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Post by MR COWBOY on Dec 11, 2009 13:09:03 GMT -7
Cowboys owner, coach differ on Barber's role
THEREDZONE.ORG
Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com reports Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has stirred debate about when Dallas should best utilize running back Marion Barber, whose punishing running style can wear out defenses.
Speaking Thursday on KRLD-FM, Jones said: "I think the real question is, should he be finishing rather than beginning? In his Pro Bowl year, where he had his best year, [Barber was] finishing the game. If you recall, Julius Jones started the game. We injected the quickness of his speed there early.
"That would be the issue. It's not a question of starting as much as it is, when do you use Barber at his best? There are a lot of people, prominent people who know Barber well, who feel like he would be better served used to finish the game than really used a lot at the start."
Coach Wade Phillips said the Cowboys' running back rotation will not change.
Phillips said it's important to substitute enough to prevent a workhorse runner like Barber from wearing down.
But the coaches don't intend to alter Barber's role as Dallas enters the last quarter of its schedule tied for the NFC East lead with Philadelphia.
"He's able to carry the load," Phillips said. "We want the power guy early in the game to start out to physically attack the other team, I think, and you want the same thing at the end of the game. Plus, he's our best player. He's our best back. You want your best player out there to start the game and finish it."
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