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

[Doomsday101]

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.

Thank you. I am trying to be objective and do not hate Jones but I do expect more out of my starting RB. If Jones can provide that then great but if not then change has to take place. I think the running game is too critical of a factor to settle for the inconsistency that has been taking place.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Wow, talk about a thread that's deja vu all over again.

 

[iceberg]

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 .....

how could he? ANY coach spoke about what was going on they were fired. parcells did some good here to be sure, but let's not say and pretend that he was open to critisizm - esp by a player in public.

 

[iceberg]

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

simply a point to consider - parcells had "his guys" who were allowed another set of rules. apply here, dunno. but he did allow it.

 

[joseephuss]

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.

He is more consistent than you are making him out to be. Despite having a few spectacular games I don't think he really is that spectacular. Those big games came against poor run defenses. Just like some of his really poor games have come against some stout run defenses. He really is just in the middle and been fairly consistent. His problem has been injuries more than anything else with most of that coming in the first two seasons.

In 37 games Julius has averaged 19.49 carries per game and 78.27 yards per game. The median number of carries is 21 and number of yards is 79.

He has topped his average yards in 19 of 37 games and topped 70 yards in 23 of 37 games.

He has been below 50 yards in 11 of 37 games. In four of those games he got 10 or few carries and in another two games he got 11 carries.

In 6 of 8 rookie games he topped 80 yards. In one game he didn't he only got 5 carries.

He has had good and bad games, but for the most part he has been around his average. Now the question becomes is his average game good or bad. I think it is just average or slightly above. Nothing special, but something that can help a team win games. Especially when coupled with Barber's production. We are not talking about Emmitt Smith obviously, but he certainly is no Troy Hambrick either.

 

[VACowboy]

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.

Let me rephrase: I don't think it's accurate to compare a RB who starts the game and runs the ball in "normal" situations on "normal" downs to one who gets far fewer carries, usually in situations created by the game. How many of Barber's carries were in two-minute situations? How many times did he carry the ball on first and 10 at the ends of halves against prevent defenses? I guess I should have called him our "passing down" back.

I hope the stats are right. I hope he's just that good. But in my opinion, the jury's out just as far on Barber as a starting RB as it is Jones. Until he does it, we won't know, and as I said in another post, finding that out is something I'm all for.

 

[DC Cowboy]

It looks like he is getting one more year to prove himself. I think it's mostly an excuse. Parcells didn't teach him to fall down on first contact. If he performs as poorly as he has for the last few years, the Cowboys *should* just let him go after this season. We have several draft choices next year to hopefully land something better. Even if it's trading for an existing player.

I am not one to blame BP for everything but there was a difference in his running style. Also I will say they never really allowed him to get into a groove last year. Far too many times they took him out or relied too much on the passing game.

 

[joseephuss]

simply a point to consider - parcells had "his guys" who were allowed another set of rules. apply here, dunno. but he did allow it.

Parcells had issues with Barber as well. Any coach will have issues with a running back losing yards in the back field instead of hitting the hole and not protecting the ball. You can still do both those things and still maintain your instincts and style. Barber has managed to do both. Julius says he has not because of Parcells. Wrong, it is on him.

 

[burmafrd]

You cannot really blame JJ for doing it BPs way. Why was it that BP several times last year said JJ was running the way he, BP wanted him to?
BP got on Barber hard that one game on 3rd and short when he tried to dance and got nailed for a loss. Barber did not do that much, though.

 

[VACowboy]

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.

There's no denying that Barber has looked really, really good. And I think he deserves a shot at starting. I'm just not ready to say he's a better starting RB than Julius until he's done it. That's not a point I'm ready to...discuss. Whether or not Parcells had an effect on JJ's play, JJ has a lot to prove. As far as producing like he has in the past while carrying the ball 20 times per over the course of 8 games, so does Barber. I hope he gets the chance.

 

[Hoofbite]

Parcells had issues with Barber as well. Any coach will have issues with a running back losing yards in the back field instead of hitting the hole and not protecting the ball. You can still do both those things and still maintain your instincts and style. Barber has managed to do both. Julius says he has not because of Parcells. Wrong, it is on him.

I with ya there. Any player who so mentally weak that they cannot figure out what is expected of them while maximizing their production has no one to blame.

 

[Vtwin]

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?

</p>
Maybe he tried to and Barber didn't listen.That might account for his curious lack of carries late in the season and the playoff game.

 

[burmafrd]

It is interesting that in the PLAYOFF game Barber was virtually non existent. It could be that BP was sending a message- but to do it in a PLAYOFF game?

 

[Rampage]

well we will certainly find out if this is true or not this season

 

[Doomsday101]

It is interesting that in the PLAYOFF game Barber was virtually non existent. It could be that BP was sending a message- but to do it in a PLAYOFF game?

I think it had more to do with Jones being productive in that game. In games where Jones was being productive he was given more chances to carry the ball and in games where he stuggled he had a lot less carries.

 

[BouncingCheese]

I can't wait to see akin ayodele...This guy should get more exposure.

 

[joseephuss]

I think it had more to do with Jones being productive in that game. In games where Jones was being productive he was given more chances to carry the ball and in games where he stuggled he had a lot less carries.

Unforutnately, neither was effective the last 4 games of the year. Niether was the defense.

 

[Doomsday101]

Unforutnately, neither was effective the last 4 games of the year. Niether was the defense.

Jones did a good job in the playoff game 22 carries for 112, which is why I think he stayed in the game. In the games he was avg 2.8 yards a carry he was getting 10 to 11 carries but in games where he was being productive his carries were in the 20 carry range. If anything the production dictated how many carries Jones would get.

 

[Cochese]

What a bunch of garbage. Jones doesnt want to run to the hole where the play is called? Tough crap, thats football. Jones is a no one in the NFL, I trust Parcells judgement over his. Only one more year to listen to his outrageous predictions he never achieves and this kind of pathetic whining.

 

[BouncingCheese]

Unforutnately, neither was effective the last 4 games of the year. Niether was the defense.

I am glad someone agrees with me about Barber also bieng innefective at the end of the season; Teams are just going to stack 8 in the box when we run... I am fine with this as long as we don't run the ball FOUR CONSECUTIVE times and try something innovative like a play-action roll out pass or qb sprint for the endzone...something, anything besides what we were trying at the end of the year.