Having been teammates together at the University of Minnesota, Darrell Reid knows what Cowboys running back Marion Barber brings to the table just about better than anyone.
“He definitely prepares hard week in and week out and in the offseason,” Reid said. “If you just look at his physique and the type of runner he is, you’ve got to work hard to pound the ball like he does, to punish defenders like he does. He’s that type or running back. And at the same time he’s got great speed and great vision to go along with it.”
While Reid said the two are close friends, the two former Gophers will wait to reminisce until another time. For instance, they likely won’t be watching Minnesota’s border battle with Wisconsin on ESPN together on Saturday afternoon.
“I’m not big into hanging out with the team we’re playing before the game,” Reid said. “So probably won’t do that.”
How about during the game?
“All business during the game, definitely,” Reid said. “Maybe some in between the whistle joking around type stuff, but it’s definitely mostly serious.”
Recovering from a thigh injury that forced him to sit out Week 3, Barber was a limited participant in Dallas’ practice on Wednesday. Knowing what type of player Barber is, Reid said if he’s available, the Broncos will have their hands full.
“I hope he’s healthy, but part of me hopes he doesn’t play because of the type of player that he is,” Reid said. “He’s a great running back and he brings a lot of explosiveness to the field.”
Regardless of whether Barber plays or not, Reid said he knows the defense has a tough task in containing the league’s No. 1 rushing attack, a stout offensive line and a quarterback who can spread the field to an array of receiving threats.
As a member of the NFL’s No. 1 defense, Reid said he is looking forward to matching up with the league’s top rushing offense. But he isn’t exactly looking forward to the potential matchup with his old college buddy.
“Marion’s one of my guys,” Reid said. “It always gets controversial if I get a good hit on him or if he gets a good hit on me.”
– Zach Eisendrath, DenverBroncos.com
Here are some pictures from the onset of Thursday afternoon’s practice session:
Tags: Dallas Cowboys, Darrell Reid, Marion Barber, Week 4
With Marshall beginning to make himself known, it puts a whole new problem for defenses to worry about. One more dangerous weapon in the mix. Like Broncos_Ed said, time to utilize the TE’s.
Where are the troll posts? I need a good laugh and I can’t find the post.
On another note, I predict the broncos win 24-10. I don’t see the cowboys scoring more than 10 points, unless there is a catastrophy. I have been a believer in this team before the season started. Of course I had some uncertainty but I definately supported McDaniels TEAM first approach. I am glad that his formula is working.
Two things I would like to see… 1) a healthy Spencer Larsen (of course no rush but it would be nice), and 2) more utilization of Peyton Hillis.
All in all, as long as we keep winning it’s all good. I can’t wait until
Also, I agree guys. I would like to know why it is so difficult to post sometimes. It can be pretty frustrating.
Meant to say can’t wait until our team silences the ego bloated cowboys on sunday.
I would post under FTC or ABC if it would let me! HA
I give up see you guys tommarow when word press gets it.-ha
I give up-nite all
I still say we win 31-7 are D is to good and Romo is still throwing the ball all crazy.
broncos 28
cowboys17
I’ts going to be a really physical game but I can see our secondary getting some turnovers off of Romo this week. I can also see their o-line wearing down in the 4th quarter and Doom getting some more sacks.
This season is starting to get real interesting. Gotta a long way to go but I have faith.
Go broncos!!!!
heres hopeing to get 3 more turnovers on D and 5 more sacks lets not just win lets kill’em I want are turnovers to be +9 and have 15 sacks by the end of the game.
I predict Reid will get the better of Barber in this matchup as will all the Broncos against the Cowgirls! The interesting thing is Darrell Reid’s birthday is June 20, 1982, as is mine, so it’s nice to be connected to such a cool guy who will play a major role in our victory. It’s time for 4-0. GO BRONCOS!!!
Teshard Choice may be getting the bulk of the carries in this one…Barber was a full participant in practice but may not be 100% but I’m sure he’ll play. They had a lot of success in the past couple weeks running a sort of back side/mis-direction play off the left side with gaping holes. I haven’t really diagnosed the blocking yet but it might be the old counter trey. Here are the statistical rankings per NFL.com:
Dallas:
Offense: #3 Defense: #32 yes that’s right #32
Rushing: #1 Rushing: #17
Passing: #14 Passing: #24
Statistically these guys remind me of last years Broncos, killer offense….no defense.
THE DENVER BRONCOS:
Offense: #9 Defense: #1 woo hoo!!!
Rushing: #4 Rushing: #7
Passing: #15 Passing: #2
Statistically these Broncos remind me of the ’77 Broncos….a little.
Prediction….pain….for the cowpokes
Broncos 20
pokes 9
I’ll be in section 134 of the south stands on Sunday Rockin the House!!!!
GO BRONCOS!!!! South Stands Forever!!! The Orange Crush Lives!!
I’m ready for some cowboys
…now that I think about it….these Broncos remind me alot of the ’77 Broncos….new head coach that no one was really sure about, journeyman type QB that left us scratching our heads a little (Morten was close to washed up though), New 3-4 defense with, as analysts said, a defensive line that is too small and not very good. (Ron Fields please be the next Rubin Carter) Yes….these Broncos are in many ways similar to the ’77 team….of course there are many differences but at least what I’ve mentioned is true…… anyone agree/disagree?
raidrhadr, I wish I could go to the game. I’m in Los Angeles. Defending the Broncos everywhere. I like your enthusiasm. We will have a good year this year. I’m predicting a little closer of a game. Don’t be too naive with the scores everyone. Even though Dallas is favored in this game, Broncos should win 27-21.
My prediction is 31-17. I believe we will score from the goal line this week, and our defense will stay tough. We are facing a high scoring team, so holding them to 17 will still be good. I predict 3 passing TDs for us and a running TD, plus a FG.
I don’t know what has shown you all that we are going to score so many points. However my prediction is 20-10 Broncos. I know they have a powerfull offense, but we have a strong defense. I say we get plenty of turnovers and win the field position battle.
Go Broncos!!!!
hey bronco nation…. just wanted to throw my quick prediction out there im goin 27 – 16 Denver! and the cowgirls dont get held to under 100 yds on the ground! my 2 cents..
GO BRONCOS!!
i meant to say they DO get held to under 100 yds on the ground!! lol
It will be a very close game but the broncos def win
Yeah, I think it’ll be a close one, too. But last week I also predicted a close game, and I was wrong.
So, I hope to be wrong this week, too, and the Broncos get a rotund W.
Go Broncooos!
whitebronco#1, this week I predict a close one also, as you know I got lucky last week (had us by 21) but this is an all together different animal this week. A lot of guys are seeing big spreads (broncofan96, 31-7) and I don’t see where that lack of respect for the Cowboys D comes from. Wednesday, Dawkins said “coming from Philadelphia, I’ve had to play the Cowboys twice a year, and I know one thing, these guys need respect, and for 60 minutes.” I’m thinking everyone on D will follow Dawkins advice and respect them for 60 minutes, so who cares how some of the fans respect them or don’t, it won’t matter. Their D being so tough, great front 4, lots of pressure, fast LB’s, tough to run against, excellent secondary will limit the long game so the answer might be the middle in front of the safeties with the TE’s and the RB’s as receivers. However we go at it I don’t see us scoring over 20, so I’ll say 16 (Prater excells again). As far as their O is concerned, I think more predictions are on the money there, I don’t see them scoring over 10. They might be able to run for 125 but not the 200 they’re accustomed to, Whitten will have a big day because McD will put in an extra LB up front to stop the run and to do that it will leave single coverage on Whitten. However they’ll move it between the 20s but won’t get it done often close in. Their deep game shall be the down fall of the Cowboys with Romo not being able to help himself but throw a couple of INT’s while Orton will do much better in that category and we’ll escape with a 16-10 win. It’s a good thing we play this one at home, it will be a lot like the Cinci game and nothing like the Browns and Raiders game. Just my crystal ball, hope it lets me down and we just crush them… Last note, it will be a very physical game against some very large bodies, some of them who are nasty and others just plain dirty, so my hope is we get out of this one without any major injuries, hope I didn’t just jinx them.
Regardless of the rankings and stat and such, the one thing I know that we have to do to win is “Get it in the endzone when we’re in the green zone.” As the season progresses we’re not going to be able to rely solely on 3 pts. in the green zone. Nothing against Prater, but we are going to need touchdowns. Hopefully we can start punching it in when we get inside the 20. And come one, lets not use the shotgun so much in the green zone, maybe try some different things.
i would love to see more quick passes to our running backs! if they can just get a bit of separation and a little bit of open field… LOOK OUT COWPIES! i still think we will score over 20 pts… and i think we will win by 2 scores! see above prediction. lol
LET SEE SOME KILLER DEFENSE AGAIN THIS WEEK.
GO BRONCOS..
With our running game starting to pick up, I think we will be able to punch the ball in the endzone more often than we have. Maybe even some play action passes.
I haven’t been impressed with the Cowboy’s offense or defense this year. The only thing worth talking about is the stupid scoreboard, and I don’t think its making the trip!!
I am thinking along the same lines as far as predictions, 24-17-Broncos win.
GO BRONCOS !!
brian schneider, I don’t know what your GREEN zone is but it would be nice to do better in the RED zone.
Broncos will be 4-0 after this week. Marion Barber will not be at full strength… The “Boys” are working on a short week and we are going to bring the heat on Tony Romo. I’m excited to get some respect around the league!!!
http://www.illuminategym.com
Hey gang, just a friendly FYI. Fan Huddle is up and running *they got it going about an hour ago). Feel free to stop in and say hello. I am using my same name as I do here. You will find me under Mile High Mentor. Just click the NFL link, scroll your mouse to Denver Broncos and click it. You will be led to my site. I have posted two articles to date and will continue to post at least 4 a week. Thanks for your support and patience. http://www.fanhuddle.com
baylinorcrush: That’s what the “Green Zone” is, the “Red Zone” I just call it the “Green Zone” because green means go and red means stop. We need to go for the endzone, not get stopped inside the 20. That’s all that was. Just changing my terminology up.
I can’t wait for the game this weekend. Man oh man it’ll be a good one.
baylinorcrush: Good stuff. I forgot about B-Dawk and his experience against dallas…good point. I agree with most of what you said. I don’t have a lack of respect for dallas’ defense but they are ranked dead last in the league….I posted all the stats in an earlier post….However, in the words of Chris Berman ‘That’s why they play the games’ You never know in the NFL….things seem topsy turvy right now with some of the “powerhouses” not doing so well.
BTW dallas plays a 3-4 too so they have a front 3…not a front 4….Ratliff and Olshansky being the standouts there. They are fast but small up front. They have a huge….maybe fat…offensive line that has been opening up huge holes in thier running game (#1 in the league)….gap discipline will be paramount for our front 7 since they run alot of backside….mis-direction type plays off the left side. Marion Barber is back too. He will likely split time with Teshard Choice. I have alot of faith in Andra Davis and DJ Williams to handle that aspect.
Just getting to know the enemy a little here.
I still have faith in my earlier prediction….pain for the girls
Broncos 20
cowpokes 9
GO BRONCOS!!!! South Stands Forever!!! The Orange Crush Lives!!
Brian, as long as you understand yourself, that’s all that matters.
brian_schneider….I’ve actually heard that terminology ‘green zone’ used by NFL coaches…can’t remember who….It implies a more positive connotation.
I hope them Cowboys bring their Oxygen tanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Denver wins 17-13. I predicted we would go 9-7 before we started the season. I’m revising to 10-6!
raidrhadr, I like your pick, it’s within the range I’m thinking. Dallas may be ranked last in the league, but stats, specially early in the season, don’t tell a whole bunch. You probably saw the Monday night game, that was NOT a last in the league D we saw playing there. I think that game was a tremendous confidence builder for them and they will keep it going against us. I was really impressed with 90 Ratliff. Also McD says this will probably the biggest gap/lanes that we will see open for the running game against us probably all year, that’s how much he respects their O line. Agreed DJ and Andra wil be the key to slowing their running game down. I was glad to hear Andra say this week ” I know what I need to do this week”, without saying what, but we all know, he’ll be a major factor, what an off season pick up, rates right up there with Renaldo and Goody.
its not I dont respect the cowboys D i just would like to see that happen I think are D is good enough to shut down the cowboys.
I’m so jacked. Traveling over the next two weekends from Idaho to watch the Broncos win!
Danso, if we all revise our record predictions as we go, we’re all gonna end up pretty close, ahahah.
broncofan 96, I’m with you that we’ll be basically able to shut them down with our D, as far as scoring 37 points on their D, even so I would like to see that happen doesn’t mean I’m gonna put it in my prediction because I see very small odds of that happening. A prediction in my eye needs to be made with whatever football brain we got, not with our Bronco hearts, otherwise we’d be predicting like 41-10 all year. I love your enthusiasm and you make a lot of good points on many posts, I just don’t buy into your picks method. Not just this one , but how you make them through the season, you change them, re-arrange them, but its all good, like I said I enjoy your comments. Don’t try your luck in Vegas so! LOL.
Last time Broncos hired a New England asst for Head Coach: Red Miller ’77. (Only Coach to take us to SB in his first year). Met Coach Miller in the Bronco Barn last year…nice guy.
Converted to 3-4 under Def Coord Joe Collier.
First year QB Craig Morton came in that year as well from an NFC Team. (Giants).
Didn’t know Reid and Barber were college Teammates. Two other guys who were college Teammates were FB Peyton Hillis and RB Felix Jones..(former Razorbacks). It’s going to be a great game and we’re gonna get really loud! We’ll be in section #111 !!!
Let’s take out the plowboys !!!!!
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
royalbroncofan1, thanks for Red being a N-E assistant tidbit, interesting coincidence. Coincidence because back then there was very little good stuff coming out of N-E (it wasn’t til 85 they made their mark). I was 23 years old for the 77 Super Bowl, and boy was it a grand time in my life , not just Bronco fan life mind you, but at that age everything was possible and pretty much everything did happen. Tell that to my body now…LOL.
and now a word from the detractor… This is by far the weirdest site I have ever been on. It does however bring humor to me. I believe that in a football way of speaking, that if we win this game it will be a HUGE upset. Hate to rattle folks or disagree with the “die-hards” but I think this particular team creates a lot of problems for the defense. Not only are they a good running team, but they present a very unique issue on offense. They have TWO extremely talented tight ends. Which is going to force our team to mostly play zone defenses. If not then they will have both Bennett and Witten Man up against either our LB or S. Neither of the safties are good cover guys and the OLBs are converted DL not used to coverage. The Cowboy team so many of you underestimate on this site could cause our tentatively ranked #1 def a lot of problems. On offense, we also play into their strengths. Orton’s inability to make plays all over the field is going to help them in their pass coverages, and his lack of mobility is going to be very hard to account for if Ware and Olshansky get it going. Our line is awesome and very good at what they do, but half of the responsibility for not getting sacked on many plays lies on the QB. With all of that said, I will not make a prediction, but I do hope for an upset.
rbf1, I’ll be in section “right side of the couch” centrally located in front of a 42″ HD Sony TV, surrounded by 650 watts of surround sound because I don’t live in Colorado anymore, you dog!!! LOL.
royalbroncofan1: Good stuff about Red Miller. Dont know if you saw my earlier post but GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!! jk
“…now that I think about it….these Broncos remind me alot of the ‘77 Broncos….new head coach that no one was really sure about, journeyman type QB that left us scratching our heads a little (Morton was close to washed up though), New 3-4 defense with, as analysts said, a defensive line that is too small and not very good. (Ron Fields please be the next Rubin Carter) Yes….these Broncos are in many ways similar to the ‘77 team….of course there are many differences but at least what I’ve mentioned is true…… anyone agree/disagree?”
I was at the AFC Championship game that year also…
I’ll be in section 134 this Sunday!!!
GO BRONCOS!!!! South Stands Forever!!! The Orange Crush Lives!!
baylinor: I was 16 back in ’77 I know what you mean about the body. I feel pain now for some injuries I suffered playing high school football.
It was great back then – pure pandemonium !!!
Never forget when we finally arrived !!!
Just so you all know this guy is just trying to rattle you into an argument, I found out long ago that to ignore him works best. ahahah.
rbf1, I feel pain from getting out of bed every day, lol, used to be a professional speed skier among other things, have broken 10 bones over the years, ruptured my femoral artery and busted my meniscus, concussions, etc… Yeah, that arriving feeling was the greatest but only to be beaten by the 1st win in 97, in my opinion, that was the time my feet didn’t touch the ground for 2 weeks, I swear…
radrhadr: Your post got me thinking about a post I had during the offseason about McDaniels and Miller and how history does sometimes repeat itself. Easy guy – great minds think alike !!
vabroncoguy: No one is underestimating anyone here !! We’re just pumped to see our Team kick some Tail. Don’t you underestimate the Broncos !!!!!!!
raidrhadr, section 134, you dog…(see above)LOL.
Wow that’s awesome – I grew up skiing also baylinor! Was not a speed skier but loved to race my friends when we went. I spent alot of time skiing. I taught my children they love it! I get out a couple times a year, but my left knee hurt pretty bad these days. Did you race slalom courses?