Latest news with #PhilMafah
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys Pounded By Rams As Three Problems Go Unsolved
Cowboys Pounded By Rams As Three Problems Go Unsolved originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Dallas Cowboys rookie running back Phil Mafah said he was ready to finally be able to hit people with the franchise opening up their preseason with a clash against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Saturday ... and Mafah and the running game was indeed one of the three areas that Cowboys Nation entered this outing with some concerns about. In short: Can Dallas' cornerbacks cover? Can the defensive tackles clog the run? And are the Cowboys' running backs good enough? After the Rams' 31-21 pounding of the visitors here, there are not answers in the affirmative. Dallas gave up 181 rushing yards, fell behind 14-0 early with Rams receivers moving with too much freedom against those corners, and took quite a while to bother getting around to trying to run the football. Maybe that was because new No. 2 QB Joe Milton's exposure to live action was a priority, but this was not a stellar night for him, either. It took until about 9 minutes were left in the game before the Dallas offense scored a TD (on a Milton toss to tight end Rivaldo Fairweather) and when Dallas scored again, third-stringer Will Grier did the honors on a scramble. In total, Milton was 17 or 29 for 143 yards (with a lot of misses) plus five carries for 22 yards. So, what about those running backs? With Mafah one of the select few backs on the roster not to have been dinged up throughout training camp, he was expected to not only get on the field against the Rams but also play significant snaps. Having not played a "proper" game for months, did the 6-1, 234-pound rookie from Clemson see this game against the Rams as one where he can finally be the physical beast we know him to be? 'Yeah, I do,'' Mafah said entering the weekend. "It's been a while since we had actually tackling to the ground. So, that'll be new, but I'm just excited to actually play some real football, be able to just go out there, have fun. First NFL game ever. "So, I'm just taking it in and just a surreal moment.' He did have his moments (10 carries for 36 yards), but it was tough going. Really, only Malik Davis's late work (averaging nine yards per carry on seven totes) creates the false impression that the Cowboys ran the ball effectively here. Can this change? After beginning his offseason in slow fashion, Mafah has picked up coach Brian Schottenheimer's offense and all the little details to the point where he is now regularly making plays in practice ... and good ones at that. Given the nature of the running back room and the number of players "ahead" of him, the game against the Rams marked a huge opportunity for Mafah to plant his stake in the ground and to give the coaching staff something to think about. That didn't quite happen. ... for Mafah, for the run stoppers, for the cornerbacks or for Milton. There will be better days. Or, at least, there had better be better days. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Newsweek
11-08-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Unheralded Cowboys Provide Reason for New Optimism
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. This isn't your grandfather's Dallas Cowboys preseason workload. The starters are largely absent, if you see them at all. Remember those 'dress rehearsals' in the third game? Don't sweat it. Most of these young NFL fans haven't heard of them either. Israel Mukuamu #24 of the Dallas Cowboys Israel Mukuamu #24 of the Dallas Cowboys Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images/Newsweek/Getty Images Dallas enters another campaign, and many of the popular stories have annoyed us more than anything. Where is Dak Prescott on the QB ladder? Can this team compete with the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders? What's up with Jerry Jones and Micah Parson's stalemate? Real football can't get here fast enough. Week 1 features a road trip to Philly, but baby steps must be taken. First, a 53-man roster must be built. More news: Nine Former Cowboys Nominated for Legendary Honor Four Cowboys earn passing grades from the performances in the preseason debut It won't count against the win-loss total for this season. It didn't birth very many fireworks, but despite a game that featured long periods of boring Cowboys football, we have found a few players who have earned a thumbs up. We saw a heavy dose of Joe Milton. He's expected to be the backup quarterback. He took the bulk of the snaps as the offensive signal-caller and produced the following stat line: 29 pass attempts, 17 completions, 143 yards passing, one passing TD, one interception, and a 68.6 passer rating. Zion Childress and Mike Smith Jr. tied for the team lead in tackles with six a piece, but we'd be remiss if we didn't talk about these guys. More Cowboys News: Dallas Cowboys Most Likely to Steal NFL Postseason Spotlight Running Backs Phil Mafah and Malik Davis Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders sit atop the Cowboys depth chart at running back, but you have to love what you saw from Phil Mafah and Malik Davis. They did exactly what they were supposed to, make the most of an opportunity. They combined for 99 yards on 17 carries and were bright spots for a mostly nonexistent Cowboys offense. Linebacker Marist Liufau Though player safety is of the utmost importance, it's still good to see guys get popped every now and then. Marist Liufau delivered a couple of highlight-reel moment, crushing Jarquez Hunter on the opening kickoff and making a nice run stop during a third-and-one scenario. More news:Micah Parsons' Cowboys Saga Gets an NBA Comparison Safety Israel Mukuamu If this was the regular season, which it isn't, safety Israel Mukuamu would have found himself on all of the highlight shows. His interception off the arm of Los Angeles Rams QB Stetson Bennett robbed L.A. of a big play in the fourth quarter and kept the lead at a 14-6 Rams advantage. Verdict: The first Cowboys game provided much of what we expected. The starters were absent. There were nice moments and rather forgettable ones. Guys on the back-half of the roster will continue their tasks of making impressions. Hopefully a more spirited effort will be seen in Week 2 vs. the Baltimore Ravens. For more Dallas Cowboys and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sleeper Alert: Cowboys 7th-round pick is the one RB no one is talking about
In a position group without a clear standout, anyone can be the sleeper. The Dallas Cowboys have taken a true committee approach to the running back position in 2025. Not unlike the way they handled the previous season, Dallas has chosen to invest very few resources to fill the RB room this season. The Cowboys added two replacement level veterans in Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders and drafted two Day 3 rookies in Jayden Blue and Phil Mafah. Teamed with carryovers Deuce Vaughn and Hunter Luepke, the Cowboys hope to find a winning combination that can carry them through the year. Despite some known work ethic concerns from the rookie Blue, he's expected to carry the load as the primary complementary back. The explosive Texas RB has game breaking ability that's unrivaled in the backfield. In front of him most have either Williams penciled in or his veteran counterpart Sanders. With Luepke a virtual lock to snag the fullback specialty role, it leaves very little room for a sleeper to pop up and make a difference. But if one sleeper can make a difference, it's the seventh rounder Mafah. Mafah, 6-foot-1, 234-pounds, is a man amongst boys at the RB position. The Clemson bruiser is a one-cut runner with patience to wait for openings and the strength and physicality to create his own openings. He's not flashy, lacking the big play speed or open field elusiveness, but he's workhorse between the tackles and a willing blocker in pass protection. Mafah's film is a tale of two halves. Before his injury he looked like a legit NFL prospect but after his injury his production fell off a cliff and his playing style ineffective. It was a combination of this and a loaded draft class that caused Mafah's stock to drop until the last round. If he can prove his shoulder injury is behind him and he's the runner that wowed scouts the first half of the 2024 season, the Cowboys could have a steal on their hands. Blue brings the high ceiling, Williams brings the high floor, and Sanders brings the insurance policy, but Mafah brings the mystery as a wildcard. If this seventh-round rookie can hold up in pass protection, contribute on special teams and be a force in short yardage he could go from roster bubble/camp casualty to steady role player in no time. You can follow Reid on X @ReidDHanson and be sure to follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans! This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys Phil Mafah is being overlooked in RB competition
USA Today
09-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN breaks down Clemson football's biggest area of concern heading into the 2025 season
For Clemson football's offense to take another step in 2025, all eyes are on the running backs. In its preseason Top 25 breakdown, ESPN highlighted the backfield as the Tigers' main unknown on offense heading into fall camp. With Phil Mafah off to the NFL, Clemson loses its biggest source of rushing production, putting the spotlight on what comes next. 'The position group that has been discussed more than any other since the spring at Clemson is running back — the only position on offense that loses the bulk of its production with Phil Mafah off to the NFL,' ESPN's Andrea Adelson wrote. 'But the Tigers have plenty of depth at running back, and that should help ease any concerns as they move into fall camp. Particularly because running back traditionally has been an area where Clemson has excelled, even when other groups on offense took a step back. (Clemson has had a 1,000-yard rusher 11 of the past 16 years, and that does not include 2023, when Mafah and Will Shipley split the carries nearly evenly and combined for more than 1,700 yards.)' Gideon Davidson, a true freshman, is already drawing buzz as a possible impact player in year one. The Tigers have also had wide receiver Adam Randall practicing at running back to add another option alongside Keith Adams Jr. and David Eziomume. Jay Haynes, who tore his ACL in the ACC title game, is still rehabbing but had carved out the second-most carries among Clemson backs last fall with 43 for 295 yards and three touchdowns. Adams Jr. chipped in with 30 carries for 122 yards and one score. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys Criticized For 'Too Long and Too Cheap' Approach At One Key Position
Cowboys Criticized For 'Too Long and Too Cheap' Approach At One Key Position originally appeared on Athlon Sports. FRISCO — The Dallas Cowboys' needs at running back coming into this offseason were no secret prior to the NFL draft, and yet it took until the fifth round for that need to be filled. Advertisement Did Dallas wait too long? Jaydon Blue was taken in the fifth round, and then Phil Mafah was taken in the seventh round. Maybe the two veterans signed — Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams come to town as affordable free agents — will make this a non-issue. Or maybe an explosive change is about to occur in terms of the way Dallas does its business here. Nothing is promised to any of the four (and certainly not to Deuce Vaughn, either). But after the draft, new head coach Brian Schottenheimer claimed that he envisions both Blue and Mafah as starters. 'I would hope so,'' he said, "or otherwise we wouldn't have drafted them.'' Advertisement In Texas, Blue qualifies as a bit more of a recognizable name ... as he's a sub-4.3 second sprinter and a former Longhorn; he can be a home run hitter immediately. "I always dreamed of having an opportunity to play at the biggest stage, for my home state, for so long, man," said the Houston native Blue. But ... until last fall, when the Longhorns experienced a host of injuries, he was a third-string back. And Mafah? He ushed for 2,887 yards and 28 touchdowns in his four college seasons by using his bullish style for the Clemson Tigers ... though he doesn't want to be seen as just a big body at 6-foot-1 and 234 pounds. Advertisement "To me, I feel like I can do a bit of both," Mafah said. "Just being a bigger guy, I feel like I am really light on my feet. I can make defenders miss. I feel like defenses don't really expect that. I like to change it up, to keep them guessing. "I'd just like to be versatile and just ready to be used any way my team needs me to be, just want to add value, really." It would seem that Sanders and Williams — based on our minicamp observations — will get the first crack at the first team ... but there is a reason they came cheap. Blue and Mafah? Dallas can be excited about them ... but again, there is a reason they were Day 3 draft picks. The critics think Dallas might have the worst running back room in the NFL. The Cowboys need to prove that wrong ... and to prove they didn't wait too long or spend too cheaply. Advertisement Related: Cowboys Fans Suddenly Comparing Schottenheimer and Belichick Related: Cowboys Moves Predicted To Mean Most Physical Offense In NFL This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
