The Cowboys have three RBs that could start in the NFL.  Felix Jones is the speedster, Marion Barber is the power back and Tashard Choice is the best combo of both.  23-year old Felix Jones appears to have the edge for the featured role in the offense.  He played in 14 games (1 start) for the Cowboys last season and he carried the ball 116 times for 685 yards (5.9 ypc) with 3 TD runs.  Jones also caught 19 passes for 119 yards (6.3 avg) and he returned 30 kickoffs for 678 yards (22.6 avg) last season.  Jones is a threat to go the distance every time he touches the football.  Jones has now played in 20 games (1 start) in his two years with the Cowboys in which he has carried the ball 146 times for 951 yards (6.5 ypc) with 6 TD runs.  Jones has also caught 21 passes for 129 yards (6.1 avg) and he has returned 46 kickoffs for 1,112 yards (24.2 avg) with 1 TD return in his career with the Cowboys.  Felix Jones is owner Jerry Jones favorite as they both attended Arkansas University which likely gives him a leg up on the competition.

27-year old Marion Barber reminds me of a bowling ball knocking down pins when he runs.  He would rather run over someone than cut to the open field as he thrives on contact.  Barber played in 15 games (all starts) for the Cowboys last season and he carried the ball 214 times for 932 yards (4.4 ypc) with 7 TD runs.  He also caught 26 passes for 221 yards (8.5 avg) last season for the Cowboys.  Barber has now played in 75 games (31 starts) in his five years with the Cowboys and he has carried the ball 929 times for 3,984 yards (4.3 ypc) with 43 TD runs.  He also has caught 163 passes for 1,231 yards (7.6 avg) with 6 TD grabs in his time in Dallas.  Rumors had the Cowboys shopping Barber during the NFL Draft in April but they will benefit from not finding any takers.

25-year old Tashard Choice will likely again be the #3 RB for the Cowboys.  He played in all 16 games (0 starts) for the Cowboys last season and he carried the ball 64 times for 349 yards (5.5 ypc) with 3 TD runs.  Choice also caught 15 passes for 132 yards (8.8 avg) last season for the Cowboys.  Choice has now played in 32 games (3 starts) in his two seasons with the Cowboys and he has carried the ball 156 times for 821 yards (5.3 ypc) with 5 TD runs.  He has also caught 36 passes for 317 yards (8.8 avg) with the Cowboys.  Choice could start on a lot of teams but he will likely be #3 in line for the Cowboys again in 2010.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE COWBOYS RBs in 2010:  A

The Cowboys are in good shape at QB for the 2010 season.  30-year old Tony Romo is going to try to get his team into the Super Bowl this year which will be played in Dallas.  He will have a lot of pressure on his shoulders so it will be interesting to see how he responds.  Romo played in all 16 games for the Cowboys last season and he completed 347 of 550 passes (63.1%) for 4,483 yards with 26 TD passes and only 9 INTs (97.6 QB Rating).  Romo also carried the ball 35 times for 105 yards (3.0 ypc) with 1 TD run last year.  Romo has now played in 83 games in his career with the Cowboys and he has completed 1,178 of 1,857 passes (63.4%) for 15,045 yards with 107 TD passes against only 55 INTs (95.6 QB Rating).  Romo has also carried the ball 130 times for 375 yards (2.9 ypc) with 3 TD runs in his career.  Romo has a good enough arm and he’s good at buying time with his legs so he’s about as complete a passer that you’re going to find in the NFL.  He has a 38-17 (69.1%) record during the regular season as a starting QB which is outstanding.

37-year old Jon Kitna will back up Romo again in 2010.  He was not needed by the Cowboys last year and he last played in a real game in 2008 with the Lions.  Kitna has played in 128 games in his NFL career and he has completed 2,462 of 4,114 passes (59.8%) for 27,293 yards with 152 TD passes and 151 INTs (76.6 QB Rating).  Kitna also has carried the ball 279 times for 811 yards (2.9 ypc) with 10 TD carries in his NFL career.  Kitna is a swashbuckler often getting into trouble when he either forces the ball into coverage or fumbles because of his really small hands.  Kitna has a record of 46-69 (40%) in games  that he has started at QB in his NFL career.

24-year old Stephen McGee will enter his second year in the NFL as the Cowboys’ #3 QB.  He is a good runner but will need to refine his throwing before getting onto the field.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE COWBOYS QBs in 2010:  A-