At this point BArber > Julius **Barber v JJ Thread**

[AbeBeta]

This season or last?

Because the only one flopping when hitting the hole this year is Jones.

If Jones comes back then great but at this moment my faith is with BArber.

That is just plain crazy. Emmitt Smith and Barry Sanders would have had crap nights against the Eagles D.

 

[mr.jameswoods]

Juluis runs right into the pile and falls way to easy....I love the guy to death but it's seems he's having a sophmore slump.


I've been a BArber supporter since day one....And now I'm happy to say BArber is our man.


I dont really care what people say, bash me if you want. this forum is for opinions and if you dont like it then to bad.

JJ is not Emmitt Smith with speed which is what some fans want to compare him to. Even during his prime last season, JJ wasn't known to be a very tough inside runner or one who can push the pile. JJ is more like Barry Sanders than Emmitt Smith. He is extremely elusive and quick but he isn't a very powerful runner. JJ is great at starting inside and bouncing to the outside but he isn't the type that will just drill through a line. That's not his game. Ultimately, that doesn't really matter. No running back can do it all. Marshall Faulk's running style is very similar to JJ's. Asking a RB to be able to do everything these days is asking for the impossible. I respect JJ for his strengths. At the same time, I won't pretend and act like he is a guy who can move the pile like Barber

 

[mr.jameswoods]

here we go hutch vs carter all over again.. 2 games doesnt mean squat... JJ is the man

Let's not turn into that. Unlike with QB's, you can start two very different RB's at once and yield great results.

 

[4lifecowboy]

Jones >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Barber

I trust Jones.

He is tougher up the middle. Barber is the one that flies back when hit. Jones seems much more explosive now and if we feed him the ball, he will be back to his old self. The Eagles just stacked the box today and shut down everything.

I agree the O-line just isn't opening up holes this year especially up the middle. Both backs have their strengths. Jones is a better runner, but Barber is better suited for passing situations, he's better blocking, and better at catching out of the backfield. Like Parcells said neither are complete backs yet.

 

[mr.jameswoods]

I agree the O-line just isn't opening up holes this year especially up the middle. Both backs have their strengths. Jones is a better runner, but Barber is better suited for passing situations, he's better blocking, and better at catching out of the backfield. Like Parcells said neither are complete backs yet.

I agree, neither are complete backs but I think Barber is a better goal line runner and someone who can push defenders back. JJ is far better in the open field. I think we are really lucky to have two backs with different styles that can benefit the team.

 

[dc10]

There weren't many holes to run through tonight, and the one long run MB had, anyone would've gotten big yards on. The thing is BP doesn't like guys who put the ball on the ground in crunch time. I hope both backs are productive as runners, receivers, and pass blockers, and can spell each other.

 

[4lifecowboy]

I agree, neither are complete backs but I think Barber is a better goal line runner and someone who can push defenders back. JJ is far better in the open field. I think we are really lucky to have two backs with different styles that can benefit the team.

Can't argue with that assessment

 

[Chuck 54]

The blocking still isn't great in the running game. IN my opinion, JJ will need to step it up in the running game in order to become the starter again. If he has a huge game in the near future and looks like his old self, making someone miss, and taking a long one, then he'll be the man.

Right now there isn't enough difference between them on the field to warrant taking Barber the blocker out of the game for long stretches and certainly not at crunch time...that's why he was in there when it mattered. There can be absolutely no discussion on who's the better blocker or more powerful runner. JJ is a willing blocker and did well last year, but nothing like Barber. He's a nasty freak in the pass protection...Did you see him hammer #32 on the blitz, the same guy who nailed him a few plays earlier on a blitz vs. the run??? It was awsome.

 

[Rack]

Great RBs can make something happen when the blocking breaks down (like JuJo did vs the Giants in week 17 last year). None of your RBs are "Great". Not right now anyway. I think both of them have the potential to be Great (in their own way), but "potential is nothing, production is everything".


I'm not saying last year's JuJo would of ran wild on the Eagles last night, but he certainly would of ATTEMPTED to pop a few of those runs outside. Can't really blame the ankle either cuz he's been running like this all year.


Like I said earlier, let's just hope it's a sophomore slump. Either way, Reggie Bush would be my #1 pick if he miraculously dropped to us.

 

[Doomsday]

Neither one of them showed much vision tonight on the few plays that Philly didnt have 3 men in the backfield stuffing the run. That said it would be nice if they could make the first guy miss every once in a while and make a play.

 

[Sarge]

Chad, you do realize that even if you take away those three huge games (which account for 18 percent of his career games and 29 percent of his career rushing attempts) BUT you still include two games when he barely played (today and when he got hurt last year) and another game when he played only a half, he STILL averages 67.7 yards per game and has NEVER been held under 57 yards in a game he's started?

Let's see, 14 career games (more like 12 games of playing time) and 1,242 career rushing yards. The only thing separating him from being well on his way to being a franchise back is the injuries he's suffered.

And for a few comparisons, here are the first 14 career games for other "franchise" backs, compared to Julius' first 14 games --

Julius Jones -- 1,242 yards

LaDainian Tomlinson -- 1,053 yards

Shaun Alexander (I'll even skip his rookie season; this is from his second year, when he finally became a starter) -- 1,132 yards

Tiki Barber (again, skip his first five seasons and go to his breakout sixth season) -- 1,123 yards

Clinton Portis -- 1,228 yards

Curtis Martin -- 1,264 yards

Jamal Lewis -- 1,186 yards

Ricky Williams -- 1,018 yards

Edgerrin James -- 1,396 yards

Willis McGahee -- 947 yards

Corey Dillon -- 942 yards

Fred Taylor -- 1,152 yards

And the BEST 14-game stretch of Thomas Jones' entire career, starting in the middle of his fifth season -- 1,150 yards

Even with the three games Julius has been limited in, his 14-game career is ALREADY better than ANYTHING Thomas Jones has ever done.

This year alone however, even pre-injury, Julius has not looked overly impressive. I have no explanation why, perhaps the run blocking isn't what it should be, but JJ is not hitting the hole as quick or with the same desire and explosivensess as he did last year.

Tha is just my opinion FWIW.

It could very well turn around once he gets more carrries but watching him REALLY concerns me. There just doesn't seem to be that same bounce in his step that he had last year.

 

[THEHEREAFTER]

Simply put Julius Jones is my signature on two message boards and my screensaver at work.... it's too much work to change all that! :laugh1:

 

[burmafrd]

Why do our backs not bounce it outside? Is it possible that is on orders of BP?
If not, why does he not mention it?

 

[Martice]

Regarding the stats that Adam provided, well you can't really argue with the numbers. However, even before JJ got hurt this year, I remember people were questioning JJ's performance.

We do know that there is more to a player than the stats. The jury is still out on JJ for me. If you ask me if he's the future RB for this team I say he has a very very good shot. However, I need to see that "something" again. He get's maybe another game to show the desire and determination that he used to show last year and other "elite" running backs show throughout.

Yes Philly was playing lights out and he was coming off injury so we can't judge him fairly just yet. I'll give him another game just to show me something (not even a 100 yard game) that reminds me of what he did last year. He should be able to do something next game against Detroit.

 

[burmafrd]

I am still of the belief that JJ is listening too much to BP on his negative run crap and is not trying to find the holes and taking chances. Are you happy with that, BP?

 

[dbair1967]

Julius Jones has done nothing to warrant so much positive attention.


Neither has Marion Barber.


None of our RBs have shown anything but some promise. JuJo was showing a lot more promise last year then he's shown this year.

I kept watching Westbrook bounce runs to the outside and was thinking, "Why don't our RBs do that when there's nothing but a pile in front of them?"


I don't know why but our RBs refuse to pop any runs outside. Sometimes you have to let your instincts take over instead of running into the back of an offensive lineman. At least TRY to make a play.

Rack I know this is apparently hard for you to understand, but our OL sux...the run blocking absolutely stinks...do we need to draw you a picture?

Philly owned the offensive and defensive fronts all game long last night

David

 

[burmafrd]

Rack still denies that our O line is not run blocking worth a crap. They had some good games- then last night they STANK AGAIN!!

 

[wick]

Chad, you do realize that even if you take away those three huge games (which account for 18 percent of his career games and 29 percent of his career rushing attempts) BUT you still include two games when he barely played (today and when he got hurt last year) and another game when he played only a half, he STILL averages 67.7 yards per game and has NEVER been held under 57 yards in a game he's started?

Let's see, 14 career games (more like 12 games of playing time) and 1,242 career rushing yards. The only thing separating him from being well on his way to being a franchise back is the injuries he's suffered.

And for a few comparisons, here are the first 14 career games for other "franchise" backs, compared to Julius' first 14 games --

Julius Jones -- 1,242 yards

LaDainian Tomlinson -- 1,053 yards

Shaun Alexander (I'll even skip his rookie season; this is from his second year, when he finally became a starter) -- 1,132 yards

Tiki Barber (again, skip his first five seasons and go to his breakout sixth season) -- 1,123 yards

Clinton Portis -- 1,228 yards

Curtis Martin -- 1,264 yards

Jamal Lewis -- 1,186 yards

Ricky Williams -- 1,018 yards

Edgerrin James -- 1,396 yards

Willis McGahee -- 947 yards

Corey Dillon -- 942 yards

Fred Taylor -- 1,152 yards

And the BEST 14-game stretch of Thomas Jones' entire career, starting in the middle of his fifth season -- 1,150 yards

Even with the three games Julius has been limited in, his 14-game career is ALREADY better than ANYTHING Thomas Jones has ever done.

How many of those backs had more carries over that span than Jones? I'm not saying Jones is a bad player; I just think he's been overrated thanks to a few monster games last year. He's not shown that he can stay on the field, and he's not shown consistently good production when you account for the huge numbers of carries it has taken him to get his 75-85 yards. I just don't believe he's proven that he's a franchise, All-Pro caliber running back. I think Bill Parcells feels the same way.

 

[burmafrd]

Barber putting the ball on the ground like he did is going to cost him.

 

[Chuck 54]

Barber putting the ball on the ground like he did is going to cost him.

I don't think so.

1. One of the most amazing plays was on our first td drive when Barber slipped down making his cut...I'm not sure I've ever seen a guy bounce up that fast on a slip...he still got back to the 1 and almost in when I thought we were looking at a 3 yard loss...that allowed us to run it again and he stuck it into the endzone with his usual toughness.

2. The long run on the draw was incredibly heady for a rookie...he kept using his blocking, making subtle cuts, working his way to the sideline, and instead of powering inside for maybe another 5-7 yards, slipped out of bounds to save the clock.

3. His pass blocking may be better than Emmitt Smith's...he not only gets the job done, he rushes to the spot and carries the contact away from the QB...his pass protection is incredible, not just correct.

Julius has incredible moves in the open field, as we saw last season, and he has more speed than Barber, but I think Barber is going to be on the field more than Julius regardless of who starts due to what he brings in short yardage and the passing game.