Felix Jones needs to become a larger part of this offense.

[sonnyboy]

This thread should be renamed "Jones needs to stay healthy and be a larger part of our running game".

What did you see down the stretch that would make you think for one second that Jones will not lead the Cowboys in rushing attempts in 2010?
Provided of course he remains healthy.

 

[Cover 2]

MB will not be traded due to the contract Jerruh gave him. And sadly it is true he is not what he was two years ago. everyone from Emmit Smith on down told him he had to change his style or be a short term NFL player. He has gotten beaten down and its obvious. I think that he can still be a good RB just not what he was. Have to laugh at those that claimed because he was supposedly delivering the hits the constant collisions would not wear him down. MORONS. Whether giving or receiving the body is still taking punishment and its cumulative.

That's why Roy Williams (the safety) dropped off IMO.

 

[Cover 2]

I agree that Felix needs to become the starter because he brings an explosive element that our offense lacks. It will force defenses to bring their safeties up which should open things up a bit more for Miles.

I do agree on not overworking Felix. I would hope for about 15 carries per game and maybe 4 receptions per game. Whatever is left over could be split between Choice and Barber - hopefully another 15 or so carries.

I think Garrett needs to re-think our running game a bit with Felix as the primary back. We need more plays to get him in space and as we re-develop the OL, I hope he re-envisions it as one that can make blocks on the move.

That's one reason I like Free so much. He is able to quickly get out in space which is where Felix is the most dangerous.

I was thinking about that the other day, I think that really hurt him a lot last season. He didnt break nearly as many tackles as he had the previous seasons and I dont recall seeing him using a stiff arm nearly as much. He use to use it quite a bit to help get him to the outside in the past.

I'm not sure not being able to stiff arm to the face was Barber's problem. I even saw him throw that stiff arm to the face a few times during the season and it never got called. I did see him get taken down multiple times by a single corner though.

 

[goshan]

Barber isn't the best back on the team.
This isn't 2007.

 

[AbeBeta]

I doubt the team wants to use Felix for more than 15 touches a game. After he got hurt in Carolina (and had to leave a game earlier in the year), the staff really seemed to give up on the idea of him being able to carry the load (recall, they planned for him to get about 30 touches in that game). In fact there were some rumblings about the team saving him for the playoffs. So it really isn't about getting him involved so much as it is about keeping him fit.

 

[jazzcat22]

I hope Barber can stay healthy this year. Too bad the NFL wrote in a stiff-arm rule especially for him.

Most rules are written against Dallas players.

 

[Eskimo]

That's one reason I like Free so much. He is able to quickly get out in space which is where Felix is the most dangerous.

Some people on this board have taken an irrational dislike of Free. He is a good pass blocker, a decent positional/walloff blocker and an incredible blocker on the move. He meshes with Felix's skills very well. Kosier blocks really well on the move too but was being overpowered alot late in the season against larger DTs. I think he probably needs to be replaced sometime next year, unfortunately.

 

[dbair1967]

I doubt the team wants to use Felix for more than 15 touches a game. After he got hurt in Carolina (and had to leave a game earlier in the year), the staff really seemed to give up on the idea of him being able to carry the load (recall, they planned for him to get about 30 touches in that game). In fact there were some rumblings about the team saving him for the playoffs. So it really isn't about getting him involved so much as it is about keeping him fit.

I think it was just a case of he wasnt healthy more than anything else. As soon as he got closer to 100%, he started getting more touches. I dont think he'll ever get to the point where he's running 300+ times a yr, but I could see him getting 225-250 a season if he stays healthy. He should definitely be getting the most carries of the 3 backs IMO.

 

[dogunwo]

Most rules are written against Dallas players.

What about Keon Lattimore? Aren't we forgetting to fuss about him getting more carries too?

 

[Eskimo]

I think it was just a case of he wasnt healthy more than anything else. As soon as he got closer to 100%, he started getting more touches. I dont think he'll ever get to the point where he's running 300+ times a yr, but I could see him getting 225-250 a season if he stays healthy. He should definitely be getting the most carries of the 3 backs IMO.

Yes, I think that would be a good number of carries to shoot for with Felix. I want him to last awhile here.

 

[KJJ]

You could clearly see a changing of the guard late last season at RB with Felix Jones taking over as the feature back. I expect to see him early and often next season probably as the starter. If the Cowboys enter next season with Felix, Choice and Barber they need to rotate Felix and Choice and put Barber back in the role he had prior to the 08 season. From 05 to 07 Barber stayed healthy and was very effective in short yardage situations and as a closer late in games because his carries were limited and he was kept fresh. Barber is one of those backs who gets worse with the more carries he gets because of his aggressive rockem sockem billy goat running style. The biggest concern with him is that everytime he gets injured the injury appears to linger all season. I don't think he ever totally recovered from that quad injury in week two. Barber has aged alot the past couple of years and he'll be finished by 29-30 years old if the Cowboys continue pounding him early in games.

The past two seasons he's been totally ineffective the final few games. I remember how quick Earl Campbell hit the wall after only 5 years in the league. I wouldn't be totally surprised to see Barber traded right before or during the draft. This is a pretty deep RB class and the Cowboys could select a good inside runner and make a move with Barber but they're unlikely to get much for him with all the lingering injuries he's had the past couple of years. At 27 his body already appears to be breaking down. It's clear his days in Dallas are beginning to look numbered.

 

[AbeBeta]

I think it was just a case of he wasnt healthy more than anything else. As soon as he got closer to 100%, he started getting more touches. I dont think he'll ever get to the point where he's running 300+ times a yr, but I could see him getting 225-250 a season if he stays healthy. He should definitely be getting the most carries of the 3 backs IMO.

That's pretty much in line with the 15 touches I noted ... 15 x 16 = 240. I said touches not carries but I think that Felix probably comes out on 3rd down b/c Barber and Choice are superior in pass protection, so he's not going to get more than say 40 catches anyway .... so we are pretty much talking the same # give or take a touch or two per game

 

[Eskimo]

That's pretty much in line with the 15 touches I noted ... 15 x 16 = 240. I said touches not carries but I think that Felix probably comes out on 3rd down b/c Barber and Choice are superior in pass protection, so he's not going to get more than say 40 catches anyway .... so we are pretty much talking the same # give or take a touch or two per game

I think we should try at least 4 passes to Felix every game. Some screens, some dumpoffs in the flat and some with him lining up in the slot against a LB - I think his hands are great and his open field running is out of this world.

 

[AbeBeta]

I think we should try at least 4 passes to Felix every game. Some screens, some dumpoffs in the flat and some with him lining up in the slot against a LB - I think his hands are great and his open field running is out of this world.

I think there is a reluctance to give him a larger, and as you suggest, more varied role b/c of the injuries and what appears to be a slow recovery period. It really hurts the O when you've got someone who you depend on for so many things either out or not playing full speed. If he shows he can stay healthy - much like the other Jones we had needed to prove - then he's going to get those opportunities.

 

[Eskimo]

I think there is a reluctance to give him a larger, and as you suggest, more varied role b/c of the injuries and what appears to be a slow recovery period. It really hurts the O when you've got someone who you depend on for so many things either out or not playing full speed. If he shows he can stay healthy - much like the other Jones we had needed to prove - then he's going to get those opportunities.

I haven't seen him injured on a pass yet. All his injuries have happened on runs.

When you think of it, on pass plays there are less big hits and big bodies to worry about so there is less wear and tear in principle.

When you have someone with a special talent, you have to look for ways to use it to its full efficacy. If that means slightly less carries, then so be it. Choice is underworked anyways.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Felix needs to be used right up to the limit of what we think he can handle, because he is just that good. I *still* think people underestimate him. Our other two backs aren't even in his league IMO. I've been lazy on this rainy day and just been watching old games all day, and no matter how many times I see him play I come away thinking he's just phenomenal.

 

[Eskimo]

Felix needs to be used right up to the limit of what we think he can handle, because he is just that good. I *still* think people underestimate him. Our other two backs aren't even in his league IMO. I've been lazy on this rainy day and just been watching old games all day, and no matter how many times I see him play I come away thinking he's just phenomenal.

His ability to make people miss when running near full speed is unbelievable. He always seems to be one step of the guys who are trying to run him down - zigging when they are zagging, so to speak. I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone quite as good as him at this.

 

[AbeBeta]

I haven't seen him injured on a pass yet. All his injuries have happened on runs.

When you think of it, on pass plays there are less big hits and big bodies to worry about so there is less wear and tear in principle.

When you have someone with a special talent, you have to look for ways to use it to its full efficacy. If that means slightly less carries, then so be it. Choice is underworked anyways.

Sure, but the runs he was injured on generally were long ones ... in the secondary ... much like a pass play. So the argument don't hold no water.

 

[Eskimo]

Sure, but the runs he was injured on generally were long ones ... in the secondary ... much like a pass play. So the argument don't hold no water.

Felix's injuries have kind of been "freaky" so I'm not sure how much weight we should put on them in general. Anyone can pull a hammy. Tearing a tendon when running in the open field in practice is just weird. PCL injury when dragged down from behind is also an oddball type.

Whether you run the ball or throw the ball, he is going to be runnning so it is not possible to avoid these situations.

I don't think his body will take undue abuse from giving him the ball in the open field. This is the type of position we need to be constantly trying to create for him.

 

[casmith07]

Felix's injuries have kind of been "freaky" so I'm not sure how much weight we should put on them in general. Anyone can pull a hammy. Tearing a tendon when running in the open field in practice is just weird. PCL injury when dragged down from behind is also an oddball type.

Whether you run the ball or throw the ball, he is going to be runnning so it is not possible to avoid these situations.

I don't think his body will take undue abuse from giving him the ball in the open field. This is the type of position we need to be constantly trying to create for him.

I was much more excited about Felix Jones injuring opposing teams' players this year :laugh2: