JJ - You make the call!

[goshan]

Julius was my favorite player in 2004. I was excited.
He looked like the next great Cowboys back.
He had great feet, vision, quickness - I remember Theisman comparing him to Sanders on a Sunday night game. He was Electrifying.

Sorry but anyone not willing to admit HE is ALOT different type of runner is blind.

Now the focus of this thread is to figure out what is different about HIM now...because again, for better or worse, it is obvious he isn't the same type of runner. No mentioning the oline, scheme, running situation (no 3rd down carries) is allowed in this thread.

PLACE YOUR VOTE -- 1-7:

Why is JJ not the same type of electrifying runner he appeared to be in 2004?

1. He was amazingly fresh in 2004 because he sat out half the season. His legs are weak now and he wears down so he loses the extra burst.
2. He lifts weights too much -- he has bulked up and has slowed down.
3. Bill has coached him to run more North-South and JJ has over-reacted and is not running instinctively any more. He is thinking too much about following the play.
4. He is worried about fumbling so he is always protecting the ball and is not looking down field since he is focused on seeing the guys that may tackle him and strip the ball.
5. He is injured some how.
6. He is a different type of runner but it is TOTALLY on purpose. He intentionally changed his style. Cutting back and making people miss looks cool but it doesn't win football games.
7. Not sure--maybe he needs to get his eyes checked?

PLACE YOUR VOTE.

Thanks for playing.

 

[Rampage]

7. he was a 1 year wonder

 

[Eddie]

MBIII will look like Troy Hambrick as the featured back.

Love his ypc as a backup, but give him the lead role, and he doesn't have the speed to scare anyone.

He's more valuable as a backup.

Jones is fine. It's working.

 

[superpunk]

8. I think our system is working fine, but I'd like to ***** anyway.

 

[Portland Fanatic]

Honestly, I can't answer 1-6 because I don't have a clue....HOWEVER something is different or wrong because he is not the same runner he was. I would have defened his ability up oneside and down the other in 2004, but he has changed.

For those saying he has no vision...well I'm not sure what to say because he DID big time. I don't know what has happened to him, but he's not the same JJ we had in 2004.

I went out an bought my son his jersey...I still like JJ, but I'm very concerned.

 

[1fisher]

8. I think our system is working fine, but I'd like to ***** anyway.

we have our selves a winner!!!!! It ain't broke so don't try to fix it!

:starspin

 

[Waffle]

8. I think our system is working fine, but I'd like to ***** anyway.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Julius was my favorite player in 2004. I was excited.
He looked like the next great Cowboys back.
He had great feet, vision, quickness - I remember Theisman comparing him to Sanders on a Sunday night game. He was Electrifying.

Sorry but anyone not willing to admit HE is ALOT different type of runner is blind.

Now the focus of this thread is to figure out what is different about HIM now...because again, for better or worse, it is obvious he isn't the same type of runner. No mentioning the oline, scheme, running situation (no 3rd down carries) is allowed in this thread.

PLACE YOUR VOTE -- 1-7:

Why is JJ not the same type of electrifying runner he appeared to be in 2004?

1. He was amazingly fresh in 2004 because he sat out half the season. His legs are weak now and he wears down so he loses the extra burst.
2. He lifts weights too much -- he has bulked up and has slowed down.
3. Bill has coached him to run more North-South and JJ has over-reacted and is not running instinctively any more. He is thinking too much about following the play.
4. He is worried about fumbling so he is always protecting the ball and is not looking down field since he is focused on seeing the guys that may tackle him and strip the ball.
5. He is injured some how.
6. He is a different type of runner but it is TOTALLY on purpose. He intentionally changed his style. Cutting back and making people miss looks cool but it doesn't win football games.
7. Not sure--maybe he needs to get his eyes checked?

PLACE YOUR VOTE.

Thanks for playing.

Watch it. You run the risk of being identified as a complainer, the target of a "we should not kick a highly paid player when he didn't perform and is down" post.

You must be positive at all stages of threads and posts and replies. We should all write as if Jerra and his PR guys are monitoring us as we write. Only happy, positive posts!!! Otherwise . . . well I don't have to tell you the consequences.

OK, I will bite. What is different about JJ is that Parcells is using Barber more and more. That, in turn, is making JJ doubt is abilities. And it seems that Parcells is using Barber more and more in crunch time. Therefore, Barber is getting the limelight and JJ is performing more as a workhorse. And it is adding to JJ's inconsistency.

GO COWBOYS!!

 

[CoCo]

Make mine #3.

I think Julius is so focused on "getting the yardage that is there the way the play is designed" that he turns away from holes with more potential.

I'm not sure you can have "the yardage that is there" and the "home run potential" in one Julius Jones package. Julius strength is not as a tackle breaker. Julius is getting that extra yard or two BP desires but in the process is losing the breakaway potential.

Yeah, MBIII is giving us major production. I also am wary of thinking he could produce similar production outside his current role a la Hambrick.

Sure seems like there isn't much there for Julius to work with, and when there is, he passes it up if its not specifically where the play was designed to go.

I'm not convinced there is much future in a BP & Julius combo. I've never thought Julius was the next Dorsett or Emmitt but I think he can be more productive than how he's playing for BP. Too bad.

I also agree that Julius has very little patience for blocking but may be in part because he feels he's being coached to "take what's there".

 

[CoCo]

Anyone remember the play yesterday when a Giant pass-rusher was breaking free and pressuring Romo, so Romo stepped to the right, and when the Giant pursued, he stepped back left and set the guy right back up for our line to block? It was gorgeous.

Its called setting up your blocks. Whether coached or not, Julius has no patience for that kind of play.

 

[burmafrd]

BP does coach take whats there and follow the play. That is not what JJ's instincts as a runner tell him- which is to run to daylight, find the hole wherever it is. I think its possible that mentally he is trying to do both and usually when you try and do two things at once you do neither very well.
Also- BP mentioned how hard JJ is working out with the weights- maybe he has bulked up too much and has lost some quickness and burst.
Bottom line to me is that BP is responsible for what JJ is doing now- JJ is following orders; BP flat out said JJ is running the way " I want him to"
Maybe BP should have just left him alone.

 

[neosapien23]

This running system is not suited to Jones's abilities. It is more suited to a power runner with a little speed. Stephen Jackson would work great with this team as well as someone like Maroney. If you put jones in the Denver system he will rack up a whole lot of yards. Juluis does much better in a wide open attack offense. The Rams would be an ideal situation as well. I would love to trade Jones and a 3rd rounder to the Rams for Jackson. Both running backs would do better in different systems. Jones would be a terror in St Louis. He would fly through the open holes for big gains and Jackson would be great in this system. He would run down hill and not have to do anything fancy.

 

[JPM]

9. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

We are winning, lets not mess anything up by making a change a RB.

 

[tomson75]

He's getting 15 carries per game as opposed to 35. When you get 35 carries in a game, you're bound to break a few...and look more "electrifying" to fans and media alike.

Parcell's has been keeping him too "fresh" if you ask me. He hasn't found a rythm in 6 weeks.

 

[MrMom]

MBIII will look like Troy Hambrick as the featured back.

Wanna explain why, according to the broadcast team, every Giants defender to the man said they respected Barber more as a runner than Jones?

 

[Doomsday101]

9. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

We are winning, lets not mess anything up by making a change a RB.

I agree. I'm glad we have both Barber and Jones at RB. As for who starts it does not matter to me but evidently Parcells likes it as is and I have no issue with it.

 

[Rack]

BP does coach take whats there and follow the play. That is not what JJ's instincts as a runner tell him- which is to run to daylight, find the hole wherever it is. I think its possible that mentally he is trying to do both and usually when you try and do two things at once you do neither very well.
Also- BP mentioned how hard JJ is working out with the weights- maybe he has bulked up too much and has lost some quickness and burst.
Bottom line to me is that BP is responsible for what JJ is doing now- JJ is following orders; BP flat out said JJ is running the way " I want him to"
Maybe BP should have just left him alone.

I've said it before, I'll say it again...

No matter how many times you blame BP for JuJo's struggles, it won't make it true.

 

[goshan]

For those of you saying 'it ain't broke'.

Take note:
1. This isn't about Barber versus Jones.
2. I am not advocating a change in the 'system'.

Read my post and answer the question please or don't post at all. This isn't a 'Play Barber More' thread.
Thanks for playing

 

[Concord]

Barber is just the better back and should get the ball more.

There is nothing wrong with Jones coming in and getting some carries as a change of pace but Barber should play more and get more carries and more touches period than Jones.

He's just the better player.

 

[SupermanXx]

I'm not really sure what the hell is going on... but I do remember Bill Parcells in a press conference after the Colts game saying something to the effect of "I spoke to Julius after the play [where he ran straight into a safety when he could have made a juke/cut and gotten 15 or more yards].. I asked him what happened there? and Julius said he didn't see him, he was looking somewhere else"