Julius' Rookie Year to Now: A Theory

[Zman5]

I think BP is somewhat to blame indirectly. I think due to BP's rep for prefering bigger players, many players bulked up and it affected their game(JJ, Brady James, Roy Will etc.).

JJ is a system back who I think will be very successful somewhere. Like someone else mentioned, I think he will do well in Denver.

 

[Nav22]

Also, remember when he carried 30+ times in his first 3 starts in 2004, breaking (or tying?) an NFL record?

Well, he had to have been pretty bruised up after those games, and might've figured "Uh oh... if I'm gonna be Parcells' work-horse, I'd BETTER bulk up and get used to this kind of a pounding on a regular basis."

 

[AbeBeta]

I blame his brother. Yeah, I said it... his brother. Thomas Jones, Jets starting RB.

Remember that Thanksgiving game in 2004? We saw the Jones brothers go head-to-head, and Julius came out on top.

Julius wasn't big or strong, but he was quick and shifty... Thomas was the big, strong bruiser.

And what has happened since then? Julius has trained with his brother in Arizona. If you've seen any interviews that involve Thomas and Julius together, it's easy to see that Julius still idolizes his big brother. So Thomas' way HAD to be the right way, figured Julius.

And what has been the result? A bigger, stronger Julius. He has lost some of his quickness and shiftiness. He has poor balance due to the increased upper-body weight, which contributes a great deal to his tendency to go down on the first hit.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

That's an interesting story.

But I'll say this -- fast, shifty Julius missed 13 of his first 24 games. He has played in all 31 game since then.

He may have been more effective early -- but he is more durable now. Brother Thomas is a good back who has been able to keep himself in the league for 8 years -- and likely has 3-4 more left in him.

The question is whether you want Julius to be like Fred Taylor -- an great back who misses about 25% of the team's games or like Thomas Jones, a good back rarely misses a game.

 

[HogsRLegends]

Upper body strength is more important. Look at Barber and Emmitt Smith stiffarms where as both have toothpicks for legs.

 

[AbeBeta]

Upper body strength is more important. Look at Barber and Emmitt Smith stiffarms where as both have toothpicks for legs.

You kidding? Emmitt's thighs were massive.

 

[Idgit]

One of the early drives in the second half last week, Jones hit the hole so fast I could have sworn it was 1994. Kevin Williams made a spectacular leaping tackle and brought him down for a 4 yard gain or so, but it was enough to make me situp and think 'why doesn't Jones bring that kind of authority more often.' I miss that player from 1994. I thought for sure he'd be a superstar in the league by now.

 

[CowboyMike]

One of the early drives in the second half last week, Jones hit the hole so fast I could have sworn it was 1994. Kevin Williams made a spectacular leaping tackle and brought him down for a 4 yard gain or so, but it was enough to make me situp and think 'why doesn't Jones bring that kind of authority more often.' I miss that player from 1994. I thought for sure he'd be a superstar in the league by now.

1994?

Do you mean 2004?

 

[Rack]

Certainly a thought. I do think that BP messed with his head and schooled him to not go with his instincts- and maybe that is something that once lost you cannot get back. Loss of balance and quickness- hmmm. BUT if that was the case surely someone on the Cowboys training staff, someone would have figured that out and had him do some different training to aleviate the problem. Though I have on occasion wondered if our trainers are all that good.

Are you still with that?

Wow.

 

[Achozen]

There's been several times where JJ hits the hole 100 mph and other times where it seems like he's just going through the motions.

 

[Rack]

I believe it was me. I think this is the part your talking about.
From NFL.com on Julius Jones' negatives coming out of Notre Dame:

Not really a self-motivated player and does not take well to hard coaching … Is just a little too lazy digesting the playbook … Has adequate power, but not enough to take on defenders one-on-one … Not mentally tough, letting minor injuries linger … Just used on screens, as he is a marginal route runner who looks late for the ball … Needs to protect the ball better and show better anticipation for contact … Will sometimes run up the back of the offensive lineman, but has enough pick-and-slide agility to gain yards inside … Prone to go down from the initial tackle, especially when defenders attack his feet … Has good foot quickness and change-of-direction agility, but is not sudden off cuts, gathering himself before accelerating.

Holy crap, Jimmy... are you sure that was written before he was drafted? That's like... spot freakin' ON.

Whatever theory works. I just wish Wade and Garrett would wisen up and start Barber the entire game.

I'd like to see the results of a poll for who should start. My guess is it'd be 99% to 1% in favor of Barber.

Well so far the results aren't that lopsided, but a lot of the JuJo votes are people saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" so that's not really valid. You should of added that option, then just tally up the Yes/No votes.

I think BP is somewhat to blame indirectly. I think due to BP's rep for prefering bigger players, many players bulked up and it affected their game(JJ, Brady James, Roy Will etc.).

JJ is a system back who I think will be very successful somewhere. Like someone else mentioned, I think he will do well in Denver.

Yeah, which is why the best RBs he ever had (Curtin Martin and "Little" Joe Morris) were HUGE RBs... oh wait. No, they weren't.

Upper body strength is more important. Look at Barber and Emmitt Smith stiffarms where as both have toothpicks for legs.

I take it you didn't want to watch the skins lose so you turned the tv off everytime the Skins played the Cowboys?

Emmitt had HUGE legs.

You kidding? Emmitt's thighs were massive.

So did Barry Sanders.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

Upper body strength is more important. Look at Barber and Emmitt Smith stiffarms where as both have toothpicks for legs.

No.

Just no.

Toothpicks?

 

[Nav22]

Upper body strength is more important. Look at Barber and Emmitt Smith stiffarms where as both have toothpicks for legs.

SOMEBODY missed "Dancing With The Stars".

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

Not the best angle, but his legs aren't tiny, but they sure aren't Emmitt-sized.

 

[Smith22]

Emmitt and toothpicks? Tell me you're kidding. I remember a sports illustrated issue with him on the cover back in the mid 90's, he was on a float in his pool (in trunks), and his thighs were HUGE!

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

Even having posted some leg-comparison pictures, I'm not sure that's the issue. It has more to do with vision. Emmitt could see the field as good or better than any running back in the history of the game. If there was a space, Emmitt knew where it was and he was good at predicting where guys would be before the ball was even snapped. He was REAL good at that.

Emmitt also had that low center of gravity and stayed extremely balanced at all times. A lot of times, it looks like Julius leans forward a little bit as he runs. I know most backs crouch a bit as they run, but Julius literally looks like he's going to fall down a lot of the time and one swipe at his feet is usally enough to do it.

And the last thing which separates Emmitt from most any back is the fact he wasted no movement. A lot of backs lean all over the place, flail their arms about as they stop and start, etc. Emmitt moved just enough. He was always in position to stop, start, change directions, etc, but he never did it until he needed to. He did just enough to get past people. Julius doesn't have this at all. He's got one cut in him and then it's straight ahead and a lot of times, he looks out of position body-wise to make that cut.

It's a bit of a pointless comparison because really, no back is like Emmitt. There's a reason he's the all-time leading rusher. I think we just missed on Julius and maybe he'd fit better with another team. He's decent. That's all he's ever going to be.

Barber is a whole other story. He runs with more balance than Julius and has a mean streak. Forget making people miss, he's going to punch you in the face as he runs over your teammates. Good times.

 

[Spectre]

Contrary to what most seem to think here...
smaller legs generally equal more speed.
People with heavy, muscle bound legs are slow.
The fastest runnners/sprinters in the world have chicken legs. It's easier to shuffle lighter legs.

But the theory is still somewhat right. JJ's upper body is too big for his lower half to carry as quickly as he once did.

I remember someone else presenting this same theory over a year ago...
hmmm....
http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62228&highlight

 

[sillycon]

One of the early drives in the second half last week, Jones hit the hole so fast I could have sworn it was 1994. Kevin Williams made a spectacular leaping tackle and brought him down for a 4 yard gain or so, but it was enough to make me situp and think 'why doesn't Jones bring that kind of authority more often.' I miss that player from 1994. I thought for sure he'd be a superstar in the league by now.

The problem is that he usually doesn't have a hole to shoot through. The OL's run blocking isn't that good.

 

[Rack]

Contrary to what most seem to think here...
smaller legs generally equal more speed.
People with heavy, muscle bound legs are slow.
The fastest runnners/sprinters in the world have chicken legs. It's easier to shuffle lighter legs.

But the theory is still somewhat right. JJ's upper body is too big for his lower half to carry as quickly as he once did.

I remember someone else presenting this same theory over a year ago...
hmmm....
http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62228&highlight

Sorry but this isn't correct. Plus, bigger legs usually means more broken tackles.


But either way, chicken legs doesn't mean faster. You remember Michael Johnson? What about Donovan Bailey?

Donovan Bailey

Michael Johnson

He wasn't really a "Sprinter", the 200 being his shortest run, but still one of the fastest men to ever live.

Speed means getting to top speed as quickly as possible. We're talking sprint speed. 100 Meters or less. You need to have STRONG legs to get to top speed quickly. So yes, leg strength is VERY important for having speed.

Here's a pic of steroid user Ben Johnson

If chicken legs = more speed, why did Johnson need steroids?


Current 100 meter record holder Asafa Powell of Jamaica

Those aren't chicken legs.



Previous world record holder, Justin Gatlin

Record holder before Gatlin, Maurice Green

Bailey held the world record before Green.



Former record holder (and former cowboys draft pick) Carl Lewis

Now, Lewis was a skinny guy, but his legs were BIG in proportion to his upper body. This pic shows that.


Here's a pic of Leroy Burrel running against Carl Lewis (Burrel also a former record holder in the 100 meters)

So yeah, your chicken leg theory is incorrect.

 

[superpunk]

I'm going to post this again...

Before Seattle played us in 04, they gave up 120 yards and 4 TDs to McGahee. Before that Faulk torched them for 139 yards. After they played us Martin ran for 134 and 2 TDs against them.

The week before we played Chicago, they allowed Edgerrin James to run for 200 yards and a TD, and Rhodes an extra 50. The week after they allowed MIN to rush for 129 yards on 19 carries, a 6.8 yard average. Folowed by Dominick Davis getting 100 and a TD.

NY allowed 160 yards to PIT, 170 to BAL, and 211 to WAshington before playing us.

BEars - 25th ranked rushing d
Seattle - 23rd ranked rushing D
NY Giants - 28th ranked rushing D

These are the defenses that surrendered Julius Jones' "signature" games.

The real answer IMO is not that Julius has put on too much mass, or that his balance is off, or that Parcells ruined him - it's that this is Julius Jones. This has ALWAYS been Julius Jones, ever since college when the book on him was the same as it is today. When he's playing crappy defenses, or when everything goes just perfect and his blocking is on fire, he can light up some defenses, just like any mediocre back could. He has enough physical ability for that.

Anything further is just out of his realm.

 

[burmafrd]

Carolina 2005. So, super, whats your excuse there. Also He had a pretty big game against Seattle last year in the playoffs.
And you did notice that none of those runners you mentioned are exactly chopped liver either. But go ahead with your agenda....