Mendenhall or F. Jones

[DBOY3141]

I was watching the All Star skills competion on ESPN and didn't relialize the guns on Mendenhall. I watched quite a few Illini games and he would make an excellent RB with Barber. Excellent hands and speed to comensate the power of MBIII. However, have not seen many Arkansas games, but I hear Felix Jones is an animal. Who would you prefer in the draft.

[MichaelWinicki]

Felix Jones.

If he had stayed in school another year he'd be a top-5 pick in the '09 draft.

I think he's the most complete back in this draft.

[IndianaCowboyFan]

Felix Jones.

If he had stayed in school another year he'd be a top-5 pick in the '09 draft.

I think he's the most complete back in this draft.

I think he has more upside than McFadden.

[cobra]

Felix Jones is the better option in my opinion if we are going to run a 2 back rotation with Marion Barber. I think they compliment each other perfectly.

If we were looking to get a RB that would be an every down grinder, then Mendenhall is the better option to me.

I have it:
DMAC
Stewart
F. Jones
Mendenehall

[starfrombirth]

I wouldn't mind either of those. I think Felix is one of the fastest backs in the country tho. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. I'd do the research but I don't know of any reliable sources. You can't trust the colleges' websites. :D

[Cowboys22]

Felix Jones is the better option in my opinion if we are going to run a 2 back rotation with Marion Barber. I think they compliment each other perfectly.

If we were looking to get a RB that would be an every down grinder, then Mendenhall is the better option to me.

I have it:
DMAC
Stewart
F. Jones
Mendenehall

The thing is, you need both. You need the speed guy to rotate with Barber but he also needs to be capable of carrying the load in case Barber gets hurt. If you only go for the speed guy, you have to carry a verteran back in case of an injury. That being said there are about 7-8 RBs coming out this year that I'd be happy with but if Stewart, Jones, or Mendenhall are there at 28, thats my pick in that order.

[Mr Cowboy]

I don't think we have a shot at Mendenhal, but I am certain we take the best back available at our pick, and I hope we get the Aldridge kid from Houston later on in the draft.

[BlueStar II]

If it comes down to Mendenhall or Jones, I think we'll take Jones.

[This is Our Year]

Put me in for Felix Jones also!! Would be great here.

[Nors]

Lots of this talk in the draftZone

deep RB class

[Vinnie2u]

Give me Slaton

[IndianaCowboyFan]

Give me Slaton

I forgot about him. He would be nice if in the 2nd.

[Sandyf]

Depending on who is there at 22, either one would be fine but I have seen both play and am leaning toward Jones.

Personally I hope Jerry gets a few extra picks especially one in the second and also takes Chris Johnson. He is a great return guy and just might prove to be worthwhile insurance if Barber or our other guy (Jones) goes down with an injury.

If you don't think we need insurance, check out the Giants and Patriots. Both had a starter or parttime starter go on IR this year.

[SacredStar]

From everything I have seen on both guys.....I'd take Mendenhall hands down.

[Hailmary]

I forgot about him. He would be nice if in the 2nd.

Just goes to show you how deep this RB class is that a player like Slaton could be forgotten or viewed as an after thought. If we go CB and Wr w/ our first 2 picks, I'd be very happy w/ Slaton in the second.

[J-DOG]

Chris Johnson-rb-East Carolina-if he runs a 4.29 forty like he thinks he can...he may be drafted before Dallas picks.
Johnson can return kickoffs and punts.
This guy would be the perfect compliment to Barber.
Once the combine and individual workouts are in, Johnson will sky-rocket up draft boards.
http://www.nfldraftdog.com/images/Chris%20Johnson,%20RB,%20East%20Carolina.jpg

[Big Dakota]

I'm on the Jones bandwagon.

[Vinnie2u]

Just goes to show you how deep this RB class is that a player like Slaton could be forgotten or viewed as an after thought. If we go CB and Wr w/ our first 2 picks, I'd be very happy w/ Slaton in the second.

Give me Aqib Talib -Manningham-Slaton in the first two rounds

[big dog cowboy]

More than anything I am anxious to see these guys at the scouting combine. But just based on the bits and pieces I have read here and there about all the RB's, I like Felix Jones so far.

[zrinkill]

I was watching the All Star skills competion on ESPN and didn't relialize the guns on Mendenhall. I watched quite a few Illini games and he would make an excellent RB with Barber. Excellent hands and speed to comensate the power of MBIII. However, have not seen many Arkansas games, but I hear Felix Jones is an animal. Who would you prefer in the draft.

Felix Jones ..... I think the kid is gonna be special.

[theogt]

Of the two, definitely Felix. Not even close.

[BlueStar II]

Chris Johnson-rb-East Carolina-if he runs a 4.29 forty like he thinks he can...he may be drafted before Dallas picks.
Johnson can return kickoffs and punts.
This guy would be the perfect compliment to Barber.
Once the combine and individual workouts are in, Johnson will sky-rocket up draft boards.
http://www.nfldraftdog.com/images/Chris%20Johnson,%20RB,%20East%20Carolina.jpg

If he does that well at the combine, I agree, he will move up the boards very quickly.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Felix Jones.

If he had stayed in school another year he'd be a top-5 pick in the '09 draft.

I think he's the most complete back in this draft.

I have to disagree with this. He has heart there is no question but the 3 games I saw him in this past season he just wasnt very effective between the tackles. He would give it his all no question but if he couldnt make you miss he went down and didnt get much push.

Hes a good back and has vision, speed, moves and heart but if its 3rd and 2 Im subbing him out or calling a pass play.

[IndianaCowboyFan]

Just goes to show you how deep this RB class is that a player like Slaton could be forgotten or viewed as an after thought. If we go CB and Wr w/ our first 2 picks, I'd be very happy w/ Slaton in the second.

I have thought this all along. The best value for RB may just be in the second and third.

[ABQCOWBOY]

I believe that Slaton will be there later then even the 2nd round. Not that he doesn't have that kind of talent. Just that this is such a deep draft at the position that superior talent is going to fall. I am totally against taking a RB in the 1st unless it's McFadden or Stewart and then, not if we have to move to very far up to do it. Just don't believe in taking RBs in the first unless they have a very good chance of being special.

[Mansta54]

Give me Slaton

Slaton is SOFT. We don't want him..

[CrazyCowboy]

Felix is the cheapest option for sure

[Tyronosaurus77]

I wouldnt be upset if held off till the 2nd round to select our RB. Hopefully we can find the right guy and go after him at the picks that we have.

I say if Stewart or Mendenhall is there at 22 we should take one of them but if not we could wait until the second and possibly get Smith maybe Charles. Hart looked read nice today at the Allstar thing on espn and Im looking forward to seeing how all of them do at the combine later this month. Im also eager to see Ray Rice I like the size of these RB coming out this year, I hope we choose the right one.

[Bizwah]

Arkansas runs a strange system. It'll be difficult to gauge how he'll transfer to the NFL.

Same with Mendenhall....his team ran a lot of option plays. Nebraska backs were tough to evaluate.

I haven't seen much of Johnson at all. I'm usually very wary of guys like him. Guys that aren't particularly productive until their last year.....guys that shoot up the draft boards due to their forty time.

I remember reading that Johnson's coaches were considering moving him to WR. HUGE flag there. Will he be tough enough between the tackles?

[ThreeSportStar80]

James Mendenhall is the better of the two, he can run over, around and make folks miss! He's got nice hands as well, I'd be ecstatic if Dallas drafted him!

[batman36]

Felix Jones. He grew up in my uncles neighborhood in Tulsa, OK. Very humble and works hard. He doesn't appear to be concerned about the ancillary things many of the players of today covet. I was around him a lot as he grew up, and when he subsequently became a man. He's from a good family, too.

[ThreeSportStar80]

Slaton is SOFT. We don't want him..

I agree 100%....

[silverbear]

I was watching the All Star skills competion on ESPN and didn't relialize the guns on Mendenhall. I watched quite a few Illini games and he would make an excellent RB with Barber. Excellent hands and speed to comensate the power of MBIII. However, have not seen many Arkansas games, but I hear Felix Jones is an animal. Who would you prefer in the draft.

I think both are fine backs, and would rate their chances of being successful pros about equal...

But they are decidely different backs, and Jones fits what the Cowboys need better than Mendenhall does... Mendenhall is similar to Barber, and I think he could handle 300-350 carries a year... Jones is better suited to operating in a RB rotation, sharing the carries with a back like Barber...

Since the Boys are apparently set on keeping Barber around, what we should be looking for is a RB that offers a different dimension... Barber is a pounder, a slasher, the "thunder"... so what the Boys need to pair with him is a guy with the outside speed, a guy who can be dangerous as a receiver, the "lightning"...

Mendenhall is thunder, Jones is lightning...

However, if you want lightning, you have Chris Johnson and Jamaal Charles, one of whom will still likely be on the board when the Boys draft in the second round, while Jones would almost certainly cost the Boys one of their first round picks... I think that Johnson and Charles have the potential to be very good pros, too...

[silverbear]

I wouldn't mind either of those. I think Felix is one of the fastest backs in the country tho. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. I'd do the research but I don't know of any reliable sources. You can't trust the colleges' websites. :D


The two fastest in this draft will likely be Chris Johnson and Jamaal Charles, but D-Mac and Felix won't be far off their times... I think you're being pretty accurate when you say that Jones will be one of the fastest backs in this draft...

[silverbear]

I don't think we have a shot at Mendenhal, but I am certain we take the best back available at our pick, and I hope we get the Aldridge kid from Houston later on in the draft.

Aldridge will have to move to WR in the NFL, just wait and see...

[silverbear]

I have to disagree with this. He has heart there is no question but the 3 games I saw him in this past season he just wasnt very effective between the tackles. He would give it his all no question but if he couldnt make you miss he went down and didnt get much push.

Hes a good back and has vision, speed, moves and heart but if its 3rd and 2 Im subbing him out or calling a pass play.

I don't think that Felix will ever be effective running between the tackles... in that regard, he's kind of a more talented Tyson Thompson...

OK, a much more talented Tyson Thompson... LOL...

[Big Dakota]

The thing about Felix that I've seen in the dozen or so games I've seen him in is he bounces it outside way too much. He tries to run between the TKLS, but his first instinct is to bounce it outside. You can't make a living in the NFL when your first move is to bounce outside. He does try and run inside, but as SB said, he's not great at it like DMac is. DMac is a brute, despite is "skinny calves" his strength is undeniable. Where as Jones just doesn't have the pure power of DMac. I like Felix A LOT as a change of pace back and I'm all for taking him, but he has definite limitations, just like Julius Jones.

[ThreeSportStar80]

If Mendenhall is there you take him!

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I think both are fine backs, and would rate their chances of being successful pros about equal...

But they are decidely different backs, and Jones fits what the Cowboys need better than Mendenhall does... Mendenhall is similar to Barber, and I think he could handle 300-350 carries a year... Jones is better suited to operating in a RB rotation, sharing the carries with a back like Barber...

Since the Boys are apparently set on keeping Barber around, what we should be looking for is a RB that offers a different dimension... Barber is a pounder, a slasher, the "thunder"... so what the Boys need to pair with him is a guy with the outside speed, a guy who can be dangerous as a receiver, the "lightning"...

Mendenhall is thunder, Jones is lightning...

However, if you want lightning, you have Chris Johnson and Jamaal Charles, one of whom will still likely be on the board when the Boys draft in the second round, while Jones would almost certainly cost the Boys one of their first round picks... I think that Johnson and Charles have the potential to be very good pros, too...

i agree with this. i think that with RBs you have to wait and see what drops to you and only take them if one drops to you. RBs are just such a risky venture.

If jones falls to 28 sure and if Stewart drops to 22 sure but otherwise go for a CB or a WR which are less risky positions to draft and there are backs to be had in the second.

i used to be for trading up a bit to get Stewart but after seeing the RB bust rate and the high attrition rate no thanks.

[starfrombirth]

Chris Johnson-rb-East Carolina-if he runs a 4.29 forty like he thinks he can...he may be drafted before Dallas picks.
Johnson can return kickoffs and punts.
This guy would be the perfect compliment to Barber.
Once the combine and individual workouts are in, Johnson will sky-rocket up draft boards.
http://www.nfldraftdog.com/images/Chris%20Johnson,%20RB,%20East%20Carolina.jpg

I've read that he doesn't like to do the little things tho like block, play hurt, hold on to the football. :eek:

[JerryFan]

Felix Jones.

If he had stayed in school another year he'd be a top-5 pick in the '09 draft.

I think he's the most complete back in this draft.

Mendenhall would have been a better pick next year IMO over Felix Jones. Remember 'Shard is just a Jr. also and the complete package. 'Shard all the way baby!!!!!!!!!!!!

[starfrombirth]

James Mendenhall is the better of the two, he can run over, around and make folks miss! He's got nice hands as well, I'd be ecstatic if Dallas drafted him!

Actually Charles had really good hands at that competition. And he is outright fast as well. If we got him in the 2nd or 3rd I would consider that a great pick. Not good, great! Still my druthers rating goes like this:

McFadden - DO NOT trade up to get him.

Stewart - Good, not great speed but has good vision and can't be brought down with an arm tackle.

Mendenhall - See above. Also has real good hands.

Jones - Blazing fast with great cutback abililty. As someone said earlier not great between the tackles but I think that had more to do with Arkansas' line than ability. There were NO inside holes this year.

Johnson - Possibly the fastest back in the country but has issues as I stated earlier.

Slaton - Great speed but he is a tiny back. I'm afraid he would break in half in the NFL. Yes I know Warrick Dunn was tiny as well, but I believe he is the exception to the rule and he was tackled easily as well (if you could get your hands on him :) )

[JerryFan]

I think both are fine backs, and would rate their chances of being successful pros about equal...

But they are decidely different backs, and Jones fits what the Cowboys need better than Mendenhall does... Mendenhall is similar to Barber, and I think he could handle 300-350 carries a year... Jones is better suited to operating in a RB rotation, sharing the carries with a back like Barber...

Since the Boys are apparently set on keeping Barber around, what we should be looking for is a RB that offers a different dimension... Barber is a pounder, a slasher, the "thunder"... so what the Boys need to pair with him is a guy with the outside speed, a guy who can be dangerous as a receiver, the "lightning"...

Mendenhall is thunder, Jones is lightning...

However, if you want lightning, you have Chris Johnson and Jamaal Charles, one of whom will still likely be on the board when the Boys draft in the second round, while Jones would almost certainly cost the Boys one of their first round picks... I think that Johnson and Charles have the potential to be very good pros, too...


I disagree with your description of 'Shard. I'm an Illini fan and have watched 'Shard for awhile and to me he isn't really anything much like Barber. He's bigger and faster for sure and strength is prolly a toss up. 'Shard has the breakaway speed JJ does, but superb vision, tackle breaking, and pass catching abilities. The only real thing 'Shard needs to get better at is blocking because he didn't have to do much of it at Illinois. 'Shard is going to be a monster in this league and I hope he does it for the Cowboys.

[Sarge]

Just goes to show you how deep this RB class is that a player like Slaton could be forgotten or viewed as an after thought. .

PRECISELY the reason it would be ill-advised to move up to grab McFadden.

[Sarge]

I'd be happy with either one - maybe Jones by a tad. It's close IMO.

[Cowboy Junkie]

What about Ray Rice in round 2. Very underrated back who reminds me of Emmitt would be a steal in round 2. rushed for over 2000 yards last year with 24 TDs

[Cowboy Junkie]

another back I like is Kevin Smith out of Central Florida...
AS good as Mcfadden may be there is no need to trade up for him too many good backs in this years draft and a few of these guys could be every bit as good a NFL player as Mcfadden.

[BraveHeartFan]

Actually I'd be happy with either or. They're both fantastic and bring to the table what we need them to bring to the table.

[cobra]

What about Ray Rice in round 2. Very underrated back who reminds me of Emmitt would be a steal in round 2. rushed for over 2000 yards last year with 24 TDs

Ray Rice should only be drafted if a team is going to make a workhorse out him.

Like Emmitt was his whole career, he has to have a lot of carries to be successful. You can't him 15-20 carries a game and get anything out of him. He has to wear the other team down.

We don't need a back like that. We have Barber, and if we take a back, we need on that will split carries with him. Likely, the team is going to want a back which present a different problem to defenses. So instead of a pounder (which is what Rice is), you probably want someone who is speed juker. Rice is a slow plodder like Emmitt and not a good compliment for Marion.

[btcutter]

Of the two I think Mendenhall has the look of a more complete back. Felix reminds me a little of Kevin Jones.
I also prefer someone who has carried the load and CAN carry the load.
Personally, I almost feel like trading down from 1st into 2nd would give us better value pick at running back.
Ray Rice is probably the most consistent performer. I like that he has done it two years in a role without much supporting cast too. He'll be around in the 2nd.....maybe even early 3rd. Just depends on his combine numbers. Every year, someone shoots up the board because of combine numbers.

[Natedawg44]

Honestly there are going to be about 10 rookie Running backs I would be happier with than Julius. I would like it if we came out of the draft with 2 running backs. The value is really going to be in the 3rd and 4th round. You could see players like Slaton, Hart, Rice, Choice and Forte there that in any other year would have no business being that late.

[IlliniNation]

I'd take Mendenhall.

[the_h0wey]

Mendenhall can run people over and has break away speed. To me Jones seems more like a scat back. However, I think Jerry will go with the Arkansas boy.