Most impressive thing about Julius Jones.

[nathanlt]

After seeing the highlight reel of Julius Jones' preseason, I am impressed mostly with his ability to make the first guy miss, AND when he appears to be tackled, he has maneuvered through to either break free, or gain a few yards. Those are the kinds of things Emmitt would do, and though I'm a skeptical person, I am getting excited about the running game in Dallas once again.

[Cajuncowboy]

I think for me the most impressive thing about JJ is the fact that he makes cuts and changes direction without losing mush speed. He reminds me alot of the way Barry Sanders made moves. That first game against Houston that really caushgt my eye then watched for it specifically against the Raiders and it was evident.

Just keep watching the way he cuts tomorrow night. HE just doesn't lose speed on those cuts. Amazing.

[Tricky-22]

Love the sig Cajun.

[DCowboysGal]

It's nice to have a shifty elusive RB for a change after years of E. Smith's and T. Hambrick's battering-ram styles. J. Jones seems to be a capable receiver too so I'm sure he'll be able to play a lot of 3rd downs.

[Eskimo]

I think for me the most impressive thing about JJ is the fact that he makes cuts and changes direction without losing mush speed. He reminds me alot of the way Barry Sanders made moves. That first game against Houston that really caushgt my eye then watched for it specifically against the Raiders and it was evident.

Just keep watching the way he cuts tomorrow night. HE just doesn't lose speed on those cuts. Amazing.

The thing with Sanders was he was an all-or-nothing runner. He didn't just want to break some arm tackles and get a 10-yard gain. He wanted to make the whole front-line whiff so that he could take it the distance. This led to much dancing around in the backfield and many runs for negative or no yardage. Jones seems to be fundamentally a North-South runner with quickness and moves who isn't afraid to get the tough 3 yards up the middle.

[EveryoneElse]

It's hard to say at this point, but if I had to point one thing out it would be his cutting ability, as Cajun pointed out. He makes his cuts and doesn't lose too much coming out of them.

Lets hope he continues to play well.

[jamez25]

It's nice to have a shifty elusive RB for a change after years of E. Smith's and T. Hambrick's battering-ram styles. J. Jones seems to be a capable receiver too so I'm sure he'll be able to play a lot of 3rd downs.
give me those Emmitt years anyday !

[Shaun]

give me those Emmitt years anyday !

I never really thought of Emmitt as a battering ram. He was pretty elusive too. He always seemed to be in the right position.

[LaTunaNostra]

I never really thought of Emmitt as a battering ram. He was pretty elusive too. He always seemed to be in the right position.

From what I've seen of JJ so far, he's in that Emmitt Smith-Curtis Martin spectrum, and falls right in between the two.

[Rack Bauer]

I think for me the most impressive thing about JJ is the fact that he makes cuts and changes direction without losing mush speed. He reminds me alot of the way Barry Sanders made moves. That first game against Houston that really caushgt my eye then watched for it specifically against the Raiders and it was evident.

Just keep watching the way he cuts tomorrow night. HE just doesn't lose speed on those cuts. Amazing.


I was thinking the same thing. The difference is Sanders could make 2 or 3 moves on one play, then make 5 more on the same play. That's what set him apart. A lot of RBs can move like Barry, but they can do it about 2 or 3 times before they get tackled.

[Chuck 54]

It's nice to have a shifty elusive RB for a change after years of E. Smith's and T. Hambrick's battering-ram styles. J. Jones seems to be a capable receiver too so I'm sure he'll be able to play a lot of 3rd downs.
wow...that's some smile...in both pics...lol

[Tio]

From what I've seen of JJ so far, he's in that Emmitt Smith-Curtis Martin spectrum, and falls right in between the two.How did you get that comparison?

[LaTunaNostra]

How did you get that comparison?
Well, Martin is not as powerful as Smith was. I've seen Smith break tackles and carry defenders in a way the more slightly built Martin never could. (don't go by listed weight and height - Martin is not as big as he is listed).

Martin has more moves, cuts finer, and has a slightly more explosive inital burst.

Both have tremendous vision, durability, and patience to wait out blocks.

They have what you could call similar styles, with the diffs I mentioned.

JJ, (and it's too early to tell), might have the greater strength of Smith and the greater cutting ability of Martin.

I am disappointed Bill has not yet (in a game anyway, who knows what is happening in practice) tested JJ to the limit he did with Curtis as a rookie.

I wonder why.

[Tio]

JJ, (and it's too early to tell), might have the greater strength of Smith and the greater cutting ability of Martin.

I am disappointed Bill has not yet (in a game anyway, who knows what is happening in practice) tested JJ to the limit he did with Curtis as a rookie.

I wonder why.Actually he did. Mickey was talking about it after Jones was getting carry after carry.

[followthestar]

It's nice to have a shifty elusive RB for a change after years of E. Smith's and T. Hambrick's battering-ram styles.


are we talking about the same guys? if THAM ever lowered his shoulder into a tackler it was because he was already in the process of falling down...
even emmitt for that matter would take every yard he could get - then step nimbly out of bounds. its why he lasted so long. i'm sure he still runs the same way, but i can't stand watching a cardinals game to find out... :)

[Rack Bauer]

Actually he did. Mickey was talking about it after Jones was getting carry after carry.


He got a lot of carries on that drive, but he didn't get the full Curtis Martin treatment (8 straight carries). I think on that drive JJ carried 8 times out of 11 plays.

[LaTunaNostra]

Actually he did. Mickey was talking about it after Jones was getting carry after carry.
JJ had eight carries in one drive vs Oakland, but only four straight carries. Bill gave Curtis eight straight carries in his first preseason game as a rookie (same drive).

In Martin's rookie year, Bill gave him 368 regular season carries.

I think that was just one less than in 98, the year Bill took the Jets to the AFC Champ Game.

All this talk about 'rb by committee' or 'division of labor" as Tuna calls it, but I have to believe Bill wants out of JJ what he got from CM. The presence of other good backs does not mean he doesn't want to ride one good feature back. Bill had other good runners the same time he had Curtis, Leon Johnson and Richie, for example. But Curtis was the man.

Hard for me to believe that is not what Tuna wants from JJ, if he can get it.

[SuspectCorner]

are we talking about the same guys? if THAM ever lowered his shoulder into a tackler it was because he was already in the process of falling down...
even emmitt for that matter would take every yard he could get - then step nimbly out of bounds. its why he lasted so long. i'm sure he still runs the same way, but i can't stand watching a cardinals game to find out... :)
t. ham didn't mind finishing off a run. he could deal a blow as well as take one. but the guy was a big stiff. he LOOKED like a LB converted to HB. beefy but "mechanical" like a robot. julius jones has the fluid hips to change directions on a dime, fights thru the initial contact well, and seems to "feel" gaps.his durability is the only question mark with me. he just begs you to see more of him. i suspect that, by the time the 'boys unwrap that package, they might have a rookie of the year.

[Rack Bauer]

t. ham didn't mind finishing off a run. he could deal a blow as well as take one.

? You obviously didn't watch him very closely. The last thing he could do was "Finish off a run".

[SuspectCorner]

? You obviously didn't watch him very closely. The last thing he could do was "Finish off a run".
i don't want to get in a silly argument about somebody like t. ham. but i have the tapes. he put the hat to DBs if he was still on his feet. he could throw a decent forearm shiver, too. maintaining his feet underneath him is a different story.

[STSINAZ]

GIVE HIM A HOLE AND HE IS GONE!

I think for me the most impressive thing about JJ is the fact that he makes cuts and changes direction without losing mush speed. He reminds me alot of the way Barry Sanders made moves. That first game against Houston that really caushgt my eye then watched for it specifically against the Raiders and it was evident.

Just keep watching the way he cuts tomorrow night. HE just doesn't lose speed on those cuts. Amazing.

[blindzebra]

Jones has shown exactly what I expected. He is a crease runner with good vision and burst. He seems to feel where the hole will be BEFORE it opens and has the speed to take full advantage of it.

He is a little like Emmitt and a little like Tony.

Jackson from what I saw the other night is a lot like Eddie George with a little more speed. He has that ackward upright running style that Hershel Walker had, and he does not have a very fluid style. I think he'll take a lot more big hits than Jones.

[trickblue]

i don't want to get in a silly argument about somebody like t. ham. but i have the tapes. he put the hat to DBs if he was still on his feet. he could throw a decent forearm shiver, too. maintaining his feet underneath him is a different story.

T-Ham? is that you? :D

[Eskimo]

i don't want to get in a silly argument about somebody like t. ham. but i have the tapes. he put the hat to DBs if he was still on his feet. he could throw a decent forearm shiver, too. maintaining his feet underneath him is a different story.

Actually T-Ham's straight-arm was one of the better ones in the league and probably a skill he learned from Emmitt. I love Emmitt, but this lack of straight-line speed led to a certain amount of creativity. He is the only RB that I can ever recall who used the straight-arm on opponents trying to run him down from behind when in the clear, LOL.

[SuspectCorner]

Actually T-Ham's straight-arm was one of the better ones in the league and probably a skill he learned from Emmitt. I love Emmitt, but this lack of straight-line speed led to a certain amount of creativity. He is the only RB that I can ever recall who used the straight-arm on opponents trying to run him down from behind when in the clear, LOL.
thanks for bailing me out eskimo. i was thinking i'd better break out the tapes again. you saved me a walk to the garage. phew!

[SuspectCorner]

also... do you remember that monday nite game a few years ago where emmitt went nuts on the vikes in the first half and maybe the only thing that prevented him going off for about 300 yards was his injuring his hand in the facemask of a defender (on the way to the endzone) doing exactly the kinda stiffarm you described right before the halftime? he had been called "washed-up" at the time (around '99) and was just getting around to disproving this theory. if i consider how lucky the team has been at running back over the years i worry that we are due for a string of bad ones. go julius!

[Rack Bauer]

Eskimo didn't bail you out, he just joined you in being wrong. lol

I"m not trying to be a smarta$$ but you guys are just way wrong on this one. I'm not saying he NEVER stiffarmed anyone, but 99% of the time he would get hit and got down on first contact. If I had a dollar for everytime he DIDN'T lower his shoulder or stiff arm a much smaller DB, I'd be a rich man.

[Eskimo]

Eskimo didn't bail you out, he just joined you in being wrong. lol

I"m not trying to be a smarta$$ but you guys are just way wrong on this one. I'm not saying he NEVER stiffarmed anyone, but 99% of the time he would get hit and got down on first contact. If I had a dollar for everytime he DIDN'T lower his shoulder or stiff arm a much smaller DB, I'd be a rich man.

You're correct in the fact that he didn't run over DBs frequently and was usually brought down by the first tackler or blade of grass encountered. However, given the opportunity (T-Ham isn't very coordinated, quick or instinctive) he could deliver quite a ferocious stiff-arm. It was the only aspect of his game that was above-average, IMO.

[Rack Bauer]

You're correct in the fact that he didn't run over DBs frequently and was usually brought down by the first tackler or blade of grass encountered. However, given the opportunity (T-Ham isn't very coordinated, quick or instinctive) he could deliver quite a ferocious stiff-arm. It was the only aspect of his game that was above-average, IMO.


I'd say on OCCASSION he delivered a stiff arm. Like when the temperature was just right (right down to tenths of a degree), the stars were alligned properly, his aura centered perfectly, his shoes tied just right, his helmet fitting just right, the lighting just right, etc... then he might of laid a good stiff arm. Other then that, he's the worst RB I've ever seen in my entire life. And trust me, I'm not exhaggerating. I simply have never seen a worse RB then Troy Hambrick.

[SuspectCorner]

I'd say on OCCASSION he delivered a stiff arm. Like when the temperature was just right (right down to tenths of a degree), the stars were alligned properly, his aura centered perfectly, his shoes tied just right, his helmet fitting just right, the lighting just right, etc... then he might of laid a good stiff arm. Other then that, he's the worst RB I've ever seen in my entire life. And trust me, I'm not exhaggerating. I simply have never seen a worse RB then Troy Hambrick.
then you didn't see curvin richards....

[Rack Bauer]

then you didn't see curvin richards....


Oh yeah I did. He was actually a pretty solid RB... except for the fact that he couldn't hold on to the football. Richards was EASILY better then Hambrick. By far.

[crazylegs]

After seeing the highlight reel of Julius Jones' preseason, I am impressed mostly with his ability to make the first guy miss, AND when he appears to be tackled, he has maneuvered through to either break free, or gain a few yards. Those are the kinds of things Emmitt would do, and though I'm a skeptical person, I am getting excited about the running game in Dallas once again.

The most impressive thing is.....he was the #1 RB picked????

?

[SuspectCorner]

Oh yeah I did. He was actually a pretty solid RB... except for the fact that he couldn't hold on to the football. Richards was EASILY better then Hambrick. By far.
solid except he couldn't hold on to the ball? that's like saying so-and-so's a great artist 'cept he can't hold onto the paintbrush... puh-leez...

[Rack Bauer]

solid except he couldn't hold on to the ball? that's like saying so-and-so's a great artist 'cept he can't hold onto the paintbrush... puh-leez...


Gimme a break. Richards had vision. Hambrick doesn't. Richards had speed. Hambrick doesn't. Richards had quickness. Hambrick doesn't. Richards had some moves. Hambrick doesn't. Richards wasn't a real strong runner between the tackles, but he was better then Hambrick. He had a fumbling problem... so does Ahman Green. Would you take Hambrick over Ahman Green?

And it's not like Hambrick is the Fort Knox of fumbling. It's not like he NEVER fumbles.


You seriously have to take Football 101 if you think Hambrick was better then Richards.

[SuspectCorner]

Gimme a break. Richards had vision. Hambrick doesn't. Richards had speed. Hambrick doesn't. Richards had quickness. Hambrick doesn't. Richards had some moves. Hambrick doesn't. Richards wasn't a real strong runner between the tackles, but he was better then Hambrick. He had a fumbling problem... so does Ahman Green. Would you take Hambrick over Ahman Green?

And it's not like Hambrick is the Fort Knox of fumbling. It's not like he NEVER fumbles.


You seriously have to take Football 101 if you think Hambrick was better then Richards.
OMG - next you'll have me worshipping at the temple of T-Ham... they both suck. let's adios this proposed argument. agreed?

[Rack Bauer]

OMG - next you'll have me worshipping at the temple of T-Ham... they both suck. let's adios this proposed argument. agreed?


There is no argument. It's just me in amazement that you think Curvin Richards was a worse RB then Troy Hambrick is.

[SuspectCorner]

There is no argument. It's just me in amazement that you think Curvin Richards was a worse RB then Troy Hambrick is.
okay. well... um... how close did richards get to the 1000 yard standard in his brief but glorious career?

[Rack Bauer]

okay. well... um... how close did richards get to the 1000 yard standard in his brief but glorious career?


Yeah cuz he should of been putting out 1000 yard seasons sitting on the bench behind Emmitt Smith. :rolleyes:


So I guess Hambrick would of got 972 yards during ANY of the seasons Richards was on the team? You can't be serious about that one.

[SuspectCorner]

Yeah cuz he should of been putting out 1000 yard seasons sitting on the bench behind Emmitt Smith. :rolleyes:


So I guess Hambrick would of got 972 yards during ANY of the seasons Richards was on the team? You can't be serious about that one.
alright buddy. you nailed me on this one. curvin richards is better than troy hambrick. anything else? can i fix you a chicken salad sandwich? no?... okay i'll be going to the servant's quarters now... g'night m'lord... (phew!)

[Rack Bauer]

anything else? can i fix you a chicken salad sandwich? no?


Dang that sounds pretty good. You don't have to make it for me, but can you give me the recipe? I'd like to try that for lunch tomorrow. :D

[VirusX]

Well the key is how GOOD can JJ read. Emmitt was the best READER in nfl history. Emmitt wasnt fast or big but he had something no other running back had.

He has the ability to see the hole before it opened. Many of times you see him running right at the defenders and then it opens he shoots thru and it closes.

His quickness and ability to see holes before they develope made him IMO the best running back of all time.


If JJ can so that then I expect him to be the next best thing then emmitt. Saying he is the next emmitt is going to far tho. If he can amass 17,000 yards I will be happy that a Dallas RB did it but dont dont expect him to have a Clinton Portis start to his career.

[SuspectCorner]

Dang that sounds pretty good. You don't have to make it for me, but can you give me the recipe? I'd like to try that for lunch tomorrow. :D
well first you take two healthy breasts in hand... er... chicken that is... hope we're thru the "swervin'" curvin - t-ham debate... about as pointed as carter-hutchinson... by the way... notice you go by tag line of "rack"... that's not by accident is it?

[Rack Bauer]

well first you take two healthy breasts in hand... er... chicken that is... hope we're thru the "swervin'" curvin - t-ham debate... about as pointed as carter-hutchinson... by the way... notice you go by tag line of "rack"... that's not by accident is it?



"Rack" is short for "Rack-of-Lamb". Was watching Conan The Barbarian a few years ago with some friends, and there's a part where he's eating a big leg of something... Auhnuld takes a bite and said "It's good!". We all started laughing. One of my friends said, " is that, Rack - of - lamb?" About the same time, another one of my friends commented that the way Auhnuld was eating looked the same as the way I eat (which is messed up cuz the guy that said that is a marine and he doesn't eat his food, he breaths in his food). Anyway, the combo of the two comments kind of stuck and they started calling me "rack - of - lamb". Well, that's too many syllables for a nickname so they shortened it to "Rack".

How incredibly interesting, huh?

[SuspectCorner]

"Rack" is short for "Rack-of-Lamb". Was watching Conan The Barbarian a few years ago with some friends, and there's a part where he's eating a big leg of something... Auhnuld takes a bite and said "It's good!". We all started laughing. One of my friends said, " is that, Rack - of - lamb?" About the same time, another one of my friends commented that the way Auhnuld was eating looked the same as the way I eat (which is messed up cuz the guy that said that is a marine and he doesn't eat his food, he breaths in his food). Anyway, the combo of the two comments kind of stuck and they started calling me "rack - of - lamb". Well, that's too many syllables for a nickname so they shortened it to "Rack".

How incredibly interesting, huh?
that's cool rack. maybe i read to many penthouse "letters" as a young man. are you as anxious about monday nite as i am? this will be our "real" preseason glimpse of the team. gawd, i hope they look better...

[Jarv]

One small difference I've noticed between T-Ham and JJ (I'm sure there are others).

Last year, twice in one game (can't remember the game tho) T-ham, from the "I" formation was tackled behind the line of scrimage from a corner blitz. This pre-season, I saw the same senerio with JJ beating the corner to the LOS, effectively removing him from the play. JJ has an inital "burst" that T-Ham lacked. T-Ham could not get to the holes fast enough and they just closed in on him.

As stated about JJ. He has more speed coming out of his cuts and can get to a crease and be through it. O-linemen love that. They actually had created some good holes for T-Ham last year, he just didn't get through them before the D-linemen shed the blocks...This makes an O-line look bad. When they actually did create holes.

The O-line of the early 90's loved Emmitt because he made them look good. As seen by how many went to Pro-Bowls over the years.

Some people say that Barry Sanders would have gained a million yards, if he had the line Emmitt had.

I am of the belief that Emmitt mad our great O-line, even better.

[MichaelWinicki]

"Rack" is short for "Rack-of-Lamb". Was watching Conan The Barbarian a few years ago with some friends, and there's a part where he's eating a big leg of something... Auhnuld takes a bite and said "It's good!". We all started laughing. One of my friends said, " is that, Rack - of - lamb?" About the same time, another one of my friends commented that the way Auhnuld was eating looked the same as the way I eat (which is messed up cuz the guy that said that is a marine and he doesn't eat his food, he breaths in his food). Anyway, the combo of the two comments kind of stuck and they started calling me "rack - of - lamb". Well, that's too many syllables for a nickname so they shortened it to "Rack".

How incredibly interesting, huh?


What a mesmerizing story there Rackster... ;)

[SuspectCorner]

One small difference I've noticed between T-Ham and JJ (I'm sure there are others).

Last year, twice in one game (can't remember the game tho) T-ham, from the "I" formation was tackled behind the line of scrimage from a corner blitz. This pre-season, I saw the same senerio with JJ beating the corner to the LOS, effectively removing him from the play. JJ has an inital "burst" that T-Ham lacked. T-Ham could not get to the holes fast enough and they just closed in on him.

As stated about JJ. He has more speed coming out of his cuts and can get to a crease and be through it. O-linemen love that. They actually had created some good holes for T-Ham last year, he just didn't get through them before the D-linemen shed the blocks...This makes an O-line look bad. When they actually did create holes.

The O-line of the early 90's loved Emmitt because he made them look good. As seen by how many went to Pro-Bowls over the years.

Some people say that Barry Sanders would have gained a million yards, if he had the line Emmitt had.

I am of the belief that Emmitt mad our great O-line, even better.
bottom line for me - how many times did emmitt get yanked on third and short or third and goal? and if you were a QB under a blitz who would you rather have picking it up for you? no contest. emmitt got the glory but he did plenty of the "dirty work". barry was purty - but emmitt was "the man"!

[kmd24]

They actually had created some good holes for T-Ham last year, he just didn't get through them before the D-linemen shed the blocks...

IIRC, one of the linemen commented, "We block it for 8 yards and THam runs it for 3."

[Rack Bauer]

IIRC, one of the linemen commented, "We block it for 8 yards and THam runs it for 3."


LMAO!


Sad thing is.... it's true. :(

[RatisBeast]

The thing i like about JJ is his speed and he runs with some "wiggle". He's a nicely built guy, that looks like he's going to make something out of nothing. I have yet to see him break a long one, but it looks like once he's in the open field, it's going to be hard to prevent him from getting into the endzone.

[ABQCOWBOY]

Julius Jones actually reminds me a little bit of LaDainian Tomlinson, as far as physical skills go. Nice qiucks, good vision, good speed, decent power and the ability to catch the ball.

[77Cowboy]

Now I am certainly not comparing the two yet but JJ reminds me a bit of Tony Dorsett with his movement/slashing ability. He is a bit more bulked up than Tony was but there is something very similar to the way they both use to run.

Check out that RB video that I belive Calico created with the Cure song and watch JJ's highlites and you will see what I mean.

[SALADIN]

Julius Jones actually reminds me a little bit of LaDainian Tomlinson, as far as physical skills go. Nice qiucks, good vision, good speed, decent power and the ability to catch the ball.

I don't know about L.T. who was an accomplished RB in college and in the league but he does remind me a little of T. Barber/ W. Dunn. A back who can get you a 1000 yard season, catch 40 passes, and also return kicks for you. Barber and Dunn are no where close to L.T.

I think L.T. is more of a "franchise back". Dunn and Barber have always shared the load with bigger backs who can run inside or turn the corner, where as L.T. has provin that he can handle the load of a 16 game season by himself. Lets hope that JJ can begin to approach what L.T. has done so far.

[RedLine]

After seeing the highlight reel of Julius Jones' preseason, I am impressed mostly with his ability to make the first guy miss, AND when he appears to be tackled, he has maneuvered through to either break free, or gain a few yards. Those are the kinds of things Emmitt would do, and though I'm a skeptical person, I am getting excited about the running game in Dallas once again.

When I see Julius run, one word keeps coming to my mind, “efficient”. He just seems to use what he has efficiently. If he needs to make a cut, he does not expend a lot of energy on the cut, just enough to avoid the tackle and not lose too much speed.

[ABQCOWBOY]

I don't know about L.T. who was an accomplished RB in college and in the league but he does remind me a little of T. Barber/ W. Dunn. A back who can get you a 1000 yard season, catch 40 passes, and also return kicks for you. Barber and Dunn are no where close to L.T.

I think L.T. is more of a "franchise back". Dunn and Barber have always shared the load with bigger backs who can run inside or turn the corner, where as L.T. has provin that he can handle the load of a 16 game season by himself. Lets hope that JJ can begin to approach what L.T. has done so far.


Physically, there almost identical. Both are about 5-10, both are about 220 lbs., both run 4.3s or so, both have great quickness, balance and latteral movement. Both have good vision, both catch the ball very well and they have very simular running styles.

There almost identical in actual physical skills. I'm not comparing production. I'm looking at both guys and seeing lots of simularities from strickly a physical point of view. I agree with you that LT came out with much better cridentials but as you see him more, I think you will see simularities.

Barbar and Dunn, in my mind, are both very different runners then what I expect Jones will be. Barbar is 20 lbs lighter and Dunn 40 lbs.

I'm excited to watch JJs developement.