Close Call #8: Brandon Jacobs vs Marion Barber

Close Call #8: Brandon Jacobs vs Marion Barber

  • Total voters
    20
Miller

Miller

Who Dey
Administrator
If you need a refresher on the rules for the series or a run down of previous match-ups? Here is the rules and history thread:
"Close Calls 2009" - A Sports Outlaw Exclusive
Remember, this is based on re-draft leagues and non ppr scoring.

Today's Match-up:

Brandon Jacobs vs Marion Barber

 Last Year's Stats:
Brandon Jacobs - 13 gms - 1,089 ru yds - 15 ru TD's - 6 rec - 36 rec yds - 0 rec TD
Marion Barber - 15 gms - 885 ru yds - 7 ru TD's - 52 rec - 417 yds - 2 rec TD's

Today's Match-up is between two RB's opinions tend to be wide spread. Both player's biggest question may be durability and can they stay healthy for a full season? With Jacobs you have a monster of a man who seems to be a TD machine, but will you get the TD machine of 08', or the one who sputtered to just 4 TD's on the ground in 07'? Will Jacobs get more carries with Ward out of town, or will bradshaw fill that role? Barber's work load went up in 08, but his production went down. Will Dallas cut his work load to keep him fresher? Will this restore his productive ways? These are just some of the questions you will need to answer in today's close call.
 
The Ram

The Ram

Half Man, Half Amazing
I wonder how Mike will vote? :headscratch:


This has to be Marion Barber. I'm all over Jacobs as a sideshow attraction but less as a dominant runningback.

To me this comes down to supporting cast. Jacobs has Eli Manning (suck), a bunch of scrubs at WR, and no tight end. Therefore if I'm a defensive coordinator I'm going to make those scrubs beat me before I give Man Beast a few yards to get up steam and run over my defensive tackles.

Jessica Simpson aside Dallas has a much more attractive supporting cast. RHomo is great some games but good in most. He also has Roy E. Williams who I believe to be a legit #1 NFL wideout and the best tight end in the game. That supporting cast in addition to Felix Jones to help take a few carries to lighten his load will force defenses to play the pass. Barber will see nice openings and will only have to run over DB's instead of tackles.

Add in Barber's ability to make things happen through the air and this one is a pretty open and shut case in favor of the Barbarian.

Flame away, boss! :thrash:
 
Mike

Mike

Administrator
Tough one here. You have one running back that will likely not be starting as the season progresses, and another that is on a team who's offense is full of questions. Actually both offenses is full of questions, each losing their top receiver, and each having a quarterback who has a lot of questions to answer.

Both of these guys have running styles that lead to very short careers.

I pick option C :)

Seriously, I would go with Brandon Jacobs if I had to choose. Neither of these guys would be targeted by me in a draft though very early.
 
ExperiencedRookie

ExperiencedRookie

Well-Known Member
I have to go Barber by default here. Jacobs situation just blows too much.

I can't believe that Jacobs is even a guy who goes in the 2nd round. What is the draw here? He has only played 2 seasons where he's been "featured". In those 2 seasons he's never had more 220 carries and he's missed 8 games in that stretch.

NYG's claim that Jacobs will near the 300 carry mark this year. That is surely a possibility if the guy can stay healthy and also remain productive once he gets over that 20 carry mark in a game. IF he can stay healthy, and he actually gets 300 carries, I see his YPC coming down drastically.

Amond RBs receiving 300+ carries last year, the average YPC was 4.3. This sounds pretty realistic for Jacobs, although if the passing game can't get going I could see this number closer to 3.9 like Ryan Grant and Matt Forte, 2 guys who had 300+ last year.

So Jacobs ceiling looks to be about 1200-1300 yards, but the TDs are up in the air. He's averaging 10 per season, but the offense is going to be the worst it's been in his career there.

Way too many question marks around this guy.
 
Mike

Mike

Administrator
Check out Barber's yards per carry during the 2nd half of the season. Huge "wear down" alert here.

(but everyone can keep on ignoring me on this one ;) )
 
Miller

Miller

Who Dey
Administrator
Barber by default, I won't touch jacobs and laugh everytime I see him go in a 2nd round. Sure, he scored 15 times last year....but he only had 4 times the year before....he also can't stay healthy and his running style will not allow him to. Jacobs is a nice RB3 IMO, and nothing more. Definatley not someone who is worth a 2nd rounder. Not sure barber is either, but I would gamble on him before Jacobs.
 
Mike

Mike

Administrator
ExperiencedRookie said:
Could we see that number coming up with Felix taking on more of a role this season?
Click to expand...

You will likely see that ypc number come up, and touches go way down. Felix will take a ton of carries, and Tashard Choice is going to get carries all season long. The most scary part for Barber fans is going to be Tashard Choice because his strengths are the same strengths as Barber, but Choice can run smarter and better.

Remember when Barber was hungry for that starting role? Choice has that hunger and then some, and both of these guys are behind Felix Jones in regards to Talend level.
 
WesDawg

WesDawg

'Burghapologist
Jacobs is one of the small handful of runners who isn't in a commitee, especially so now that Ward's gone, so I'll give him a small nod and pray he stays healthy.

I won't likely have either on any of my teams this year because at the point they both seem to come off the board, I'm getting my WR1 or Brees/Brady/Manning.
 
ExperiencedRookie

ExperiencedRookie

Well-Known Member
WesDawg said:
Jacobs is one of the small handful of runners who isn't in a commitee, especially so now that Ward's gone, so I'll give him a small nod and pray he stays healthy.
.
Click to expand...

I'm not buying that at all. Ahmad Bradshaw will make this a committee. I don't think Jacobs is a 300 carry back.
 
Mike

Mike

Administrator
Bradshaw should have made this a full blown committee already, the guy is the most talented running back on the team. I think the reason he is kept off the field though is because of his off the field issues, strong personality, and Coughlin being hesitant to let him on the field.

With Ward now gone, it gets much tougher to hold Bradshaw back
 
Miller

Miller

Who Dey
Administrator
WesDawg said:
Jacobs is one of the small handful of runners who isn't in a commitee, especially so now that Ward's gone, so I'll give him a small nod and pray he stays healthy.
Click to expand...
I disagree here.....IMO, noting has changed in NY but a name. Out is Ward, into the #2 is Bradshaw. Bradshaw has shown, when given any opportunities, that he can perform, and perform well. In two years of limited action, he is averaging 6.1 ypc.

I fully expect the Giants to do the same thing with Bradshaw as they did with Ward last year. He will start out in the 8-12 carry range. If he is successful early on, they will bump his work load up into the 12-15 range as they did down the stretch with Ward last year.

This is still a RBBC and Jacobs role and work load will remain very similar to what it was last year IMO.
 
Mike

Mike

Administrator
Don't forget the draft ( I know, most don't pay attention to it these days ;))

Giants drafted Andre Brown who can likely step in and contribute this year and take up Ward's slack. It could be more of a three headed monster than ever in New York.
 
bodey24

bodey24

Staff member
I'm going with Barber. I think with Felix getting more touches this year that will help Barber stay fresh for the 4th quarter just like a few years ago when they could bring him in and just light up tired defenses. I think he should be used for short yard, goal line, and for 4th quarter situations. That is where he is the most affective. I'm not a big fan of Jacobs. He can't seem to stay healthy and the Giants passing game could struggle this year which will hurt Jacobs.
 
efactor

efactor

Coming at you
Jacobs easily for me..........

Runs behind the best line in the league, has averaged 5.0 a carry the last two years and I don't see that dropping substantially with an additional 60 or so carries. Nobody knows at this point what the split will be with Bradshaw, but assuming Jacobs plays even 14 games this year, I gotta believe he gets 270-280 carries this year. Should be good for another TD season in the 15 range. Too much power running behind a great line.

Barber is a talented back, but it looks like Jones will see a 50/50 split at least, so lack of opportunity will limit his numbers. He'll have to have a big TD season to justify a 2nd round pick.
 
eaglechick

eaglechick

I'm back :)
i seriously doubt i'll draft either of these guys, but i would go for jacobs of the two. he really was a beast last year, and i think the gnats will continue to depend on the run
 
R

Runnik's Hambones

Active Member
I'm going Jacobs for one simple reason: TDs. I don't think there's been a year that MBIII has beaten Brandon in that category. I mean hell look at those stats! In 2 less game Jacobs managed to out score him!

It has to do with Jacob's size. He's GOING to get the goal line carries. That sells it for me.
 
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