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

[BigDFan5]

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.

A runningback has to trust his OLine to make the hole for him

If the play is designed to run up the middle he MUST trust the hole will be there.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

He found the hole pretty well on that counter that went for 23 yards and 6 points.

He showed the ability to get tough yards with some tough runs up the middle. Hes not like preLott Okeye surely but he doesnt fall down at a sneeze like Hambrick. Heck he even looks much improved in the passing game making a couple nice catches on nice routes.

You factor in he was called into run up the gut on 2nd and short several times into a nasty run blitz and it makes his preformance this week all the more better.

Heck ill even go so far to say had we leaned on Julius a bit more and on Bledsoe a bit less we might have pulled out a win.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I dont know if we are using JJ the right way... when he runs east-west with blocking and turns the corner he does pretty well... I would like to see more of this... get it perfected

 

[masomenos]

Heck ill even go so far to say had we leaned on Julius a bit more and on Bledsoe a bit less we might have pulled out a win.

Well we could have had JJ at QB and stood a better chance of pulling out the win considering how Bledsoe played.

 

[joseephuss]

He found the hole pretty well on that counter that went for 23 yards and 6 points.

He showed the ability to get tough yards with some tough runs up the middle. Hes not like preLott Okeye surely but he doesnt fall down at a sneeze like Hambrick. Heck he even looks much improved in the passing game making a couple nice catches on nice routes.

You factor in he was called into run up the gut on 2nd and short several times into a nasty run blitz and it makes his preformance this week all the more better.

Heck ill even go so far to say had we leaned on Julius a bit more and on Bledsoe a bit less we might have pulled out a win.

Who is preLott Okeye?

One of the best hits I have ever seen is Steve Atwater stuffing Christian Okoye.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

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.

facts are a wonderful thing

 

[WoodysGirl]

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.

I saw him run hard up the middle, kept his feet moving and still got 4 yards where there wasn't any. Not comparing, but Emmitt got many yards doing exactly that. Not sure what more you can expect from any running back.

As for comparing Barber, he was 3 for 13. So he wasn't exactly tearing it up when he got his opportunities.

What I'll say is that I thought the game plan was very pass heavy...so neither Julius or Barber were utilized as normal.

 

[jimmy40]

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.

Last season their best tackle and linebacker weren't playing on one leg and they lost their best end to an achilles. Last year has nothing to do with today.

 

[JFlgn]

Last season their best tackle and linebacker weren't playing on one leg and they lost their best end to an achilles. Last year has nothing to do with today.

Just because they were listed as questionable doesn't mean they played like crap. Flozell and Bradie James were "questionable" but basically healthy. Granted, Flo didn't look like Flo of old, but it wasn't cuz of his health. So if Peterson and Stroud felt good enough to play, then there is no excuse.

Secondly, this comes from a notorious doom and gloom reporter (Cowlishaw): "Julius Jones had no room at all on a number of plays and managed 4.2 per carry. He looked more explosive than any time since his big game at Carolina last year."

4.2 against this defense with those tackles, those backers and that safety is damn impressive. Wait and see what he does to those skins. 15 games left ppl.

 

[DallasEast]

He has zero field vision!

Can someone PLEASE tell me how field vision is an asset to a running back if the DEFENSE is already in the backfield, practically at the time of the handoff, tackling you?!?

Anyone? PLEASE?

 

[masomenos]

Last season their best tackle and linebacker weren't playing on one leg and they lost their best end to an achilles. Last year has nothing to do with today.

Yeah Stroud and Peterson looked really gimpy today...you know, hobbling back to the defensive huddle, limping noticeably. They were far from being on one leg. When a player is truly ill-prepared to play (whether it be injury or whatever) then it shows, as we saw with Flozell today. Peterson led the team with 6 tackles today and Stroud was disruptive, just because they're on the injury report doesn't mean they were non-factors.

 

[jrumann59]

Can someone PLEASE tell me how field vision is an asset to a running back if the DEFENSE is already in the backfield, practically at the time of the handoff, tackling you?!?

Anyone? PLEASE?

So you can find a nice soft spot to land on.

 

[jrumann59]

Flozell is a tackle and gimpy and was going against their ends and LB to stroud's credit he did what he could do and all he really did is plug holes and have everyone around make the plays.

 

[jja050575]

Get off Julius' back, I haven't seen Marion Barber do anything to supplant him. If you give the offensive line time to gel things will get better for the backs

 

[InDakWeTrust]

Very true, but we need to stop calling dive after dive after dive. We need to use more draws, tosses and counters that are fast developing plays which allow Julius to catch the D offguard. Instead the calls are dive, dive, off tackle, dive, whatever. We need some flash in our playcalling for the Run O.

 

[Natedawg44]

Very true, but we need to stop calling dive after dive after dive. We need to use more draws, tosses and counters that are fast developing plays which allow Julius to catch the D offguard. Instead the calls are dive, dive, off tackle, dive, whatever. We need some flash in our playcalling for the Run O.

I agree getting Julius out into space should be one of the goals of this offense. I watched Larry Johnson run today and that guy is one of the most patient runners I have ever seen. He absolutely bleeds yards from a run.

 

[vlad]

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.

On TV from that side angle there looks like there are holes where there are not. You are looking at a two-dimensional view from the side and unfortunately this isn't Tecmo Bowl. Not only does our line never hit any second level blocks they cannot substain thier first level blocks. JJ has really good vision actually, he and Marion have to make so many moves in the backfield and then just run into a jammed pile in the middle of the field. Honestly whenever there is a sliver of a hole he always hits it, the whole point is there is never a freaking hole, our line sucks and as I've been whining (yes whining) about for over a year, unless our OL improves we are going nowhere.

I like both our runners but Julius is still the better back in my mind. For example on that TD run, I don't see Marion doing that, I do see him blowing someone up and then getting tackled, but not waiting that half step and cutting it outside like that and then accelerating. Like I said I like both backs, but all the problems with our running game have ZERO to do with our backs and everything to do with our crappy line. Is there a worse one in the league? Seriously how does Sparano still have a job? He must be from NJ.

On the positive I think today you saw Julius break tackles when a hole was present and get those 7-8 yards runs, of course then on second and short we try to blast it up the middle and thats when you need a push, not just a left-right hole, second level of defenders, again not Tecmo bowl.

 

[DragonD]

There is one intersting thint I've noticed from watching tape of JJ.

He seems to have inconsistant technique.

If you watch him run closely, you'll see that SOMETIMES, and I'm not sure why, but sometimes he gets the ball and then seems to immediately drop his head.

When he does this he just runs right into the pile. Usually for no or little gain although sometimes he'll make a few yards.

But sometimes, he keeps his HEAD up. When he does that he looks like a much better back.

Just a thought.

DD

 

[burmafrd]

Maybe because of our lousy line play he figures he is going to get hit as soon as he gets the ball and thats why he lowers his head. I think he might be giving up on his blocking too early, but then can you blame him?

 

[jay cee]

Can someone PLEASE tell me how field vision is an asset to a running back if the DEFENSE is already in the backfield, practically at the time of the handoff, tackling you?!?

Anyone? PLEASE?

you will be waiting for a long time for someone to come up with any kind of logic for that kind of post DE.

He has enough vision to realize that he is not going to outrun some defender, who has come into the backfield virtually untouched to the outside, so he ducks his head and tries to get what he can, and at least minimize the yards lost.

That's why many coaches will tell you that some of the best runs may only be for minimal gain.

Jones may not be a great back, but I know the O-line he's running behind is not great.

I will be more than happy with him, if he can continue this kind of production, running behind this Line.