Thoughts on Julius

[BlueWave]

I have sort of noticed that Julius just doesn't seem to be running as well so far this season. Now, I understand we have played two very good defensive teams, but he almost looks like he is either hurt, or always spent. I especially noticed it on the close up shots in last nights game. It seemed like after every run, he got up like something wasn't right. He appeared either very tired or hurting. Also, he does not seem to have that burst he had last season yet. He really has not even come close to breaking a long run.

Anyone else have similar thoughts?

[Portland Fanatic]

I have sort of noticed that Julius just doesn't seem to be running as well so far this season. Now, I understand we have played two very good defensive teams, but he almost looks like he is either hurt, or always spent. I especially noticed it on the close up shots in last nights game. It seemed like after every run, he got up like something wasn't right. He appeared either very tired or hurting. Also, he does not seem to have that burst he had last season yet. He really has not even come close to breaking a long run.

Anyone else have similar thoughts?

You run into a brick wall over and over again and then tell me how you feel :laugh1:

[JDSmith]

We have played two of the best run defenses in the league and Julius is on pace for 1400 rushing yards. When we face some lesser defenses he's going to have a very legit chance to make the 1700 yard goal he set for himself. I think that somewhere in the offseason people really started getting some unrealistic expectations of Julius. He looked every bit as quick as Clinto Portis yesterday and Ladainian Tomlinson last week, what more do you really want?

[jimmy40]

I have sort of noticed that Julius just doesn't seem to be running as well so far this season. Now, I understand we have played two very good defensive teams, but he almost looks like he is either hurt, or always spent. I especially noticed it on the close up shots in last nights game. It seemed like after every run, he got up like something wasn't right. He appeared either very tired or hurting. Also, he does not seem to have that burst he had last season yet. He really has not even come close to breaking a long run.

Anyone else have similar thoughts?Last year his facial expressions looked like he was dying after every tackle. I think that's just the way he is. The kid just went up against a very good defense last night.

[StylisticS]

He looked every bit as quick as Clinto Portis yesterday and Ladainian Tomlinson last week, what more do you really want?

Not to mention that he has outrushed both players in both games.

[Champsheart]

I have sort of noticed that Julius just doesn't seem to be running as well so far this season. Now, I understand we have played two very good defensive teams, but he almost looks like he is either hurt, or always spent. I especially noticed it on the close up shots in last nights game. It seemed like after every run, he got up like something wasn't right. He appeared either very tired or hurting. Also, he does not seem to have that burst he had last season yet. He really has not even come close to breaking a long run.

Anyone else have similar thoughts?

You know I do agree somewhat. I do not think there is anything to when he gets up things do not look right. He was like that last year to.

I am a huge Julius supporter, but I do think he is running a little different. I think a lot has to do with the run defenses, and it is very tuff sleding in their.

You are right that burst does not seem as evident so far this year, but honestly he really has not had much of a chance to display it, but still he is not looking the same.

With this being said he is still 6th in the NFL in Rushing Yards.

I am not worried though, once the holes start opening up a little bigger we will see that great burst. I think he has just had a hard time getting a rythm going.

[JDSmith]

Considering that he's 6th in the NFL at this point, and the defenses we've faced so far, I think he's got a legit chance to win the rushing title. I kid you not.

[Etonicas]

Even last year, he always got up with a grimace on his face after a run. It scares the crap out of me each time, too.

[DipChit]

You know I do agree somewhat. I do not think there is anything to when he gets up things do not look right. He was like that last year to.

I am a huge Julius supporter, but I do think he is running a little different. I think a lot has to do with the run defenses, and it is very tuff sleding in their.

You are right that burst does not seem as evident so far this year, but honestly he really has not had much of a chance to display it, but still he is not looking the same.

With this being said he is still 6th in the NFL in Rushing Yards.

I am not worried though, once the holes start opening up a little bigger we will see that great burst. I think he has just had a hard time getting a rythm going.

Thats about how I see it too. I'm not worried about it. Maybe it was the oppressive heat last night or maybe he thought it'd be a little "easier" than it's been (the Skins were some hard hittin mo fo's). But either way I think he'll be fine.

Btw.. did he get what he needed last night to reach 1000 for his first 10 starts? I kinda lost track of all that during the defensive meltdown. ;)

[rathalarge]

Remember that he had fresh legs late in the season because of the injury. May have some training camp fatigue for a few games.

[burmafrd]

He might just have run up against the two other best Run D's in the NFL outside of our own- and he has 174 yds in two games- that averages out to 87 yds per game. Extrapolate that for 16 games and you get 1392 yds. And just how many of his good runs have been called back the last 2 games? At least 3 that I can remember, and He would have had over 100 in both games. Not to mention that he is getting more touches in the passing game as well. He should get over 100 vs SF and Oak. If those D's keep trying to shut him down and let the passing game go, as both SD and Was did, we will still be racking up the yds. Its up to us to get it in the end zone. Its just a matter of time before he breaks off some big runs.

[JDSmith]

He might just have run up against the two other best Run D's in the NFL outside of our own- and he has 174 yds in two games- that averages out to 87 yds per game. Extrapolate that for 16 games and you get 1392 yds. And just how many of his good runs have been called back the last 2 games? At least 3 that I can remember, and He would have had over 100 in both games. Not to mention that he is getting more touches in the passing game as well. He should get over 100 vs SF and Oak. If those D's keep trying to shut him down and let the passing game go, as both SD and Was did, we will still be racking up the yds. Its up to us to get it in the end zone. Its just a matter of time before he breaks off some big runs.

I agree and I think he's really looking good to make his goal of 1700 yards on the season. I think people are losing site of the big picture and forgetting about the defenses he just faced.

[Paniolo22]

He sure had a burst on a couple of those runs, even in the 4th qtr. If there is a hole, I think it excites him (like any man :)).

[Jimz31]

Let's not forget that blocking plays...oh, just a LITTLE bit of a part in this....don't you think?

Campbell said today that he screwed up a blocking assignment that cost him yards....let's also not forget that he had 2 nice runs negated by questionable calls.

[Cowboy4ever]

What i like about jj is this, he runs downhill. He is not a barry sanders type that dances around alot to make people miss, he just lowers the boom on them. He runs alot like Emmitt did. He has that burst when he needs it but when u get the ball , look up and nothing but a wall in front of you, do u really want to accelerate into it?? The Oline gives him a crease and boom, hes thru it for 6-7 yds, that happened a few times last night against a very solid run d. This first two weeks, are about the best 2 run d's in the league and he showed he can handle them. I was skeptical at first last year, but i am a beliver now, this kid is going to be special.

[John813]

As said above me Julius has faced two really good defenses and has performed quite well considering his line isn't opening a lot of holes. He will start to tear it up against weaker defensive teams and I look for him to have a big game against the 49ers

[BlueStar22]

lets not forget how freaking hot it was yesterday. If any of you have ever been to TX Stadium in September, you know. We've had 100 degree days for like the past week after it had cooled off for almost 2 weeks.

[JonJon]

Even last year, he always got up with a grimace on his face after a run. It scares the crap out of me each time, too.

Maybe he is just ugly? http://deephousepage.com/smilies/nixweiss.gif

[·[A]koN·]

I can notice all the questions, all the incomformity a loss causes. Especially against the redskins. None of this would of been posted if we would of won 13x0.

People doubtin' about JJ's ability? daang, a loss sure turns everything around.

:rolleyes:

[Jay]

I think we're underestimating the Oakland rush defense. They have looked pretty good against New England and Kansas City so far.

[baj1dallas]

What i like about jj is this, he runs downhill. He is not a barry sanders type that dances around alot to make people miss, he just lowers the boom on them. He runs alot like Emmitt did. He has that burst when he needs it but when u get the ball , look up and nothing but a wall in front of you, do u really want to accelerate into it?? The Oline gives him a crease and boom, hes thru it for 6-7 yds, that happened a few times last night against a very solid run d. This first two weeks, are about the best 2 run d's in the league and he showed he can handle them. I was skeptical at first last year, but i am a beliver now, this kid is going to be special.


Wow I am surprised to see somebody else say this. I agree that I love the way JJ runs. He does not dance in the backfield, a la Kevin Jones. He does not tiptoe to the line like rookies will. He hits the holes hard and fast and when he actually gets through he looks really fast.

One thing I have noticed is he seems to be getting tripped up a little bit more often at the line of scrimmage. But that might just be in my mind since I can't remember last year as well as I'd like too (heh or not). If it is true, I would wonder if it is due to carrying a little extra weight or something.

[Ken]

I agree about him looking tired last night, but I attribute that to the heat and getting so many touches. He will be fine.

BTW, Washington was #2 in rush d last year and SD was #3. Not bad.

[Quincy_Will_Return]

Was at the game, Julius had a cramping hamstring the entire first half. Before and after every run he would reach back and grab his left hammy. He wasn't effective in the first half becuase of it, as the stats will show.

[Cowboy4ever]

Was at the game, Julius had a cramping hamstring the entire first half. Before and after every run he would reach back and grab his left hammy. He wasn't effective in the first half becuase of it, as the stats will show.

nothing against what you wrote at all. But i am just shocked that Q. Carter has a fan.

[Boy's fan in Giant land]

nothing against what you wrote at all. But i am just shocked that Q. Carter has a fan.

The guy probably IS Quincy Carter. He is currently unemployed...

[Sarge]

We have played two of the best run defenses in the league and Julius is on pace for 1400 rushing yards.

We have a winner.

[JDSmith]

nothing against what you wrote at all. But i am just shocked that Q. Carter has a fan.

Maybe he misses Quincy Morgan. Or Quincy Jones.

[Qwickdraw]

Maybe he is just ugly? http://deephousepage.com/smilies/nixweiss.gif
lol.
That's funny.

My only real reservation about Julius is his apparent lack of receiving skills.
He did well the other night and I can tell BP is trying to improve his abilities in that department but I have said for a long while now that he lacks ideal receiving ability.
I think you will see some easy dropped passes from him in the upcoming weeks as BP tries to increase his involvement in the passing game.

[Jarv]

He has run for 100 yards each game, just some of the runs have been called back because of penalties (Floz's pancake was a horrible call).

I haven't seen one of the big holes for him yet, you know the ones where you are not touched for 10-15 yards.

With 8 men in the box to stop him, like the ole Emmitt days, when you blow by those folks there is not much left in the way to take it to the house.

Part of the reason may also be that we are playing so concervative in the passing game. If we open up the passing game more run lanes would appear.

[JohnsKey19]

Julius is the only RB to run for more than 60 yds vs the Skins defense in the past 7 games. he finished with 81. The Skins rush defense is no joke. their defensive players and Gregg Williams have a lot of respect for JJ. They said he runs hard and is an extremely tough RB to get on the ground. They're really impressed with his ability to break tackles.

San Diego's defense is just as tough on the run. Yet Julius still managed to give us some semblance of a running game against both teams when usually these teams completely it shut down.

Lets be patient. His #s will even out once we face average defenses or worse. If every RB had to go up against the Skins or SD defense for 16 games, the leading rusher would probably only finish with 1100-1200 yds.

[joseephuss]

lol.
That's funny.

My only real reservation about Julius is his apparent lack of receiving skills.
He did well the other night and I can tell BP is trying to improve his abilities in that department but I have said for a long while now that he lacks ideal receiving ability.
I think you will see some easy dropped passes from him in the upcoming weeks as BP tries to increase his involvement in the passing game.

It would be nice to see Bledsoe give him an easy pass. Drew threw some up there to both Julius and A-train that weren't the easiest to catch. They weren't the most difficult, but both guys had to adjust to the ball. The passing game will come to Julius. Just something he has to continue to work on.

[burmafrd]

One simple thing would help: MORE DRAW PLAYS!!!!

[Justis]

One simple thing would help: MORE DRAW PLAYS!!!!Can I get an amen?

[ratpower]

JJ is fine but it would be nice to have a few more holes to work with...
Also, I still say we should spell him with the A-Train once in awhile to keep him fresh and has the burst...