Houston Nutt on 103.3

[Chocolate Lab]

Nutt was Felix's coach at Arkansas, of course.

Great, great kick returner. That's where he'll contribute immediately. Remember, he was All-America before Darren was, as a kick returner.

As a back, he's so explosive and quick. Can make a lateral cut and they get going north again right away. Great quickness. Very good on screens out of the backfield. Sets up his blocks as well as anyone -- will cut right off the heels of his linemen.

Felix can carry the load 25 times a game if you want. He gets stronger as the game goes on, and he's thicker and stronger than you think. Plus he has a feel for how to avoid contact at the last second and not take big hits.

Biggest thing is he has a great attitude. Will do anything you want on a football field -- cover kicks, anything. Never once was anything but team-oriented. Never asked "When will I get my touches", but "How can we win this game." Always has a smile on his face... Never had a bad day at Arkansas. Dallas will love him because he'll be the first one to practice and the last to leave.

I have a good relationship with Tom Ciskowski and ??? and those scouts did a great job. They don't ask about football things so much as character questions, what kind of person they are. They did a lot of homework on several of our guys -- Felix, McFadden, Marcus Monk. Amazing how many detailed questions they ask about these players and the way they conduct themselves.

 

[trickblue]

Plus he has a feel for how to avoid contact at the last second and not take big hits.

That's the first thing I noticed when I started watching him a couple of years ago... he rarely takes a big hit...

Thanks for the Recap CL...

 

[Woods]

"They did a lot of homework on several of our guys -- Felix, McFadden, Marcus Monk."

====================

Wish we were also able to pick up Monk.

 

[2much2soon]

... he rarely takes a big hit...

One of E Smith's many great traits. Conducive to a long career.

 

[AlterEgo]

I keep on reading about Felix's great work ethic. Players like this are probably what separates a good team from a great team. I can hardly wait for the season to start so we can see Felix break some long runs.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

One of E Smith's many great traits. Conducive to a long career.

Exactly! I love the pick now honestly, he's an underrated running back.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Nutt was Felix's coach at Arkansas, of course.

As a back, he's so explosive and quick. Can make a lateral cut and they get going north again right away. Great quickness. Very good on screens out of the backfield. Sets up his blocks as well as anyone -- will cut right off the heels of his linemen.

Felix can carry the load 25 times a game if you want. He gets stronger as the game goes on, and he's thicker and stronger than you think. Plus he has a feel for how to avoid contact at the last second and not take big hits.

From what I've seen on film he's the real deal ladies and gentleman... I believe he can be 20 to 25 carry running back in other words an "every down" back...

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Don't be suprised that by the end of the season, if many are calling for Felix Jones to be the starting back on this team.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Don't be suprised that by the end of the season, if many are calling for Felix Jones to be the starting back on this team.

I would agree, because it's one thing teams fear is a running back with excellent vision and speed to hit the whole fast...

 

[Vintage]

But I was told by a lot of our youtube scouts that Jones was a bad pick for Dallas.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

But I was told by a lot of our youtube scouts that Jones was a bad pick for Dallas.

I actually think you were told that he should not be taken in the first. Not that he was a bad pick. I suppose it all depends on your point of view. For what it's worth, I still believe it was a poor choice at 22. However, I am in the minority so it's all water under the bridge, so to speak.

 

[Bizwah]

I still don't like the pick. I'll warm to him I'm sure. I just don't see him as a full-time back. I fully expect his coach to say that he can be one.

I follow Arkansas football....I really want the guy to succeed. But I think we drafted a KR. I don't think he'll make it as a RB. I guess I shouldn't say I didn't want us to draft him....I just don't think he's first round material.

But this is all opinion. I've certainly been wrong before. This is simply one of those picks that you hope the scouting department get right. After all, it seems most scouts thought highly of him.

 

[Stephen Colboar]

He's absolutely first round material.

He was overshadowed by McFadden, but the truth is... Felix was and is better between the tackles. He does not go down easily. Had better vision than McFadden. Go look at some of the games where McFadden was limited in PT. Felix stepped up in most of them and "carried the load."

It's funny to me that people say he can't carry the load when comparing him to McFadden. McFadden had a couple of nagging injuries here and there. Felix was never hurt and he never missed any time.

It's not a popular opinion here in Arkansas, but Felix could easily be more successful in the league than McFadden. ESPECIALLY now that he's being thrown in a MUCH better situation.

Remember... Felix was running behind the best back in the draft. NEVER complained, always came and worked. He embraced playing second fiddle. He is a team player, no doubt.

 

[Sarge]

Any way you slice it - it's a huge upgrade over Julius...

 

[Stephen Colboar]

Any way you slice it - it's a huge upgrade over Julius...

And THAT is the biggest plus in my book.

 

[Bizwah]

He's absolutely first round material.

He was overshadowed by McFadden, but the truth is... Felix was and is better between the tackles. He does not go down easily. Had better vision than McFadden. Go look at some of the games where McFadden was limited in PT. Felix stepped up in most of them and "carried the load."

It's funny to me that people say he can't carry the load when comparing him to McFadden. McFadden had a couple of nagging injuries here and there. Felix was never hurt and he never missed any time.

It's not a popular opinion here in Arkansas, but Felix could easily be more successful in the league than McFadden. ESPECIALLY now that he's being thrown in a MUCH better situation.

Remember... Felix was running behind the best back in the draft. NEVER complained, always came and worked. He embraced playing second fiddle. He is a team player, no doubt.

Felix has a MUCH better attitude. And I liked him better as a person. But in watching him I never got the feeling he had what it takes to be a top flight NFL back.

But that being said, I thought the same thing about Westbrook when I saw him for the first time.

Again, I'm gonna put my trust in the scouting department and hope they got this one right. I'm sure they did their homework....I think this was a hard group of backs to evaluate due to the fact that so few played in a conventional system. Arkansas' system was stranger than most.

I've settled down from Saturday after my initial disappointment. Hopefully, Felix gives us an opportunity to cheer him early. I think he'll be a top flight returner.....

 

[CowboyChris]

i also was against us picking felix, but this morning i was listening to a radio show, and the guy said (something i never thought before) if Felix Jones was playing for any other team, or wasnt playing alongside of McFadden at Arkansas, he wouldve blew it up in college, to the likes of a heisman trophy winner, he is that good. that scenario never crossed my mind. :starspin

when its all said and done, im willing to bet Felix has a better career than Mendehall and McFadden, McFadden primarily cause he is a Raider.

 

[AbeBeta]

I never trust college coaches who have no NFL aspirations -- Nutt will be a lifetime college guy -- his job is to make sure that his guys get drafted so he'll be a cheerleader for them. A guy who wants to get in the league on the other hand is going to be more concerned with showing NFL clubs that he's got a great eye for talent - and he'll do that with honest evaluations.

So take it for what it is worth.

 

[Stephen Colboar]

Felix has a MUCH better attitude. And I liked him better as a person. But in watching him I never got the feeling he had what it takes to be a top flight NFL back.

But that being said, I thought the same thing about Westbrook when I saw him for the first time.

Again, I'm gonna put my trust in the scouting department and hope they got this one right. I'm sure they did their homework....I think this was a hard group of backs to evaluate due to the fact that so few played in a conventional system. Arkansas' system was stranger than most.

I've settled down from Saturday after my initial disappointment. Hopefully, Felix gives us an opportunity to cheer him early. I think he'll be a top flight returner.....

Outside of the Wildcat, where McFadden (and yes, sometimes Felix too) took snaps at QB, Arkansas' playbook was similar to a Tecmo Bowl play selection screen.

Seriously, that's how talented McFadden and Jones are. There really was no moving them around. It was rare that they were both in at the same time (like in the Wildcat).

 

[Angus]

Don't be suprised that by the end of the season, if many are calling for Felix Jones to be the starting back on this team.

I don't think it will take more than two game, if that long, for Barber to be considered the starter in name only. His best performances come toward the end of games when teams cannot easily withstand his powerful surge. Doing that too much too early when teams are still fresh would wear Barber out too soon, I believe.

Felix Jones will be the mainstay in the early going, I think.