ranked right at the top of the league with a 27.1-yard kickoff-return average.
He's touched the ball 48 times for 710 yards. That's just an average of 14.79 yards every time he gets his hands on the ball. Everyone, and yes that includes every offensive coach on this Cowboys' staff, knows he's weapon.
So there has to be something more.
The first guess would be pass blocking, where we've all seen here in the last month just how important that is, if we already didn't know. All it takes is one hit, or one strip of the ball, that could keep you out of action for a month.
So if Felix Jones isn't 100 percent up to speed in blitz pick-ups, then it certainly should cause any offensive coordinator to be reluctant putting him out there.
Let's not mistake this. If Felix Jones is healthy, he's going to play. He's going to be involved in some way, but it just hasn't been enough it seems.
Then again, isn't that the norm around here?
Everyone loves the backups. Ok, not so much on the quarterbacks right now, but there have been plenty of times when fans and media have been screaming for the backups.
At running back, it has been even more of the case.
Of course, for a while, no one wanted Emmitt Smith off the field but as his career carried on, players such as Sherman Williams and Troy Hambrick were feeling the love. Neither one of them were too impressive as the starter.
I can remember fans wanting to see more of ReShard Lee when he was backing up Eddie George in 2004. And, of course, the last two years there weren't many fans that weren't turning hoarse in yelling for Marion Barber to replace Julius Jones.
We love the backups, yet rarely do they step right in and out-perform the previous starter.
The jury is still out on Barber this year. He's rushed for 665 yards and is on pace for a career-high for one season, which he set last year with 975. Barber also has 264 receiving yards.
But with his style of running and the pounding he takes, you have to wonder how long this guy can hold up. In nine games, Barber already has 205 touches. Last year, he had 248 in all 16 games.
That could be one reason why we're not seeing the same type of player we did last year. He averaged 4.5 yards per carry last season, but just 3.9 this year. That's quite a difference. He's obviously not as fresh. He's being counted on way too much.
Surely, the Cowboys were hoping to give some of the load to Felix, but even when he got hurt, they should've used their other rookie a little more.
No, Tashard Choice is not Felix Jones. He's probably not going to score from anywhere on the field and he's not a dynamic kick returner. But can he provide a spark off the bench somewhere near the middle of the game when defenses are getting worn down and you've got a fresh-legged rookie back just looking to making a difference?
Again, playing Choice is probably similar to the dilemma in getting Felix Jones in there a little more. You're dealing with a rookie and he's limited in pass protection.
But rookies are playing at running back all over the league. And by this time of year, shouldn't they learn? Shouldn't they be able to contribute in some way?
It boggles the mind the Cowboys have this 1-2 punch last year in Julius Jones and Barber, but yet this year, with Barber and Felix Jones and even Choice, they're hesitant to take Barber off the field.
But he needs the help. He can't do it by himself.
Not many backs can do it anymore? We're seeing LaDainian Tomlinson splitting carries now and from the looks of things in Atlanta where Michael Turner is tearing it up, maybe they should've even shared the ball a few more times the last few years. This year, Tomlinson and the Chargers are relying on little Darren Sproles for a few carries here and there.
Adrian Peterson needs his Chester Taylor. Clinton Portis needs his Ladell Betts. Turner needs his Jerious Norwood and yes, big Brandon Jacobs needs his backup help - Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw.
So Barber needs his help. If Felix Jones isn't healthy or can't play, then let Choice have a few snaps.
But in this week of returns - the entire team from the bye week and possibly the funk it has been in for the last month, along with Romo, Kosier and Newman from injury, why not ask for Felix Jones, too?