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Multiple Choice
Barber Out Again; Choice's Role Expands
Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas - Marion Barber's strained calf will keep him out a second consecutive game Sunday, which means Tashard Choice is Felix Jones' tag-team partner of sorts against the Philadelphia Eagles.
"The Road Warriors - Hawk and Animal," Choice said, referencing the fearsome pro wrestling tandem.
Jones and Choice gave literal meaning to that name last week in Indianapolis, combining for a season-high 183 yards and one touchdown on 41 carries. Sunday at home, they'll face an Eagles defense that ranks 13th against the run, allowing 103.0 yards per game.
Choice's 19 carries against the Colts exceeded his entire workload from the first 11 games (14 carries). He said his conditioning is better this week because full game experience, more so than practice, is the best way to get into running back shape.
And a prominent role on offense also helped Choice relax. When he's in for spot duty, he says there's a tendency to press as he tries to maximize his touches.
"When you're carrying the ball a lot, you know you have more opportunities to make big plays throughout the whole game," he said. "You don't know when that big play will happen; you've just got to hope you make it.
"When I used to get in on third downs, when I had a route or a run, I wanted to make it big, to cause some excitement and lift my teammates up. But when you're running every play, it's automatic. It's just a different feeling."
Interim head coach/offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said he has a distribution plan in mind for Jones and Choice, but said both players are relatively interchangeable on specific plays.
"These guys are versatile guys. They can run the plays in the playbook," Garrett said. "But having said that, you want to have a general plan and you have to be able to adjust as the game goes. If a guy has four, five, six carries in a row, get the other guy in there, have the fresh legs and keep attacking the defense a different way."
Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones said Friday he didn't have a timetable for Barber's return, but ruled out injured reserve at this time.
Barber Out Again; Choice's Role Expands
Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas - Marion Barber's strained calf will keep him out a second consecutive game Sunday, which means Tashard Choice is Felix Jones' tag-team partner of sorts against the Philadelphia Eagles.
"The Road Warriors - Hawk and Animal," Choice said, referencing the fearsome pro wrestling tandem.
Jones and Choice gave literal meaning to that name last week in Indianapolis, combining for a season-high 183 yards and one touchdown on 41 carries. Sunday at home, they'll face an Eagles defense that ranks 13th against the run, allowing 103.0 yards per game.
Choice's 19 carries against the Colts exceeded his entire workload from the first 11 games (14 carries). He said his conditioning is better this week because full game experience, more so than practice, is the best way to get into running back shape.
And a prominent role on offense also helped Choice relax. When he's in for spot duty, he says there's a tendency to press as he tries to maximize his touches.
"When you're carrying the ball a lot, you know you have more opportunities to make big plays throughout the whole game," he said. "You don't know when that big play will happen; you've just got to hope you make it.
"When I used to get in on third downs, when I had a route or a run, I wanted to make it big, to cause some excitement and lift my teammates up. But when you're running every play, it's automatic. It's just a different feeling."
Interim head coach/offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said he has a distribution plan in mind for Jones and Choice, but said both players are relatively interchangeable on specific plays.
"These guys are versatile guys. They can run the plays in the playbook," Garrett said. "But having said that, you want to have a general plan and you have to be able to adjust as the game goes. If a guy has four, five, six carries in a row, get the other guy in there, have the fresh legs and keep attacking the defense a different way."
Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones said Friday he didn't have a timetable for Barber's return, but ruled out injured reserve at this time.
