Dallas Cowboys: Felix Jones Is Who We Thought Reggie Bush Would Be

[cowboyjoe]

Dallas Cowboys: Felix Jones Is Who We Thought Reggie Bush Would Be by Chad Hensley
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Scribe Written on September 24, 2009
(Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images) Vote Now! - Author Poll
Should Felix Jones start over Marion Barber III?

Yes No vote to see results Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys had a decision to make.

It was the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft, and they were looking for a playmaker at the running back position to replace Julius "2nd-and-11" Jones.

The choice was between University of Illinois' Rashard Mendenhall, and University of Arkansas' Felix Jones.

At first you would think this wasn't even a choice. Jerry would go with his alma mater.

But it wasn't entirely up to Jerry, as offensive coordinator Jason Garrett made it clear who he wanted.

"The one guy is an everydown back," Garrett said, referring to Mendenhall while the No. 22 pick was approaching. "The other guy is a special complementary back. We've got to remember that we've got an everydown back here."

I'm sure there wasn't much arm twisting, and the Razorbacks "backup" was selected 22nd overall, one spot ahead of Mendenhall.

As it turns out, Felix might turn out to be a better pro prospect than his much more glorified Razorback teammate, Darren McFadden, the fourth overall selection.

In 2008, he carried the ball 30 times, and averaged a unheard of 8.9 yards per carry, and scored three touchdowns.

He had three runs over 20 yards, and one over 40, with a long of 60.

In 2009, it hasn't been much different, as Felix is averaging 9.1 yards per carry.

On 13 attempts, he has two carries over 20, and one over 40, with a long of 56. He also had the go-ahead touchdown against the Giants in the Sunday night game of week two.

But it hasn't all been perfect. If he only got 30 carries in 2008, what happened?

Injuries. And Felix has been nicked up already in 2009 as well, during the Tampa Bay game in week one.

But one cannot say he is injury prone yet. That will bear out over time.

You can say that Felix Jones is the most electric player on the Cowboys, and possibly only second in "wow factor" to Adrian Peterson in the NFC.

Felix is what everyone thought Reggie Bush would be—a tremendous running back who can make directional cuts without losing speed, with vision that allows him to set up his moves two and three blocks ahead, an uncanny ability to break multiple tackles, and the speed to break away from everyone on the field.

So why hasn't Jason Garrett found more opportunities for the most exciting player on his team?

Maybe Garrett still doesn't believe Felix is an every down back, and still wants to lean on Marion Barber III. Maybe it's his other tendency to be like the real Reggie Bush—always nicked up.

But if Barber is limited this Monday night against the Carolina Panthers due to his strained quad, expect to see a heavy dosage of Felix Jones.

That's when I believe a star will be born, and Felix will show the world that his name should be talked about with the best in the League.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Me too.

 

[poost]

That's when I believe a star will be born, and Felix will show the world that his name should be talked about with the best in the League.

Please be true.. please be true...

 

[juck]

200 combined.

 

[Big Dakota]

Never thought about it till now, but ya, Felix is who i thought Bush would be in the NFL. Bush is OK but over hyped. Felix flew under the radar because of who he ran with but looks like one of the most dynamic young RBs in today's game. Gosh what a steal!

 

[Chuck 54]

Felix is what everyone thought Reggie Bush would be—a tremendous running back who can make directional cuts without losing speed, with vision that allows him to set up his moves two and three blocks ahead, an uncanny ability to break multiple tackles, and the speed to break away from everyone on the field.

This quote is silly...that describes Reggie Bush perfectly. Anyone who doubts this has already forgotten Bush single-handedly destroying the Cowboys defense with big plays on offense and a punt return. Bush makes directional cuts at full speed, has the vision that makes him a great open field runner and big time punt returner. I haven't seen either of these guys "break" many tackles...they avoid them, and Reggie Bush has more speed than Felix, documented.

I love Felix, but until he proves he can be an every down back who can run between the tackles with power and hold up (something Bush cannot do), I'd trade Felix for a healthy Bush at his best any day of the week.

Bush does more in the punt return game than Felix does in the kickoff return, and up to now, bush is clearly the better receiver with great hands and the ability to line out wide like a receiver.

Both have had injury issues...I hope Felix proves to be more than a change of pace guy, but if they both end up being basically the back described above in bold, not an all around back, then Felix has a ways to go before he should be considered Bush's equal....and to make it sound like he's being what Bush isn't cannot be defended or supported, imo.

Felix is a great weapon for Dallas, and unlike Bush, he gets a couple more years to prove if he's more than a change of pace / third down back. Felix is a better deal because he was selected #22 while Bush was #3, but that has nothing to do with what they bring to an offense. Still, I think the author's premise is bs. Bush is a bust if you wanted an every-down back, but if you put him in the same role Felix is playing, he'd be incredible, and he'd probably get even more touches than Felix at this point.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Never thought about it till now, but ya, Felix is who i thought Bush would be in the NFL. Bush is OK but over hyped. Felix flew under the radar because of who he ran with but looks like one of the most dynamic young RBs in today's game. Gosh what a steal!

Same here. Never thought about until I read this thread. The title just makes sense.

I have to completely agree here. Felix is a big part of our future and the ironic things is that was evident from the very first time he touched the ball = touchdown.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Eh... Not everyone was sold on Reggie Bush. I sure wasn't.

I'd take Felix every time over him.

 

[Zman5]

He is who we thought he was and I hope we don't let him get away.

 

[jobberone]

I wouldn't trade Felix for Bush. Felix looks to be able to run inside and outside. And as far as putting him out wide like Bush.....well, they do that with Bush because he can't run inside. It's just another way to get him outside.

I raised hell when they drafted Felix over Mendenhall. I was sooooo wrong.

 

[Chuck 54]

Eh... Not everyone was sold on Reggie Bush. I sure wasn't.

I'd take Felix every time over him.

Why Lab? Is it because Felix was a better pick due to being later in the draft, or is your opinion based on the fact that Felix MIGHT prove to actually be an every down back, which we know Bush isn't?

I don't think anyone can say Felix has more speed...no way.
I don't think anyone would say Felix is as good a receiver...if he's even close, then Garrett should be fired for keeping it such a good secret.
I don't think he's any better in the open field, though that's the category he's probably closest on.

I think the only disappointment with Bush is that people hoped he'd be an all-the-time back, and he's not. We don't know that Felix won't be limited to the exact same type of role as change of pace guy. I like Felix for his potential, but I don't think he's better than Bush at any of those things listed.

Now, if Felix ever proves he can handle the load and becomes a full-time back who can tote the rock 20 times a game, including between the tackles regularly, then it's a hands down win for Felix.

 

[zrinkill]

I would take either.

I love Felix.

But I think Bush is actually underrated now because he did not "live up" to some peoples stupid expectations.

 

[Chuck 54]

I wouldn't trade Felix for Bush. Felix looks to be able to run inside and outside. And as far as putting him out wide like Bush.....well, they do that with Bush because he can't run inside. It's just another way to get him outside.

I raised hell when they drafted Felix over Mendenhall. I was sooooo wrong.

I love Felix Jones, but he hasn't proven he can run inside or be anything more than what he was in college and so far in DAllas, a part-time back. Right now he's having trouble staying healthy touching the ball less than 10 times a game. They put Bush outside because he's such a good receiver that he has to be respected by the cb as a wr would...that's the passing game and has nothing to do with the running game. We haven't even gotten Felix involved catching the ball at all...right now, Choice has been the 3rd down back more than Felix.

Felix is perfect for what we wanted...as Garrett said, we already have a full time RB. I would love to see Jones do it all and become a superstar, but right now I just don't see how anyone can argue that he does anything Bush doesn't do. That's not a knock on him at all...but it's a stretch at this point to say Felix Jones is a better RB than Bush.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Why Lab?

I had a lot of reasons on Bush. I always saw him doing everything in the open field, outrunning everyone and making those violent stop-and-start moves that work against Fresno State but don't work in the NFL where defenders are so much faster.

I also didn't like that Bush is built like a WR. He's not very big to start with, but he has that beach build with big arms and really skinny legs, and that rarely works in the NFL.

I never saw Bush run well inside. Even more than that, he acted like he didn't want to try.

Never liked his attitude, either. Always seemed like a prima donna to me. Even after USC, I noticed he did he own high-tech workout in Cali his first offseason instead of doing squats, cleans, and windsprints with his team.

Really, I think he should've been a WR. As it is, all he'll ever be is a specialty player, as Parcells would say. And he is exciting in that role, but it's not what a #2 overall pick should be.

As for Felix, I'm something of an Arkansas fan (graduated elsewhere but went there my freshman year) and even I wasn't sure he could run between the tackles at first either. Heck, he never really had to in that offense. But I knew he was a real running back, was at least willing to run hard inside, and had an incredibly great attitude. And he had amazing vision (the most important thing for a RB IMO) and that smooth cutting style instead of the violent style Bush has. Plus he'd done it in the best conference in the country.

Bush is definitely faster, but I think Felix is better in pretty much every other way.

Now if Felix can't ever stay healthy, that'll obviously be a big negative against him. But I don't think we can say that yet.

 

[Big Dakota]

I love Felix Jones, but he hasn't proven he can run inside or be anything more than what he was in college and so far in DAllas, a part-time back. Right now he's having trouble staying healthy touching the ball less than 10 times a game. They put Bush outside because he's such a good receiver that he has to be respected by the cb as a wr would...that's the passing game and has nothing to do with the running game. We haven't even gotten Felix involved catching the ball at all...right now, Choice has been the 3rd down back more than Felix.

Felix is perfect for what we wanted...as Garrett said, we already have a full time RB. I would love to see Jones do it all and become a superstar, but right now I just don't see how anyone can argue that he does anything Bush doesn't do. That's not a knock on him at all...but it's a stretch at this point to say Felix Jones is a better RB than Bush.

Bush 3.7 per rush

Felix 8.9..................


Bush is pretty good catching the ball out of the backfield, but he's average AT BEST as a RB and really below average. Dude was, is and aways was overrated! If Felix stays healthy he could be a real dynamic guy running the ball.

 

[VACowboy]

Wayne: You haven't seen Felix break tackles?

 

[tunahelper]

Boy some dump off passes to Felix would have been nice to see against the Giants. Hopefully we get to see the cat let out to play this week?

 

[Natedawg44]

Too bad Chris Johnson is better than both Felix and Bush at this point. He was on the board at the time as well.

 

[dbair1967]

This quote is silly...that describes Reggie Bush perfectly. Anyone who doubts this has already forgotten Bush single-handedly destroying the Cowboys defense with big plays on offense and a punt return. Bush makes directional cuts at full speed, has the vision that makes him a great open field runner and big time punt returner. I haven't seen either of these guys "break" many tackles...they avoid them, and Reggie Bush has more speed than Felix, documented.

I love Felix, but until he proves he can be an every down back who can run between the tackles with power and hold up (something Bush cannot do), I'd trade Felix for a healthy Bush at his best any day of the week.

Bush does more in the punt return game than Felix does in the kickoff return, and up to now, bush is clearly the better receiver with great hands and the ability to line out wide like a receiver.

Both have had injury issues...I hope Felix proves to be more than a change of pace guy, but if they both end up being basically the back described above in bold, not an all around back, then Felix has a ways to go before he should be considered Bush's equal....and to make it sound like he's being what Bush isn't cannot be defended or supported, imo.

Felix is a great weapon for Dallas, and unlike Bush, he gets a couple more years to prove if he's more than a change of pace / third down back. Felix is a better deal because he was selected #22 while Bush was #3, but that has nothing to do with what they bring to an offense. Still, I think the author's premise is bs. Bush is a bust if you wanted an every-down back, but if you put him in the same role Felix is playing, he'd be incredible, and he'd probably get even more touches than Felix at this point.

I was one of the biggest Bush supporters there was when he came out, but face it, this guy is a bust considering where he was picked. He's basically the 3rd guy behind people like Mike Bell and Pierre Thomas. Let me say that again- MIKE BELL AND PIERRE THOMAS.

He has shown poor vision, durability and very little big play ability since he was brought in. He's turned into a dumpoff/outlet RB target on passing downs. He really hasnt had any big plays as a runner or receiver since his rookie year, and he's always had a problem with fumbles.

I wouldnt trade Felix Jones for 3 Reggie Bushs. F Jones is EONS a better runner.

 

[BAT]

Felix Jones is the MOST DYNAMIC player on the Cowboys. He is a RB plain and simple, he can run inside and outside. Bush is neither a Cowboy or a pure RB, plain and simple. In this instance, the numbers do not lie, Bush is nowhere near the running back that Felix Jones IS.

Bush is a Percy Harvin type player, a hybrid who is better catching the ball and running for the sidelines/in space. Felix can do that too, but he is also a tough runner in the redzone/in between the tackles. They may both have similar skillsets (lightning fast, bit undersized), but they are both built differently and have very different mentalities when it comes to running the ball.