SPORTSDAY

Posted by david g @ 10:46 AM Wed, Jun 06, 2007

Turner or McFadden? That is the question. Let's see how Julius does before any decisions have to be made. (I still wish we got Stephen Jackson)

Having 2 first rounders next year (one potentially in the top 10) will the the boys a lot of flexibility to shore up any positions that don't pan out (Corner, safety, WR, even QB)

Posted by Larry @ 10:59 AM Wed, Jun 06, 2007

I disagree Calvin, for three reasons:

(1) I fully expect Tyson Thompson to come into his potential this year.

(2) The boys have signed two rookie fee agent running backs, Jackie Battle and Alonzo Coleman, one of which is going to be the surprise of training camp and pre-season.

(3) If all that fails, they will use their Cleveland pick to grab a franchise running back.

Neither Julius nor Turner will be a cowboy in 2008.

Posted by JR @ 10:59 AM Wed, Jun 06, 2007

Well of course I want him if the price is right, Calvin. But before committing significant up front money to this Michael Turner, I'd focus on finding the next Michael Turner. And maybe the next Tomlinson while we're at it.

Posted by Rolando @ 11:32 AM Wed, Jun 06, 2007

I don't know why everyone is ready to ship Jones out the door. He has been very productive while healthy and I really do think Parcells' style limited his mechanics and intuition. Last year we had a great passing attack and our running game really flourished because of it. We must continue to utilize the combination of Jones and MB3 and milk it for all it's worth -- while not flashy or ground breaking, this system seemed to really hammer away at defenses effectively last year. Think of it this way -- instead of making a huge investment in a highly touted 1st round choice that might have been a bust, we have 2nd and 4th rounders doing the job of a 1st. Normally backup RB's are a waste of roster space, so I'm glad we've got one of the best 1-2's in the league. As far as next year goes, we'll have to see how good our Boys run with a better O line, improved passing game, and highly improved defense. You don't necessarily need a Tomlinson in the backfield to make a Super Bowl run. We've been spoiled what with having some guy named Smith for well around a decade. I've seen plenty of videos of Turner, and in my untrained eye's estimation he is certainly not even worth a 2nd or 3rd round draft choice, and we should definitely stay flexible with those 1st rounders next year and put them into positions of need, not want.

Posted by Diego Garcia @ 12:57 PM Wed, Jun 06, 2007

I could not agree more. Turner is good, but he is being overhyped. JJ is solid and should stay in Dallas beyond '07 unless he really regresses this year.

Posted by Ted @ 1:50 PM Wed, Jun 06, 2007

JR stick to your original post, we dont need Turner. I agree with Larry & Rolando posts. Let see improvement in our leaky line with a true fullback.

I like our 2 back system and I really like Thompson. I believe he is a jewel in the rough.
I am also very intrigued by Battle.

DO NOT TOUCH THE 1st ROUND PICKS NEXT YEAR, NO MATTER WHAT!! Also, McFadden is not a sure thing either.

Posted by S L @ 2:13 PM Wed, Jun 06, 2007

I have to agree wth Rolando - why is everyone in such a hurry to show Julius Jones the door? Bill Parcells didn't know how to use him and didn't trust him when he either got hurt or wasn't the second coming of some glimmering memory from Parcells' past. and do we really know just who could run consistently better behind the lines they've assembled in his short career so far? Marion Barber's a great change up but he has also benefitted a lot from not only being that change but from also getting so many carries in the 4th quarter against defenses that are a little more tired and a little less sure of the play calling. Even Emmitt Smith had trouble when everyone and their brother knew when Chan Gailey was going to call a hand off. Julius doesn't always hit the hole the coaches would like, but I'm still not convinced that isn't because he hasn't gotten used to having more than a nano second to recognize any space as a hole before he feels arms around his knees.

Posted by Gary Mc @ 2:26 PM Wed, Jun 06, 2007

Ted, I was with you until the last line. I would take DMC right now with that Cleveland pick if I could. That kid is the real deal and the offense with a top RB would be very difficult to defend with multiple game breakers at RB, WR and TE. I would rank them #1 McFadden, #2 Jones, #3 MB3, #4 Turner. I know Turner was good in college and a good back up to LT, but what have we really seen him do? I remember Aveion Cason looking good a long TD run and he couldn't play a lick.

Posted by Anthony @ 3:04 PM Wed, Jun 06, 2007

MB is the best RB we have right now and in next year's draft we should take the best player available with Clevelands's pick. Even if its not a McFadden w/ the first pick guys like Ray Rice and James Davis could pair with MB and be an upgrade over JJ, but DMC would give us a real gamebreaker.

Posted by Tom H @ 4:24 PM Wed, Jun 06, 2007

Good points insofar as 99% of the bloggers agree
Turner would be a ridiculous acquisition at a
ridiculous price, am certain the boys concur.

Even contemplating Turner seems a strange Q.

Main point never to be forgotten is fact that
JJ will move heaven & earth to get McFadden
with the Clev 1st...+...our own 1st if necessary,
and Julius if necessary.
Agree with you, Gary Mc, would take DMC with the
Clev 1st this afternoon if possible. Slam dunk.
DMC is most decorated runner in Arkie history.
JJ is ex-Arkie & Arkie fanatic.
A blind man should know JJ is loading up for
the McFadden Derby, common knowledge in the NFL.

So expect NO RB DEALS until JJ sees how he stands
as far as getting DMC, pray for a terrible year
for Brady Quinn, his rookie LT & the miserable
Browns.

What's the knock on DMC, Ted ?

This is the "klinker comment" above, hahaha.

The boys are at least avg+ at RB with JJ + MB3.
With DMC & MB3 they could be brilliant.
If there is another LT out there ?
It's hands down Arkie DMC !

JJ usually gets his man,
Cheerio & hope Quinn is biggest bust since Leaf,

Posted by Ted @ 4:49 PM Wed, Jun 06, 2007

I am not saying that DMac is not a good NFL prospect. I just don't wont to fall in love with anyone. I agree with Anthony, take the best player available.

Posted by mike stevens @ 7:40 PM Wed, Jun 06, 2007

Remember Priest Holmes when he was a Raven? What would you have given for him then? How about Larry Johnson? Remember when you could have traded a used 8 track tape player to Kansas to acquire him when Priest was healthy and Dick Vermeil had Johnson in his dog house. No one here thought he was worth anything then.

I like Michael Turner ever since I heard of his accomplishments as they were happening at Northern Illinois. At least I had heard of him in college and I kept an eye on his fortunes in the NFL draft. i remember thinking what a good player the Chargers just got with a mid round pick to back up LT. I also paid attention to Marion Barber when he was in college. He was ranked high in YPC and was one of the few RBs that had a significant number of catches in the college RB stat listings when the cowboys were starting Troy Hambrick and I was looking for someone draftable.

I have to say that until the NFL draft I never heard of Julius Jones. So why should I feel any more loyalty to him than I would either Barber or Turner? Does his draft position make him better? Would being a #2 draft pick make him better than Terrel Davis in his Bronco prime who was drafted in the 6th round? Ofcourse not.

Listen, I like Julius Jones too and I thought Parcells was messing up his instinctive style of running at least a year before he mentioned it (in so many words)this off season. The fact is, he has this year to make it or break it and after that both he and Michael Turner are both fair game in FAgency to whoever wants them. It doesn't matter which one gets paid. The Cowboys will have to address the position with one or the other before the NFL draft because there is no guarantee they will get the guy they covet(DMF) before the draft and they will need to cover their bases before then.

Plenty of reasons to say DMF could be a bust. Past history tells us that seemingly can't miss RBs in college can have less than stellar NFL careers. Injuries can end a career before it ever gets off the ground too. Let's not count our chickens before they hatch. I think Julius will excell this season with the reins taken off and a contract year. That will only make it even more difficult to decide what to do with him and two #1 draft picks.

The five biggest running back busts of all-time?

Here's mine:

1. Ki-Jana Carter (#1 draft pick '95)
2. Blair Thomas (#2 draft pick '90)
3. Alonzo Highsmith (#3 draft pick '87)
4. Curtis Enis (#5 draft pick '98)
5. Lawrence Phillips (#6 draft pick '96)
6. Tim Worley (7th pick '89)
7. Tim Biakabutuka (8th pick 96)
8. Sammy Smith (9th pick 89)
9. Tommy Vardell (9th pick 92)
10. Rashaun Salaam (21st pick '1995)

Dis-Honorable mention:

Archie Griffin ('74 & 75 heisman winner)
Ron Dayne (11th pick '2000)
William Green (16th pick '2002)
John Avery (29th pick '98)
Bo Mathews (2nd pick 74)
Brent Fullwood (4th pick 87)
D.J. Dozier (1987)
Michael Haddix (1983)
Bubba Bean (1976)
Darrell Thompson (1990)
John Cappelletti (1974)
Vaughn Dunbar (1992)
Joe Profit (1971)
Terry Miller (1978)

I would put Ricky Williams in the list but he wasn't a bust, he just got busted.

Posted by Mooreman @ 11:13 PM Wed, Jun 06, 2007

McFadden, McFadden, McFadden, do you people ever watch football outside the big 10? No on Turner, You don't give big money for a back-up, it's like paying a #2 receiver to be your top guy, it never works out. I think we've got a good tandem now and would like to see it for another 5 years. If any of you inbreds have cable or satelite, check out J. Stewart if you want to see a fast, Strong running back. If he stay's healthy he will be the first back taken next April

Posted by Robert @ 12:08 PM Thu, Jun 07, 2007

J Stewart is 5'11 235, runs a 4.35, is shifty, squats more than any OL in Oregon history, brutally strong upper body and can catch the ball. Better than McFadden as a PRO prospect.

Problem is he was hurt last year and had a stupid HC/OC who ran a spread offense instead of taking advantage of the #1 rated prospect coming out of High School in 2005.

The dude averaged 50 yards per kick off return and 7 yards per rush his freshman year. A physical freak.

Posted by Charles - ATL @ 10:22 AM Fri, Jun 08, 2007

Tyson Thompson coming into his potential? Are u kidding? Very good speed and a good change-up type back. But he has nothing but speed--no moves, can't break more than 1 tackle. He'll be challenged to make the team this year..but probably will if he wins the kick returning duties from Miles Austin.

Posted by Mike Stevens @ 11:32 AM Sat, Jun 09, 2007

Jonathan Stewart wouldn't be the first top recruited RB out of H.S. that never lived up to the billing. The fact is his chronic leg problems are a real concern, therefore, unless he can shake it off and demonstrate he is durable this next college football season he would be too risky to pick in the top 10 of the draft with so many other good RBs in the class. It's going to be a deep class of RBs that will be eligible to enter the draft next year. Below is a list of the RBs ranked as heisman hopefuls. This list doesn't include the other positions that would be in the mix also.

1. Darren McFadden, Jr., RB, Arkansas: No candidate rose up the ranks in the Heisman field faster than McFadden did toward the end of last season. Thanks to his running skills and versatility, he came out of nowhere to finish second in the Heisman voting. On the year, he rushed for 1,647 yards and 14 TDs, but it was his oft-reprised role as a passer that captured the college football world's imagination. Without a doubt he is a leading candidate to win the Heisman in 2007, assuming Arkansas can challenge for the SEC title again.

2. Steve Slaton, Jr., RB, West Virginia: Slaton has built an almost-perfect Heisman resume, as he followed up an impressive freshman year with an outstanding sophomore season that included a fourth-place Heisman finish. He rushed for 1,744 yards and 16 touchdowns and seemed to break long runs on a weekly basis. He'll have to compete with White for some of the pub, but he's got great name recognition at this point and with a big season he could take home the trophy.

3. Mike Hart, Sr., RB, Michigan: It seems like he has been around for 10 years, doesn't it? He's coming off a fantastic season in which he rushed for 1,562 yards and 14 touchdowns and finished fifth in the Heisman voting. He's as steady as they come and one of the more-recognized names in college football - all good attributes to have in a Heisman race.

4. Jamaal Charles, Jr., RB, Texas: Charles had just 831 yards and seven touchdowns last year, but with the graduation of Selvin Young, he should be the man in Austin next season. He is hands-down the fastest running back in the country, with several sub-10.2-second 100-meter times to his credit. A big junior year will make him a legit Heisman contender.

5. Ian Johnson, Jr., RB, Boise State: Johnson keyed Boise State's undefeated season by rushing for 1,714 yards and a nation-best 25 touchdowns. The best thing for his 2007 candidacy was Boise's improbable win over Oklahoma, followed by his proposal to his cheerleader girlfriend on national television. Hey, this is the Heisman - every little bit of publicity helps.

6. Ray Rice, Jr., RB, Rutgers: Rice isn't the flashiest of backs, but his production is phenomenal. Last year he had 1,794 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns as the Scarlet Knights had a dream season. Things might be a bit tougher this year without fullback Brian Leonard to lead block, but if he can approach 2,000 yards, he might be in the mix at year's end.

7. Jonathan Stewart, Jr., RB, Oregon: Stewart, who rushed for 981 yards and 10 touchdowns during an injury-riddled sophomore season, has as much talent as any back in the nation. If he can stay healthy and focused, he could put up huge numbers as the focal point of the Duck offense.