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How much Felix Jones is enough?
2:33 PM Tue, Sep 23, 2008 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon
That's a question the Cowboys coaching staff continues to ponder.
The point of using a first-round pick on a running back was to get a gamebreaking change-of-pace complement for Marion "The Barbarian" Barber, as well as making sure that Barber would get enough rest to stay fresh.
Jones has exceeded expectations as a gamebreaker. The kid is the first Cowboy to score TDs in his first three games (11-yard run, 98-yard kickoff return, 60-yard run). He's averaging 8.2 yards per carry. Yet he has only 19 touches from the line of scrimmage.
Wade Phillips noted again Monday that it's tough to put a horse like Barber in the stable. And Phillips pointed out that Barber looked awfully powerful during the fourth quarter. But, if Barber gets 28 carries in too many games, you have to be concerned about whether he'll be able to finish the season strong.
Jones played 13 snaps in Green Bay (play-by-play after the jump). He was on the field with Barber only twice, but you can count on that personnel package playing a significant part in at least a game or two this season. We also haven't seen much of Jones as a receiver (one catch for 3 yards), but that's coming, too.
Part of Jason Garrett's job is making sure that Barber is fresh enough to provide the Cowboys a power running game in the playoffs. It's also on Garrett to figure out ways to take advantage of the first-round RB's unique, explosive talent. Those two tasks go hand in hand.
FELIX JONES OFFENSIVE PLAYS VS. THE PACKERS
First-and-10, 6:56 1Q: Lined up as the inside receiver in a bunch to the outside of LT Flozell Adams with Barber in the backfield. Ran a wheel route, but Tony Romo dumped the ball off over the middle to Patrick Crayton, who dropped it. Phillips indicated Monday that the play is designed for Jones.
Third-and-5, 6:15 1Q: Lined up to Romo's right in the shotgun and ran a circle route. Was one-on-one with LB Nick Barnett, but Romo threw the ball to TE Jason Witten for a 5-yard game.
First-and-10, 5:26 1Q: Lined up in I formation and ran lead draw for 7 yards.
Second-and-3, 4:58 1Q: Lined up as single back in three-TE set and got ball on stretch play right, cutting back to get 2 yards up the middle.
First-and-10, 6:15 2Q: Lined up as single back in three-TE set and broke run for 60-yard TD around left end on "scissors" play. The linebackers flowed to the offense's right because of Jones' counter-step, but no O-linemen pulled or trapped. TE Jason Witten threw the key block, sealing DE Mike Montgomery, and Jones juked CB Charles Woodson and FS Nick Collins to get to the sideline.
Third-and-5, 12:49 3Q: Lined up to Romo's right in shotgun with Barber on the other side and ran a wheel route. Romo threw incomplete to T.O. across the middle.
First-and-10, 4:30 3Q: Lined up in I formation and got play-action fake before Romo hit Miles Austin on post route for 63-yard gain.
First-and-10, 1:37 3Q: Lined up as single back in three-TE set and ran "scissors" play, which he scored on earlier, to the other side. DE Cullen Jenkins dropped him for a 5-yard loss after TE Martellus Bennett missed his block on the back side.
Second-and-15, 0:53 3Q: Lined up to Romo's right in the shotgun and ran screen. Play went to hell when Jones slipped and fell to the turf, leading Romo to get flagged for intentional grounding when he threw ball to spot where Jones was supposed to be. Blocking appeared to be well set up.
First-and-10, 12:58 4Q: Lined up to Romo's left in shotgun and ran draw. Stopped for 2-yard gain by SS Aaron Rouse.
Second-and-8, 12:16 4Q: Lined up in offset I and ran draw off left tackle for 10 yards.
First-and-10, 11:33 4Q: Lined up in I and got play-action fake before Romo threw incomplete post to Austin.
Second-and-10, 11:27 4Q: Lined up to Romo's left in shotgun and released into flat when no blitzer came. Romo dumped it off while scrambling for a 3-yard gain. Tackle by LB Brandon Chillar prevented big play.
2:33 PM Tue, Sep 23, 2008 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon
That's a question the Cowboys coaching staff continues to ponder.
The point of using a first-round pick on a running back was to get a gamebreaking change-of-pace complement for Marion "The Barbarian" Barber, as well as making sure that Barber would get enough rest to stay fresh.
Jones has exceeded expectations as a gamebreaker. The kid is the first Cowboy to score TDs in his first three games (11-yard run, 98-yard kickoff return, 60-yard run). He's averaging 8.2 yards per carry. Yet he has only 19 touches from the line of scrimmage.
Wade Phillips noted again Monday that it's tough to put a horse like Barber in the stable. And Phillips pointed out that Barber looked awfully powerful during the fourth quarter. But, if Barber gets 28 carries in too many games, you have to be concerned about whether he'll be able to finish the season strong.
Jones played 13 snaps in Green Bay (play-by-play after the jump). He was on the field with Barber only twice, but you can count on that personnel package playing a significant part in at least a game or two this season. We also haven't seen much of Jones as a receiver (one catch for 3 yards), but that's coming, too.
Part of Jason Garrett's job is making sure that Barber is fresh enough to provide the Cowboys a power running game in the playoffs. It's also on Garrett to figure out ways to take advantage of the first-round RB's unique, explosive talent. Those two tasks go hand in hand.
FELIX JONES OFFENSIVE PLAYS VS. THE PACKERS
First-and-10, 6:56 1Q: Lined up as the inside receiver in a bunch to the outside of LT Flozell Adams with Barber in the backfield. Ran a wheel route, but Tony Romo dumped the ball off over the middle to Patrick Crayton, who dropped it. Phillips indicated Monday that the play is designed for Jones.
Third-and-5, 6:15 1Q: Lined up to Romo's right in the shotgun and ran a circle route. Was one-on-one with LB Nick Barnett, but Romo threw the ball to TE Jason Witten for a 5-yard game.
First-and-10, 5:26 1Q: Lined up in I formation and ran lead draw for 7 yards.
Second-and-3, 4:58 1Q: Lined up as single back in three-TE set and got ball on stretch play right, cutting back to get 2 yards up the middle.
First-and-10, 6:15 2Q: Lined up as single back in three-TE set and broke run for 60-yard TD around left end on "scissors" play. The linebackers flowed to the offense's right because of Jones' counter-step, but no O-linemen pulled or trapped. TE Jason Witten threw the key block, sealing DE Mike Montgomery, and Jones juked CB Charles Woodson and FS Nick Collins to get to the sideline.
Third-and-5, 12:49 3Q: Lined up to Romo's right in shotgun with Barber on the other side and ran a wheel route. Romo threw incomplete to T.O. across the middle.
First-and-10, 4:30 3Q: Lined up in I formation and got play-action fake before Romo hit Miles Austin on post route for 63-yard gain.
First-and-10, 1:37 3Q: Lined up as single back in three-TE set and ran "scissors" play, which he scored on earlier, to the other side. DE Cullen Jenkins dropped him for a 5-yard loss after TE Martellus Bennett missed his block on the back side.
Second-and-15, 0:53 3Q: Lined up to Romo's right in the shotgun and ran screen. Play went to hell when Jones slipped and fell to the turf, leading Romo to get flagged for intentional grounding when he threw ball to spot where Jones was supposed to be. Blocking appeared to be well set up.
First-and-10, 12:58 4Q: Lined up to Romo's left in shotgun and ran draw. Stopped for 2-yard gain by SS Aaron Rouse.
Second-and-8, 12:16 4Q: Lined up in offset I and ran draw off left tackle for 10 yards.
First-and-10, 11:33 4Q: Lined up in I and got play-action fake before Romo threw incomplete post to Austin.
Second-and-10, 11:27 4Q: Lined up to Romo's left in shotgun and released into flat when no blitzer came. Romo dumped it off while scrambling for a 3-yard gain. Tackle by LB Brandon Chillar prevented big play.
