SI.com Truth & Rumor: Dallas shipping off J. Jones

[superpunk]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I am trying to figure out why he looked good early and not so good later.

Like I said earlier, I don't know what the deal is for sure, I am speculating.

The defenses he slaughtered were terrible - some of the worst in the league. They gave up near-200 yards to multiple RBs before and after they faced Julius. He has some ability, and he exploited the favorable matchup.

It's pretty easy, requires zero speculation, or black helikopterz.

Tshimanga Biakabatuka had a roll in the hey, too. These backs go back to being what they are

 

[STSINAZ]

Gotta Keep Julius Now With Parcells Gone, He May Return To Form

 

[WV Cowboy]

These backs go back to being what they are

We will find out, ... for sure.

 

[Doomsday101]

If you guys can't see the difference between Jones and Barber, then this discussion is going nowhere.

Jones is a speed back, and MB is a power back. Jones is not a power back, he just isn't. But neither was Franco Harris and he did alright. Neither was Barry Sanders, and he did ok. Those type runners have 0 yd runs or 1 & 2 yd runs, and then a 50 yd run or longer.

I'm speculating that maybe Parcells tried to make Jones a power back too.

But felt no need to change MB.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I am trying to figure out why he looked good early and not so good later.

Like I said earlier, I don't know what the deal is for sure, I am speculating.

Why he looked good early? He has been inconsistent since we got him, yes he will have a big game here or there he did that his rookie year and ever year since. So then why is it that 1 week he will look great and then be a non-factor for 2 or 3 weeks before having another good game? What did BP scare him this week but not the next? It is the inconsistent play that gets me and that is on Jones not Parcells. If it was Parcells then Jones would be a non-factor every week.

 

[ethiostar]

I have no problem with someone questioning a game plan however I think it is total BS to blame Parcells for Jones own shortcoming. BP did not tell him to run up the linemans butt, he did not tell him to go down at 1st contact. Jones has had some good games as well so what was the deal Jones can do it once in a while but then gets scared of Parcells the rest of the time? Sorry I'm not buying that load. This is on Jones not Parcells or anyone else. Barber does not seem to have these problems nor has any other RB that Parcells has worked with.

Like i said i'm really enjoying this thread, i really needed the laugh.

On a more serious note, i do agree J. Jones has shown some flashes of 'brilliance' but for the most part he hasn't impressed overall, I believe injuries have something to do with it. When healthy at times he seemed to, and i quote, "run up the linemans butt" or fall down on first contact, of course with the occasional breakaway run for a long gain. We can attribute the injuries to bad luck but i believe the blame for falling down with the slightest touch by an opposing player has to rest on Jones' own shoulder.

Having said all this, WV made a great argument above about the effect a coach can have on a player, not so much by 'yelling too much at him', or 'coaching the instict out of a player', but by wanting them to run a different style than what they are comfortable with. Maybe we can try and blame Jones for not being able to adapt the style Parcells wanted him to run but i don't know if that will be very fair to Jones.

I still say we need to see him play another year with a new coaching staff, who might be willing to 'cut him loose', sort of speak.

 

[superpunk]

We will find out, ... for sure.

Correction. You will find out.

I've had three years to find out.

 

[BouncingCheese]

If you guys can't see the difference between Jones and Barber, then this discussion is going nowhere.

Jones is a speed back, and MB is a power back. Jones is not a power back, he just isn't. But neither was Franco Harris and he did alright. Neither was Barry Sanders, and he did ok. Those type runners have 0 yd runs or 1 & 2 yd runs, and then a 50 yd run or longer.

I'm speculating that maybe Parcells tried to make Jones a power back too.

But felt no need to change MB.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I am trying to figure out why he looked good early and not so good later.

Like I said earlier, I don't know what the deal is for sure, I am speculating.

I agree with you, but lets, not compare Franco Harris with ANY back on the team or in the Division for that matter.

Reading the Truths & Rumors posting actually makes me nervous, because if Jones is gone, and we don't draft a running back (which I don't want) we will have MBIII taking the bulk of the carries as the only legit vet at the position. This REALLY MAKES ME NERVOUS. first, MBIII was never the main guy in college(Minnesota, he was splitting with Maroney I believe) or the nfl, as he shared backfield carries. I don't know how durable he can be in that regard. Secondly, MBIII does NOT have the gamebreaking ability Jones has, even IF he goes through the hole untouched. My last point, which bothers me more, is that if he is the main setback for the entire upcoming season, then defenses will probably stack 8 in the box the first two running plays, and make Romo beat them, instead of playing the safer way of play-action off of an effective runnning game. Also, look at MBIII's production at the end of the year. When teams started keying on him, he was mostly innefective (against teams with decent run defenses, like Saints/Eagles). He is a masher in a cutback style runners' body. If we really have to keep him as the only vet running back on the team, I HOPE to god that he can at least stay healthy.

 

[WV Cowboy]

I still say we need to see him play another year with a new coaching staff, who might be willing to 'cut him loose', sort of speak.

Hey, now there's an idea.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/scorecard/04/18/nfl.truth.rumors/index.html

Anything Dallas does regarding Julius Jones has nothing to do with salary-cap space. They have plenty of cap room to do whatever they want. They don't think he's an elite runner. They're likely going to ship him off on draft day.
-- Dallas Morning News

Is this becoming an annual event?

Commentary from the 50,000-watt epicenter of excellent logic, truth and the American way in Farmers Branch, where our women drive pickups and our men are mostly contractors and whistle while they work.



When they ship JJ off, to say, Arizona or Oakland, we'll be left with MBIII who may or may not have the good year he had in 2006. And if MB becomes the featured back, will he get a big head? Make demands? Start resembling Hambone?
We'll have Tyson Thompson, yes, but we'll never know if 2006 was an abberation for JJ or if man boobs inhibited him from the sidelines.

Oh, well. If JJ is traded, on the bright side we'll have more draft day currency or at the very least get an equally talented player at another position.
:starspin :starspin :starspin :starspin :starspin

 

[MossBurner]

If this were to happen I would hope Dallas would hold out for a 2nd rd pick at the least. I know Jones has down played these rumors but then again no one is going to show their cards until they have to.

JJ is not close to being worth a 2nd rounder.

 

[Doomsday101]

JJ is not close to being worth a 2nd rounder.

Then chances are Dallas will keep him, when I said a 2nd I think that is a price Dallas would be willing to take to trade Jones for and if no one is willing to trade a 2nd then Dallas just keeps him. This is not a must situation for the Cowboys

 

[Verdict]

Typical lead up to the draft. Let's re-invent an old story and attempt to breathe life into it. If the Cowboys got an obscene offer for Jones, they'd probably take it. Are thay planning to trade him? Not likely. They got decent production from their two-back systen last year and there's no reason to think that it won't continue.

What do you consider to be an obscene offer?

As a side note if the Cowboys truly are shopping Julius Jones it is very interesting. In that regard, you would expect that they would replace Jones with someone they thought was either:

1. About as good as Julius, but they felt that they could snag him in a lower round than the pick that they acquired for Jones. I don't see this as likely unless they think Jones is a really weak back, and it doesn't make sense that they would risk not having a starting quality back on a playoff team.

2. They see MBIII as being a quality starter and they can pick up a complimentary back in the later rounds of the draft, or free agency. I don't see this as likely either since it makes your running back position a bit of a guess on a playoff team.

3. The most likely reason they would be shopping Jones would be that they think that they can find a back superior to Jones, or MBIII in the draft or in free agency. I would think that this scenario is a lot more likely in that this team is primed for a playoff run. I think this means that they either:

A. Trade up and get Peterson.
B. Get Lynch in round #1 in a trade up
C. Trade for Michael Turner
d. The Cowboys scouting department feels that there will be someone else available at #22 other than Peterson, or Lynch that has a first round grade.

I would submit that the cost of trading up and getting Peterson is very prohibitive (unless he falls lower than expected), but trading Julius Jones would alleviate that to some degree.

Trading up to get Lynch is probably "doable" at a reasonable cost, but unless you think he is a lot better than Jones, why do it at all. This makes the most "practical" sense from a "cost" standpoint, but it sure would be a lot of maneuvering for a slight improvement over Jones. Then again, maybe the Cowboys are "sure" he will fall to them at #22. Or, maybe the Cowboys scouting department thinks he is the real deal.

While trading for Turner is not a bad idea, the cost seems very prohibitive, for now. Moreover, unless another team thinks that Jones is a better back than Turner, why would they trade for Jones, instead of Turner.

The best situation would be for Ireland and company to have unearthed a gem running back that isn't really on anyone else's radar, but trading Jones off before draft day would be quite a gamble.

If Jones is traded BEFORE draft day, I think the target is Peterson, with Lynch being option B, if they can't trade up and get Peterson.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I wouldn't be suprised to hear that Dallas is shopping Julius

but they aren't just going to trade him unless the deal is beneficial to them, they don't really have to do anything w/ him at this point

 

[aikemirv]

JJ is not close to being worth a 2nd rounder.

I agree, he is not close to being worth a second rounder and I definitely would not give him up for 1. You don't know what you are going to get with your second round pick. It certainly could be worse than Jones.

And by the way TJ Duckett was not anywhere near as close to being worth what the Skins gave up for him, but they did it. But again, that was the Skins so that does not tell you much.

Jones is not Emmitt or Tony but you guys who want to ship him off for a pick need to realize you could end up with worse!!

 

[Verdict]

I agree, he is not close to being worth a second rounder and I definitely would not give him up for 1. You don't know what you are going to get with your second round pick. It certainly could be worse than Jones.

And by the way TJ Duckett was not anywhere near as close to being worth what the Skins gave up for him, but they did it. But again, that was the Skins so that does not tell you much.

Jones is not Emmitt or Tony but you guys who want to ship him off for a pick need to realize you could end up with worse!!

I don't know what the Cowboys would do with the picks acquired in a trade for Jones, but if someone offers up a 1st or 2nd round pick for him, I think you can waive bye bye to him, because he is gone.

 

[aikemirv]

I don't know what the Cowboys would do with the picks acquired in a trade for Jones, but if someone offers up a 1st or 2nd round pick for him, I think you can waive bye bye to him, because he is gone.

Did you hear that from Jerry or JJT or ESPN?

Thats what I thought. They would I'm sure trade him for a first, but I don't think it would be anywhere near definite for a 2nd.

 

[Doomsday101]

Did you hear that from Jerry or JJT or ESPN?

Thats what I thought. They would I'm sure trade him for a first, but I don't think it would be anywhere near definite for a 2nd.

For a 2nd I think the odds are pretty good as well that Dallas would make the trade. He is in the last year of a contract and if he walks next season we don't get jack for him. While this draft may not be the best at RB I would just as soon take a 2nd for Jones and bring in Pittman or Irons to work along side Barber.

 

[Verdict]

Did you hear that from Jerry or JJT or ESPN?

Thats what I thought. They would I'm sure trade him for a first, but I don't think it would be anywhere near definite for a 2nd.

That is my opinion. Everyone who posts here seems to have one. That is what makes this fun, isn't it? LOL

In all seriousness, I do not think we will pass up an offer of a second round pick for him BEFORE the draft. We might pass up such an offer AFTER the draft though.

 

[burmafrd]

I ses some are still dreaming about getting Peterson. Will not happen- he is not going to fall out of the top 10 and getting there would cost too much.
Lynch is more of a possibility, but I do not see him dropping much beyond 15, and we would have to give up a fair amount to trade up that high. Possible but not likely.

 

[superpunk]

Did you hear that from Jerry or JJT or ESPN?

Thats what I thought. They would I'm sure trade him for a first, but I don't think it would be anywhere near definite for a 2nd.

Why didn't you give him a chance to answer?

Given the reality of Julius' exipring contract, a second rounder would be mighty hard to turn down, considering the flexibility it gives you in the draft.

But Julius is not worth a second rounder, so it's kinda moot anyhow.