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Second opinion: Felix Jones was the right pick for Dallas Cowboys
09:26 PM CDT on Tuesday, September 16, 2008

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IRVING – Ask my wife, Lorraine. Ask my kids. Ask my friends.
They'll all tell you I never have a problem admitting when I'm wrong.
We're all human. We all make mistakes. Admitting mine has never been an issue.
So I don't mind telling you, I was wrong about Felix Jones.
Absolutely, positively, wrong. Hey, it happens sometimes.
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I ripped the Cowboys in April for drafting Jones one pick ahead of Rashard Mendenhall.
I insisted the Cowboys would rue the day they passed on a big back who could tote the ball 20 times a game, if Marion Barber was ever injured. I said you should never take a complementary back – euphemism for a backup – over a guy who could be a stud.
Again, I was wrong.
Jones' performance in training camp and the first two weeks of the season has convinced me he's a significantly better fit for the Cowboys than Mendenhall. Now, this doesn't mean Mendenhall won't eventually become a star in Pittsburgh because he will.
What it means is Jones is a far more dangerous player.
You saw it Monday night in the Cowboys' thrilling 41-37 win over Philadelphia, when he averaged 41.2 yards on six kickoff returns. His returned one kick 98 yards for a touchdown, and his 43-yard return set up another touchdown.
The Cowboys, owners of the NFL's most explosive offense, have added a player capable of giving this offense consistently good field position.
You've got to be kidding.
You shouldn't be surprised if Jones joins Bob Hayes and Mel Renfro as the best kick returners in franchise history before he's deemed to valuable to handle the job.
You don't learn to be an electric kick returner. Either you can do it or you can't.
Jones, though, isn't just thriving on special teams.
He was a difference-maker as a runner against Cleveland in the opener, carrying nine times for 62 yards.
On his first NFL carry, he showed surprising power, driving through a pair of defenders at the 3-yard-line to complete an 11-yard touchdown run.
He would've added a touchdown run of more than 60 yards, but he didn't pick his feet up high enough, and a defender tripped him after an 18-yard run. Don't forget, he also had a 30-yard run called back in that game.
See, Jones gives the offense the same thing you spent the off-season complaining the Cowboys needed: speed. Instead of getting it from another receiver, Dallas gets it from Jones.
He's going to generate big plays all season because Jason Garrett is smart enough to consistently get Jones the ball in space, where if he makes one or two defenders miss, he'll wind up in the end zone.
Jones does it with a combination of speed and vision.
When most running backs burst through the hole, they make a move on the linebacker and then juke the safety.
Not Jones.
His vision is so good that he sees the linebacker and the safety when he gets past the defensive line. When he makes a move on the linebacker, he's setting up the safety in the process, increasing his odds of eluding both players.
He also runs sideways. That's right, sideways.
At least that's what his teammates and coaches say. Running backs coach Skip Peete said Marshall Faulk is the only other runner he's ever seen do it.
If you watched real closely during his kickoff return against Philadelphia, you could see Jones do it.
After Jones made kicker David Akers miss, he was simultaneously sprinting forward and sideways. That causes the defender to take a bad angle and fall in behind him instead of running to him.
Got it?
However he does it, the Cowboys are better for it. Jerry and Felix have proved me wrong.
I have no problem admitting that.
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