re: RB's; How would you feel if...

[Established1971]

How would you feel if Felix or Marion got 3 games of 149 yards or more in their next 7 starts, one of which was nearly 200? And add another game of just under 200 several starts after that?

You'd be pretty stoked right? Thats what Julius did before he tanked.
It's gonna be hard to get excited about a RB for the Cowboys for a while. Most of us watched Dorsett and Emmit develop quick and become Hall of Famers. We got spoiled.

Well here's to the running game improving and changing the way defenses prepare and, most importantly, helping get more key W's. But as far as getting excited for a given RB to be on the way for a great career, for me anyway, its gonna take a couple of seasons of at least 1,400 before I'd get excited. Julius kind of ruined that.

 

[dmq]

I know I am still perplexed by how badly Julius tanked. I won't hold that against Felix or Marion though.

 

[dargonking999]

Thats the thing that i really worry about. He had such a promising start, he might reflourish in seattle. And then the JJ supporters, adn Jerry haters will come out the woodworks.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

How would you feel if Felix or Marion got 3 games of 149 yards or more in their next 7 starts, one of which was nearly 200? And add another game of just under 200 several starts after that?

You'd be pretty stoked right? Thats what Julius did before he tanked.
It's gonna be hard to get excited about a RB for the Cowboys for a while. Most of us watched Dorsett and Emmit develop quick and become Hall of Famers. We got spoiled.

Well here's to the running game improving and changing the way defenses prepare and, most importantly, helping get more key W's. But as far as getting excited for a given RB to be on the way for a great career, for me anyway, its gonna take a couple of seasons of at least 1,400 before I'd get excited. Julius kind of ruined that.

I just hope JJ does not out perform our backs in Seattle.......:bang2:

 

[CoCo]

Tier 1 - Emmitt, Tony, Duane, Calvin, Herschel.

Tier 2 - Newhouse, Garrison, P.Pearson, maybe Laidlaw, maybe Perkins though he was before my time so I'm making a very uneducated guess on him.

Tier 3 - Dennison, Sherman Williams, Lavette, others...

Even at the height of his productivity I never expected Julius to be a tier 1 back for us. The comparisons some made to Sanders were unrealistic (yes, they were made). He had sufficient acceleration & top end speed to be elite. He had sufficient quickness too.

But his wiggle & balance were deceiving back then. Not to defenses, but to us who watched him. Most thought there was more wiggle & necessary balance than there actually was. I never really believed Julius could make someone miss purely on that ability.

I think people convinced themselves he could break tackles too. But I don't think that was ever really evident.

Aware of the above shortcomings I still thought Julius collectively had enough to be a Tier 1.5. His early productivity said so.

But it turns out his vision was poor as well. And when you have poor vision, limited wiggle, and poor tackle-breaking ability you can't get consistent results above Tier 2. His speed was of limited use because he couldn't really set it up to use very often.

Barber on the other hand I expected would be a Tier 2 guy at best. He certainly showed ability to break tackles and there were no real beefs about his vision. But his speed and wiggle appeared to be very average or perhaps below average.

Turns out, he has enough wiggle when combine with superior tackle-breaking ability that he can be more productive than I thought. Maybe he can be a Tier 1.5. Absolutely not Tier 1. No way, no how. But maybe Tier 1.5.

Even with that, relying so heavily on tackle-breaking ability as he does scares me a lot as to how long he'll last and how quickly he may fade. I want limited eggs in his basket. I question how long we'll get bang out of his new contract.

 

[HoosierCowboy]

Tier 1 - Emmitt, Tony, Duane, Calvin, Herschel.

Tier 2 - Newhouse, Garrison, P.Pearson, maybe Laidlaw, maybe Perkins though he was before my time so I'm making a very uneducated guess on him.

Tier 3 - Dennison, Sherman Williams, Lavette, others...

Even at the height of his productivity I never expected Julius to be a tier 1 back for us. The comparisons some made to Sanders were unrealistic (yes, they were made). He had sufficient acceleration & top end speed to be elite. He had sufficient quickness too.

But his wiggle & balance were deceiving back then. Not to defenses, but to us who watched him. Most thought there was more wiggle & necessary balance than there actually was. I never really believed Julius could make someone miss purely on that ability.

I think people convinced themselves he could break tackles too. But I don't think that was ever really evident.

Aware of the above shortcomings I still thought Julius collectively had enough to be a Tier 1.5. His early productivity said so.

But it turns out his vision was poor as well. And when you have poor vision, limited wiggle, and poor tackle-breaking ability you can't get consistent results above Tier 2. His speed was of limited use because he couldn't really set it up to use very often.

Barber on the other hand I expected would be a Tier 2 guy at best. He certainly showed ability to break tackles and there were no real beefs about his vision. But his speed and wiggle appeared to be very average or perhaps below average.

Turns out, he has enough wiggle when combine with superior tackle-breaking ability that he can be more productive than I thought. Maybe he can be a Tier 1.5. Absolutely not Tier 1. No way, no how. But maybe Tier 1.5.

Even with that, relying so heavily on tackle-breaking ability as he does scares me a lot as to how long he'll last and how quickly he may fade. I want limited eggs in his basket. I question how long we'll get bang out of his new contract.

Perkins was top tier

 

[CoCo]

Thats the thing that i really worry about. He had such a promising start, he might reflourish in seattle. And then the JJ supporters, adn Jerry haters will come out the woodworks.

Much as I loved some of that early career flash, I don't think that will ever be consistently sustained. Even if he maximizes his potential I don't think we'll ever rue the day.

I really like the guy and wish him all the best but I think his early success required alignment of other planets as well and those orbits simply don't happen every week.

 

[HoosierCowboy]

Duane Thomas? Calvin Hill?

But JJ is gladly gone--it was good for everyone involved, especially me.

 

[Hostile]

I swear Julius simply got too muscle bound up top and shifted his center of balance too high.

 

[DFWJC]

How would you feel if Felix or Marion got 3 games of 149 yards or more in their next 7 starts, one of which was nearly 200? And add another game of just under 200 several starts after that?

You'd be pretty stoked right? Thats what Julius did before he tanked.
It's gonna be hard to get excited about a RB for the Cowboys for a while. Most of us watched Dorsett and Emmit develop quick and become Hall of Famers. We got spoiled.

Well here's to the running game improving and changing the way defenses prepare and, most importantly, helping get more key W's. But as far as getting excited for a given RB to be on the way for a great career, for me anyway, its gonna take a couple of seasons of at least 1,400 before I'd get excited. Julius kind of ruined that.

There are good reports on JJ so far in Seattle, but it's so very early.

FWIW, for the last three years that he played, Jones averaged 3.9, 4.1 and 3.6 ypc. Also, only 5, 4 and 2 TDs rushing and never one TD receiving. So he never really had numbers that blew anyone away. But he was at least average or even better than average at his best.

 

[CoCo]

There are good reports on JJ so far in Seattle, but it's so very early.

Unfortunately for Julius, the defense will have the green light to begin tackling when training camps open.

Nevertheless I wish him much success.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I swear Julius simply got too muscle bound up top and shifted his center of balance too high.

that and Parcells screwed him up by telling him how to run

not that the process is completely flawed, just I don't think Julius was mentaly-equipped to do it

 

[CoCo]

I swear Julius simply got too muscle bound up top and shifted his center of balance too high.

When it happened I don't know but I do agree the guy does not have good balance.

The circumstances on any given play need to set up a certain way for Julius to break free. It doesn't happen often enough.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I think Preston Pearson would be a Tier one as well more so than Walker. Unless you're counting the Walker trade as part of the reason for making him tier one.

 

[Aven8]

I swear Julius simply got too muscle bound up top and shifted his center of balance too high.

I thought the same thing! After his rookie year he started working out with his brother Thomas and it looked like the both of them were more into curls then core work! Thomas looks like all ARMS.

 

[starfrombirth]

I think Preston Pearson would be a Tier one as well more so than Walker. Unless you're counting the Walker trade as part of the reason for making him tier one.

You have obviously got no concept of how good Herschel Walker was. Were you old enough to watch him and understand the type of runner he was? I'm seriously not knocking you if that was the case but if you could understand, then something is not quite right upstairs with you. Herschel had the best combination of speed and power since Jim Brown. He was amazingly fast and he could run over linebackers, his total yards would place him in the top 5 of all time and he was a beast. I'm sorry if I've offended you but your evaluation of him is waaaaay off.

 

[Billy Bullocks]

He definately flashed ability. I don't know what changed with the kid.

I mean, he had ample opportunitites since his rookie year to show that he was worth keeping around.

I wouldn't be surprised if he played well in Seattle, the talent is their.

Problem with Jones always was that he would have a great game, or a few great carries, then he would be back to his old self of doing nothing.

I was a huge Jones supporter, but it became quite clear last year that when he was out there, the offense was not as effective as when Barber was in. I think part of that has to do with the confidence he had in himself, as well as teh confidence of the rest of the team.

 

[TX_Yid]

Well I bought the bloody jersey. Won't be doing that again.. well maybe a Romo one, I'll wait a few years though.