Trade Revisited: Trade Down in 2004

[Verdict]

I was thinking about the trade down last year by the Cowboys when they passed on Steven Jackson and acquired Julius Jones and a 1st Rounder in 2005 (which was later used on Spears). I was really "for" the trade at the time it happened....fully behind it 100%.

Up to this point I have firmly believed that the trade was a good one for the Cowboys. I'm not switching paddles in midstream, mind you, but with Steven Jackson emerging as one of the better backs in the NFL and Julius Jones not showing many dividends this year, I'm starting to worry just a little. Of course, with the passage of time, Marcus Spears might be a perrennial pro bowler, and Julius might turn out to be much better than Steven Jackson. At this point in time, I'm willing to look at it objectively and say, hmmm, this is going to be interesting as to how it turns out.

Hostile's comments, at the time of the draft in 2004, that he thought Steven Jackson might be the real deal, appear to have been right on point. I don't think, at this point today, I would trade Spears and Julius Jones for Steven Jackson, but I'm really concerned that we still dont have a marquee back. (I'm not sure of Hostile's position on the trade being good or bad, just giving him credit for giving "props" to S. Jackson)

I'm sure time will tell, but I think both sides of this debate will be right, and both wrong, depending on what point in time the answer is given. Hope that makes sense. Its kinda like asking if signing Bledsoe was a good thing. After yesterday, I think the answer from most would be yes. Two weeks ago he was looking like the Blesoe that the Bills cut. That is what makes this fun.

 

[ddh33]

I still think it was the right deal. Given the choice between S.Jackson or Julius AND Spears, I take our guys.

 

[Yeagermeister]

Let Julius recover completely during the off season and then decide

 

[baj1dallas]

I think based on what I've seen I'd rather have Jackson than Jones+Spears. Based on their entire careers up to this point.

 

[Doomsday101]

Let Julius recover completely during the off season and then decide

I agree. I like both of our RB's and their future with this team. Right now Barber has the hot hand and I think you keep playing the hot hand as long as you can. I would not be surprised to see Barber get the starter’s job in large part because he has gone out there and earned the playing time. Next training camp hopefully a fully healed Jones will show more than he has been able to this season.

 

[blindzebra]

You can compare them all you like, but keep in mind that the styles of their coaches are completely different.

Is it easier to run when you have a wide open offense with all pro WRs like Holt and Bruce?

Spread offense, forcing safeties into coverage, taking LBs out of the game in nickel versus a ball control offense facing 8 man fronts most of the time.

I'd say Jones numbers in STL would be better than Jackson's have been. I'm not so sure Jackson's would be as good in Dallas as they were in STL, and I doubt they'd be better than what Jones has put up.

Jackson is too upright for a power running attack.

 

[Portland Fanatic]

At this point I take JJ and Spears...

However, if we would have stayed put...I think Kevin Jones is a better fit for this offense...big allusive speed back. Size to run with power and speed to break the home run....

 

[jksmith269]

I think based on what I've seen I'd rather have Jackson than Jones+Spears. Based on their entire careers up to this point.

Thats just stupid. Jackson has 936 yrds right now take away his 179 yard game against Jax and 110 against Tex he's behind JJ who has 685 and missed all of 3 games and most of a fourth.

Career wise Jones has 100 less yards but played in 9 less games. Right now I'd take Jones and Spears

 

[AdamJT13]

What's this sudden fascination with Steven Jackson? Other than having fewer injuries, Jackson hasn't done anything Julius hasn't done, and it's debatable whether he's even done as much as Julius.

 

[theogt]

What's this sudden fascination with Steven Jackson? Other than having fewer injuries, Jackson hasn't done anything Julius hasn't done, and it's debatable whether he's even done as much as Julius.

Agreed. How did SJ all of sudden become one of the better backs in the league. If you're going to consider JJ a bust you might as well SJ a bust. Sure he hasn't had a lot of carried and his yards per rush is decent, but I cannot fathom why anyone would have taken SJ over JJ+MS. Having a deep, young, AND talented defensive line cannot be overstated.

 

[Idgit]

Gimme Julius over Jackson straight up.

 

[RonBurgandy31]

Well no offense but that wasnt the trade. Our trade had nothing to do we steven jackson, how would we know the st louie would take him. We traded JP suckman for julius and spears. Thats pretty damn good.

 

[AdamJT13]

Agreed. How did SJ all of sudden become one of the better backs in the league.

Must be his 3.0 average in the past two games. Or maybe his 2.0 average against NFC East teams. And those are despite playing in a spread offense.

 

[austintodallas]

The difference between Jackson and a healthy Julius is negligible.

Spears is gong to be an anchor for us on the D-line for years to come.

Give me that trade down every time.

 

[K-Mart]

I think based on what I've seen I'd rather have Jackson than Jones+Spears. Based on their entire careers up to this point.

Not to be a d***, but this is why you aren't making decisions for the Cowboys. You would honestly say that you would give up JJ (2nd year) & Spears (rookie) for Jackson (2nd year) based on their "entire careers up to this point". That would have been the most ridiculous thing I've heard today but the Commanders fans saying they will roll us takes the cake.

 

[baj1dallas]

Not to be a d***, but this is why you aren't making decisions for the Cowboys. You would honestly say that you would give up JJ (2nd year) & Spears (rookie) for Jackson (2nd year) based on their "entire careers up to this point". That would have been the most ridiculous thing I've heard today but the Commanders fans saying they will roll us takes the cake.

LOL what am I supposed to base the decision off of, other than their careers? I've liked what I've seen out of Jackson, I think he's talented and will be a productive back for a long time. I have my doubts about Jones, I don't think he'll be a workhorse type back for any length of time. I'm not sure what kind of career Spears will have but I don't know if he'll ever develop into a true difference maker. I'm not basing this off statistics, but what type of players they look like.

 

[Hiero]

Personally at the time of the draft, I was a huge steven jackson fan, and I was really down on JJ. Injury concerns due to size was my main issue, and that I wanted a big physical back that could grind the game away.

At the time of the draft, I was absolutely disgusted with the trade, and thought Parcells blew it. But by the end of last year I was quite happy with it. JJ looked like a superstar in the making.

Even though I think S Jackson has been pretty damn good over there, I still like the trade. Spears is a good starter and with him and canty were set at DE for ages. I was hoping Spears would do a little more this year, but I am reserving judgment for the time being because his injury held him back and he's in a rotation. So far i'd say he's been solid, not bad, but he could definitely improve.

The thing that really makes me happy about the trade in hindsight is that the Bills got Losman as part of the trade, which led to the subsequent release of Drew and us getting him, which was the steal of the year. and if not for Bledsoe's comeback for teh Bills at the end of teh year, we could have had two picks in the top 11 which would have made the trade even better.
I am really disappointed in JJ this year, but I know that next year he will be back to 100% and back to the moves he used to have.

 

[Verdict]

Well no offense but that wasnt the trade. Our trade had nothing to do we steven jackson, how would we know the st louie would take him. We traded JP suckman for julius and spears. Thats pretty damn good.

No offense, but giving up Steven Jackson was our opportunity cost of trading down, so its a relevant debate.

 

[conner01]

jackson has done nothing all that special.i'll take our guys over him any day

 

[AmericasTeam31]

I was a real big fan of Kevin Jones vs. S. Jackson. I really thought we missed out on passing him by. Keep in mind too that alot of people still say that BP was going to take Tatum Bell instead of JuJo. So maybe in a way we "settled for second best" as far as what the coach had in mind.