The Cowboys Must Utilize a Three Back System

Jason Garrett has a good problem facing him next season. Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice have all shown the ability to produce when given the opportunity. The big question has to be what can be done to get all of them the ball during the course of the game to ensure that they are all fresh and healthy throughout the entire 16 game season. Naming a starter isn't really important but it will be important to put together a plan that will best utilize all of their talents.

The three running back system isn't something that is a new or novel idea. All Jason Garrett has to do is look at the New York Giants if he needs an idea about how to use all three of his running backs. The Giants have Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw sharing carries and they all have bought into the system.

It doesn't seem like any of the three Dallas running backs have egos that would prevent Garrett from splitting carries between the three of them. That would be the biggest roadblock but all three backs are team-first players. So the responsibility for doing it right falls on the coaches and the coaches alone.

It would seem that Felix Jones and Marion Barber would get the majority of the offensive touches at running back with Tashard Choice providing an occasional changeup or series off for the other two backs. Felix Jones needs to stay fresh so he can be as explosive at the end of the game as he is on his first carry of the game. Marion Barber needs to be fresh in the 4th quarter so he can bulldoze the defense when the game is on the line. The proper way to utilize the three running backs seems pretty obvious to most observers and I am hoping that Jason Garrett will find a way to get it done.