No Jones for Matt

Eric Crouch Anyone?

let someone else grab him in the late first round. that will leave a better defensive player for the cowboys, or perhaps a better real WR for us in the early 2nd.

Matt Jones is definitely an intriguing prospect, but I would have to agree that the Cowboys will pass on him with the 42nd pick. We have way too many needs to take a chance with a 2nd round pick on a guy switching positions. I could see, however, the Cowboys taking that chance IF 1.) they pick up an additional second round pick and 2.) he is the best WR on the board and they haven’t already selected a WR.

Spagnola points out if he was a later round risk he might be a prospect. But the Cowboys need a deep threat that can come in and stretch the field, not a H-Back that will take time to develop.

Can he block? With his size he might fit better at TE, and with the way TE is being utilized now by the NFL who knows.

He is definitely intriguing. Amazing that a guy that big with those kind of 40 times. Does anyone know why this guy is not being talked about at QB?

The Cowboys could show a lot of pre-draft interest in him – which could help disguise who they are really after with their 2nd round pick. How many of these type of players have panned out into a real gold nugget? Then again how many sure fire picks turn into fool’s gold?

there is someone with similar numbers to Matt Jones. He’s 6’4" instead of 6’6". About the same weight. Same blazing speed (infact, he claims he ran the 40 under 4.3). However, he’s in his late 30s now and played a different sport. He goes by the name Mr. 40-40, was an MVP and is also known as the godfather of steroids within baseball circles.

So, what are the steroids testing policies in NCAA football? And in the NFL combine? If players are tested, are results make public? Numbers like Matt’s has to make you question. I’m not throwing the kid under the bus, I’m just asking.

Tedia, had you seen him play you would question it. Plus he doesn’t have a steroid body.

hey guys when does dallas’ website get updated? is it every so many number of days at a certain time like night or afternoon? or is it just whenever?

oh and how come dallas doesnt have the opportunity to franchise a player like alot of other teams do???

you might see franchise come up with Roy Williams or Witten in years to come. But hopefully this shows Jerry doing a good job of keeping players and signing contracts. In years past the year Emmit held out and we lost our first 2 games without him, he probably would have been designated a franchise shown up and played while he and jerry worked on his contract. It really only comes into play as their contract expires and gives a team a year to lock up a player and either sign him, trade him, or pay him the one year deal and try to get something done. It helps the teams with the free agency and guarntees a player a pretty high one year contract……..but not a longer term contract.

One of the few upsides to being 5-11 and 6-10 for so long is less teams seem interested in our FAs then say those of the NE Patriots or Colts or Eagles. Although teams would not doubt jump at a Witten, Williams or Glover if they were FAs. And the Cowboys have most of their players signed to contracts and were way under the cap. Of course this changes every year…….but hey at least this year we were in good shape as opposed to a few years ago when we were having to give away first round picks because we could not afford to sign any of them anyway………

Hey, Ryan
I think the cowboy website is usually updated week nights at around 9:30pm, except if their is some breaking news like a signing today of a noname wide reciever.Doesn’t seem to be any updates on the weekend.

Rafael,

Frost, coming out of college, just wasn’t the same caliber athlete as Jones. Jones is 20 pounds heavier and 3 inches taller, not too mention a whole lot faster. If Jones had played WR for the Razorbacks and put up decent #s, the fact is he would be a mid 1st round selection. It may be a gamble if the Cowboys drafted him, but I don’t think its fair to compare him to Frost with his credentials, 6’3", 242 lbs., and runs a 4.37 forty.

Speaking of safety, well okay nobody really was, but I don’t care. Anybody heard how Dantzler is doing over in NFL Europe. DO they have a website for that or something? Nevermind found the website myself. Nothing much about his stats though, that I can see.

I dont think it would be a good idea to pick Jones w./ the 42 pick, because the cowboys have so many positions to adress and because there’s a question mark whether he can make the transition from QB to WR, but if he’s still there in the 3rd round and Dallas hasn’t already drafted a WR it wouldnt be a bad idea to trade up for him

Also, and I know this is big time hypothetical, cowboysplus.com, anybody here a suscriber? 30 bucks a year isn’t bad, but its not cheap for what should be free either. I love this website, and am not trying to take away from it. Just wondering if anybody thinks cowboysplus.com has anything to merit its cost?

Also the cowboys website was just updated, with a bit about the cowboys getting ready for the draft. In the article Jones is said to have said that he would possibly trade one of our current first round picks this year for “at least one” next year. Now I can se trading one first rounder this year for one next and another pick from whatever round this year. But whats the point of trading pick for pick from this year to next. I mean obviously if there are more poeple they want that they expect to see in the draft next year, then okay. But that doesn’t seem like the reason to me. I just don’t see how we would benefit from this, with all the holes we have to fill this year.

Eric,

I’m not making a direct skills to skills comparison. The point is that both of these guys are/were considered football players. In other words, the only reason Frost likely slid to round three was because he was changing positions. He was football smart, and though he wasn’t freakish like Jones, the comparison I cited between him and John Lynch was not the only one I’ve seen. People really did think he could be an exceptional player. Parcells did. And when someone who fits your character profile that strongly fails, I’m sure you remember it.

Frost has the size of a big DB, and is fast as a DE, which made him a project. If he were able to learn the nuances of the safety position, he had a shot in the NFL. One of many successful option QBs that played for Nebraska, but amounted to very little in the NFL. With blazing speed and the size of a LB, Jones football instincts makes him a prospect. His freakish size and speed make him a potential star. Crouch, Frost, Frazier, etc. never amounted to any thing but system QBs in Cornhusker land. Jones athletic ability, well, he is in a different league here.

IN COLLEGE, QBs SPEND ALOT OF TIME READING AND LOOKING AT RECIEVER ROUTES AND NOT ENOUGH TIME RUNNING THEM. IF YOUR GOING TO DRAFT A RECIEVER, DRAFT A RECIEVER NOT A QUARTERBACK.

to big to fast to be a bust if he can catch which he can then why not. you have to take some chances i dont belive its a huge risk, i know you can get excellent players in the second but if we trade and get 2 second rounders take a shot on him, speed hight and size like his has to mean pro bowl sooner or later…….

Right on Scott…….we need a legitimate step on the field threat like Williamson, Williams, Edwards, and Clayton……

Nothing against Matt Jones, but there is also a point in football where a guy…….yes even a reciever can be too tall for that postion……..it leaves them more prone to injury………but his numbers are extremely impressive……..i just think he is the Krispy Kreme Donut Stock of this draft……..he is running up faster than a Hillarys blood pressure when the Monica story broke………if he was going from the 6th round to the 4th that would be one thing…….i just think a combine time and a freakish workout do not prove enough for a 11,20……and with all the needs 42……

Why did we sign Merrit and New England gets Terrel? As Chicago recievers go Terrel was not that bad. If NE took a chance on him why not us?

Now please don’t go goo goo over Jones’ 40 time. Dallas already has a player that can run like the wind, yet can’t crack the starting team. Does anyone know NFL’s fastest man? Just a return specialist, that’s all. I don’t have to tell you about Alexander Wright, do I? Speed and size doesn’t always translate into pro bowl caliber player.

I can tell not to many people know Matt Jones. First of all, this kid is for real. He is one of the most layed back, cool headed players in the game. He is the winner of two of the NCAA longest overtime game ever. Arkansas bet Kentucky in 7 overtimes, and also beat Eli Manning in a 7 overtime thriller. He is 6’6"; not 6’2. And some people where saying that Dallas needs to get a “real” receiver. You won’t find one better than Matt. Plus you won’t have to worry about him holding out, and wanting a big signing bonus. And by comparing him to Crouch, Frazier, and any other has been is not fair to this kid. And some people are saying put him at TE!! What corner in the league can cover Jones in the Red Zone with his 40 verical, and his height. Not to mention; he has some of the greatest hands that I have ever seen. But hey, maybe some of you are right. Let don’t draft him. Say let someone else draft him, and let him pick on us like Randy Moss does since we didn’t think he was good enough either!!!!

Darrell,

My bad. I said 6’3", I meant 6’6".

But let’s get real here!! Moss was always good enough!! We didn’t draft Moss because of his off the field problems, and honestly, I don’t want a guy who “plays when he wants to play” and doesn’t know the meaning of team.

Jones is an athletic specimen, but so were Tony Mandirch, Akilli Smith, and Brian Bosworth. Huge busts that didn’t even face the obsticle of changing positions on the NFL level.

If a reason you are going to draft a guy is the happenstance that he played in two of the longest collegiate games, then you need to refine your evaluation method. Especially a 1st or 2nd round pick.

I don’t know enough about Jones, to say draft him or not. But I would think that his interview and how Parcells views his work ethic and committment will loom large if the Boys are even thinking of taking him with any of our first 3 selections. A change in position, like QB to WR, at the pro level is difficult, but I must say this kids credentials are extremely impressive.

I’m on the “If we trade down and get a couple of 2nd rounders we take him” block too, he’s a rare specimen that can be developed into good material, and you guys need to remember that if he doesn’t make it at wide, he has the size to play TE.

I we don’t trade down, Clayton at 20 sounds great.

Nothing against Jones…….but the switch of positions from QB to WR seems tough.

Great Hands……..where did he show you that……….catching the shotgun snaps? Is Jones a definite at WR? How many wide recievers are that tall? Sometimes there is a proto typical size for a guy……..you know ok he is this size or that…….weighs this benches that……..when a guy is way over like Jones is in height and weight he kind of gets into that freakish category. Like Boston down in Miami………not comparing Jones to the Steriod and Workout fiend Boston for drug purposes just some say Boston size is a hindrance……….hard to say……

Moss would have been a STUD at a big time school but was at Marshall because of his off the field problems. It was known that Moss liked the grass……..not mowing it………did anybody see him attend the Heisman trophy ceremony……..Snoop Dog would have been embarrassed in that get up………Jones did not want Irvin and Moss hanging out at the Dallas Strip Clubs together on Saturday night………but hech it sure would have been great to see em on the field together………..Cris Carter sure liked having him on the field and benefitted from it.

Mike Williams looks like a young stronger Keyshawn Johnson to me.

Braylon Edwards reminds me of another Michigan reciever……….Anthony Carter. His athleticism was unbelievable.

Do not know enough about Williamson but I sure like his stats. He was a stud at SC under Holtz.

If you can get a Williams, Williamson, Clayton or Edwards…….why bother with Jones. Matt Jones is not Randy Moss. Again somebody tell me why this guy is not being considered as an NFL QB if he did all these amazing things…….unless is he so fast he throws it up and then runs the route………therefore the scouts said hey he is a better WR than QB?

Why is jj Arrington at CAL not higher RB in draft………he ran for over 2000 yards against the PAC12 and had a 100 yard game in every game. Not bad that would include against USC defense. I am not knocking Benson, Brown, or Williams they all look like studs……..but Arrington might be the best back of them all……….he was last year. Furthermore that is the Kind of VALUE that I see coming to Dallas in the Second Round…….kids like Arrington quality football players that are falling due to the attention given the three horseman at the top……….the same thing is happening at DE and LB. Other than the size factor for defensive tackle I think the Cowboys can find good LB and DE in this draft regardless of what number they take em at.

I don’t know…6’6" and a 4.37 40…that’s some speed and size.

Read this guy’s bio…

http://www.hogwired.com/tablestory.asp?Home_ID=2&Story_ID=5995

The dude’s an athelete. Sure he’s a project, but so was Julius. What if this guy’s the next JJ?

Poke

Jon,

On ESPN.com, they said the reason why Matt Jones isn’t being looked at as a Quarterback for the NFL is because he has a bad throwing shoulder from an old injury, which causes him to throw the ball in an unorthodox motion. They didn’t say whether this injury would affect his abililty to catch the ball or not.
I think the guy is a crap shoot, but so were Hines Ward and Antwan Randle-el. Both were former college Quarterbacks who have done pretty well in the NFL.

Kenny,

Hines Ward changed positions at Georgia. He had 3 years of grooming before ever playing WR in the NFL. Not the same as making that change at the pro level. Ward was also a 3rd round choice, not a 1st.

Kenny and Eric you both make good points……….

One of my problems with Jones……..is now the same problem I have with Rolle. When initial numbers came out my favorite first rounder was a possibility at 20………a guy like Rolle who is football player first and a coverage corner second……..as low as 20 seemed like a great value and find……..I still like him at 11 if he was on the board.

However, I am not for trading up to get this kid, and his stock is flying now that NFL guys are having him in. His size and tackling as well as speed are having him taken above Pac Man Jones. Rolle also got to play in both the Big East and ACC this year with Miamis move. You got film of him playing some of the best teams in the country. Including Larry Fitzgerald the Cardinals WR. So all of a sudden the NFL guys are like this guy is a stud……..and although he was always a first day first round guy he is now looking at being a top 10 or even 5 pick.

Jones has the same issue………he is flying up the board on his potential. Potential and athleticism is something that is harder to gauge. Again Great Hands……..from what the Senior Bowl? A few workouts at WR. Very few gifted WRs step on the field and immediately impact the game. Some catch on quicker than others……..and perhaps Jones is the stud you think……….however a guy that needs that much developement…….and that much more study………..there is some instinct in running routes……..the guys that did it well………did it since high school………and although I am not knocking atheletes that turn into football players……..I know some. Personally.

Al Toon, was a Track Star at my High School in Virginia. However, he could not even make the football team until he was a junior. He struggled at WR. He went to Wisconsin on a Track Scholarship. He had unbelievable track ability. He walked on the football field, made it to the NFL as a WR from Wisconsin……of the 3 yards and a cloud of dust…..Big 10………and starred at the NY Jets………he was All Pro until Concussions cut his career short. However, he had made the change when he was 16 years old. Worked hard for four years in college learning routes at a school that was not known for the pass. Then goes to the pros and developed into a big time playmaker. Toon was as good as there was for several years in the NFL.

Now taking a guy like Jones, already headed to the NFL and saying………play this or play that. Some project him at H-Back……..WR…….and some of the teams were considering him at TE. The TE is becoming a more athletic position………just look at our own Witten, or the basketball player league leader at San Diego. He made the transition to an entirely new sport. However, I am not sure he was drafted at 11, 20 or 42 overall.

My hope………..Rolle, Williamson and Cody. Although I see the Cowboys are bringing in Merriman, Poole and Cody……..those three could be an 11, 20 and 42 picks. I probably would not mind those guys but need to see a Decent WR in there somewhere.

Can Pool cover, I saw Leinhart and USC smoke the entire Defense of OU in the Bowl game. Virginia Tech and Notre Dame played better against USC last year than OU.

Poke,

In what way was Julius Jones a project?

Jones was a RB at Notre Dame, and is a RB in Dallas.

JJ was like JJ ARRINGTOn…….he was not getting the media attention of Steven Jackson…….or Kevin Jones…….but he had good numbers at ND..Arrington is being ignored while Brown, Williams, and Benson are seen as the three big dogs…….and regardless of their record they play as tough a college schedule as anybody…..

Julius also was suspended from ND for academic reasons and went and spent a year with his brother. It showed a lot of heart for him to come back and play, parcells also likes when players have brothers or coaches as fathers…….Julius got to see first hand what it was like to be an NFL running back. He went back had a great year……..

Julius was a project at RB. Sure he was a RB in college and is now a RB in the NFL, but he wasn’t expected to start. He was the “RB future project.” They signed Eddie George to start, and JJ was supposed to be the back up learning from George. Of course that lasted longer than it should have due to JJ’s injury.

Matt Jones is a more traditional project sure, but no one is saying he can’t play…they’re just wondering if he can play well, just like the other Jones.

Poke

Poke……..you must have had something to smoke.

JJ was getting most of the carries in preseason, and unlike Eddie was not as slow as molasses. He was not a project. He did start day one but was injured. Eddie Georges streak came to an end. Eddie was insurance because Hambrick had to go. Anderson had some miles on him, and Lee was a rook, and bickerstaff hurt. Unlike the QB, and CB the RB position seems to be losing stock in drafts. The career of a RB is short, even a great one like Terrel Davis, and top round bust like Kijana Carter, and Rashaan Salaam…….to name a few are examples of the sure thing not being so sure. Give Parcells and Julius Jones some credit………he was not a project. He was drafted to get 25 carries a game and be the workhorse. Parcells was giving him 30+ touches once he returned to the field……not the type of project in developement a coach puts on a player……..he spent a 2nd round pick on Jones and wanted his money worth………I think we can all agree he got it. A fabulous rookie season………even with the injury.

Julius played RB at Notre Dame. The list of NFL Great from Notre Dame……..Hornung of the World Champion Green Bay Packers……..Jerome Bettis, Ricky Waters, the Four Horseman….Montana, Theisman(ok not so great but hey he did make it in the nfl even if we despise him)……. While the tradition at Notre Dame may not be what it was in the past, they still play a tough schedule and Jones had gained tough yards. Cowboys were also interested in his brother who played at UVA.

While Julius was not the premiere Mel Kiper Hyped RB, he was not a project at RB. His yards in the games he played after returning show that. This kid looks like every bit the class act that the Dallas Cowboys and for that matter Notre Dame are used to at tailback. Emmit Smith, Tony Dorsett, Calvin Hill, or the silent one Duane Thomas and now Julius Jones. Emmit and Tony both had good things to say about the new guy in the backfield at Valley Ranch.

While the other guys drafted ahead of him are talented individuals, Steven Jackson had injuries last year also. He was backing up the great Marshal Faulk who is losing his job this year to Jackson. Unless both those guys are head and shoulder above Julius, and our number 20 pick THIS YEAR..blows….the trade down with Buffalo last year might be the best trade this team has had since we shipped Herschel Walker to the Vikings for the Franchise.