Dorsett on Julius

[rcaldw]

Saw Dorsett on 4 Quarters yesterday and he said something interesting about Julius Jones. In fact, Dorsett even prefaced it by saying "Julius if you see this", and then he said, that Jones is running too tentative worried about fumbling. Said he keeps two hands (arms) on the ball too much, needs to get back to just instinctive, fluid running. He said that he knows Parcells hates for backs to put the ball on the ground, and that running backs hate it just as much, but implied that Parcell's obsession with it has Julius not running as fluid in traffic.

[jksmith269]

Good observation IMO

[Sportsbabe]

I saw the piece. It was great ... especially coming from somebody who knows a thing or two about Cowboys running backs. He also said Julius is taking too much of the load (which Bill is trying to correct).

[rcaldw]

I saw the piece. It was great ... especially coming from somebody who knows a thing or two about Cowboys running backs. He also said Julius is taking too much of the load (which Bill is trying to correct).

It was a great piece, and man I hope I look as good as Dorsett when I'm 51 years old. The guy looks like he could still play. I asked my 12 year old son, how old do you think he looks? He said 38, and I would agree with that. No way he looks 51.

[lurkercowboy]

Dorsett fumbled as much as any back, but he did not deserve his reputation as a fumbler.

[rcaldw]

Dorsett might be the most underrated of the great backs of NFL history. I personally think that an argument could be made for him as the greatest pure runner the NFL has ever seen. I know that is high praise, and certainly debatable, but I really believe it. I slowed down and reran his 99 yard TD footage, and at one point he was surrounded by 4 Vikings players, SURROUNDED.

Tony hit the next gear, cut to the right and the rest was history.

[BlueStar II]

I agree with Dorsett's observation/impression as well.

[hipfake08]

I was wondering why he was not taking other teams for major yards this year.

[THEHEREAFTER]

I think everyone is overreacting to 93, 81 and 85 yard games. Unfortunately we've been placed in come from behind situations in all three games. I think this has a lot to do with JJ's results so far. I think he'll be just fine. Everyone remembers the Seattle/NYG/and Bears games from last year.... those types of games will come.. remember he had some modest games last year vs. N.O. and Philly as well.

[BEASToftheEAST]

No one scared defenders more than Dorsett did in his day. I still have a book about the All-Pro players from like 1984-85, and I'll never forget the way that Harry Carson said that Dorsett was the one player who scared him. He said at any time he could take it all the way, so it didn't matter how well you contained him early. And he was a very good receiver, before the West Coast came around...

[ghosttown cowboy]

I think JJ has had at least 60 yrds worth of runs called back because of penalties. He is fine. :disseags:

[Mash]

The whole team is playing tentative.....there scared....once the reins were pulled off the offence....the players breathed easier....

I think alot of players on this team....seemed more worried about making a mistake then actually just playing the game and having fun.

[JeffInDC]

Dorsett might be the most underrated of the great backs of NFL history. I personally think that an argument could be made for him as the greatest pure runner the NFL has ever seen. I know that is high praise, and certainly debatable, but I really believe it. I slowed down and reran his 99 yard TD footage, and at one point he was surrounded by 4 Vikings players, SURROUNDED.

Tony hit the next gear, cut to the right and the rest was history.

You forgot to mention the one aspect of that play that made even more spectacular: Dallas had 10 men on the field. I'll never forget Gifford and Co. talking about how amazed they were that he basically ran 99 yard w/ no help.

[stiletto]

Another example of Parcells over-coaching and turning the players into Robots... it worked in the 80's but Im really not sure it does today.

[CowboyChris]

Dorsett fumbled as much as any back, but he did not deserve his reputation as a fumbler.


since when was TD known as a fumbler? ive never heard anyone term him as one.

[MinnesotaCowboy]

I had the privilege to see that game here in Minnesota........one of our suppliers had a company box on the 35 yd line and I was invited as they knew I was a devout Cowboy fan. What a run that was.....there were about 12 of us in the box and all of them but me were Viking fans. I don't think they appreciated all the screaming and hollering I did after that run. Over the years I got to see a lot of Cowboy games in that same box. The guy who got me in all those years was named Babinez and he had brother who played LB for the Cowboys although I can't remember what year and I am too damn lazy to look it up. :)

[Sitting Bull]

I agree that JJ appears very focused on holding on to the ball, but he was like that last year as well. In that famous Thanksgiving Day run against the Bears, he's 20-yards downfield before he uncovers the ball. I think it has a little to do with Parcells' emphasis on zero negative yardage plays and a lot to do with the emphasis our opponents have placed on stopping him. From what I've seen, Oakland can't defend their flats (or much else in the passing game). Crazy as it sounds, I think our RBs could catch 10 balls out of the backfield this week.

[CaptainAmerica]

Sorry guys, I love Dorsett as much as anyone, ( I still have the autographed SI cover with him on it, titled "Man On The Run"), but TD ain't the guy to be listening to when it comes to protecting the ball.

TD was a fumbler, plain and simple. His other qualities were so good that coaches had to live with that aspect of his game. But you could count on TD fumbling. In fact my dad used to drive me crazy ragging on me about how TD was sure to give up a fumble every game or two .

[rcaldw]

Sorry guys, I love Dorsett as much as anyone, ( I still have the autographed SI cover with him on it, titled "Man On The Run"), but TD ain't the guy to be listening to when it comes to protecting the ball.

TD was a fumbler, plain and simple. His other qualities were so good that coaches had to live with that aspect of his game. But you could count on TD fumbling. In fact my dad used to drive me crazy ragging on me about how TD was sure to give up a fumble every game or two .

Captain, I think that was Tony's point. He wasn't commenting on how to protect the football. His comments were on how Julius can be the best runner he can be, and that he is SO focused on protecting the football, he is limiting his fluidity in his running ability.

Tony certainly fumbled his share (though he cut down on this late in his career), but his highest season was 12 on 290 carries or about once every 25 carries. That was 1978, and we fared pretty well with him at the RB spot ;)

[Sarge]

Dorsett might be the most underrated of the great backs of NFL history. I personally think that an argument could be made for him as the greatest pure runner the NFL has ever seen. .

That would belong to Eric Dickerson.

[rcaldw]

That would belong to Eric Dickerson.

Sarge, I loved Dickerson too (not as much as Dorsett) but you are right about one thing, you almost NEVER hear him mentioned in the discussion of all time greatest, and I think he was better than most of the guys regularly mentioned.

[fiveandcounting]

Dorsett fumbled as much as any back, but he did not deserve his reputation as a fumbler.


not as much as Calvin Hill

[fiveandcounting]

Sarge, I loved Dickerson too (not as much as Dorsett) but you are right about one thing, you almost NEVER hear him mentioned in the discussion of all time greatest, and I think he was better than most of the guys regularly mentioned.


I agree

[ConcordCowboy]

Dorsett might be the most underrated of the great backs of NFL history. I personally think that an argument could be made for him as the greatest pure runner the NFL has ever seen. I know that is high praise, and certainly debatable, but I really believe it. I slowed down and reran his 99 yard TD footage, and at one point he was surrounded by 4 Vikings players, SURROUNDED.

Tony hit the next gear, cut to the right and the rest was history.


I agree....I loved to watch him run!

[BARRYRAY]

I know we haven't had a good screen since he left, although it showed some signs of life last week on one drive down by the goal line/red zone...

[CaptainAmerica]

Captain, I think that was Tony's point. He wasn't commenting on how to protect the football. His comments were on how Julius can be the best runner he can be, and that he is SO focused on protecting the football, he is limiting his fluidity in his running ability.

Tony certainly fumbled his share (though he cut down on this late in his career), but his highest season was 12 on 290 carries or about once every 25 carries. That was 1978, and we fared pretty well with him at the RB spot ;)

Oh I know. I understand TD's point. But TD isn't coaching JJ and it isn't TD that JJ has to face when he goes to the sidelines, it's Parcells. :)

You can bet that the way JJ is carrying the ball in traffic is the way he has been coached to carry the ball and JJ is going to do what the coach says to do.

[THUMPER]

Here are some of the all-time greats' fumble percentages...


Jim Brown 57/2650 = 2.15%
Gale Sayers 34/1222 = 2.78%
O.J. Simpson 62/2640 = 2.35%
John Riggins 58/3166 = 1.83%
Franco Harris 90/3266 = 2.76%
Walter Payton 86/4347 = 1.98%
Dorsett 90/3334 = 2.70%
Earl Campbell 43/2308 = 1.87%
Ottis Anderson 55/2621 = 2.10%
Billy Sims 40-1317 = 3.04%
Eric Dickerson 71/2652 = 2.68%

That's all I have in front of me (from a 1989 book) but it gives a comparison of some of the best of all time and Dorsett isn't bad compared with the others. Riggins was the best of this group while Sims was the worst.

[rcaldw]

Oh I know. I understand TD's point. But TD isn't coaching JJ and it isn't TD that JJ has to face when he goes to the sidelines, it's Parcells. :)

You can bet that the way JJ is carrying the ball in traffic is the way he has been coached to carry the ball and JJ is going to do what the coach says to do.

Didn't Tony ALWAYS do what the coach told him??? He only had to face Landry :)

[Hollywood Henderson]

We had a good screen last week!

I agree rcaldw, I also thought Dorsett was the best prue RB I have ever seen...

JJ has been hampered by some average Oline play so far and a few untimely flags...

[rcaldw]

Here are some of the all-time greats' fumble percentages...


Jim Brown 57/2650 = 2.15%
Gale Sayers 34/1222 = 2.78%
O.J. Simpson 62/2640 = 2.35%
John Riggins 58/3166 = 1.83%
Franco Harris 90/3266 = 2.76%
Walter Payton 86/4347 = 1.98%
Dorsett 90/3334 = 2.70%
Earl Campbell 43/2308 = 1.87%
Ottis Anderson 55/2621 = 2.10%
Billy Sims 40-1317 = 3.04%
Eric Dickerson 71/2652 = 2.68%

That's all I have in front of me (from a 1989 book) but it gives a comparison of some of the best of all time and Dorsett isn't bad compared with the others. Riggins was the best of this group while Sims was the worst.


Outstanding stats Thumper, and when the 2+ percent crowd consists of:

Sayers
Simpson
Jim Brown
Dickerson
Dorsett
Sims
Harris
and might as well say Payton (1.98)

I think it makes Tony's point. If over concern about not fumbling effects your ability to run the same, get to running.

[ScottCase]

Dorsett should know about fumbling - he was a big time cougherupper IE the "Catch" game....Tony also was fond of running outta bounds.....as well as complaining about his touches in a game....

I liked TonyD - but he's not the best role model...

[diehard2294]

Saw Dorsett on 4 Quarters yesterday and he said something interesting about Julius Jones. In fact, Dorsett even prefaced it by saying "Julius if you see this", and then he said, that Jones is running too tentative worried about fumbling. Said he keeps two hands (arms) on the ball too much, needs to get back to just instinctive, fluid running. He said that he knows Parcells hates for backs to put the ball on the ground, and that running backs hate it just as much, but implied that Parcell's obsession with it has Julius not running as fluid in traffic.I have been saying this all along about 2 hands on the ball,he does it when he hits the second tier and someone is coming up on him. He then takes away his balance and his ability to cut hard. He is not the same runner so far this year

[diehard2294]

I think everyone is overreacting to 93, 81 and 85 yard games. Unfortunately we've been placed in come from behind situations in all three games. I think this has a lot to do with JJ's results so far. I think he'll be just fine. Everyone remembers the Seattle/NYG/and Bears games from last year.... those types of games will come.. remember he had some modest games last year vs. N.O. and Philly as well.yes but this is not about numbers ,rather his running style so far. If you take a modest game from last year and compare it to say last weeks game, I believe you would see the difference

[rcaldw]

Dorsett should know about fumbling - he was a big time cougherupper IE the "Catch" game....Tony also was fond of running outta bounds.....as well as complaining about his touches in a game....

I liked TonyD - but he's not the best role model...

You either have to BE Scott Case, or a relative, or a school mate, or something. ;), or do you just share the same name? ;)

[burmafrd]

I hope BP will tell JJ that they need his explosiveness more and to loosen up some.


























I Know.












Pigs will fly first.














Oh,well.

[joseephuss]

It was a great piece, and man I hope I look as good as Dorsett when I'm 51 years old. The guy looks like he could still play. I asked my 12 year old son, how old do you think he looks? He said 38, and I would agree with that. No way he looks 51.

I agree. Especially compared to Earl Campbell who I believe is a year younger. I ran into Earl about 4 years ago when I ate at his restaurant(I think it is now closed). He looked old and beat up.


Julius did fumble the ball when he had it covered with both arms, so I hope he does focus on not coughing it up.

I am happy with his production so far. There haven't always been open holes and when there are, he bursts through them. There is just a difference in him as the starting running back compared to where Dallas was last year with Eddie George and the year before with Hambrick or heck Emmitt's last couple of seasons. The stats may look similar right now as far as yards per carry, but you can just tell that defenses know hey have to do whatever they can to slow down the Cowboys running game. I feel like he can burst through for a long gain where as I didn't feel that at all the last several years.

[dwmyers]

I think everyone is overreacting to 93, 81 and 85 yard games. Unfortunately we've been placed in come from behind situations in all three games. I think this has a lot to do with JJ's results so far. I think he'll be just fine. Everyone remembers the Seattle/NYG/and Bears games from last year.... those types of games will come.. remember he had some modest games last year vs. N.O. and Philly as well.

85 x 16 = 1360 yards, which would be a huge improvement over the last couple years.

[BlueWave]

I think everyone is overreacting to 93, 81 and 85 yard games. Unfortunately we've been placed in come from behind situations in all three games. I think this has a lot to do with JJ's results so far. I think he'll be just fine. Everyone remembers the Seattle/NYG/and Bears games from last year.... those types of games will come.. remember he had some modest games last year vs. N.O. and Philly as well.

It's not just the end yardage, he simply does not look anything like he did last season. He's not as quick and does not have the same shiftyness he had last season. Everything about the way he runs is no where near what it was last season. He simply looks like an average NFL starting RB to this point. Last season, he looked like a top five back.

I didn't realize just how average Jones looked until I saw Tomlinson play right after him. Worlds apart. Simply worlds apart. Last seasons Jones was closer, but this season, Tomlinson is in another league.

I just don't know what happened but hopefully he finds it again.

[burmafrd]

It could be the extra weight- bulked up too much. If that is the case, he can lose it- slim down. If it is the 2 hand thing- then he can revert back to normal- if BP will cut him some slack. If it is the business about following blocks religiously and not taking chances- then that is also BP's call. Nothing that cannot be fixed.

[Chuck 54]

That would belong to Eric Dickerson.
I hated the guy I'll name, Sarge, and his career wasn't as long as some, but at his peak, for about 3-4 years, I don't think anyone could touch Earl Campbell....speed, power, a nice side step, a great spin move, and he could carry 3-4 guys down the field on his back....he had some of the most incredible runs I've seen.

[goshan]

The facts are this:

1. Jones does not look as elusive this year.
2. He is protecting the ball with two hands more than last year.
3. He is heavier than last year.

Not sure if #1 is due to 2 or 3 or a little of both, but I would like to see Parcells talk to him about #2 and see if he looks a little quicker.

[burmafrd]

BP sometimes gets a little to anal- He should have left JJ alone- I see nothing that BP has told him to do this year that makes up for the loss of the explosion he was capable of last year. That BS about negative plays- that was almost always the fault of lousy blocking or very good D plays- a bare handfull were JJ's fault.

[davidyee]

That would belong to Eric Dickerson.

...Dickerson looked like he ran very upright. Dorsett has a fluidity in his motion that I always thought was sweet to watch. He was smooth in the hips.

[jazzcat22]

Dorsett might be the most underrated of the great backs of NFL history. I personally think that an argument could be made for him as the greatest pure runner the NFL has ever seen. I know that is high praise, and certainly debatable, but I really believe it. I slowed down and reran his 99 yard TD footage, and at one point he was surrounded by 4 Vikings players, SURROUNDED.

Tony hit the next gear, cut to the right and the rest was history.

Very True
Landry actually held TD back (according to TD), not giving him more carries, worreid about his durability. So Was Landry right, and it prolonged his career, or would TD have had better numbers, and Emmitt would have been chasing his record instead of Walter's.

[Drederick Tatum]

Captain, I think that was Tony's point. He wasn't commenting on how to protect the football. His comments were on how Julius can be the best runner he can be, and that he is SO focused on protecting the football, he is limiting his fluidity in his running ability.

Tony certainly fumbled his share (though he cut down on this late in his career), but his highest season was 12 on 290 carries or about once every 25 carries. That was 1978, and we fared pretty well with him at the RB spot ;)


This is the point, not that Julius should think about not fumbling less, but what are the other things he might do to become a better runner.

One of Emmitts secrets to success was that he used his free (non ball carrying hand) as a club to knock down arm tackles, for balance, and to pump for speed. Try running 20 yard with your arms folded, then with one arm pumping, and then with both arms pumping. You will see a dramatic improvement in your ability to run faster and with more balance when you are running with natural motion (physically and mentally) Of course you have to protect the ball in traffic, and Emmitts great vision gave him the ability to sense when he was through traffic.

With that being said, obviously Julius knows how to run and has been doing it quite well for a while know. But as I believe Tony was trying to point out (from experience and observation) there are some changes that could be made to make Julius even better.

Emmitt once said that in the beginnig of his career that 90% of his success on the field was due to his physical abilities and 10% was how he applied the mental aspects of the game. He went on to say that those percentage totally flipped towards the end of his career. I suspect the same is probably true with Julius.

[ravidubey]

Tony D. technically fumbled more than average, but he was so dangerous he was more than worth it. TD didn't average too many carries per game (Landry was smart), and so his fumbling seemed worse than it was. Put it this way, he might have fumbled as much as Emmitt did with just 2/3 the carries of Emmitt, but he did more with 2 carries than Emmitt could with 3 so it evened out. Add to this that he scared defenses and was reasonably durable. He wasn't nearly the complete back and touchdown machine Emmitt was though.

[rcaldw]

Tony D. technically fumbled more than average, but he was so dangerous he was more than worth it. TD didn't average too many carries per game (Landry was smart), and so his fumbling seemed worse than it was. Put it this way, he might have fumbled as much as Emmitt did with just 2/3 the carries of Emmitt, but he did more with 2 carries than Emmitt could with 3 so it evened out. Add to this that he scared defenses and was reasonably durable. He wasn't nearly the complete back and touchdown machine Emmitt was though.

Emmitt was a great back, but I would take Tony D over Emmitt Smith every day. But that is just me, and that is what makes running back debates fun.

[DallasDomination]

Emmitt was a great back, but I would take Tony D over Emmitt Smith every day. But that is just me, and that is what makes running back debates fun.

I would have to agree.