Thomas82
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 4,647
- Reaction score
- 3,422
Mendenhall vs. Jones: The final word
6:24 PM Mon, Apr 28, 2008 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Albert Breer http://www.***BANNED-URL***/blogs/images/email-icon.jpg E-mail http://www.***BANNED-URL***/blogs/images/email-icon.jpg News tips
Remember, none of this is anything against Felix Jones. I'm guessing he'll be a good addition to the Cowboys offense. But Rashard Mendenhall will be better. Much better.
And so since some people have filled by email up with such nice things to say about my opinion on all this, I'd like go ahead and dispel some notions that seem to be pretty popular around here.
Jones brings more speed
Really? That's funny. I've got the official combine results. And they happen to say that Mendenhall ran a 4.45 there, while Jones clocked a 4.47.
So how about explosiveness and agility? Both players had 33.5-inch verticals, while Mendenhall ran a better short shuttle (4.18-4.19) and Jones had a better broad jump (10.4-9.9).
Jones is the game-breaker that Mendenhall isn't
This one cracks me up. Apparently people missed the Rose Bowl. You know, when Mendenhall flat out ran away from USC -- probably the fastest defense in the nation -- for a 79-yard run and a 55-yard catch.
For your benefit, I happened to go through all the Illinois and Arkansas play-by-plays. I'm going to classify a "big play" as 20 yards or more. Mendenhall had 18 such plays from scrimmage, two of them coming on catches. Jones had 19, two on catches.
Now, Mendenhall had far more carries, but also faced defenses geared to stop him and had to do the between-the-tackles and short-yardage dirty work for the Illini. And you could argue that seven of those "big plays" for Jones came against the likes of Troy, North Texas and Tennessee-Chattanooga. To be fair, two of Mendenhall's came against Ball State. But he didn't play in a gimmicky offense that worked to get him in the open field with the defense keying on someone else.
Jones is more versatile
I think there's a perception out there that Jones is a better receiver than Mendenhall. Based on what, I'll never know. In his three-year Arkansas career, Jones caught 39 passes for 393 yards. Mendenhall caught 34 passes for 318 yards during his junior year alone. I can tell you categorically, if you're looking for a back to contribute on third down, Mendenhall's more ready than Jones, based on the fact that he's a better receiver and has been used extensively in blitz pickup.
There's no arguing that Jones isn't the better return man. He is, without question. Mendenhall didn't do that as a collegian.
Mendenhall is a one-year wonder
Mendenhall did have only one season as a starter, but I do think it's important to remember that the guy in front of him wasn't half-bad. Pierre Thomas may have been limited in his opportunities with the Saints last year. Still, he averaged 4.8 yards per carry and rushed for 100 yards in his only start. So while Mendenhall may not have been splitting time with Darren McFadden, he wasn't backing up a slouch.
Plus, as a sophomore, Mendenhall didn't exactly play poorly. He averaged 8.2 yards per carry and had 12 catches, which is just four off of Jones' career high.
"I really think it was matter of time before he had a year like this. Pierre Thomas was a two-time MVP player here," Illinois RB coach Reggie Campbell told me in March. "He's been a good player, since he's been here. It was a matter of him getting on the field. He's always been the best talent we had, and then he developed into the best player we had."
Mendenhall was a malcontent and didn't work hard
I'm going to turn this over to Campbell again. Take it for what it's worth ...
"He was great, he was a team player, never complained," Cambell said. "He wanted to be starter, he was motivated to be the starter. But he never complained about not being the starter. ... Really, I've told pro scouts this, you try to find a fault, there was not one. He's been a 3.0 student, on the honor roll every semester, with exception of this one, and he was a 2.9. Off the field, he was great."
No, I'm simply responding here as to why I believe that Mendenhall -- the best back in this draft -- was the right pick for Dallas, no matter the circumstances. Yes, they have Marion Barber on board, but the idea that any running back pair has to be a "thunder-and-lightning" combination is just silly.
Last time I checked, the Vikings didn't need a workhorse, grind-it-out type last year. They had Chester Taylor to do that stuff -- who had just signed a four-year deal with the team and was coming off a 1,200-yard season -- already. They took Adrian Peterson anyway. How'd that work out for them?
6:24 PM Mon, Apr 28, 2008 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Albert Breer http://www.***BANNED-URL***/blogs/images/email-icon.jpg E-mail http://www.***BANNED-URL***/blogs/images/email-icon.jpg News tips
Remember, none of this is anything against Felix Jones. I'm guessing he'll be a good addition to the Cowboys offense. But Rashard Mendenhall will be better. Much better.
And so since some people have filled by email up with such nice things to say about my opinion on all this, I'd like go ahead and dispel some notions that seem to be pretty popular around here.
Jones brings more speed
Really? That's funny. I've got the official combine results. And they happen to say that Mendenhall ran a 4.45 there, while Jones clocked a 4.47.
So how about explosiveness and agility? Both players had 33.5-inch verticals, while Mendenhall ran a better short shuttle (4.18-4.19) and Jones had a better broad jump (10.4-9.9).
Jones is the game-breaker that Mendenhall isn't
This one cracks me up. Apparently people missed the Rose Bowl. You know, when Mendenhall flat out ran away from USC -- probably the fastest defense in the nation -- for a 79-yard run and a 55-yard catch.
For your benefit, I happened to go through all the Illinois and Arkansas play-by-plays. I'm going to classify a "big play" as 20 yards or more. Mendenhall had 18 such plays from scrimmage, two of them coming on catches. Jones had 19, two on catches.
Now, Mendenhall had far more carries, but also faced defenses geared to stop him and had to do the between-the-tackles and short-yardage dirty work for the Illini. And you could argue that seven of those "big plays" for Jones came against the likes of Troy, North Texas and Tennessee-Chattanooga. To be fair, two of Mendenhall's came against Ball State. But he didn't play in a gimmicky offense that worked to get him in the open field with the defense keying on someone else.
Jones is more versatile
I think there's a perception out there that Jones is a better receiver than Mendenhall. Based on what, I'll never know. In his three-year Arkansas career, Jones caught 39 passes for 393 yards. Mendenhall caught 34 passes for 318 yards during his junior year alone. I can tell you categorically, if you're looking for a back to contribute on third down, Mendenhall's more ready than Jones, based on the fact that he's a better receiver and has been used extensively in blitz pickup.
There's no arguing that Jones isn't the better return man. He is, without question. Mendenhall didn't do that as a collegian.
Mendenhall is a one-year wonder
Mendenhall did have only one season as a starter, but I do think it's important to remember that the guy in front of him wasn't half-bad. Pierre Thomas may have been limited in his opportunities with the Saints last year. Still, he averaged 4.8 yards per carry and rushed for 100 yards in his only start. So while Mendenhall may not have been splitting time with Darren McFadden, he wasn't backing up a slouch.
Plus, as a sophomore, Mendenhall didn't exactly play poorly. He averaged 8.2 yards per carry and had 12 catches, which is just four off of Jones' career high.
"I really think it was matter of time before he had a year like this. Pierre Thomas was a two-time MVP player here," Illinois RB coach Reggie Campbell told me in March. "He's been a good player, since he's been here. It was a matter of him getting on the field. He's always been the best talent we had, and then he developed into the best player we had."
Mendenhall was a malcontent and didn't work hard
I'm going to turn this over to Campbell again. Take it for what it's worth ...
"He was great, he was a team player, never complained," Cambell said. "He wanted to be starter, he was motivated to be the starter. But he never complained about not being the starter. ... Really, I've told pro scouts this, you try to find a fault, there was not one. He's been a 3.0 student, on the honor roll every semester, with exception of this one, and he was a 2.9. Off the field, he was great."
***
Again, this is hardly an indictment on Jones, who I think has a chance to add a different element to the Cowboys' offense.No, I'm simply responding here as to why I believe that Mendenhall -- the best back in this draft -- was the right pick for Dallas, no matter the circumstances. Yes, they have Marion Barber on board, but the idea that any running back pair has to be a "thunder-and-lightning" combination is just silly.
Last time I checked, the Vikings didn't need a workhorse, grind-it-out type last year. They had Chester Taylor to do that stuff -- who had just signed a four-year deal with the team and was coming off a 1,200-yard season -- already. They took Adrian Peterson anyway. How'd that work out for them?
