I'm not sure JuJo has what it takes to be a #1 back

jesusphreak

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Honestly, I really wanted Julius to succeed. I was hyped up on him after his rookie season and thought he was the next Emmitt. Last year I was disappointed but still hopeful. This preseason and today it has just been more of the same.

The guy is an EXCELLENT open-field runner. He has one hell of a juke move and he breaks tackles really well. Problem is he isn't really good at finding holes (this is something Emmitt excelled at). There's been so many times the past two years that he will just run straight ahead into a group of people. I understand when your line isn't blocking well, but it is almost as if the hole isn't there, he is going to run it straight ahead regardless, he just doesn't try anything else. He'll look great when the hole is there and he is able to make it into the second level and tear it up (witness his TD today), but otherwise it isn't there.

Barber today on the third-down play saw that the hole wasn't there and immediately cut it back out, and we got the first down. I honestly don't think JJ would have done that.

It has been said that Parcells messed up JJ, and I'm inclined to believe that. JJ just runs really conservatively and doesn't take many risk/reward chances like he did his rookie season. And if he doesn't do that he's just not big enough and he doesn't see holes well enough in order to be a #1 back in the NFL.

When MB runs, he just runs so hard. Even when he can't find a hole, he'll either try and go somewhere else or he will plough the guy straight over. JJ just runs straight ahead, tentatively.
 
Julius actually turns out a decent performance and this is what he gets.........the guy just cant win.
 
To quote Tom Jackson.. "are you ********?"

JJ had a decent game against a very tough DL with some sketchy blocking.
 
Yeah, but IMO Jones looked OK today. not great, cuz ur right he did have a bunch of runs where he just ran right into a group of people. everytime that happens, I take a deep breath, cuz its really freaking frustrating.
 
abersonc said:
To quote Tom Jackson.. "are you ********?"

JJ had a decent game against a very tough DL with some sketchy blocking.
Click to expand...

He had a decent game because he had a 25 yard run on a hole anyone could have run through.

Other than that he did a whole lot of running straight ahead into piles. Seriously, I want JJ to succeed, I just don't have confidence in him like I did at one point.
 
... of the straight up blocking was poor. Especially up the middle in the second half.

I also thought the offence suffered from some problems with the rhythm. Possibly Bledsoe's fault, but some of the play calling wasn't creative enough for me.
 
All that being said, the O line pass blocks better than it run blocks. Barber has trouble running behind them too. But I agree that JuJo seems to be a different back from the one who sliced the Seattle defense on that memorable Monday Night. I'm still waiting to see that guy on a consistent basis. The draw play was a thing of beauty that night.

Did you see him catch that long pass today? He has really improved in that area.
 
jesusphreak said:
Honestly, I really wanted Julius to succeed. I was hyped up on him after his rookie season and thought he was the next Emmitt. Last year I was disappointed but still hopeful. This preseason and today it has just been more of the same.

The guy is an EXCELLENT open-field runner. He has one hell of a juke move and he breaks tackles really well. Problem is he isn't really good at finding holes (this is something Emmitt excelled at). There's been so many times the past two years that he will just run straight ahead into a group of people. I understand when your line isn't blocking well, but it is almost as if the hole isn't there, he is going to run it straight ahead regardless, he just doesn't try anything else. He'll look great when the hole is there and he is able to make it into the second level and tear it up (witness his TD today), but otherwise it isn't there.

Barber today on the third-down play saw that the hole wasn't there and immediately cut it back out, and we got the first down. I honestly don't think JJ would have done that.

It has been said that Parcells messed up JJ, and I'm inclined to believe that. JJ just runs really conservatively and doesn't take many risk/reward chances like he did his rookie season. And if he doesn't do that he's just not big enough and he doesn't see holes well enough in order to be a #1 back in the NFL.

When MB runs, he just runs so hard. Even when he can't find a whole, he'll either try and go somewhere else or he will plough the guy straight over. JJ just runs straight ahead, tentatively.
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If JJ has a five yard wide hole to run through or goes out for a pass and no one covers him he's pretty good. When did he become good at breaking tackles?
 
He's capable of the occasional monster game, but can't make something out of nothing. He needs gaping holes.
 
bbgun said:
He's capable of the occasional monster game, but can't make something out of nothing. He needs gaping holes.
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Most of the time, there aren't any holes. Every now and then there is a gaping hole and either Jones or Barber have some success. I mostly see piles and no holes open in the line.
 
jesusphreak said:
He had a decent game because he had a 25 yard run on a hole anyone could have run through.
Click to expand...

And Emmitt had 100's of those holes so whats your point? ;)

Nah I know those runs into the pile are frustrating to watch.. as frustrating as it is to see 2 defenders meeting him at or before he gets to the LoS in the first place.. over and over again.
 
jesusphreak said:
Problem is he isn't really good at finding holes (this is something Emmitt excelled at).
Click to expand...
Put Julius behind the O-line Emmitt ran behind. No comparison between now and then with our O-line.
 
jesusphreak said:
He had a decent game because he had a 25 yard run on a hole anyone could have run through.

Other than that he did a whole lot of running straight ahead into piles. Seriously, I want JJ to succeed, I just don't have confidence in him like I did at one point.
Click to expand...

You never answered my question phreak.
 
ghosttown cowboy said:
He has zero field vision!
Click to expand...

I guess I have zero field vision, too. I get to watch the game on just a 42" HDTV and I still did not see many holes for Jones or Barber.
 
jesusphreak said:
Honestly, I really wanted Julius to succeed. I was hyped up on him after his rookie season and thought he was the next Emmitt. Last year I was disappointed but still hopeful. This preseason and today it has just been more of the same.

The guy is an EXCELLENT open-field runner. He has one hell of a juke move and he breaks tackles really well. Problem is he isn't really good at finding holes (this is something Emmitt excelled at). There's been so many times the past two years that he will just run straight ahead into a group of people. I understand when your line isn't blocking well, but it is almost as if the hole isn't there, he is going to run it straight ahead regardless, he just doesn't try anything else. He'll look great when the hole is there and he is able to make it into the second level and tear it up (witness his TD today), but otherwise it isn't there.

Barber today on the third-down play saw that the hole wasn't there and immediately cut it back out, and we got the first down. I honestly don't think JJ would have done that.

It has been said that Parcells messed up JJ, and I'm inclined to believe that. JJ just runs really conservatively and doesn't take many risk/reward chances like he did his rookie season. And if he doesn't do that he's just not big enough and he doesn't see holes well enough in order to be a #1 back in the NFL.

When MB runs, he just runs so hard. Even when he can't find a hole, he'll either try and go somewhere else or he will plough the guy straight over. JJ just runs straight ahead, tentatively.
Click to expand...


JJ only had 17 carries today. Hard to be an a #1 back when you dont get the ball 20 times or more. I think he averaged what, 5 yards a carry or so today and scored a TD? What more do you want.
 
DIAF said:
JJ only had 17 carries today. Hard to be an a #1 back when you dont get the ball 20 times or more. I think he averaged what, 5 yards a carry or so today and scored a TD? What more do you want.
Click to expand...

That is a good point, didn't realize he had run so little.

Still, I that doesn't disregard how he'll just blindly run straight into piles without even trying like he does a lot of the time.
 
Last year only 3 RBs ran for 80 or more yards against the Jags. defense.

Edgerin James (twice)
Steven Jackson
Reuben Droughns (who avergaed 2.9 YPC)

Shaun Alexander, Tatum Bell, Willie Parker, Curtis Martin and Rudi Johnson all had worse are nearly identical production to the performance JJ turned out today. I can't believe people are ripping him. This was a VERY good run defense. He had the nice long run for the TD and he ran between G/T very hard a couple of times. On top of that he had a very nice 39 yard reception. He was one of the few players on offense who actually did anything.
 
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