The case for keeping Ward over Jacobs

Problem is Reese has been negotiating with jacobs' agent all preseason to no avail. BJ is supposedly asking for around 5 years $45 million with $15 up front.

But Jacobs has improved every year, to the point where he's a genuine tailback out there bustin' chops and runnin' to daylight.

Jacobs has not been able to do what he does for an entire game. That's why the three-headed "Cerberus" backfield is more effective than any one RB by himself. But Jacobs has improved every year. Who's to say that he won't improve to the point where he's an every-down, feature back next year? The simple fact is that all three of our RBs who get time are effective behind this line. We really need to sign all three of them, but the only one of them who hasn't made a habit of coughing up the ball so far is Ward. (And Ward caught seven passes only a couple of games or so ago.)

From this point of view, Ward is as indispensable as Jacobs. Bradshaw is a luxury, but what a luxury to have! He reminds me of Quinton Griffin at Oklahoma when they won the national title. Quinton never translated to the NFL. Bradshaw sure has.

Anyway, I say "sign 'em all." Three good running backs is better than two, is better than one; and that doesn't include Reuben Droughns!

onto Webster? Cofield? Ohara? etc.

If we hold onto those three, plus keep our OL intact and keep the Boss, then the core of our personality and the core of our success is intact. After a running game, the only other elements which are key to success, imo, are a good kicker and a good LB corps (or DL corps, in our case). Run the ball and stop the run. That's 80% of victory right there. Eli and John Carney provide the rest.

He's more valuable to other teams than he is to us.

Jacobs, in a sense, is as well, but the difference in proportion isn't as great. I say this because Danny Ware, in all likelihood, can replicate Ward's success at a much cheaper price, whereas the Giants will be hard pressed to replace a player like Jacobs. His production, measured in sheer numbers? Probably not so much. There is, however, more to it than just cumulative rushing yards in evaluating an RB.

Further down in the article (read it last night), one of the game charters says:

Quote:

My Favorite Player in the NFL: Why doesn't anyone make a huge deal about what a freak Brandon Jacobs is? The only two defensive players on the field that are bigger than him are the tackles. The only two defensive players on the field faster than him are the cornerbacks.

Amen.

Against Philly, Jacobs looked like no-one other than Terrell effing Davis out there. 8 yards a pop. 3-5 yards before a defender even lays a hand on him, and another 3-5 yards just by laying into the defender(s) and falling forward.

Part of the reason why Terrell Davis was so great is the same reason why Brandon Jacobs is so awesome right now. That Denver OL blew out defenders, and our OL is blowing them out at an even more prodigious rate. But both Terrell and Brandon had and have what it takes to take advantage of such an OL to the extreme.

and catches it better than Jacobs. And he also knows how to lay the wood at the end of the run. But mostly he doesn't fumble the ball. (Dang I don't like it though how when he DOES miss a catch, he always seems to deflect the ball UPWARD!)

Unless a run blitz hits Jacobs in one or two yards into the backfield, he simply does not lose yards on his runs. Excellent defense that would, against other players, cause a 2nd & 10 results in a 2nd & 7 against Jacobs because he can bull, push and simply fall forward with his body mass and pick up extra yards.

Throw that into when he gets through the line relatively cleanly and you wind up seeing many arm tackles get laughed off.

A good friend who is an Eagles fan put it thusly:
- Jacobs is a damn good back
- He would not make a bad team good because he needs the blocking
- He DOES make a good team great, more than other running backs can, because he adds a dimension on top of what they have that no other running back can.

I tend to agree.

He needs that initial blocking to get going, so he requires a good offensive line, but from there he brings a lot of abilities to the table that most running backs simply do not.

And not everyone has the luxury of the Minnesota Vikings, in having Adrian Peterson. We have Adrian Peterson split amongst three RBs here.

got an MVP trophy. If you HAVE to spend the big bucks on ONE of them, then sign the Jacobs. But I'd make a serious effort to keep all three. Such a backfield helps Antonio Pierce do his job as much as it helps Eli.

Jacobs, Ward, Webster, Tollefson & Hixon

give whatever cap-friendly deal we can give to Toomer if he wants it

gunna rip ross?

Jacobs "would not make a bad team good because he needs the blocking".

This kind of stuff just makes me laugh.

So you think Brandon Jacobs would take a team with a shoddy offensive line and elevate that team's play regardless?

Glad to see you completely missed the point on TWO fronts: 1) the context and 2) my paraphrasing a friend saying that.

You're not too adept at reading, are you?

I find it amusing an Eagles fan says Jacobs "Needs the blocking". Funny in the same way when I hear his "peak value is in short yardage". Nothing but BS.

Seems to me his peak value is in first and 10. That's what I see and his numbers are the best in the league over the past 2 years on first and 10.

Can he elevate a team? Are you kidding me? What's your friend watching? Put him on a below avg team and he's still an impact player. Even throw in a below avg QB and Jacobs is one of the few RBs in the league you can lean on to change a game and get a subpar team some wins.

He's a great player. He doesn't "need" blocking any more than Ward or any other RB. We saw it on the first run today. We see it every game when he gets hit early and still gains 4-6 yards on a carry.

Nobody in the league is better after contact. How that add up to "he needs the blocking" is a mystery to me.

who doesnt understands Jacobs value by now is either stupid or delusional.

more important? Give me a fucking break.

Tiki had a fumbling issue. Kerry Collins had a fumbling issue.

Jacobs dropped a few - it is coachable. Pay the big guy the money. You can replace a Derek Ward (especially with our o-line). You can't find another Jacobs out there.

but he's not Brandon.

CASE CLOSED