Leading up to training camp 2010, Blue-Star takes an in-depth look at the Dallas Cowboys' running backs:
The Good: The Cowboys are as deep as they come at running back, with three proven ball-carriers at their disposal going into 2010. Starter Marion Barber averaged a solid 4.4 yards per carry in 2009, which sounds worse considering that Tashard Choice averaged 5.5 and Felix Jones averaged 5.9--together they averaged 4.8 YPC, good enough for second in the league behind Tennessee and the all-world talent of Chris Johnson.
Fullback Deon Anderson isn't any threat as a runner or receiver, but he is a deft blocker.
The Bad: Considering last year's numbers between Barber, Choice and Jones, there's not much "bad" to speak of. Some fans and writers have wondered aloud whether Dallas wouldn't be better served using Jones as the starter as Barber returns to the "closer" role that made him famous in 2007.
Choice is in the unfortunate position of being behind both Barber and Jones and, despite that he's proven his ability time and again, Dallas has yet to find a constant, defined role for him. They experimented with Choice in the Razorback last season, a role which could expand in 2010.
The (Near) Future: One of the more positive things to be said about "Smash, Dash and Tash" is that they're remarkably friendly considering that they spend each week fighting each other for carries. Well, that, and they're all really good at football.
Choice, the most sparingly used of the three, knows he will get his carries eventually, in Dallas or elsewhere. But as long as he's with Dallas, he's been a model of professionalism and class--ditto, really, for Barber and Jones.
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One could imagine a Choice-in, Barber-out scenario after the 2010 season, but that's a long way off and completely dependent on the season ahead. For now, Dallas is as pleased as punch with what they have, and so are most fans.
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