Why Cowboys' potential committee approach at running back could yield better results

New York Times

06-05-2025

FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys don't know how their running back situation is going to materialize. No position group on the team has been shaken up like that room has, from top to bottom.
Derrick Foster is the running backs coach following his one-year stop working with Alvin Kamara in New Orleans, after three years helping to elevate Austin Ekeler in Los Angeles. Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott are gone. In their place, the Cowboys signed Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders in free agency. Deuce Vaughn and Hunter Luepke return, though neither is guaranteed a roster spot once the dust settles on training camp.
The key to the entire operation may be the Texas product the Cowboys selected on the third day of the 2025 NFL Draft.
'At the end of the day, in the NFL, you're looking for explosive playmakers,' Cowboys vice president of player personnel Will McClay said. 'He's an explosive playmaker. You put him in the backfield behind what we built in the (offensive) line and the other guys, it gives you an opportunity to be explosive. … (He's) an explosive player that can flip the field for you on carries, can also win you some matchups in man-to-man coverage versus linebackers, and even line up so you get an explosive playmaker. It's just a different speed that he plays with.'
In case it wasn't clear, the Cowboys like the explosiveness that Jaydon Blue brings to the table. It's a good area to improve in, considering the Cowboys ranked dead last in the NFL in 20-plus-yard runs last year, according to TruMedia. They ranked 25th in 10-plus-yard runs. Viewing the production by the running back position alone, the Cowboys managed to get their yards per rush number up to middle-of-the-pack by the end of the year, after leaning on Dowdle. Although Dowdle turned in some bright moments and stellar games, he was never a threat to break the big one.
The Cowboys believe Blue can be that player.
'I bring a lot of things to the table,' Blue said. 'Mainly, of course, my speed, but I bring a lot of versatility.'
The Cowboys view Blue as more than just a running back. In 2024, Blue was No. 1 among FBS running backs with six receiving touchdowns. His receiving abilities out of the backfield will be something Brian Schottenheimer and his staff need to find a way to utilize. For many years, that was a shortcoming of the Cowboys' coaching staff with a young Tony Pollard, who wasn't always given the opportunities early in his career to supplement Elliott as the veteran was in decline.
In Blue's case, there is no Elliott-type player on the roster. Williams and Sanders are fine veteran additions, but neither will be handed a significant role based on reputation alone. If Blue proves himself, he'll have the chance to carve out a significant role.
The external expectations surrounding Blue will be important to balance with reality. Blue was selected 149th overall in the fifth round. Players who go at that point usually have some flaws that require cleaning up and patience. For Blue, ball security is at the top of that list — he fumbled five times last season. He's a smaller back (5-9, 196), so pass protection is a natural limitation.
Dallas neglected the running back position last year, to the point that selecting one at any point in the draft offered hope. But when Schottenheimer was asked after the draft whether the Cowboys would have a lead back or take a committee approach — as they did for the bulk of last season — he was non-committal. Schottenheimer wants to see how things unfold during offseason workouts and training camp.
If the Cowboys take a committee approach, there is reason to believe the results can be better than last year's. Unlike 2024, when Elliott was pushed into a role he no longer belonged in, the Cowboys have a handful of running backs who seem capable of being part of an NFL backfield.
One of those players is Blue's draft mate, seventh-round pick Phil Mafah.
'For me, it's a mentality,' Mafah said. 'My approach to the game is that I've got to be the toughest dude on the field. That's how you got to play the game, especially at the running back position. I'm going to put it on the line for my teammates, and I expect them to do the same. … I feel like I can complement (the other running backs) really well, especially Jaydon. Us being in the same class and him being a great speed guy, me being a power guy, I feel like we can feed off of each other, (as well as) the other running backs in the room.'
In addition to Elliott's limitations, where the Cowboys suffered the most in their committee approach in 2024 was restricting Dowdle from a regular workload in order for him to be at his best. Dowdle spoke about that rhythm often throughout the season.
With Blue and Mafah, the Cowboys have two types of running backs in terms of skill set, but they are similar in the sense of their comfort splitting carries. Blue shared the backfield at Texas with Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks and Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson. Mafah split the backfield at Clemson with Will Shipley.
The Cowboys would love for one player to separate himself in the offseason and into training camp. But if the Cowboys take a committee approach into the season, it should at least be something the personnel at hand will be comfortable with, unlike last season.
(Top photo of Jaydon Blue: Tim Warner / Getty Images)