Nick Eatman: Dallas would've drafted Stewart over Jones if he'd been available

[WoodysGirl]

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Now the Cowboys thought there would be a tough decision to make at that pick, but they figured it would be between Felix Jones and Oregon's Jonathan Stewart, whose stock had been hard to read because of his toe surgery after the combine.

In fact, multiple sources in the Cowboys' War Room said the club would've drafted Stewart over Felix Jones had he been available, but it became irrelevant once Stewart was drafted 12th overall by the Panthers.

Stewart, a compact back with home-run speed, combined with the ability and history of carrying the load as the No. 1 back, appeared to be the team's No. 2 overall back on the board behind Arkansas' Darren McFadden.

But with Stewart gone, it came down to Felix Jones and Mendenhall. The Cowboys might have even had Mendenhall rated higher as an overall back, but a few other factors ultimately pushed the tide to Jones' favor.

The speculation was that when the Cowboys inquired about Mendenhall's first two years at Illinois, when he was the backup running back and had just 858 yards in two years, they learned he wasn't the most dedicated player in the weight room. When he wasn't the starting back, apparently Mendenhall didn't get rave reviews about being a team player.

Obviously that was a concern, considering any back drafted by the Cowboys would have to take a backseat to Barber.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news.cfm?id=9C4B518D-FB62-42A5-563C2812E4C39C77

 

[Chief]

I think all three of those guys will be outstanding.

It'll be interesting to compare their careers as they progress.

 

[jswalker1981]

I'm excited that we got Felix. I see us using similar to Bush in NO, with Felix and Barber in the backfield together.

 

[DanTanna]

Well, the Stealers had Barry Foster and he was called "the p-word" many times. We'll see about Mendenhal. Most fans did not like Barry Foster.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

That should make people feel better about the Felix/Mendenhall decision.

 

[Chief]

That should make people feel better about the Felix/Mendenhall decision.

I agree. It helps me to know Felix's attitude and drive are top rate.

But the situation was reversed at cornerback (Jenkins vs. Cason), so it's hard to figure what they're thinking.

 

[Shake_Tiller]

I am the guy who harps on this ad nauseum and probably should shut up... but... why can't we think about this as being a question of two different positions? When the Cowboys had Dorsett, Preston Pearson was among the most valuable players on the team. In my opinion, he might have been the greatest third down back ever, certainly in the discussion.

Given that Dallas had Dorsett, if they could have chosen between having as his "backup" Pearson, or having, say, Franco Harris, which would have been the better choice (assuming all these guys in their prime years at the same time)? If you knew Dorsett was going to be injured, Harris... if Dorsett were healthy, Pearson was a bigger contributor.

Certainly Barber is no Dorsett. Felix Jones might not be a Preston Pearson. Mendenhall might not be a Franco Harris. But I think the parallels are worth considering.

 

[HoosierCowboy]

I've heard the questions about Mendenhall before, but he's going to be a great back. it comes down to waht he can do for our offense. Mend./Brber means a team game plans for one thing; Jones/Brber means they have to adjust their defense to which one's on the field. Put both in and put Jones in motion or in the slot and the Ds are in trouble.

 

[Shake_Tiller]

Maybe they felt the delta between Jenkins' and Cason's talent was greater than the delta between Mendenhall's and Jones'...

 

[Shake_Tiller]

I do think this... 40 times, whatever... Jones is more of a "big play" threat than is Mendenhall. Jones made fast SEC defenders look helpless at times.

 

[SMCowboy]

I agree. It helps me to know Felix's attitude and drive are top rate.

But the situation was reversed at cornerback (Jenkins vs. Cason), so it's hard to figure what they're thinking.

I have never heard anyone question Mike Jenkins attitude or work ethic. The question is does he take plays off, but never question his attitude. There are big difference between the two.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Those two RB's are now forever linked like Ellis/Moss or Ware/Merriman.

I'm still glad we got Jones.

 

[AdamJT13]

This was reported before the draft, too --

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=117229

They had Stewart ranked quite a bit higher than either Mendenhall or Jones. They had Mendenhall and Jones ranked almost the same -- Jerry said it was "flip a coin," and a scout (Drew Fabianich) said it was a "2 percent difference."

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I would have taken Stewart over any of the Backs coming out last year. That's just me and I am definatly in the minority on that.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

I do think this... 40 times, whatever... Jones is more of a "big play" threat than is Mendenhall. Jones made fast SEC defenders look helpless at times.

that is key...if you can run away from SEC talent...you can run away from NFL talent

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Jones will make us all proud.

 

[DavyBaby]

I am the guy who harps on this ad nauseum and probably should shut up... but... why can't we think about this as being a question of two different positions? When the Cowboys had Dorsett, Preston Pearson was among the most valuable players on the team. In my opinion, he might have been the greatest third down back ever, certainly in the discussion.

Given that Dallas had Dorsett, if they could have chosen between having as his "backup" Pearson, or having, say, Franco Harris, which would have been the better choice (assuming all these guys in their prime years at the same time)? If you knew Dorsett was going to be injured, Harris... if Dorsett were healthy, Pearson was a bigger contributor.

Certainly Barber is no Dorsett. Felix Jones might not be a Preston Pearson. Mendenhall might not be a Franco Harris. But I think the parallels are worth considering.

Shaketiller,

This is great observation!!! As a matter of fact, Coach Landry referred to Preston Pearson (as a third down back) as his "starter" during Preston's career with the Cowboys (1975-1980).

If Landry felt that a 3rd down back was a "position" --thats good enough for me!!! --Thank you for the historical perspective -- Maybe Dallas will start being a great "screen pass" team again.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I agree. It helps me to know Felix's attitude and drive are top rate.

But the situation was reversed at cornerback (Jenkins vs. Cason), so it's hard to figure what they're thinking.

I guess what I really meant was that it wasn't all about getting the complement to Barber, like so many people have complained about, because Stewart isn't a complement at all. In fact, his style is almost identical to Mendenhall's. They just apparently believed that Stewart was a significantly better player than Mendenhall.

 

[reddyuta]

I dont know why people are putting down menedenhall.He will be great in pittsburgh as will the cat in dallas.

 

[ZeroClub]

I am the guy who harps on this ad nauseum and probably should shut up... but... why can't we think about this as being a question of two different positions? When the Cowboys had Dorsett, Preston Pearson was among the most valuable players on the team. In my opinion, he might have been the greatest third down back ever, certainly in the discussion.

Given that Dallas had Dorsett, if they could have chosen between having as his "backup" Pearson, or having, say, Franco Harris, which would have been the better choice (assuming all these guys in their prime years at the same time)? If you knew Dorsett was going to be injured, Harris... if Dorsett were healthy, Pearson was a bigger contributor.

Certainly Barber is no Dorsett. Felix Jones might not be a Preston Pearson. Mendenhall might not be a Franco Harris. But I think the parallels are worth considering.

Preston Pearson is one of my all time favorites. He was amazing with screens.

While watching some Felix Jones highlights the other day, he reminded me of Preston Pearson in that Jones demonstrated some of Preston Pearson's greatest strengths: The ability to read space ("vision") and to set up blocks.

I'd pick Franco Harris over Preston Pearson any day, just because Harris clearly was a much better player, but it certainly doesn't appear clear that Mendenhall is better or much better than F. Jones at this point.