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Dallas Cowboys Football
|  In the heart of the Entertainment District and just across the street from the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, EXCITEMENT IS BUILDING! The new $1 billion Cowboys Stadium project is expected to be completed in time for the 2009 football season.
The Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau is here to provide you with up-to-date information throughout the project. Check back often for the latest news and announcements.
A One-Two Punch in the Backfield: Barber & Jones Pose Threat to Opposing Defenses
The Cowboys have a new one-two punch in their backfield with Pro Bowl running back Marion Barber and first-round pick Felix Jones, a rookie from Arkansas who was the 22nd overall selection in April's draft. Barber is a punishing runner who makes yards after contact with defenders. Jones is a smooth, elusive runner with speed and explosiveness. Barber earned the nickname "Marion the Barbarian" from teammate Terrell Owens for his rough & tumble style; Jones draws ooh's and aah's for his fluid motion. While Jones is Barber's backup, the Cowboys have experimented in training camp with putting the two running backs on the field together at the same time. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett is moving Barber & Jones into different areas of the alignment in order to create confusion and mismatches with the defense. Sometimes Barber will lineup at fullback in front of Jones, and at other times Jones will split out wide as a receiver or in the slot. "We're going to just try to see if any of that stuff makes it in to the offense," says Garrett who is having fun coordinating an offense with so many weapons. "We try to mix and match personnel all the time and see how guys fit in to some of the plays that we've been running. Both of those guys are versatile. We'll see what seems to look good in practice and hopefully we can get into the package and see if it has a little bit of a role in our offense" "The problem is deciding what you want to do, defensively," head coach Wade Phillips says of the double-threat posed by Barber & Jones together on the field. "If you play it as nickel defense, they may run the ball on you. If they play regular defense, if Felix is a good enough receiver, that hurts you. That’s why we’re trying to implement it offensively. Felix has to be taken more [as] a wide receiver, then it opens up the running game and vice versa. If they stay and stop the running game, then hopefully, he’s a good enough receiver that could help us there." more>> | | Page 2 >> |
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