From Julius Jones Himself: "He had me running like a robot"

[InmanRoshi]

Barber catches teams off guard and only is used basically in short yardage situations..

Utterly and statistically false.

 

[Clove]

Although it appeared that Parcells was much harder on JJ than any of the other players he drafted here, I do believe Parcells got to JJ, but like a bunch of you are saying, there is no excuse now!

JJ has to run, run hard, and be a factor or this is it.

 

[VACowboy]

I think it's worth noting that Parcells called Julius "the most explosive back in the draft," and regardless of what NFL.com says about JJ and whether it's true or not, Parcells brought him to Dallas. Whether Parcells screwed him up, JJ got more lazy between his rookie and sophomore seasons, or whatever, something changed.

I don't think we can compare Barber to Jones until he starts a season.

 

[StanleySpadowski]

Exactly.

Also, when did Parcells' coaching effect Barber? Barber would still cutback, change directions, and use his instincts. Julius is copping out.

And if you didn't notice, Parcells gave a majority of the carries to Jones.

Coincidence?

 

[InmanRoshi]

Julius was his rookie year what he is today and what he was at Notre Dame. A guy who's fully capable of running for 200 one week and 50 yards the next two or three. He wasn't unstoppable his rookie year. He had a few electric games, a few mediocre games and a few really poor games. That's Julius. That was Julius at Notre Dame. That was rookie year Julius. That's Julius today.

If you can live with not ever knowing what your going to get week to week from your starting RB, or not knowing if this week is the week he decides to show up, Julius is a perfectly okay runningback. Frankly, I get tired of rubbing my lucky rabbit foot every Sunday Morning hoping that this week is the week that Julius has decided he wants to break a tackle or two. I'm just ready to see more of MB3 this year, and then its Darren McFadden time. RB is the second most important position on the team behind QB because they touch the ball 25-30 times a game, and I'm tired of the mediocrity.

 

[VACowboy]

Utterly and statistically false.

That may be true, but there's a big difference between running sprint draws on third down and running off-tackle on first and 10. I'm not apologizing for Jones. He needs to take responsibility, buck up and play ball. But saying that there's no difference between a RB starting/playing regular downs and running on third down isn't quite accurate either.

 

[es22]

I am dissapointed in JJ for making excuses. A great runningback makes plays no matter what .....

What he is saying may be true ...... but he should have been man enough to say these things when Parcells was here .....

i couldnt have said it better myself.

At the end of the day, Jones was the guy with the ball who couldnt make it happen. A RB's instinct plays a major part of his game. If he always thougt about what Parcells said, then he let it get to his head.

This is his make or break year.

 

[MrMom]

And if you didn't notice, Parcells gave a majority of the carries to Jones.

Coincidence?

That makes absolutely no sense. Were they not receiving the same coaching in OTAs, minicamps, training Camp, practices?

Why would Parcells allow Barber to use his instincts, and not allow Jones?

 

[Hoov]

What I don't get is he had good games last season against Tenn, Hou, Wash, Car and in the playoff game. So evidently BP did not hurt him in those games but we are to believe that BP hurt him in all the other games.

Good point.

I'll go as far as to say its highly probable that Jones was not happy about some of the game plans that were implemented and that the plod ahead type of offense that parcells runs is not best suited for his particular set of skills.

Possibly he was soured over this due to early struggles when parcells started telling him he wanted him to change some things, possibly that could have led to a demotivation that took some of the fire out of JJ as Crown was stating in an earlier post.

Regardless, i still dont think its bad coaching advice to try and prevent too much dancing around behind the OLine, and to my recollection, there were still plenty of times i saw jones tiptoe or hesitate right before going for a hole when he should have been accelerating at that point. He seemed to be an indecisive runner on many occasion.

 

[Doomsday101]

That may be true, but there's a big difference between running sprint draws on third down and running off-tackle on first and 10. I'm not apologizing for Jones. He needs to take responsibility, buck up and play ball. But saying that there's no difference between a RB starting/playing regular downs and running on third down isn't quite accurate either.

Barber has only been given 2 starts with Dallas and put up 127 yards in one of the 2 starts. I don't know what Barber could do if given more opportunities. I would hope Phillips will allow competition to take place for the starter’s role. If that is Jones I would have no problem with it but I think Barber gets unfairly labeled as nothing more than just a 3rd down back when the reality is he has not been given the opportunity to do more so none of us really know what Barber could do with an increased role.

 

[InmanRoshi]

And if you didn't notice, Parcells gave a majority of the carries to Jones.

Coincidence?

And by the end of the year Barber was taking more and more of Julius' carries.

Coincidence?

 

[InmanRoshi]

That may be true, but there's a big difference between running sprint draws on third down and running off-tackle on first and 10.

Barber on 1st and 10.

46 carries, 255 yards, 5.5 ypc.

Barber only had 12 carries in situations of 3rd and 6+.

But if it just keeps getting repeated over and over again on internet messageboards that Barber got all of his yards on 3rd and long, then I guess it must be true.

 

[Hoov]

Barber catches teams off guard and only is used basically in short yardage situations..

How would barber catch the defense off guard. there is enough film on him for a team to know the plays the cowboys run most with him and they ought to know when Barber is on the field.

Also realize, Barber started to get more carries on 1st and ten and get in the game earlier and earlier as the season went on.

And i would think goalline carries are the toughest because the defense is more geared to run and there is less field to cover.

 

[StanleySpadowski]

That makes absolutely no sense. Were they not receiving the same coaching in OTAs, minicamps, training Camp, practices?

Why would Parcells allow Barber to use his instincts, and not allow Jones?

It makes perfect sense to anyone who applies any logic at all to the situation.

You're attempting to argue that Barber running on instints proves that Jones wasn't being coached to suppress some of his natural instincts.

The very fact Jones received more carries proves that the coaching staff either approved of what Jones was doing or disapproved of what Barber was doing. Under any other scenario, they would have given Barber the ball more.

 

[StanleySpadowski]

And by the end of the year Barber was taking more and more of Julius' carries.

Coincidence?

???????????


Unless Jones' 22 carries to Barber's 3 in the playoff game was a figment of my imagination, that's an insane comment.

 

[aikemirv]

Julius was his rookie year what he is today and what he was at Notre Dame. A guy who's fully capable of running for 200 one week and 50 yards the next two or three. He wasn't unstoppable his rookie year. He had a few electric games, a few mediocre games and a few really poor games. That's Julius. That was Julius at Notre Dame. That was rookie year Julius. That's Julius today.

If you can live with not ever knowing what your going to get week to week from your starting RB, or not knowing if this week is the week he decides to show up, Julius is a perfectly okay runningback. Frankly, I get tired of rubbing my lucky rabbit foot every Sunday Morning hoping that this week is the week that Julius has decided he wants to break a tackle or two. I'm just ready to see more of MB3 this year, and then its Darren McFadden time. RB is the second most important position on the team behind QB because they touch the ball 25-30 times a game, and I'm tired of the mediocrity.

His mediocrity led him to be in line with the top running backs in total yards after his first 18 games - of all time that is I believe.

So I will take that kind of mediocrity and hope it shows up again this year.

By the way, everyone early last year was saying our running game was poor and BP kept saying it was not and that JJ was doing exactly what he was told and BP was pleased with it.

Is that coincidence.

Someone also asked what about JJ's good games last year, what was he running like then. I will say this, when the holes are there and you run to that spot you will gain yards regardless. When the hole is not there and you run to the hole you don't, simple as that.

I guess we will just see this coming year won't we. I am so glad that JJ did not get traded so he can make you guys eat your words!

 

[VACowboy]

Barber has only been given 2 starts with Dallas and put up 127 yards in one of the 2 starts. I don't know what Barber could do if given more opportunities. I would hope Phillips will allow competition to take place for the starter’s role. If that is Jones I would have no problem with it but I think Barber gets unfairly labeled as nothing more than just a 3rd down back when the reality is he has not been given the opportunity to do more so none of us really know what Barber could do with an increased role.

Don't get me wrong. I'm a Julius Jones fan because he's a Cowboy, and nothing else. The truth is, I hate Notre Dame and was a tad purturbed when JJ took his game to South Bend instead of following his brother to Virginia. I don't care who starts and plays the majority of the snaps at RB, or any other position, as long as he's the best we have. And I don't label Barber as "just a third down back." It's just all he's played in Dallas, so I don't think it's apples to apples, comparing his productivity to Jones'. Having said that, I must also say that nothing (figure of speech) would thrill me more than seeing Barber start some games and get 25 carries. If he produces the same way he has in third-down and goal line situations, he's the man. I don't care who it is. I just want the job done.

 

[Verdict]

What I don't get is he had good games last season against Tenn, Hou, Wash, Car and in the playoff game. So evidently BP did not hurt him in those games but we are to believe that BP hurt him in all the other games.

I think you are looking at the issue objectively Dooms. It is hard to justify the position that Parcells had a negative impact on him through his coaching style, but only in the games Jones played poorly in. That probably doesn't hold water. Your point is well taken.

In all probability, Jones is feasting on teams that played the run poorly, and not doing so well against the better teams. That is true of just about every running back, but it seems much more applicable to Jones than elite running backs.

Jones is not horrible. He is serviceable. He is an average NFL back. I just don't understand how his supporters can make excuses that he is an all pro, hall of fame back, and Parcells is the reason that he wasn't performing up to his potential.

He is currently an underachiever compared to what most on this board expected, including me. The facts are the facts.

 

[Doomsday101]

Don't get me wrong. I'm a Julius Jones fan because he's a Cowboy, and nothing else. The truth is, I hate Notre Dame and was a tad purturbed when JJ took his game to South Bend instead of following his brother to Virginia. I don't care who starts and plays the majority of the snaps at RB, or any other position, as long as he's the best we have. And I don't label Barber as "just a third down back." It's just all he's played in Dallas, so I don't think it's apples to apples, comparing his productivity to Jones'. Having said that, I must also say that nothing (figure of speech) would thrill me more than seeing Barber start some games and get 25 carries. If he produces the same way he has in third-down and goal line situations, he's the man. I don't care who it is. I just want the job done.

Barber has been given a lot of his carries in the 2nd half of game and not just 3rd down or goal line situation and I think he adds a spark in the second half of games to the offense. I know many who cover the NFL have wondered why Barber is not getting more opportunities given the production he has shown. I do agree with you as far as I don't care who starts as long as they are getting the job done. As for Jones I would love to see him have a banner year but I do see this as a make or break year for him.

 

[tunahelper]

JJ might be right in what he says, however Marion displayed cut back ability & vision in his running style.

Why didn't Parcells limit his running style?

I think BP overcoached JJ, but there is a flaw in his game. He does not make the correct decisions when running consistently.

BP was trying to get him to hit the hole consistently, instead of constantly trying to make big plays when they are not there.

JJ needs to find the middle ground to elevate his game. IMO