The comparsion no cowboy fan wants to talk about

[Reality]

Rashard Mendenhall 100 carries 573 yards 4 TDS 5.7 YPC
Chris Johnson 144 carries 959 yards 6 TDS 6.7 YPC
Felix Jones 41 carries 298 yards 1 TD 7.3 YPC

Thanks for posting this! I feel even better now that we picked Felix!


-Reality

 

[joseephuss]

Mendenhall has been bashed quite a bit here (much of it ridiculous) so I am giving some of it back. I don't see Felix as being a major contributor because he will always have nagging injuries, IMO. I hate injuries (as the scourge of all sports) so I would love for Felix to prove me wrong. But I also think that JJ could have foreseen Felix as an injury threat from Day 1 and picked a better long-term back (Mendenhall or CJ). Also, Felix is a one-trick pony to me: wide left, trying to turn the corner. He will need to increase his versatility, otherwise he may never reach his rookie stats again.

Tashard Choice is not in the same league as Mendenhall as a power back. Mendenhall is a #1, while Choice is a backup. I do not agree that you cannot have two strong #1 backs in the same lineup. The Giants were awesome with Jacobs and Ward last year and not so good this year. Miami gets a lot out of both Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. I really believe Dallas fans would have loved both Barber and Mendenhall trading carries, along with a change-of-pace back that could have complemented them. Felix was a rookie dynamo but his perceived injury problem became reality both last year and this year.

Day 1? He did not have injury concerns in college. Felix is good at running the ball between the tackles. He rarely even runs to the outside. Most of his runs go between the tackles.

Mendenhall(or Johnson) being in Dallas doesn't mean they would be trading carries with Barber. The coaches love to make Barber the primary guy. I don't see that changing no matter who else is on the squad. His perceived injury problem is still just a perceived problem. Let things play out more than 1 1/2 seasons. Felix will be fine and so will Dallas. There is nothing to lament. Tennessee, Pittsburgh and Dallas all ended up with good running backs.

 

[BearMe]

Want to compare their carer stats just for fun?

Choice is a backup because of who's in front of him, if Mendenhall was here he'd be a backup too and people like you would be ruing not drafting Felix

I would never pick Felix in front of Mendenhall -- EVER! Mendenhall is a football player, period. Felix is a delicate flower who must be handled gently.

Comparing Choice to Mendenhall is easy: Choice is smaller, slower, and weaker in comparison (according to the NFL combine). I like the kid, but he is not nearly as talented as Mendenhall.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

hey awesome lets compare 2 backs who are everydown backs to Felix Jones, a rb who splits carries with 2 other backs...

Hey man, the OP is correct. No Cowboys fan wants to make apples to oranges comparisons. We're smarter than that. LOL

 

[trickblue]

I would never pick Felix in front of Mendenhall -- EVER! Mendenhall is a football player, period. Felix is a delicate flower who must be handled gently.

Comparing Choice to Mendenhall is easy: Choice is smaller, slower, and weaker in comparison (according to the NFL combine). I like the kid, but he is not nearly as talented as Mendenhall.

One of Mendenhall's knocks coming out of college was his work ethic and attitude... I think that had a lot to do with the Cowboys not picking him up...

 

[DallasEast]

Na you don't got my status yet.

I can't GOT no! ~da da DAAAA!~
I can't GOT no! ~da da DAAAA!~
Satisfaction!

~da da DAAAA da da da DAA da dada DAA da da da DAA da da~

Cause I try!
And I try!
And I try!
And I try!!!
I can't GOT no!
Oh no no no!
Hey hey hey!
That's what I say!

~da da DAAAA da da da DAA da dada DAA da da da DAA da da~

 

[Aikbach]

Pretty sure Felix Jones, apart form injuries, has been everything Reggie Bush was supposed to be.

Multiple good picks in a draft does not necessitate the downgrading of Felix Jones.

it is not as though Blair Thomas and Craig Heyward were taken before Emmitt Smith here.

 

[Ren]

I would never pick Felix in front of Mendenhall -- EVER! Mendenhall is a football player, period. Felix is a delicate flower who must be handled gently.

Comparing Choice to Mendenhall is easy: Choice is smaller, slower, and weaker in comparison (according to the NFL combine). I like the kid, but he is not nearly as talented as Mendenhall.

the numbers don't lie... if you want to use the stats argument with Felix vs Mendenhall don't run away from it when it's the "less talented" Choice

Now do you want to compare their carer stats or do you want to go away and shut the **** up about it?

 

[joseephuss]

One of Mendenhall's knocks coming out of college was his work ethic and attitude... I think that had a lot to do with the Cowboys not picking him up...

One of Mendenhall's knocks since being in the NFL has been his work ethic and attitude. He was in Tomlin's dog house earlier this season. If Fast Willie Parker does not get hurt, Mendenhall may not have seen the field as much this year. The guy is talented, but not perfect. He is still young, so he can mature and will have to in order to have a good,long career.

 

[joseephuss]

I would never pick Felix in front of Mendenhall -- EVER! Mendenhall is a football player, period. Felix is a delicate flower who must be handled gently.

Comparing Choice to Mendenhall is easy: Choice is smaller, slower, and weaker in comparison (according to the NFL combine). I like the kid, but he is not nearly as talented as Mendenhall.

Take Mendenhall and Johnson off the boards. Would you draft Felix? I would. The past is the past. Felix is in Dallas now. That is a good thing.

 

[BearMe]

Day 1? He did not have injury concerns in college. Felix is good at running the ball between the tackles. He rarely even runs to the outside. Most of his runs go between the tackles.

I have seen Dallas run Felix between the tackles and not seen much out of him. His 1.9 ypc average confirms that.

The doubts about Felix's durability were there at the draft. Here is a sample scouting report. I have to admit Felix exceeded my expectations as a rookie but until he gets over the injury bug, the scouting report seems accurate.

"Weaknesses: One has to wonder if Felix Jones benefited tremendously from opposing teams defenses game planning to stop McFadden and not him…Jones was used sparingly throughout his college career—so what workload he can handle is questionable…durability concerns and injuries are a concern considering how he was utilized in college…he was not used much as a pass receiver or a blocker, so his game is sure to need some refinement…"

http://warroomreport.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=79&Itemid=1

 

[Aikbach]

Plus you can't say the combo of Choice an Felix is not better than having drafted only Johnson or Mendenhal.

 

[Ren]

Plus you can't say the combo of Choice an Felix is not better than having drafted only Johnson or Mendenhal.

Choice alone is better then Mendenhall, so i'm not sure how Choice + Felix could be any worse :laugh2:

 

[iceberg]

Mendenhall has been bashed quite a bit here (much of it ridiculous) so I am giving some of it back. I don't see Felix as being a major contributor because he will always have nagging injuries, IMO. I hate injuries (as the scourge of all sports) so I would love for Felix to prove me wrong. But I also think that JJ could have foreseen Felix as an injury threat from Day 1 and picked a better long-term back (Mendenhall or CJ). Also, Felix is a one-trick pony to me: wide left, trying to turn the corner. He will need to increase his versatility, otherwise he may never reach his rookie stats again.

Tashard Choice is not in the same league as Mendenhall as a power back. Mendenhall is a #1, while Choice is a backup. I do not agree that you cannot have two strong #1 backs in the same lineup. The Giants were awesome with Jacobs and Ward last year and not so good this year. Miami gets a lot out of both Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. I really believe Dallas fans would have loved both Barber and Mendenhall trading carries, along with a change-of-pace back that could have complemented them. Felix was a rookie dynamo but his perceived injury problem became reality both last year and this year.

are you or are you related to mendenhall? the only time he likely gets bashed in a cowboys forum is when the "OH DAMN I DIDN'T GET MY DREAM" crowd whines on end about how we messed up not taking THEIR boy.

grow up. 13 will look great on you.

 

[joseephuss]

Pretty sure Felix Jones, apart form injuries, has been everything Reggie Bush was supposed to be.

Multiple good picks in a draft does not necessitate the downgrading of Felix Jones.

it is not as though Blair Thomas and Craig Heyward were taken before Emmitt Smith here.

Heyward was drafted in 1988, but you make a great point.

I think a good comparison is the 1988 draft of the top three wide receivers. Tim Brown, Sterling Sharpe and Michael Irvin were the first three wide outs drafted that year. You really could not go wrong with any of the three. Oakland and Green Bay had no reason to rue passing on Irvin. Michael was the best of the bunch, but those other two guys were extremely good.

 

[BearMe]

the numbers don't lie... if you want to use the stats argument with Felix vs Mendenhall don't run away from it when it's the "less talented" Choice

Now do you want to compare their carer stats or do you want to go away and shut the **** up about it?

Ren, why don't you post the stats that you so want to post? Go ahead, I don't care. Here is a link for the 2008 NFL combine stats: they will tell you that Choice is smaller, weaker, and slower than Mendenhall: probably why he was drafted lower, duh.

http://www.footballsfuture.com/2008/combineRB.html

 

[joseephuss]

I have seen Dallas run Felix between the tackles and not seen much out of him. His 1.9 ypc average confirms that.

The doubts about Felix's durability were there at the draft. Here is a sample scouting report. I have to admit Felix exceeded my expectations as a rookie but until he gets over the injury bug, the scouting report seems accurate.

"Weaknesses: One has to wonder if Felix Jones benefited tremendously from opposing teams defenses game planning to stop McFadden and not him…Jones was used sparingly throughout his college career—so what workload he can handle is questionable…durability concerns and injuries are a concern considering how he was utilized in college…he was not used much as a pass receiver or a blocker, so his game is sure to need some refinement…"

http://warroomreport.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=79&Itemid=1

You are not looking at the stats correctly. Runs up the middle are not the only runs between the tackles. He has 9 runs for 65(7.2 avg) yards to the right, which is between the right guard and the right tackle. He has 9 runs for 104(11.6) yards to the left, which is between the left guard and the left tackle. The 1.9 yard average you are talking about is for runs between the guards only.

 

[Ren]

Ren, why don't you post the stats that you so want to post? Go ahead, I don't care. Here is a link for the 2008 NFL combine stats: they will tell you that Choice is smaller, weaker, and slower than Mendenhall: probably why he was drafted lower, duh.

http://www.footballsfuture.com/2008/combineRB.html

If combine numbers are the true indicators of talent then i expect you to explain to us all why Jamarcus Russel is a better QB then Romo

 

[BearMe]

One of Mendenhall's knocks since being in the NFL has been his work ethic and attitude. He was in Tomlin's dog house earlier this season. If Fast Willie Parker does not get hurt, Mendenhall may not have seen the field as much this year. The guy is talented, but not perfect. He is still young, so he can mature and will have to in order to have a good,long career.

Make no mistake about it: Tomlin loves Mendenhall and thinks he can be a really special player. I have no idea what happened at practice earlier in the season, but it seems to be history.

Dallas picked Felix because of JJ's connection to Arkansas. Pittsburgh then scooped up Mendenhall. If Mendenhall fell in the draft, it was because of the run on offensive tackles up to that point.

The idea that Mendenhall has a poor work ethic is a little crazy to me, considering he is one of the most physically fit players in the league. Considering Felix never lifted in college would be a bigger concern to me.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Tooting your own horn without the brown stain requires waiting untill the beans are fully cooked.