Felix Jones over Rashard Mendenhall. The correct choice for the Cowboys?
RobertMenn-MerlinsMiracles.com said 04/28, 02:08 PM
I say yes, it was the correct choice.
I know Rashard Mendenahall was the #2 rated running back by most draft experts. And I know he is a tad bit faster (4.45 40 to 4.46 40). And he might even be better than Darren McFadden when all is said and done. But Rashard Mendenhall is not what the Cowboys should've picked. He's a questionalbe starting running back, not a back up running back. I say questionable because he was only the full-time starter his junior year.
Felix Jones however, is used to being the backup. That's what he has been in Arkansas, and whether he likes it or not, that's what he'll be in Dallas. Dallas needed a change up back to spell Marion Barber, so that's what they drafted. Someone used to coming off the bench, and producing very well I might add, and someone with break away speed.
Drafting Rashard Mendenhall would've sent a message to Marion Barber, or as I like to call him: Marion the Barbarian. (What? I didn't make it up? Prove it.) The message being, after this year we don't need your services any longer. Drafting Felix Jones further emphasizes Barber's starting status.
Porkins: Pisses Excellence said 04/28, 02:21 PM
So with their first pick, the Cowboys select a guy who was a back-up in college, projects as a backup in the pros, and is admittedly not as good as a bunch of other guys who were still on the board.
Yes...cunningly clever strategy. Let's use our best draft choice to take a guy with LESS talent so we can avoid offending our newly minted starting RB who, by the way, has never been a fullt-ime starter or had a 1,000 yard season, and has a lot to prove in his own right.
The first round of the draft is about getting the biggest bang for your buck. It's about getting talent, and trying- as much as possible- to guarantee a return on your investment.
If, as you suggest, the Cowboys went into that pick intending to draft a backup, then they were ignoring their other needs at their own peril.
There was plenty of time in that draft to get a quality backup. At the time they picked Jones, only 2 other RBs had been selected, and it was a DEEP position this year.
I'm not saying Jones will be bad. But I think the Cowboys could have made better decisions if all they wanted was a backup RB.
Dallas could have had their backup but used the 1st rounder to secure other talent.
RobertMenn-MerlinsMiracles.com said 04/28, 03:39 PM
Ah, Porkins.
Well, since you draft for NEED and not BEST AVAILABLE, Jones was the right pick. Case in point, before this draft Detroit selected a WR for their 1st Rd pick. How'd that turn out? Nobody is arguing whether Mendenhall is better than Jones.
Barber hasn't been a full time starter? Well, when you right Porkins, you're right. But that too has nothing to do with the TD. Since the Cowboys have already anointed Barber, they needed someone to spell him, not take his place. Thunder and Lightning as they say.
And alot to prove? I don't know about that. He averaged 4.8 per carry, and let's face it, Julius might have been the starter, but it was by title only. Barber got the majority of the carries and teams game planned for him. And he made the Pro Bowl..voted in by the players/coaches. So apparently they think he proved himself.
"There was plenty of time in that draft to get a quality backup." Maybe, but he wouldn't have gotten the best backup for Barber. And Felix definitely wouldn't have been there in the later rounds.
"ignoring their other needs at their own peril." Like what? A WR? The Cowboys are in a "win now" mode. Almost all WR take a few years to develop.
Porkins: Pisses Excellence said 04/28, 03:51 PM
Hold up...
I'm not dissing Felix Jones. Here's why I took this TD.
1. You said in your #1 that RM is better than Jones.
2. You said the Cowboys made the right choice because Jones is used to being a backup while RM is used to being a starter
3. You said that drafting RM would have been bad because it would have sent "a message" to MB3.
Here are my disagreements:
1. IF (and it's a big IF) RM IS better, then Dallas passed up BETTER talent to get a role player. That is NOT what the first round is for.
2. To assume that Jones is content being a backup is ridiculous. Just because he was stuck behind McFadden in college doesn't mean he's ok with that role. Who's to say he'll respond better than Mendenhall to sharing time in NFL?
3. Taking an RB in the 1st ROUND is a message to the whole team. Do you think Barber faces LESS pressure from Jones? If MB3 stumbles, the backup is coming in, no matter WHO that is.
By taking Jones, they're showing their confidence in MB3? I doubt that's why they draft like they did. And if it IS why, then that's a ridiculous strategy.
IFall Dallas wanted was a backup they could have gotten one later- not in the 1st.
RobertMenn-MerlinsMiracles.com said 04/28, 04:36 PM
1. Rashard Mendenhall projects to be better than Felix Jones. But more importantly, the 1st Rd is used for drafting the best player FOR YOU, not the best player available. The Cowboys didn't have any glaring weakness other than WR, so they chose the best back to COMPLIMENT Barber. Mendenhall is too much like Barber to be his compliment.
2. I didn't say he's content, but that's what he was drafted for. Mendenhall was a starter, so for him to come in a back up someone, I'm sure, wouldn't go over well. Julius Jones was the starter, and when Barber started getting more carries, he complained. You don't want that on your team. You want someone who is a team player, and someone who is used to playing that role.
3. I believe he faces a lot less pressure. Everyone predicted Jones not to be an every down back. Not so with Mendenhall. If you draft someone who runs just like Barber, but is faster, that brings in way more pressure.
Bottom line, the Cowboys chose correctly picking someone to come in a fill a role, rather than choosing the best back available.
Porkins: Pisses Excellence said 04/28, 06:09 PM
So the bottom line is that according to you, the Cowboys spent a 1st round pick on a guy who will see the ball what...10 times a game plus maybe some special teams duty?
Look, I think Jones has a lot of talent and could be a very good pro, but it all comes dow to what you can get when your pick rolls around.
Last year Dallas had Jones and Barber- they rid themselves of Jones presumably to go with more of a featured back, right? So now MB3 is their featured back, and the guy they chose with their first overall pick is relegated to a supporting role.
Not to mention they're going to be paying a guy first-round money to serve a supporting role.
I totally agree that they needed a complement to Barber. I totally agree that getting a change fo pace guy was smart. But in the first round? When only 2 backs had been drafted?
They did nothing to help themselves at WR. Your argument that wideouts take more time to develop is not entirely accurate. Every other team in the NFC East- including Philly who is CLEARLY in a "win now" mode- took at least 1 WR.
Jones is good. But if the Cowboys a "backup" "change of pace" guy, there were better ways to do it than using a 1st.
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Comments (59)
I agree that it was the pick for them...But not sure i agree with your argument as to why..Will be checking on his later
Analytical | 04/28/08, 02:16 PM
Report Offensive CommentMy biggest problem with Mendenhall is he projects to be a 2 down back at this point..Jones is a great compliment to barber. However i don't think he was drafted as a backup
Analytical | 04/28/08, 02:27 PM
Report Offensive CommentExactly. I don't know whether Jones is better or worse than Mendenhall. My point is that if all the Cowboys wanted was a backup, then it was bad move to do it in the first round. Plus, Barber is far from a sure thing- it seems like you'd want to take the guy with the best chance of succeeding, whoever that may be.
Porkins: Pisses Excellence | 04/28/08, 02:31 PM
Report Offensive CommentThe Cowboys needed depth at the RB position. MB3 is thunder, Felix is lightning. End of story. What?, just becasue you have a starting running back you don't pick one up for a backup in the 1st round? okay?
The guy averaged over 7 yards per carry in college...enough said.
662 | 04/28/08, 02:35 PM
Report Offensive CommentBesides the cowboys were pretty much covered and didn't have any GLARING needs with exception of WR...and everyone knows that it takes a few years to really get them involved....something not attractive to a team looking to win now....which a RB can help do right away in the NFL
662 | 04/28/08, 02:37 PM
Report Offensive CommentI'm not bashing Jones. He's got skills. But IF, as Robert suggests, all Dallas wanted was a backup RB, they could have handled it differently.
Porkins: Pisses Excellence | 04/28/08, 02:38 PM
Report Offensive CommentRobert the entirety of your arguement was shattered in the last paragraph.IMHO
Analytical | 04/28/08, 02:39 PM
Report Offensive CommentDid not the Vikings bring in AD to back up? How did that work out? Argubaly the best backfield in football
662 | 04/28/08, 02:41 PM
Report Offensive Commentno offense but Felix Jones isn't going to be an Adrian Peterson
Analytical | 04/28/08, 02:43 PM
Report Offensive CommentDid not the Vikings bring in AD to back up? How did that work out? Argubaly the best backfield in football
662 Welcomes Pac Man..w/ $1's | 04/28/08, 02:41 PM
I guarantee the Vikings did not Peterson with the intent of him being a backup. A lot of rookies don't start right away, but that doesn't mean the team drafting them thinks of them as being a backup.
Porkins: Pisses Excellence | 04/28/08, 02:45 PM
Report Offensive Commentbut my point is that the Vikes had a very reliable starter already, and they drafted a RB with the 7th pick when they had more glaring needs than a RB.
662 | 04/28/08, 02:49 PM
Report Offensive CommentWell, I'm not sure I'd consider Chester Taylor a "very reliable starter", but the fact that they picked Pterson supports my argument- they went with the best talent available at the time.
Do you think Felix Jones was the best talent available at that point in the draft?
Porkins: Pisses Excellence | 04/28/08, 02:51 PM
Report Offensive CommentIf anything should be eye-catching it is this:
Malcom Kelly - Redskins
DeSean Jackson - Eagles
Manningham _ GIants
(no WR) - Cowboys
662 | 04/28/08, 02:56 PM
Report Offensive CommentThat's a never ending argument...Drafting for need or Drafting best available.
For the Cowboys NEEDS, Felix met that. A change of pace back that complements and complements very very well
662 | 04/28/08, 02:57 PM
Report Offensive CommentThis is turning into a TD within a TD...
Anyway, like I said- If what they wanted was a change of pace BACKUP running back, they could have gotten that later in the draft and ALSO used their first rounder to get talent at another position.
Porkins: Pisses Excellence | 04/28/08, 03:04 PM
Report Offensive Comment"The guy averaged over 7 yards per carry in college...enough said."
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Actually, it is not enough said. There are a few things that Mendenhall has that Felix Jones doesn't. The first one is POWER. His ability to push through the line to make his own holes is his advantage, and that is what he did with a team with a not-so-great offensive line in Illinois.
Next, Mendenhall has the BLOCKING ability over Felix Jones. How do you think Juice Williams got his yardage and everything? Definitely not all from that Illinois offensive line, because more of the time, Juice would go up the side, and he would be leading Mendenhall. So I would give the strength and blocking ability to Rashard Mendenhall.
Now, Mendenhall gets the VERSATALITY advantage. Look at the comparison of numbers between Mendenhall's receiving and Felix Jone's receiving. We both know that they are good runners, so we will see what they can do other than running the ball. I am COMPLETELY POSITIVE that you want a RB that can CATCH AND RUN the football, because you will want them as a dual threat. Mendenhall has the COMPLETE versatlilty advantage over Felix Jones, and you know it. I don't feel like currently going through the stats, but here are the links if you do not believe me:
Mendenhall - http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=174861
Jones - http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=170926
Felix may meet the Cowboys needs, but he was NOT even the BEST running back left in the draft. I would clearly disagree with you and anyone else who thought the other way. Mendenhall would have brought some more strength, and balance into the Cowboys running game. Also, Mendenhall ran the football WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY MORE than Felix Jones and still had a 6.4 Yards Per Carry statistic. So, I think that negates your "enough said". Don't you think?
DetroitFan* BS: 16-6! | 04/28/08, 03:15 PM
Report Offensive CommentI got your back Porkins!
DetroitFan* BS: 16-6! | 04/28/08, 03:15 PM
Report Offensive CommentPorkins sell me on Mendenhall's ability to be a complimentary back and you will get my vote.
c note | 04/28/08, 03:17 PM
Report Offensive CommentWhile there's a compelling argument here in the comments, I'd have to go with Porkins on both fronts. I have to question choosing Jones 1st overall when they could have had him at 28 or a comparable in the 2nd or even 4th. But we never know how a team makes their boards. What looks good to one team does not fit the eye of the other.
Oso's back-Sort of | 04/28/08, 03:18 PM
Report Offensive CommentI got your back Porkins!
DetroitFan* BS is Jordon Dizon | 04/28/08, 03:15 PM
Report Offensive Comment
I bet you do...anyways, evrything you explained, (POWER, BLOCKING, VERSATILITY) they already have with MB3, hence the Felix Jones Pick (breakaway speed)....too easy
662 | 04/28/08, 03:21 PM
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