Has anyone else noticed...

[Cowboyz88]

IMO, the tackles stat is one of the most overrated stats in the NFL, and it is not the end-all, be-all for determining a players value.

As many have noted, it's a completely subjective stat that is determined by the individual teams.

For years, it was one of the big arguments in the defense of SS Roy Williams, and we all know how that turned out.

That said, James has contributed to this years team, but he is not beyond reproach. I just think he's another average player who is overrated by the Cowboys fan base simply because he wears the star.

Like Williams, James is terrible in space. Also, he often times runs himself out of position. The Saints game really comes to mind. It was a great game, no doubt, for the Cowboys, but IMO, James was not good. On a number of long runs, he completely ran himself out of the play.

For years, he has been one of the supposed leaders on a team dearth of leaders on the defense, but in less than a season Brookings has become the leader James was supposed to be.

He's not a big-play player. I challenge any of you to name one big, game changing play this year, or even in his career. He's just not special.

Again, James has been solid but never could be mistaken for a catalytic player, and IMO, his position could definitely use an upgrade as soon as possible.

 

[NeonNinja]

That brady james is less active and prone to get stuck dancing with blockers, i mean don't get me wrong he's decent but why is he getting outplayed by a 34yr old brooking this year plus zach thomas last year...its like he's invisible out there during games. We need him to create some turnovers or hard hits every once in awhile, but i just don't see that killer instinct from him.

You mean Bradie? This has TROLL written all over it, or your football IQ is extremely lacking.

 

[CowboyMike]

I thought it was James' spot that is designed to have more tackles.

It must have been pretty low in the other half of the games, because we're ranked 9th in the league in rush defense by yards per carry.

Negative. It's Brooking. Brooking plays the Weak ILB position, meaning he is protected more from blocks and is more free to make tackles. James as the Strong side ILB has to take on more blocks and by design will have less tackles. This makes his feat of leading in tackles and his high numbers there even more impressive.

Which also answers this new guy's problem with Bradie tackling guys a few yards downfield. That's because his job is not to penetrate. Brooking is our penetrator, and he's darn good at it if you watch. Bradie is our wall, our second line of sorts, to stop the back from reaching the second level.

 

[LandryFan]

That brady james is less active and prone to get stuck dancing with blockers, i mean don't get me wrong he's decent but why is he getting outplayed by a 34yr old brooking this year plus zach thomas last year...its like he's invisible out there during games. We need him to create some turnovers or hard hits every once in awhile, but i just don't see that killer instinct from him.

I'll tell you what I have noticed. Your very brief posting history sure makes it look like you're a troll trying to stir up stuff. Every post is a criticism of some sort in which you attempt to sound like a concerned fan, but very much come off as a lowlife troll. Go fish somewhere else...

 

[Idgit]

I've notice that there's a thread where people are pretending Bradie has a beef with Brooking's pregame celebrations and now the tired and baseless criticism of him as a player has cropped up again. Not sure if there's a correlation.

 

[Manster54]

I'll tell you what I have noticed. Your very brief posting history sure makes it look like you're a troll trying to stir up stuff. Every post is a criticism of some sort in which you attempt to sound like a concerned fan, but very much come off as a lowlife troll. Go fish somewhere else...

Dude has been around as long as you...
I'm not saying I agree w/him (I don't) but calling him a "new guy" and a "troll" is lame. I think he just might be a 'Boys fan like us; just uninformed.

 

[Lifetimeboyzfan]

Zach outplayed Bradie last year? What are you smoking?
:laugh1:

 

[Manster54]

I'll tell you what I have noticed. Your very brief posting history sure makes it look like you're a troll trying to stir up stuff. Every post is a criticism of some sort in which you attempt to sound like a concerned fan, but very much come off as a lowlife troll. Go fish somewhere else...

Actually I got him mixed up w/Speed88...
I think you might be right.:troll2:

 

[CowboyMike]

Dude has been around as long as you...
I'm not saying I agree w/him (I don't) but calling him a "new guy" and a "troll" is lame. I think he just might be a 'Boys fan like us; just uninformed.

I wouldn't go as far as calling him a troll, but he is a new guy. He only has 9 posts and joined last month, Dec 2009. So no, he hasn't been around just as long.

 

[LandryFan]

Dude has been around as long as you...
I'm not saying I agree w/him (I don't) but calling him a "new guy" and a "troll" is lame. I think he just might be a 'Boys fan like us; just uninformed.

Go look at his posts. He smacks of troll. That's all I'm saying.

 

[Manster54]

Go look at his posts. He smacks of troll. That'a all I'm saying.

See my last post...
I agree w/you.

 

[LandryFan]

See my last post...
I agree w/you.

Sorry. I responded to your first reply before reading your second one. No big deal! Happy New Year to you and yours, Manster!

 

[Cowboyz88]

Not calling you out personally, but I'll ask a question since you say it's "tired."

What's so great about James that can't be replaced?

Tackles? Cowboys tackle leaders for the last 10 years: '01, '03 & '04 - Dat Nguyen, '02 - Dexter Coakley, '05 - '09 - James. ALL are LBs which tells me that once James is gone, the next guy that's plugged into ILB will get them as well.

Heck, Roy Williams was second in tackles in three outta five years, and took his precious tackles stats with him, and we haven't missed a beat.

I asked before and I'll ask again, can anyone name one, BIG game-changing play that James has made in his career?

Sacks? He only has ONE this year.

Leadership? Lots of All-Pro talk with solid play, but I think we all can agree that Brooking is already the leader of this defense.

Again, my point is James is a nice/average linebacker on a good team, but let's (again, not you personally Idgit) not act like James is our version of Ray Lewis, Urlacher, Lee Roy Jordan and can't be replaced.

I've notice that there's a thread where people are pretending Bradie has a beef with Brookings pregame celebrations and now the tired and baseless criticism of him as a player has cropped up again. Not sure if there's a correlation.

 

[Idgit]

Not calling you out personally, but I'll ask a question since you say it's "tired."

What's so great about James that can't be replaced?

Tackles? Cowboys tackle leaders for the last 10 years: '01, '03 & '04 - Dat Nguyen, '02 - Dexter Coakley, '05 - '09 - James. ALL are LBs which tells me that once James is gone, the next guy that's plugged into ILB will get them as well.

Heck, Roy Williams was second in tackles in three outta five years, and took his precious tackles stats with him, and we haven't missed a beat.

I asked before and I'll ask again, can anyone name one, BIG game-changing play that James has made in his career?

Sacks? He only has ONE this year.

Leadership? Lots of All-Pro talk with solid play, but I think we all can agree that Brooking is already the leader of this defense.

Again, my point is James is a nice/average linebacker on a good team, but let's (again, not you personally Idgit) not act like James is our version of Ray Lewis, Urlacher, Lee Roy Jordan and can't be replaced.

Very few players are irreplaceable. James isn't. He's just a very good ILB whose been playing at a near pro-bowl level for us the last 3 seasons.

Personally, I'm tired of people complaining about him for issues as trivial as a quote about pre-game rituals that was taken out of context and twisted into a negative it was never intended to be. Digs like these have been going on for years for no reason other than it took him a few years longer under Parcels to become a regular contributor than people initially expected. They have very little to do with the player, and almost everything to do with the expectations of fans.