What happened to this guy?

[Qwickdraw]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9k8rpjpZG8

(Julius Jones, "Hotstepper" highlight video)

 

[gbrittain]

Two freak injuries. Take some pressure off with a dangerous passing game, maintain some health, and I believe we will see that man again.

 

[Dale]

My main fear with Julius is that he has actually been overcoached.

Maybe I'm not watching closely enough -- a distinct possibility -- but it seems like Julius is hesitant to make those sorts of cuts in the backfield now.

 

[ravidubey]

My main fear with Julius is that he has actually been overcoached.

 

[gbrittain]

My main fear with Julius is that he has actually been overcoached.

Maybe I'm not watching closely enough -- a distinct possibility -- but it seems like Julius is hesitant to make those sorts of cuts in the backfield now.

I somewhat agree with that. Again, I think the JJ will benefit greatly from a revamped and potent offense. I believe JJ will have more confidence due to an improved offense and you will see that reflected in his running style.

Not to mention our O-Line should be improved this year.

 

[EMMITTnROY]

My main fear with Julius is that he has actually been overcoached.

Maybe I'm not watching closely enough -- a distinct possibility -- but it seems like Julius is hesitant to make those sorts of cuts in the backfield now.

yep, ive said it before-- that is my only real gripe as far as Parcells is concerned.. im afraid that he may have taken a great back and made him average because he is so cautious and hesitant.. lets hope we are wrong, Dale..

 

[justbob]

My main fear with Julius is that he has actually been overcoached.

Maybe I'm not watching closely enough -- a distinct possibility -- but it seems like Julius is hesitant to make those sorts of cuts in the backfield now.

100% agreement---to much making sure he doesn't have negative yards--
:bang2: Just let the man run

 

[Cowboy4ever]

I dont think he has been over coached. I think he was hurt most of last year. Even before the ankle injury. He wasn't able to make those cuts early in the year, a sign of a light groin problem. I think we see that 1st year back again this yeart if he stays healthy. No worries with JJ.. none at all

 

[dargonking999]

THis year will tell if JJ has been over coached healthy and ready to go

 

[LaTunaNostra]

yep, ive said it before-- that is my only real gripe as far as Parcells is concerned.. im afraid that he may have taken a great back and made him average because he is so cautious and hesitant.. lets hope we are wrong, Dale..

I know you've said it before, and I didn't get it then either!
Bill preaches burst and quick decision making, taking advantage of a hole right away, or having the patience to wait on a block.

Parcells loves running backs, and has never been known as one to 'ruin' one (not your word I know, but making a great back 'average' is pretty close.) He wants backs to develop patience and wait for their holes to open, but I have never heard of him counseling hesitance. Not to Hamptom, not to Martin, not to any of his backs.

Whatever appears to us to be tenative in JJ's game, (and I don't see it myself) would imho be based on getting to know his blockers, and perhaps, maybe, possibly, a little gunshyness due to past injury..but I don't want to tag him with that..I just don't see anything hesitant in his running.

 

[Qwickdraw]

He just doesn't have the "burn" he showed early on.

I don't think it's overcoaching. He doesn't have the speed when he does find the hole. Even if he were overcoached, you'd still see the speed on occasion.

I think he's lost a step because of the added bulk. A mere 5-10 pounds can make a huge difference on a small frame in terms of speed. I think he bulked up out of fear of getting injured again. He needs to lose more weight than ever and just run like the wind. Let Barber do the headbangnin.

 

[bobtheflob]

No worries with JJ.. none at all

I like to be optimistic too, but to say I have no worries with Julius would be pushing it.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I was thinking about it the other day, but in some ways Julius reminds me of TJ Duckett. Duckett has times were he looks really fast and given his size, the look of a great running back. Then on other times he looks incredibly slow and plodding.

Julius at times looks surreal in his quickness and speed (i.e. last week's San Fran game) and then other times he'll look like he has average speed and quickness.

Some blame coaching, some blame injuries. I'm not sure what it is.



YAKUZA

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Who do you mean? #7?

 

[Echo9]

I know you've said it before, and I didn't get it then either!
Bill preaches burst and quick decision making, taking advantage of a hole right away, or having the patience to wait on a block.

Parcells loves running backs, and has never been known as one to 'ruin' one (not your word I know, but making a great back 'average' is pretty close.) He wants backs to develop patience and wait for their holes to open, but I have never heard of him counseling hesitance. Not to Hamptom, not to Martin, not to any of his backs.

Whatever appears to us to be tenative in JJ's game, (and I don't see it myself) would imho be based on getting to know his blockers, and perhaps, maybe, possibly, a little gunshyness due to past injury..but I don't want to tag him with that..I just don't see anything hesitant in his running.

I think the change in JJ's running style isn't so much his tentativness, BPs hammering him about losing the football.

He seems very bunched up protecting the ball and that may be slowing him down.

Now I'm certainly not one to say he should be holding the ball like a loaf of bread as Randall Cunningham used to to do (or Crayton for that matter). But I do think his fear of a fumble could be hurting his intial burst.

 

[Champsheart]

I dont think Julius has lost a thing.

We will find out this year, but I really think you are going to see the Julius you want to see.

I can't wait:starspin

 

[Dale]

I know you've said it before, and I didn't get it then either!
Bill preaches burst and quick decision making, taking advantage of a hole right away, or having the patience to wait on a block.

Parcells loves running backs, and has never been known as one to 'ruin' one (not your word I know, but making a great back 'average' is pretty close.) He wants backs to develop patience and wait for their holes to open, but I have never heard of him counseling hesitance. Not to Hamptom, not to Martin, not to any of his backs.

Whatever appears to us to be tenative in JJ's game, (and I don't see it myself) would imho be based on getting to know his blockers, and perhaps, maybe, possibly, a little gunshyness due to past injury..but I don't want to tag him with that..I just don't see anything hesitant in his running.

I guess the reason why I wonder in this instance is this: Recall Parcells' constant preaching on preventing negative carries? I'm afraid that in Julius' rare case, it's made him think to much with every run.

I said he seems hesitant. Perhaps that's not the best word. It just seems like to me he now gets the ball and runs in a straight line until he runs into a defender or, ocassionally, his own lineman. Granted, this is an overexaggeration. Just a few nights ago he made several cuts.

It just seems he cuts back less than he did when he looked so explosive that rookie season.

 

[EMMITTnROY]

I know you've said it before, and I didn't get it then either!
Bill preaches burst and quick decision making, taking advantage of a hole right away, or having the patience to wait on a block.

Parcells loves running backs, and has never been known as one to 'ruin' one (not your word I know, but making a great back 'average' is pretty close.) He wants backs to develop patience and wait for their holes to open, but I have never heard of him counseling hesitance. Not to Hamptom, not to Martin, not to any of his backs.

Whatever appears to us to be tenative in JJ's game, (and I don't see it myself) would imho be based on getting to know his blockers, and perhaps, maybe, possibly, a little gunshyness due to past injury..but I don't want to tag him with that..I just don't see anything hesitant in his running.

again, i hope im wrong.. but i remember last year hearing over and over how Parcells was harping on him to hold onto that ball and to not make any mistakes.. and it just seems he is holding onto that ball with both hands now and running "tighter" if that makes sense.. he doesnt seem so footloose and fancy free.. i agree that Parcells is a great RB coach, BUT, all his great RBs (Martin, Anderson, etc) were very straight forward, between the tackles, smart, pound it out guys with very little "flash", or "juice" as Bill likes to call it.. i just hope he didnt scare the juice out of Julius..

again, i hope and actually think you are right.. i was expressing a fear or worry of mine, not necessarily what i think is the truth or a fact..

 

[Yeagermeister]

Injuries and a bad oline

 

[dalengal]

Bill should just let him play his game. He's thinking too much.:starspin :starspin