Thomas Jones or Cedric Benson? (1 Viewer)

[JohnnyU]

Bears are 2-0 and probably looking like the strongest team in the NFC. No reason for a change. Lovie Smith is playing real football here, not fantasy. Why take out a veteran leader and disrupt chemistry?

I tried to make this argument all offseason but the Benson owners and others absolutely jumped all over me.Consider it fact: Thomas Jones will not lose this job as long as (1) he is productive and (2) the Bears are winning. Unless and until he is hurt, or bad, or they start losing, he will be the starter.

Yep. And it doesn't help Benson that he is not liked/respected in the locker room...I'd like to see T Jones put up a big game. He really is in a nice spot-great team, great defense, good line

They're giving TJ every chance to take the job and run with it, but that 3.0 ypc doesn't look good(42 Attemps for 127 yds 0 tds). Of course Benson hasn't done much either, but he's had quite a few less carries than Jones (42 for TJ and 21 for CB).

 

[gman8343]

Agreed, it's TJ's job to lose. But let's be clear -- he has not been productive thus far.

Everyone is saying that's okay because teams are stacking the line and making Grossman beat them through the air. Did teams not stack the line to stop the run last season when the worst starting QB in the league was tossing the rock?

 

[Todem]

Agreed, it's TJ's job to lose. But let's be clear -- he has not been productive thus far. Everyone is saying that's okay because teams are stacking the line and making Grossman beat them through the air. Did teams not stack the line to stop the run last season when the worst starting QB in the league was tossing the rock?

Good point. But Jones will get it going. I have no doubts he will have a better game this weekend. He also was a couple of trip ups from breaking some huge runs last week. So I think he will be fine.

 

[aggie_dave]

Just a couple of points here from an admittedly Benson owner.

1. Isn't the whole "a couple of trip ups from breaking some huge runs" what some people are talking about Jones falling to ankle tackles? While Benson, on the other hand, is blowing people up at the line. Benson is a better down hill runner that Jones and that's why the Bears got him. He is the type that bowls over people in the nasty weather.

2. For that same "power runner" reason, Benson is of course not going to be flashy in 10 carries/game. He's the type that gets better in the 4th quarter as he gets into the 20-30 carry range (ala Ricky Williams).

3. No, Benson won't be just handed the reins as the starter because he's Cedric Benson, but I find it very hard to believe that it won't be a 50/50 split by midseason. In case you were wondering, that's not good for either of them.

4. There's no chance that Chicago trades away their #4 overall pick because they have another good runner (3.0 ypc in 2006 with the same situation as last year with Orton). The Bears would lose out HUGE in that one.

Like I said I'm a Benson owner, so call out bias if you will, but I challenge you to refute any of those points.

 

[jurrassic]

I am trying to move Benson and Mason for Marvin Harrison. I am already very deep at wr and really don't have a #2 rb, but I think this is going to be a rbbc all year and it will Benson's job next year.

 

[Your Mom]

I don't own benson or Tj in any leagues. I go by what I see. He whiffed a couple of times on blitz pickups in the first game. No it didn't get grossman killed, but he missed his block. I am a bears fan and that is it when it comes to these two guys. Thomas Jones gets tackled real easily. Agree or don't agree, I don't give two chits.

 

[Your Mom]

Just a couple of points here from an admittedly Benson owner.1. Isn't the whole "a couple of trip ups from breaking some huge runs" what some people are talking about Jones falling to ankle tackles? While Benson, on the other hand, is blowing people up at the line. Benson is a better down hill runner that Jones and that's why the Bears got him. He is the type that bowls over people in the nasty weather. 2. For that same "power runner" reason, Benson is of course not going to be flashy in 10 carries/game. He's the type that gets better in the 4th quarter as he gets into the 20-30 carry range (ala Ricky Williams). 3. No, Benson won't be just handed the reins as the starter because he's Cedric Benson, but I find it very hard to believe that it won't be a 50/50 split by midseason. In case you were wondering, that's not good for either of them.4. There's no chance that Chicago trades away their #4 overall pick because they have another good runner (3.0 ypc in 2006 with the same situation as last year with Orton). The Bears would lose out HUGE in that one.Like I said I'm a Benson owner, so call out bias if you will, but I challenge you to refute any of those points.

 

[Otis]

Like I said I'm a Benson owner, so call out bias if you will, but I challenge you to refute any of those points.

If we must...

Just a couple of points here from an admittedly Benson owner.

Wait, a posting in the shark pool from a Benson owner calling out Jones?

1. Isn't the whole "a couple of trip ups from breaking some huge runs" what some people are talking about Jones falling to ankle tackles? While Benson, on the other hand, is blowing people up at the line. Benson is a better down hill runner that Jones and that's why the Bears got him. He is the type that bowls over people in the nasty weather.

I'm not sure I understand what any of this means. Thomas Jones has been a very good inside runner. If you say the sky looks pretty, it's hard for anyone to "refute" that.

2. For that same "power runner" reason, Benson is of course not going to be flashy in 10 carries/game. He's the type that gets better in the 4th quarter as he gets into the 20-30 carry range (ala Ricky Williams).

And this happened when? And you are using which data points for this assessment? Again, you're asking us to refute something that's not based in fact. Sort of difficult.

3. No, Benson won't be just handed the reins as the starter because he's Cedric Benson, but I find it very hard to believe that it won't be a 50/50 split by midseason. In case you were wondering, that's not good for either of them.

Again, based on? So we have 3 "points" whiich are completely conjecture. 4 must be a doozy...

4. There's no chance that Chicago trades away their #4 overall pick because they have another good runner (3.0 ypc in 2006 with the same situation as last year with Orton). The Bears would lose out HUGE in that one.

I don't really understand this one, and I'm not sure who it even supports.The one and only anti-Jones comment that anyone has made in this thread that makes any bit of sense to me is that he has looked unsensational. I've said myself that his production concerns me, because he is not producing at the high level he produced at last year. His YPC is lower and he isn't scoring like he did (he also isn't getting the touches, but that's fine). This is the one and only criticism I think anyone can make of Jones at this point.

But, and we've said this a zillion times but I think we have to say it again, unless and until Thones Jones is hurt, or bad, or the Bears start losing, there is absolutely no reason for the team to take away his job (or to even so substantially change the offense to make it a 50-50 split).

Welcome to September, 2005 everyone

 

[RBM]

I don't own benson or Tj in any leagues. I go by what I see. He whiffed a couple of times on blitz pickups in the first game. No it didn't get grossman killed, but he missed his block. I am a bears fan and that is it when it comes to these two guys. Thomas Jones gets tackled real easily. Agree or don't agree, I don't give two chits.

You're right. Ive said it time and time again, I love what TJ has brought to this team as a Bears fan, but Benson is probably the better guy for the job

 

[shuke]

 

[Irish]

Like I said I'm a Benson owner, so call out bias if you will, but I challenge you to refute any of those points.

If we must...

Just a couple of points here from an admittedly Benson owner.

Wait, a posting in the shark pool from a Benson owner calling out Jones?

1. Isn't the whole "a couple of trip ups from breaking some huge runs" what some people are talking about Jones falling to ankle tackles? While Benson, on the other hand, is blowing people up at the line. Benson is a better down hill runner that Jones and that's why the Bears got him. He is the type that bowls over people in the nasty weather.

I'm not sure I understand what any of this means. Thomas Jones has been a very good inside runner. If you say the sky looks pretty, it's hard for anyone to "refute" that.

2. For that same "power runner" reason, Benson is of course not going to be flashy in 10 carries/game. He's the type that gets better in the 4th quarter as he gets into the 20-30 carry range (ala Ricky Williams).

And this happened when? And you are using which data points for this assessment? Again, you're asking us to refute something that's not based in fact. Sort of difficult.

3. No, Benson won't be just handed the reins as the starter because he's Cedric Benson, but I find it very hard to believe that it won't be a 50/50 split by midseason. In case you were wondering, that's not good for either of them.

Again, based on? So we have 3 "points" whiich are completely conjecture. 4 must be a doozy...

4. There's no chance that Chicago trades away their #4 overall pick because they have another good runner (3.0 ypc in 2006 with the same situation as last year with Orton). The Bears would lose out HUGE in that one.

I don't really understand this one, and I'm not sure who it even supports.The one and only anti-Jones comment that anyone has made in this thread that makes any bit of sense to me is that he has looked unsensational. I've said myself that his production concerns me, because he is not producing at the high level he produced at last year. His YPC is lower and he isn't scoring like he did (he also isn't getting the touches, but that's fine). This is the one and only criticism I think anyone can make of Jones at this point.

But, and we've said this a zillion times but I think we have to say it again, unless and until Thones Jones is hurt, or bad, or the Bears start losing, there is absolutely no reason for the team to take away his job (or to even so substantially change the offense to make it a 50-50 split).

Welcome to September, 2005 everyone

Averaging 3 yards a carry is bad in my book. Remember the Bears beat reporter who stated that Thomas Jones did not look like the same back he was last yr? Benson will take over before the season ends IMO. I own both in seperate leagues and I just wish one would emerge instead of a RBBC. Benson is a type of runner who wears defenses down by the 4th qtr and gets stronger as the game goes along.