Clayton : Winners and Losers

[RainMan]

Do you have any stats or examples of these running back duos???

It would be an interesting study.

I'd say the first key is having two guys who are willing to share the load without pouting such that it affects their play.

Off the top of my head LT and Turner come to mind but Turner was a top flight kickoff return guy and nicknamed burner because of his raw speed.

I'm mostly thinking of Turner-LT, Taylor-Peterson, Jones-Drew-Taylor.

None of them are really "specialty" backs IMO (Jones-Drew perhaps). They're all just talented backs that happen to be toting the rock with another talented guy. I think when you have two talented runners, they tend to naturally work well stylistically because they're both good. You mention Turner having speed, but he wasn't given $35 million by the Falcons for being fast. They feel he can be a No. 1 guy. (I doubt Felix Jones would ever be signed or drafted to be the front end of a running tandem, or to be the lone wolf.)

I think the same argument applies at receiver. I hate it when people say, 'Go draft a speedster.' Speed specialists fail all the time at that position. Give me two talented receivers, different styles or not, and I bet they do all right together.

Maybe I'm just drawing a blank, but how many top-notch running tandems have a Pro Bowl-caliber guy paired with a specialist? The McAllister-Bush duo comes to mind, but I don't know how top-notch that is -- especially on the Bush front.

 

[AtlCB]

I'm mostly thinking of Turner-LT, Taylor-Peterson, Jones-Drew-Taylor.

None of them are really "specialty" backs IMO (Jones-Drew perhaps). They're all just talented backs that happen to be toting the rock with another talented guy. I think when you have two talented runners, they tend to naturally work well stylistically because they're both good. You mention Turner having speed, but he wasn't given $35 million by the Falcons for being fast. They feel he can be a No. 1 guy. (I doubt Felix Jones would ever be signed or drafted to be the front end of a running tandem, or to be the lone wolf.)

I think the same argument applies at receiver. I hate it when people say, 'Go draft a speedster.' Speed specialists fail all the time at that position. Give me two talented receivers, different styles or not, and I bet they do all right together.

Maybe I'm just drawing a blank, but how many top-notch running tandems have a Pro Bowl-caliber guy paired with a specialist? The McAllister-Bush duo comes to mind, but I don't know how top-notch that is -- especially on the Bush front.

Jones can be the #1 guy; he just can't be an every down back. Draft experts based this opinion on his size. Westbrook, Jones-Drew, and Dunn are also backs who can be the #1 guy, but cannot be every down backs.

 

[Clarkson]

I saw Flacco in high school a lot. he lives in the town like 5 minutes from mine. He's a monster.

 

[kristie]

Not really. Witten is obviously a Pro Bowler and one of the best in the business. Fasano, a Parcells draft choice, basically brought nothing to the table. He doesn't fit our offense. The TE is an integral part of our passing game and Fasano doesn't fit it. That's why they traded him. It's not that he isn't good, he simply doesn't fit what we do in Garrett's offense. The TE we drafted today is apparently very athletic and a terrific receiver. We simply made a pick that fits what we want to do on offense.

exactly.

 

[TheBeheader31]

I'm mostly thinking of Turner-LT, Taylor-Peterson, Jones-Drew-Taylor.

None of them are really "specialty" backs IMO (Jones-Drew perhaps). They're all just talented backs that happen to be toting the rock with another talented guy. I think when you have two talented runners, they tend to naturally work well stylistically because they're both good. You mention Turner having speed, but he wasn't given $35 million by the Falcons for being fast. They feel he can be a No. 1 guy. (I doubt Felix Jones would ever be signed or drafted to be the front end of a running tandem, or to be the lone wolf.)

I think the same argument applies at receiver. I hate it when people say, 'Go draft a speedster.' Speed specialists fail all the time at that position. Give me two talented receivers, different styles or not, and I bet they do all right together.

Maybe I'm just drawing a blank, but how many top-notch running tandems have a Pro Bowl-caliber guy paired with a specialist? The McAllister-Bush duo comes to mind, but I don't know how top-notch that is -- especially on the Bush front.

Turner-Norwood and Jacobs-Bradshaw to name a few.

 

[starfrombirth]

you forget that he also said we took Felix Jones because he could do alot w/ him and he's a game-breaker

2 things you can't say about Mendenhall

Bob.... I usually really respect what you say but you keep smashing on Mendenhall. Did you see the kid play this year? Did you see what he did the USC? He is NOT slow and he is a game breaker. I don't know that we will be sorry we didn't pick him but I'm also pretty sure that Pittsburg WON'T regret taking him. Outside of that...have a great day. Now let's go get that WR and other CB... hoping for that Godfrey kid I've been hearing Hos pimp.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

looks like we did great, however only time will tell

 

[jumanji]

as much as i like bennett and i do think the guy is one of the better tes in this draft....we have witten and 2 other tes. in the 2nd round, you want guys who can start and a wr would have been better. doucet would have been a better pick.

 

[dbair1967]

The Jenkins and Bennett picks were great IMO, and have no problem with either

However, the Jones pick will forever baffle me. We picked him over Mendenhall because we thought he complimented Barber better, even though Mendenhall was rated much higher on our draft board?

Jerry Jones basically admitted we intentionally drafted a career backup because he was a good kick returner and compliment to a guy who we don't even know for sure is a franchise back yet? Makes no sense. You take the best runner available there, period.

I just think it came down to 1) they feel Felix Jones can do more than carry the ball and 2) they love the big play ability, something we have lacked at RB for quite some time..lasy yr alone Jones had 4 plays of 59 yds or more, and 3 over 70...in 06 he had TD runs of 58, 76 and 85 and he had another 80 yd td his FR yr..in 3 seasons he had tons of players over 30 yds...and despite not catching alot of passes because of their offensive system, the coaches there say he has tremendous hands and will be a great receiver in the NFL. The combine vid of him plucking balls with his hands was pretty impressive. he'll be a great weapon for us

David

 

[newlander]

Amish is right: Mayock praised him constantly and had him going 22 to Dallas for months. Clayton likes him, Kiper likes him, Mort said it was a great pick, as did Tom Waddell. Who knows? time will tell, it always does.

 

[Sarge]

I just think it came down to 1) they feel Felix Jones can do more than carry the ball and 2) they love the big play ability, something we have lacked at RB for quite some time..lasy yr alone Jones had 4 plays of 59 yds or more, and 3 over 70...in 06 he had TD runs of 58, 76 and 85 and he had another 80 yd td his FR yr..in 3 seasons he had tons of players over 30 yds...and despite not catching alot of passes because of their offensive system, the coaches there say he has tremendous hands and will be a great receiver in the NFL. The combine vid of him plucking balls with his hands was pretty impressive. he'll be a great weapon for us

David

Morning David................

 

[Boysboy]

I'm surprised I didn't see the Eagles on that "Losers" list, really-so what if they successfully got the farm for next year from Carolina? They wasted their 2 2nd rounders on a DT(when they have TWO DTs set for life), and a WR that was hugely overrated to begin with.

Andy Reid was definitely out-thinking himself.

 

[VACowboy]

Thats the problem. The TE position did just fine last year. If they had not traded Fasano, it wouldn't have been a position of need.

Maybe TE wasn't "a position of need," but I can easily see Garrett saying, "Jerry, Fasano's decent and all, but I'd really like to be able to put another vertical threat on the field opposite Witt at the TE position." Fact is, Bennett was rated a second round talent by many of the "experts" on whom so many people here are basing their criticisms of the Cowboys.

I'm no different than any other fan. I get pissed and disappointed too. But I also realize that Jerry and the people who advise him know a heck of a lot more about the team, what it needs and the players available to fill those needs than I do. So I'll pull hard for Bennett to become a weapon in the Cowboys offense and reserve judgement of the pick til I see how it pans out.

Here's hoping Bennett forces Garrett into making two TE our base set.

 

[Sarge]

I'm surprised I didn't see the Eagles on that "Losers" list, really-so what if they successfully got the farm for next year from Carolina? They wasted their 2 2nd rounders on a DT(when they have TWO DTs set for life), and a WR that was hugely overrated to begin with.

Andy Reid was definitely out-thinking himself.

Andy Reid needs to step aside (if you're an Eagle fan).

As a Cowboy fan, I love the guy...

 

[Boysboy]

Andy Reid needs to step aside (if you're an Eagle fan).

As a Cowboy fan, I love the guy...

He was initially trying to trade up to get Brandon Albert.(likely other teams wanted the farm for him)

Anyhow-who cares if the Eagles have 2 1st rounders next year? They'll likely trade BOTH of them out to the 2nd round anyways.

BTW-they are STILL stuck with (a disgruntled)Lito Shepperd-that's too bad b/c how are he is going to act cohesively in that locker room with Samuels having a big, fat contract on his hands?

Oh well...I'm not an Eagles fan, so it's not my problem.

 

[dbair1967]

Morning David................

I am sigless today

David

 

[Sarge]

I am sigless today

David

I see that............. :laugh2:

 

[Established1971]

Linky Linky

By John Clayton
ESPN.com
5. Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys wanted a running back and a cornerback at the top of the draft. They ended up getting more than that. Felix Jones is a perfect back to augment Marion Barber, a physical back who tends to wear down. Jones can be physical, but he's also a receiving threat out of the backfield. Cornerback Mike Jenkins was a bonus. Most teams expected Jenkins to go in the top 20, but the Cowboys were able to trade up to get him at No. 25. Now they have Terence Newman, Anthony Henry, Jenkins and Pacman Jones, if he's reinstated. A once-thin position is now deep.

Hey Barber MIGHT be someone who TENDS to wear down, but dont you think you need more than one game to give someone a reputation, jeez.

 

[Established1971]

I had heard nothing but good things about the TE the Cowboys picked. It was also a need position. Fasano was just traded.

yeah because hours earlier we traded our TE for 1/2 of a 4th rounder, so we go and spend a 2nd to replace him. I guess you can put a positive spin on that by saying we filled a need.

Add to the fact that if Curtis is half the player we saw last pre-season than he is a great 2nd string and we could have gotten a third string TE in later rounds or even an undrafted free agent, like we usually do

 

[Established1971]

Not really. Witten is obviously a Pro Bowler and one of the best in the business. Fasano, a Parcells draft choice, basically brought nothing to the table. He doesn't fit our offense. The TE is an integral part of our passing game and Fasano doesn't fit it. That's why they traded him. It's not that he isn't good, he simply doesn't fit what we do in Garrett's offense. The TE we drafted today is apparently very athletic and a terrific receiver. We simply made a pick that fits what we want to do on offense.

I hope youre right