Jones the right man for the job in Dallas
NFL NUGGETS : Jones the right man for the job in Dallas
NWAnews.com :: Northwest Arkansas Northwest Arkansas Times
by Joe West
When I saw that Arkansas RB Felix Jones and Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall were both still on the board as the Dallas Cowboys were set to make the 22 nd overall pick of the recent NFL Draft, I knew what was about to happen. One way or another, some Dallas fans were about get upset. As everyone now knows, the Cowboys went with the shifty Jones over the bullish Mendenhall, drawing praise from some and disdain from others. The Pittsburgh Steelers scooped up Mendenhall with the next pick.
Many in the Dallas-area media clamored that Mendenhall would have made more sense for the Cowboys than Jones. To me, Dallas really couldn’t go wrong with either guy.
Most of the hubbub centers around the Cowboys ’ current situation at running back. Julius Jones (who has a skill set not unlike Felix’s ) is gone, leaving tough-running Marion Barber as the undisputed starter at running back.
Some Dallas media members — like the Dallas Morning News ’ Jean-Jaques Taylor — fret that should Barber get injured or the Cowboys fail to lock him up with a long-term deal, that the team could be left without a featured back.
It’s hard to argue with that logic. Mendenhall has proven he can be that 25-carry featured back, while Felix has not.
But the reality of the situation is that Barber is not injured. And how hard would it be to sign Barber to a long-term deal when there’s another every-down back breathing down his neck ? I’m sure he’s ready to finally be THE man in the Dallas backfield.
And would Mendenhall be satisfied playing second-fiddle to Barber ? Arkansas fans already know what kind of great things Felix can accomplish when taking on the change-of-pace role.
Felix plays faster than Mendenhall, is more elusive and — most importantly — is a great kick returner. Just ask the Bears if Devin Hester is important to their team.
Reportedly Dallas owner Jerry Jones has already been impressed with how “ smooth” Felix is while running the ball at the Cowboys ’ rookie minicamp. In my book, Jerry made a smooth move for his team’s future at the draft.
Hillis, Monk tumbles
a mystery For the life of me, I can’t explain why former Hogs Peyton Hillis and Marcus Monk fell to the seventh round of the draft. Hillis’ drop could be partially attributed to the gradual decline of fullback usage among NFL offenses. The Colts and Patriots with their stupid three-wide, one-back sets have made the NFL fullback a dying breed.
Is it just me, or do these teams with wide-open passing offenses usually have weak defenses ?
Call me old-fashioned, but I like putting a fullback on the field, especially one who can run, block and catch. Let’s control the ball and wear out the opposing defense.
And if a team likes to throw the ball some, having a fullback like Hillis would be perfect. Not only can the guy catch out of the backfield, he can run good downfield routes as well.
What really blows my mind is that LSU fullback Jacob Hester was selected in the third round (69 th overall ), a full four rounds and 140 picks earlier than Hillis. Just take a look at last year’s Arkansas-LSU game and tell me if Hester is that much better.
As far Monk is concerned, I just don’t see how a freak knee injury could cause a talent like that to fall so far in the draft (248 th overall pick ).
The Bears got a steal and need to give Monk every opportunity to make the team. Not only can the guy run, jump and catch, he could also be a great representative for the Bears off the field.
I’m also surprised that former Arkansas guard Robert Felton didn’t get drafted. The big man has some nimble feet and can play every spot on the line but left tackle.
Joe West is the assistant sports editor of the Northwest Arkansas Times.
NWAnews.com :: Northwest Arkansas Northwest Arkansas Times
by Joe West
When I saw that Arkansas RB Felix Jones and Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall were both still on the board as the Dallas Cowboys were set to make the 22 nd overall pick of the recent NFL Draft, I knew what was about to happen. One way or another, some Dallas fans were about get upset. As everyone now knows, the Cowboys went with the shifty Jones over the bullish Mendenhall, drawing praise from some and disdain from others. The Pittsburgh Steelers scooped up Mendenhall with the next pick.
Many in the Dallas-area media clamored that Mendenhall would have made more sense for the Cowboys than Jones. To me, Dallas really couldn’t go wrong with either guy.
Most of the hubbub centers around the Cowboys ’ current situation at running back. Julius Jones (who has a skill set not unlike Felix’s ) is gone, leaving tough-running Marion Barber as the undisputed starter at running back.
Some Dallas media members — like the Dallas Morning News ’ Jean-Jaques Taylor — fret that should Barber get injured or the Cowboys fail to lock him up with a long-term deal, that the team could be left without a featured back.
It’s hard to argue with that logic. Mendenhall has proven he can be that 25-carry featured back, while Felix has not.
But the reality of the situation is that Barber is not injured. And how hard would it be to sign Barber to a long-term deal when there’s another every-down back breathing down his neck ? I’m sure he’s ready to finally be THE man in the Dallas backfield.
And would Mendenhall be satisfied playing second-fiddle to Barber ? Arkansas fans already know what kind of great things Felix can accomplish when taking on the change-of-pace role.
Felix plays faster than Mendenhall, is more elusive and — most importantly — is a great kick returner. Just ask the Bears if Devin Hester is important to their team.
Reportedly Dallas owner Jerry Jones has already been impressed with how “ smooth” Felix is while running the ball at the Cowboys ’ rookie minicamp. In my book, Jerry made a smooth move for his team’s future at the draft.
Hillis, Monk tumbles
a mystery For the life of me, I can’t explain why former Hogs Peyton Hillis and Marcus Monk fell to the seventh round of the draft. Hillis’ drop could be partially attributed to the gradual decline of fullback usage among NFL offenses. The Colts and Patriots with their stupid three-wide, one-back sets have made the NFL fullback a dying breed.
Is it just me, or do these teams with wide-open passing offenses usually have weak defenses ?
Call me old-fashioned, but I like putting a fullback on the field, especially one who can run, block and catch. Let’s control the ball and wear out the opposing defense.
And if a team likes to throw the ball some, having a fullback like Hillis would be perfect. Not only can the guy catch out of the backfield, he can run good downfield routes as well.
What really blows my mind is that LSU fullback Jacob Hester was selected in the third round (69 th overall ), a full four rounds and 140 picks earlier than Hillis. Just take a look at last year’s Arkansas-LSU game and tell me if Hester is that much better.
As far Monk is concerned, I just don’t see how a freak knee injury could cause a talent like that to fall so far in the draft (248 th overall pick ).
The Bears got a steal and need to give Monk every opportunity to make the team. Not only can the guy run, jump and catch, he could also be a great representative for the Bears off the field.
I’m also surprised that former Arkansas guard Robert Felton didn’t get drafted. The big man has some nimble feet and can play every spot on the line but left tackle.
Joe West is the assistant sports editor of the Northwest Arkansas Times.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:22 PM
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