Can Julius return to form?

[superpunk]

How do you expect him to show he can carry the load when he isnt allowed to?

The more carries he gets, the less effective he is as the year goes on. He's had injury problems. I think if he was that kind of back, we'd know it by now. He and his brother are very similar like that.

 

[joseephuss]

It seems reasonable to me to expect that you would read what is actually written, and not editorialize it. I asked a rhetorical question - it was a joke referencing Julius' ability to roll up on bad run defenses. So I said four OF THE worst. Not the four worst. There's a difference, and there's nothing for you to agree with. Grammar is your friend.

In addition, I said nothing about Carolina surrendering around 200 yards, and I never said Seattle allowed more than Julius gained on them. But, here's what other backs did against the Bears and Seahawks (who I actually DID reference, but you somehow read Chicago as Carolina ) I'll include NY, who Julius rolled on

Before Seattle played us in 04, they gave up 120 yards and 4 TDs to McGahee. Before that Faulk torched them for 139 yards. After they played us Martin ran for 134 and 2 TDs against them.

The week before we played Chicago, they allowed James to run for 200 yards and a TD, and Rhodes an extra 50. The week after they allowed MIN to rush for 129 yards on 19 carries, a 6.8 yard average. Folowed by Dominick Davis getting 100 and a TD.

NY allowed 160 yards to PIT, 170 to BAL, and 211 to WAshington before playing us.

The rankings of those defenses?

BEars - 25th ranked rushing d
Seattle - 23rd ranked rushing D
NY Giants - 28th ranked rushing D

Some of the worst in the league.

I hope he can be more consistent. But right now, he's just inconsistent and average at best. Blaming that on anyone but Julius is ridiculous.

Julius is probably only average or slightly above. I think more slightly above. An average back may have one big game in his career when facing some inferior defenses. Julius has had a few of them. That says something. He had a good playoff game. Looked very strong.

The O-line is terribly inconsistent in Dallas. Has been for years. Improve that, then Julius and Marion may be enough to win some playoff games. Thomas Jones is not really any better than his younger brother, but the Bears O-line is better than the Cowboys. I am all for finding a top notch back, but it is more important to get a better line. It will help both the rushing and passing attack.

 

[Rack]

Can Julius return to his running style before BP turned him into a pile diver?

Man I hope so. I miss that cat.

 

[Rack]

I hope he can be more consistent. But right now, he's just inconsistent and average at best. Blaming that on anyone but Julius is ridiculous.

 

[burmafrd]

JJ's two injuries were a broken shoulder blade(freak hit- and the same thing happened to Emmitt) and then the high ankle sprain where he got rolled from behind. That is not injury prone- that is BAD LUCK.
Now as regards this year- I think BP was worried JJ would wear down- and reduced his carries. Like most backs, JJ needs more carries to get into a rhythym and produce. Hard to do that when you only get 10 carries or so.
JJ had a very good playoff game and had that 35 yd run when we really needed it. What more can you ask? To do more, he needs more carries.
In the last 7 games of 2004, he had 192 carries, or an average of 27.4 per game. Now that is probably too much over a full season, but he should be able to handle 20-22 a game. As regards his so called lack of production late in this year- when you get fewer carries a game, and also your teams D GOES INTO THE TOILET in the last 5 games so that you are playing catchup all the time, GEE WHAT A SUPRISE.

 

[Apollo Creed]

JuJo has all the physical tools, but BP really messed with him mentally. Changed the way hes been running his whole life, questioned his durability (the shoulder blade and high ankle sprain), and essentially turned him into a three yards and a cloud of smoke kind of back.

I don't consider him that special in the open field either, I remember a few times when he got to the next level and just plowed straight ahead into the safety without even making a move.

 

[Apollo Creed]

JJ's two injuries were a broken shoulder blade(freak hit- and the same thing happened to Emmitt) and then the high ankle sprain where he got rolled from behind. That is not injury prone- that is BAD LUCK.
Now as regards this year- I think BP was worried JJ would wear down- and reduced his carries. Like most backs, JJ needs more carries to get into a rhythym and produce. Hard to do that when you only get 10 carries or so.
JJ had a very good playoff game and had that 35 yd run when we really needed it. What more can you ask? To do more, he needs more carries.
In the last 7 games of 2004, he had 192 carries, or an average of 27.4 per game. Now that is probably too much over a full season, but he should be able to handle 20-22 a game. As regards his so called lack of production late in this year- when you get fewer carries a game, and also your teams D GOES INTO THE TOILET in the last 5 games so that you are playing catchup all the time, GEE WHAT A SUPRISE.

With the way their defense was playing he should've had 200+ yards.

 

[Rack]

JuJo has all the physical tools, but BP really messed with him mentally.

Some of you people are completely clueless.

 

[MONT17]

Can Julius return to his running style before BP turned him into a pile diver?

Man I hope so. I miss that cat.

He sure can... if we let him sit out until Turkey Day... Fresh Legs or Turkey Legs!!!

 

[Apollo Creed]

Some of you people are completely clueless.

Hardly... I remember Julius his rookie season in games against the Bears, Seahawks, and Giants just absolutely shred their defense. Making guys miss in the backfield, cutting outside, just making plays. Hes been hardly that guy these past few years.

 

[Rack]

Hardly... I remember Julius his rookie season in games against the Bears, Seahawks, and Giants just absolutely shred their defense. Making guys miss in the backfield, cutting outside, just making plays. Hes been hardly that guy these past few years.

That's now what I was referring to. I was referring to the mental midgets that don't know why he isn't running for 2K yards a season so they blame Parcells.

 

[Apollo Creed]

That's now what I was referring to. I was referring to the mental midgets that don't know why he isn't running for 2K yards a season so they blame Parcells.

Clueless and mental midget.... because I think Parcells may have stunted Julius' growth as a player?

 

[Rack]

Clueless and mental midget.... because I think Parcells may have stunted Julius' growth as a player?

You didn't say he "stunted his growth" (I don't agree with that either).

You said:

BP really messed with him mentally

If anything BP did "Screwed him up mentally" then JuJo wasn't mentally strong enough to handle the job anyway.


And it's funny, when JuJo was running really well early this season I didn't hear anyone talking about BP screwing up JuJo.

So what is it, he screwed JuJo up in 2005, then JuJo recovered, then got screwed up again by midseason 2006?


The simple fact of the matter is, he is what he is. A RB that will hit a grand slam every once in awhile, but for the most part is an average RB.

 

[hendog]

Clueless and mental midget.... because I think Parcells may have stunted Julius' growth as a player?

Rack I respect your opinion on this forum as well as several others. That being said - It seems to me that JJ has regressed as a "natural" running back under BP.

I have coached for a number of years ( not at a HS (football) or College level) but the one position that I felt that was natural and that could not be "taught" ( not to be confused with coached) was RB. It seems that a good RB either has it or he doesn't. That inate awareness of where the D was and when to cut to the sidelines or cut back.

Julius seemed to have this awareness as a rookie and all of a sudden he seemingly has lost it?

Maybe I'm wrong. Someone please enlighten me.

 

[gbrittain]

I can not blame anyone for what happened to JuJo.

All I know from is that from my vantage point JJ did not look anything like the back I saw in his rookie year.

I do not care how good or how bad a certain defense was.

I am not looking at those big yardage games as the determining factor of what JJ used to be.

I am thinking back to his rookie year and remembering how elusive he was due to the vision, cut backs, and burst of speed I saw.

This year he looked like he wanted to be Earl Campbell. Not pointing fingers because I know how sensitive some people can be about this, but JJ looked like he tried to redefine himself as a runner this year and it did not work.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Parcells ruined Julius Jones, he was cutting back much more in his rookie year then the Tuna told me to follow the hole no matter what...