I like the playcalling very much in the past couple of weeks, I was sitting there wondering when all of the slant passes were going to come so they could open up some holes, but I think it's more than just the playcalling. Jones was fighting for yardage yesterday like he hasn't all season. BTW, I disagree that Jones carried the Bears' offense to the SB. I hate to keep bringing this post up from a Bears fan that addressed the same assertion you're making, but it rings very true: http://forums.theganggreen.com/showpost.php?p=558469&postcount=24
That's the difference between early in the season and now. Jones is a very good running back (IMO, elite.) His problem though, is getting past the line. Once he's had 2 or 3 yards to get his legs moving, he's going to keep moving, even after contact. That's why he was able to break tackles, or at least drag out an extra yard or two yesterday. Superior blocking, combined with a sorry Rams defense, allowed Jones to run like himself yesterday. Let's also give credit to Schottenheimer who (fairly) gets his share of criticism for poor playcalling. Yesterday, he called an intelligent game that allowed all of us to laugh off two near picks by Brett. I wouldn't bet much on a repeat performance by Jones Thursday night. He may get around the 100 mark, but it's going to be through a grnd-it-out performance. I also expect to see more Leon this week, as the Pats won't have a lot of film from yesterday to gameplan against for him. (The reason for that significance is that this offense is clearly a different animal in the last 6 quarters of football than it was the rest of the year.)
Football is not a game of numbers. The statistics don't tell half the truth about the effect Jones had on the Bears that year. Part of the reason the Bears were able to score so many points was because of the defense and the fact that the defense never stayed on the field for very long... further, Jones running opened up the passing game for what was an otherwise mediocre passing attack that showed to be very mediocre after they sent Jones to us... they played smash mouth football on both sides of the year all year long. Jones is definitely not a sexy back as far as speed and breakaway ability is concerned... there are many many many running backs in the league with much better physical talent that Jones... but the reason Jones is almost on top of the league running is for the same reason Martin so often was... he is patient, he hits the holes, and he fights for yardage. He is consistent and capable of getting the job done. He is tough, and doesn't cause the team to have a constant ? at the RB position. He is a genuine football player through and through. If you let this guy run, good things will happen. He was already the lead RB for a team that went to the Super Bowl, he can do it again.
TJ is definitely earning his big contract this season. And giving me hope he can be a good (if not very good) back next year as well.
I agree that T-J is very much like Curtis when it comes to taking advantage of what's there. A lot of the guys on this "message board" did not appreciate the fact that T-J "made something out of nothing" most of the time last year. I think that this T-J statement game with the Rams indicates this superlative talent about as well as any single football game could. The Ol and T-J demoralized and humiliated the STL Rams, pure and simple. If you read the St. Louis Dispatch (which is something I always do with the other team after a game) you get the impassioned clarity of "their side". The NYJ OL and T-J made the Rams quit, they beat them up, they made the worry about the left hand while the right hand pummeled them about the face and head. I believe that if they continue this way together, T-J and the OL, then T-J will come into his own, just as Curtis did with this team.
Thomas Jones hasn't fought much for yardage this year up until a few weeks ago. He would hit the hole and almost fall down a lot of times in anticipation of initial contact. I've re-watched the games all year and you won't convince me he was fighting for much of anything. He is a very good grind-it-out back with multiple carriesand I do bring up comparisons of Curtis a lot, although Jones doesn't have the moves or vision Curtis had. He's great for platooning, but he can't carry a team on his back. We haven't exactly been facing great rushing defenses, and we'll need to be creative to continue to make him effective. Pay attention to the Titans game and you will see how we've been taking advantage of weak defenses. What I love is his consistency and the fact that he is practically never injured. He has great ball security and catches well out of the backfield, and he is a superior pass-blocker in the backfield. We can get a lot out of Jones as a platoon back, but he isn't going to carry us anywhere by himself in the playoffs.
We still need a big grind out back with chatham out for the season... I don't know if the jets are gonna bring him back he's got to much baggage... As far as th Pats I hope we can turn the corner ill be optimistic.. I don't understand why if and when were tied for first we always are placed in the second position or third position never been in the first so it still looks like were second.
Yes, that's the main reason. But also, their PF and PA column was better than ours. Those numbers will change as a result of yesterday's game, though.
I'm not insinuating that he is going to carry us there by himself, what I am saying is that he is absolutely fine for the role we need him to play, and that is a guy who gets 25 or so carries and forces defenses to worry about something other than Favre. The Titans are going to be tough but then again they are tough on everyone. I understand the point you are making about Jones in general but I somewhat disagree with it because at this point, despite all of his "shortcomings" Jones is still almost on top of the NFL as far as running backs are concerned. I feel like you're asking him to be elite when he simply is not. We don't need elite, we need someone to get the job done consistently, and Jones provides just that and more.
I'm not asking him to be anything more than he is, I just don't think that we'll be able to get it done on the ground against elite Run D's like we did yesterday and last week.
Agreed. Jones gets it done. But frankly, he showed me moves yesterday that I hadn't seen from him before. And as I've said in other threads, he and Richardson are working well in tandem together. It's like Jones is a whole other back now. He's ecstatic to be running behind the current O-line and with guys like Richardson creating opportunities. This show is only going to get better going into December.
Thomas Jones has emerged as a poor-man's Curtis Martin this year. He's doing a lot of things really well, but nothing really great. Curtis just provided a bit more mileage in the long run. Having the benefit of playing some weaker teams is no doubt helping boost his stats (Jones). Hopefully, some of the running game emergence of late is due to the OL as well. He is a role player though. He won't be like Peterson yesterday where he practically took all of the snaps in the last drive and pounded home the winning run. So long as he remains relatively consistent he should help us out a lot on offense though.
Actually Washington has not shown much the last two games, but the changeup the Jets have with him and Jones is a good one.
How about this for the Favre effect??? Ryan Grant: 9 Games last year with Favre: 971 Yards, 5.8 Avg, 11TD's 9 Games this year without Favre: 625 yards, 3.6 Avg, 2 TD's Thomas Jones: Last 9 games last year without Favre: 632 yards, 3.5 Avg, 1 TD Firts 9 games this year with Favre: 750 yards, 4.7 Avg, 8 TD's
Yes you did, but I just cant let this one go, it has to be remembered. All you TJ haters killed the TJ supports here all off season and into this season. Where are all the Jessie Chattman over TJ lovers now? Its called PREseason for a reason guys!
This thread should be beaten down with a bat over and over and over and over and over and over.............................
Hey when I'm wrong I'm wrong I can man up to the situation.. I didn't reckonize the back running the ball and he shocked the hell out of me. *Tipping my hat & bowing gracefully* I hope we get a good performance against the Pats.
IMO his best game was last year against Pittsburgh. The blocking was horrible that game as it was for most of the year. He got over 100 yards that game on his own. He made Troy Polamalu whiff on like 5 tackles that game. Not to mention it was the first time the Steelers gave up 100 yards in like 2 years.
