ESPN: Scouts: On the hot seat: Felix Jones

[WoodysGirl]

Mar 1
1:00
PM CT

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By Matt Williamson, Scouts Inc.


Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson looks at NFC East players who must improve in 2011.

The Cowboys' offensive line gets scrutinized quite a bit, and there could be several prominent changes up front, but they are a very good run-blocking unit. Few teams have receiving weaponry like Dallas. Tony Romo will be back, Dez Bryant is on the cusp of stardom, and the Cowboys have elite pass-catchers in Jason Witten and Miles Austin.

Felix Jones certainly isn’t a bad player, but he is loaded with talent and if he played up to that ability, this offense could be as good as any in the league. Jones added weight before the 2010 season, and that might have been a mistake. He didn’t look as explosive, and the long runs didn’t come with as much frequency.

Read more: http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4678514/on-the-hot-seat-felix-jones

 

[SDCowboy]

I actually think the guy is more dangerous as a receiver than a RB. He dances around way too long before he starts running. When he's used in a receiving role he's already in motion and more dangerous, IMO.

 

[Hostile]

Get Barber out of his way. I love the guy, but he is in the way at the moment.

 

[CATCH17]

Get some Offensive Linemen with young legs instead of these guys like Davis and Colombo who can't get on that 2nd level.

 

[tomson75]

"Very good run blocking unit" is a bit of a stretch....

 

[TD-33]

By Matt Williamson, Scouts Inc.
Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson looks at NFC East players who must improve in 2011.
The Cowboys' offensive line gets scrutinized quite a bit, and there could be several prominent changes up front, but they are a very good run-blocking unit. Few teams have receiving weaponry like Dallas. Tony Romo will be back, Dez Bryant is on the cusp of stardom, and the Cowboys have elite pass-catchers in Jason Witten and Miles Austin.

http://i.imgur.com/Lbomp.gif

 

[burmafrd]

whoever this guy is he knows nothing about football.

 

[Primetime42]

"Very good run blocking unit" is a bit of a stretch....

I kinda at that.

 

[baj1dallas]

I'd like to see how he could improve with more carries. I think the one thing that holds him back is that he doesn't have the greatest field vision or instincts.

 

[Future]

http://i.imgur.com/Lbomp.gif

:laugh2: niiice

 

[alohawg]

I'd like to see how he could improve with more carries. I think the one thing that holds him back is that he doesn't have the greatest field vision or instincts.

That's why he makes 10 yd. runs 40 yds. I guess.

 

[YosemiteSam]

http://i.imgur.com/Lbomp.gif

Excellent.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Get Barber out of his way. I love the guy, but he is in the way at the moment.

Wait weren't you on the Barber bandwagon before last year? :

 

[Hostile]

Wait weren't you on the Barber bandwagon before last year? :

He is one of my favorite players, still.

I care about the team more than I do individual favorite players and I think we need to run Felix.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

He is one of my favorite players, still.

I care about the team more than I do individual favorite players and I think we need to run Felix.

I agree.... Time for them to allow Felix to carry the ball at least 15+ times a game because he's too talented to be on the sidelines.

 

[jswalker1981]

No one ran good behind the line, so how does that put Felix on the hot seat?? I could understand if Choice or Barber were running well, and Felix wasn't. But that isn't the case.

Let's blame Ratliff for Jenkins getting burned while we are at it.

 

[YosemiteSam]

No one ran good behind the line, so how does that put Felix on the hot seat?? I could understand if Choice or Barber were running well, and Felix wasn't. But that isn't the case.

Let's blame Ratliff for Jenkins getting burned while we are at it.

Okay. A lack of a pass rush can cause CBs to get burned.

 

[Stautner]

I think it's fair to say Felix is a bit on the hot seat. I know all the arguments about the O-line and Garrett not committing to Felix, and I think that is fair to bring up, but the fact remains that until Felix starts to produce more he will be questioned.

My view has always been that I don't really know that Felix can be the featured RB type, but that we have to find out what he can be instead of holding him back forever. I think we need to upgrade some at O-line and give Felix about 18 carries a game for awhile and see how it goes.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I think it's fair to say Felix is a bit on the hot seat. I know all the arguments about the O-line and Garrett not committing to Felix, and I think that is fair to bring up, but the fact remains that until Felix starts to produce more he will be questioned.

My view has always been that I don't really know that Felix can be the featured RB type, but that we have to find out what he can be instead of holding him back forever. I think we need to upgrade some at O-line and give Felix about 18 carries a game for awhile and see how it goes.

You are aware that while the running game from all runners where not so great, Felix did quadrupled his receiving numbers last year. (though 71 of the 450 yards did come on one play)

I like what Felix is doing. The running game definitely needs help up front. This is a big reason I really want the Cowboys to take Smith at #9 and maybe Wisniewski in the second. We could replace the whole right side of our line on the first day of the draft.

Maybe grab Kendrick Ellis in the 3rd which would allow Ratliff to move around from NT to DE at times with Josh and Ellis to cover the NT position.

I like.

I haven't done a mock draft. Usually don't, but I will go with that for the first three rounds.

nyc's first three round mock

1. Tyron Smith
2. Stefen Wisniewski
3. Kendrick Ellis

 

[Randy White]

Felix, like alot of RBs that have been entering the league for the past decade or so, is one of this " see a hole, hit it " Denver zone blocking style back. Nothing wrong with that at all, but they don't have the vision that an Emmitt Smith had, or Barry Sanders, or " Sweetness ", or Tony D, or many of the old school RBs. Those guys would set up defenses throught the game. They would treat each match up as a chess game, buying their time with each run in order to set up their move.. OF course, it doesn't help that offenses have changed more towards that style too, inadvertently or not, as they've favor the pass more than the run, especially in highschool and colleges.

That's why it's common to say that RBs are found anywhere in any round, which is true for every position, but more so for them than the others. They, basically, all have the same style with the speed being the biggest difference.