For the Cowboys, the team’s running-backs room has been fairly thin all season. Free-agent signee Javonte Williams is the clear RB1, and has had a career year, but behind him, once Miles Sanders suffered injuries that knocked him out for the year, the Cowboys have had precious little for depth. Rookie Jaydon Blue–the speedy fifth-round pick from Texas–has raised hopes at times, but inconsistency has cost him.
Blue entered the season with a chance at the RB2 role after a good training camp in which his speed was on display. But the team has been blunt in its assessment of Blue’s spot on the team: He has simply not put in the practice work to warrant a spot on the roster.
After Sanders’ injuries, Blue was promoted, and appeared in Weeks 5-8, playing 11 snaps in his debut, followed by five snaps, 15 snaps and 14 snaps in Week 8. He totaled 22 carries for 65 yards in those games. But since the return of veteran backup Malik Davis, Blue has been demoted back off the roster.
Cowboys Turning to Malik Davis
Davis has played only 23 total offensive snaps for the Cowboys in the past four weeks, but he has been a solid special teams contributor, playing 67 snaps there. Coach Brian Schottenheimer has been tough at times on Blue, but explained why he has been demoted in favor of Davis.
“It’s really everything,” Schottenheimer said. “When you get to sometimes that second and third back and, you know, we’re carrying a little heavy at some other positions, whether it’s linebacker or corners or defensive linemen, you’re a little bit short in some areas. But it’s really both phases, it’s offense and special teams.
“Malik has done an incredible job since he’s got back. He’s a personal protector. He’s doing a great job–I think he’s on three of the four core special teams units. He’s running well.”
Cowboys Still Have Hopes for Jaydon Blue
Schottenheimer said the Cowboys are not yet giving up on Blue, but he was clear that Davis is offering more to the team overall than Blue is, despite just seven carries for 26 yards.
There is a chance, down the line, that Blue could even be a starter in Dallas. But in the meantime, he must learn to create his own opportunities.
“He and Jaydon will continue to compete,” Schottenheimer said. “But right now, when you’re looking at the two, that’s where Jaydon has to understand, until you’re the guy, which at some point hopefully he is ‘The Guy,’ you’ve gotta be able to impact the game other ways. I think he understands that.”
Jaydon Blue ‘Learning a Lot About This League’
While Blue has, when he has met with the media, maintained a positive outlook, there is no doubt that he was excited to make his Cowboys debut back in Week 5, and suggested at the time that he had absorbed the coaches’ message about working harder and putting in more time at practice.
If that is the case, the results have yet to show, however.
“Jaydon is learning a lot about this league,” Schottenheimer said. “Again, I think he’s always going to continue to compete and put his best foot forward. He doesn’t have to like the decision if it goes against him to play someone else, but he’s got to make sure he’s always prepared to go play.”
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Cowboys’ Brian Schottenheimer Explains Playmaker’s Demotion appeared first on Heavy Sports.