Why did Parcells draft JJ if he feels this way?

[TheNatureBoy]

If JJ can't handle 20 Carries - what's his worth then?

Cowboys mailbag: Parcells says Jones had too many carries



Web Posted: 09/19/2006 07:20 PM CDT



Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer


Julius Jones ran hard Sunday night. Harder than I've seen him run in quite some time.
He ran well, too, picking up 94 yards on 20 carries for a healthy 4.7 average.


But he also ran too much. Or so says Bill Parcells.
"I don't want to do that (give Jones 20 carries)," Parcells said. "I want to use Marion (Barber) and I want to get Tyson (Thompson) in there a little bit. The more I can do that, the better off we're going to be."


Parcells doesn't believe Jones can stand up to the pounding a back receives carrying the ball 20-25 times per game for 16 contests. That's why the coach was kicking himself for giving Jones three carries after the Cowboys had gone ahead 27-10 midway through the fourth quarter of their victory over the Commanders.
"Yeah, I left him in too long last night at the end of the game,{quot} Parcells said Monday. {quot}I finally got him out myself, so it's my fault."

He also blamed himself for the speedy Thompson not having any carries in the second and third quarters.

"Yeah, I know," Parcells said when reminded he didn't come back to Thompson after giving him one carry in the first quarter. "But when you're up to your rear in alligators, you can't be talking about draining the swamp."

 

[MRTRIPOD]

UM

I dont think there is anything wrong with what he said

 

[hmcorp]

it isnt just carries. he was in on passing downs. and blocking.

no Rbs are going to be able to do that every down anymore.

LdT is INCREDIBLE. but he will wear down sooner than later because of all the damage. it will shorten his career.

this is better this way.

 

[AbeBeta]

fewer than half of the starting backs in the league averaged 20 carries a game.

quit your whining.

 

[JackMagist]

You might want to consider that those were only the carries that did not get called back. He had at least three runs and a screen pass that were all called back but he was still running just as hard regardless. If anything I think Parcells was being critical of himself for not managing his RB’s work loads better.

Parcells knows that Jones can carry 30 times a game...he did it 3 times in a row his rookie year. But he doesn't want him doing that; he wants him to be able to hold up the entire year. And judging from his reaction in the press conference to a question about Thompson, BP also knows that Thompson is ready for more work than he got and he feels that he should have taken Jones out earlier and given Thompson a few more carries.

 

[SuspectCorner]

i guess parcells oughta apologize for the remark since it's only historical fact that julius jones misses games due to injury only.... every year he's been in the NFL!

 

[Cochese]

The more times Parcells puts the ball in Jones hands, the more chances Jones has to take his hands off the ball. He has what, 8 fumbles in around 20 games started?

 

[RoyWilliams]

Barber is a very good complimentary back. You should also take a look at LT and how he always tapers off at the end of the season. Or Portis last year and how he played great late in the season but was ridden too hard and was beat up going into the playoffs. Having a good stable of backs is a good strategy, but it definitely sucks for fantasy league.

 

[ddh33]

Man, poor Bill can't do anything right these days...

There is absolutely nothing wrong with limiting Julius. In fact, I think it was mentioned during the game that Julius has a little different running style - he takes a lot of direct hits. I'm sure Bill wants him on the field, but it's not like he wants to ruin the player. And he's got some capable players behind Julius too.

 

[bbgun]

I don't think they had "rb by committee" in mind when they drafted him. If he's not a workhorse this year, then sayonara.

 

[AdamJT13]

The more times Parcells puts the ball in Jones hands, the more chances Jones has to take his hands off the ball. He has what, 8 fumbles in around 20 games started?

He has started 21 games and has fumbles seven times in those games. That's not an extremely high number of fumbles for a young running back. (Tomlinson fumbled eight times as a rookie. So did Edgerrin James. Even Shaun Alexander has seven fumbles in his past 15 regular-season games.) Parcells' comment has nothing to do with fumbles, it has to do with wear-and-tear.

 

[Cochese]

He has started 21 games and has fumbles seven times in those games. That's not an extremely high number of fumbles for a young running back. (Tomlinson fumbled eight times as a rookie. So did Edgerrin James. Even Shaun Alexander has seven fumbles in his past 15 regular-season games.) Parcells' comment has nothing to do with fumbles, it has to do with wear-and-tear.

NFL.com says 8 fumbles.

 

[jrumann59]

Its about wear and tear if JJ can last this season without a serious injury and play 16 ganes I am sure they will up his workload next year but he is starting his career off like Fragile Taylor

 

[dallasfan31]

i like what he say i want too see barber and thompson run.

 

[BlueStar22]

not to mention he may want to limit JJ's carries so early in the season.

 

[AdamJT13]

NFL.com says 8 fumbles.

You said 20 games started. You weren't counting his non-starts (besides being off by one start), so neither was I. Like I said, he has fumbled seven times in his 21 starts.

 

[calico]

I am all for keeping JJ healthy, but if he is on one of his 150+ games where he can't be stopped, then keep giving him the damn ball.

We have a great RB situation in Dallas right now and I am very happy about it. Barber can be killer on 3rd downs.

 

[burmafrd]

some people will always find something to whine about.

 

[junk]

I don't think they had "rb by committee" in mind when they drafted him. If he's not a workhorse this year, then sayonara.

I totally disagree. I think Parcells' approach has always been a RB by committee approach.

Outside of Curtis Martin, has he ever had a workhorse back?

Those days are gone in the NFL and Parcells basically says as much whenever RBs come up.

Barber is a real nice complimentary back, but I don't think he is a carry the load guy either. He works OK with Jones.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

guess he changed his mind after watching him in practice.