DMN Blog: Should Felix Jones-Rashard Mendenhall comparisons continue?

[WoodysGirl]

9:17 AM Fri, Sep 11, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
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When Jerry Jones picked Felix Jones instead over Rashard Mendenhall, the reaction was swift.

Jerry got ripped for picking a fellow Razorback over a back that was projected by some experts to go in the top 10. One Big Ten-loving former colleague of mine really laid it on thick.

But the knee-jerk reactions after their rookie seasons, both of which were abbreviated by injuries, were that the Cowboys came off looking like geniuses.

Mendenhall rushed for 58 yards on 19 carries last season. Jones had more yards than that on one touchdown run and averaged a ridiculous 8.9 yards on his 30 carries. No contest.

Mendenhall certainly didn't do anything to change any minds during the Steelers' OT win over the Titans last night. He fell down for 6 yards on four carries.




http://www.***BANNED-URL***/images/ice3/icons/blog.gif Comments (19) Leave comment | http://www.***BANNED-URL***/blogs/images/email-icon.jpg E-mail entry

 

[CATCH17]

Should Felix Jones-Rashard Mendenhall comparisons continue?

lol have at it.

 

[DEZBRYANT x88x]

When we first drafted Felix i was kind of iffy. But like what they said Mendenhall was a everydown back and we already had one in MB3. And felix was something special and we couldnt let him go.


But now i think it was an excellent descion.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Mendenhall looked awful last night.

 

[DallasEast]

There is a poster here whom I'm sure wishes to comment about this topic. His name escapes me right now, though.

 

[elcowboi]

He fell down for 6 yards on four carries.

I thought that was funny.... As of right now, I would take Jones over Mendenhall anyday.

 

[Stash]

I will readily admit how utterly wrong I was on this topic.

:abuseme:

 

[NextGenBoys]

At first I wanted Felix.

Then I changed my mind, and said "no" to a backup RB in the first round.

Then I wanted him again.

Then I wanted to trade up for DRC.

But I was happy we ended up with him. In no part pre-or post draft 2008 did I ever want Rashard Mendenhall. THAT would have been ridiculous.

 

[skinsscalper]

When we first drafted Felix i was kind of iffy. But like what they said Mendenhall was a everydown back and we already had one in MB3. And felix was something special and we couldnt let him go.


But now i think it was an excellent descion.

I'll make no bones about it. When we drafted Felix with Mendenhall still on the board I was PISSED. I'll take 20 helpings of crow and chew it down with a smile. Felix is going to be special. Mendenhall, so far, looks like JAG.

 

[CATCH17]

I actually wanted Felix Jones and Malcolm Kelly in the 1st round.

It will be interesting to see if I was right about Kelly when so many on here told me he was a bust. Because he is a Sooner/Commander than im hoping he is a giant flop.


I heard he is starting for Washington though.

 

[JerryFan]

I watched Rashard his entire career. Even saw him a couple game in HS. I was beyond pissed when we picked Felix over him. I fully admit I had obviously not watched enough of Felix Jones, because as far as the roles they play Felix is WAY better.

Rashard needs 20 carries a game to feel the total effect of him IMO. He will be a solid player in this league I have no doubt, but he's no Felix Jones I know that.

 

[dmq]

Mendenhall averaged about what the other rbs averaged last night. I thing what was more telling was that they had Moore in at the end of the game.

 

[DallasEast]

I will readily admit how utterly wrong I was on this topic.

:abuseme:

Stop beating yourself over it. There were a number of people (like myself) who wanted Jones and Phillips to take the higher rated running back off the board. According to a number of so-called draft gurus, that was Rashard Mendenhall--even though the pre-draft ranking differential between him and Felix Jones was very small.

In my opinion, there's nothing wrong by making an educated guess during the draft. It's largely a crapshoot anyway. The real problem surfaces when observers watch players perform on the field; and even if they may perform very well, their personal evaluation doesn't change simply because their pet cat wasn't drafted instead.

Oh well. Go Felix Jones and Go Cowboys!

 

[speedkilz88]

I actually wanted Felix Jones and Malcolm Kelly in the 1st round.

It will be interesting to see if I was right about Kelly when so many on here told me he was a bust. Because he is a Sooner/Commander than im hoping he is a giant flop.


I heard he is starting for Washington though.

He had knee problems last year, a team would have been a laughingstock if they took him in the first.

 

[Doomsday101]

I was happy with the selection of Felix I knew he was one of the top backs in the draft once Dallas made the pick I really did not concern myself with other backs we passed up. Same with the Ware and Merriman situation you had fans all upset because their guy was not selected I understood both were good players and was thrilled at getting Ware and could careless at that point of Merriman.

 

[TNCowboy]

I thought Mendenhall would be better than he looks to be, TN defense or not.

He looks to me like a guy who runs not to get hurt. He looked that way in what little time he played last year, and looked it again last night.

 

[DFWJC]

Obviously it is WAY too early to assess a winner. But it's safe to say Felix looks much better so far.

The concerns about Mendenhall when he came out were all true. He does not have great vision, his lateral quickness is questionable, and he has potential durabililty issues. Having said that, the Steelers have a poor run-blocking line and he has only had a few carries so far in his career.

Felix is even better than advertised. His main coming out durability and that is still a question mark. But he appears to have the abilty to carry more of a load than most orignally expected.

 

[Monster Heel]

Mendenhall averaged about what the other rbs averaged last night. I thing what was more telling was that they had Moore in at the end of the game.

They used Moore at the end because he's the best pass catching back they have. Parker, Mendenhall nor Moore could run the ball.

 

[DFWJC]

I actually wanted Felix Jones and Malcolm Kelly in the 1st round.

It will be interesting to see if I was right about Kelly when so many on here told me he was a bust. Because he is a Sooner/Commander than im hoping he is a giant flop.


I heard he is starting for Washington though.

Few WRs show much early on and with Kelly getting hurt so early, there was no way to assess that pick. We'll get a better idea this year, and especially next year. I here both second year WRs are looking pretty good for Washington, but many look great in preseason and don't translate.

Speaking of rookies looking decent at WR, I think Tenn may have found something with Kenny Britt.

 

[DFWJC]

They used Moore at the end because he's the best pass catching back they have. Parker, Mendenhall nor Moore could run the ball.

Exactly. They went no huddle and all passing (it worked!) and Moore is the guy for that.