With Dowdle Gone and new faces in the mixture, the cowboys are looking for a reliable lead again to support Dak Prescott and feed the offense through an intimidating slate of 2025.
One of the biggest questions of the alignment of Dallas’ off -season was the management of the Cowboys Backfield. Dallas entered last season with the fans’ favorite and the Great Ezekiel Elliott franchise as his return n ° 1, who returned to the team after playing in New England the previous year. In addition to the former rushing champion, the veterans Rico Dowdle, Malik Davis, Hunter Luepke, Deuce Vaughn and Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook.
While Elliott opened the year as a starter, halfway, Dowdle cemented as a head and finished with a career at 1,079 yards on the ground, while Elliott obtained his release in December. Quick advance until 2025, and with the training camp approaching quickly, Dallas finds himself in a similar position with his racing game as he did a year ago, only this time, a wave of new faces enters the image.
Dowdle signed with the Carolina Panthers In a free agency, and the team signed the veteran of Backs Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams at one year in response. They then selected the Texas RB Jaydon Blue in the fifth round, as well as Clemson Back Phil Mafah in the seventh, leaving Vaughn and Luepke as the only Return players of 2024.
Frost did not sign for a huge moneyAnd the cowboys have barely invested in the group since its departure, the six players on the list with only $ 8 million to the inter -season wage ceiling. The lack of heavy investment leaves a burning question: who will emerge as Dallas leader as the team deepens the season?
The holiday season is intimidating; The cowboys will play six consecutive games against teams that made the playoffs a year ago, including the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving, and the second clashes against both Philadelphia Eagles And Washington Commanders.
The cowboys waited for mid-season to declare an RB1 last season. It is a section that will force Dallas to have its already in hand.
It is easy to consider that coaches will first count on the experience.
After a 2022 Pro Bowl campaign with the Eagles, Sanders himself signed with the Panthers. The choice of the second round 2019 was unable to reproduce its season with 1,200 yards and 11 affected, instead of rushing for only 637 yards and three affected in 27 games with the Panthers. The 28-year-old will seek to bring his career in the right direction with a new start and received clear support from head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
“I don’t know why someone would be surprised by Miles’ ability,” Schottenheimer told journalists in the spring. “Having been in the division and playing against Miles when he was in Philadelphia, you are talking about a guy who is a threat to home, a guy who has an incredible ability to hurt you to run, to catch up with the rear field.”
Meanwhile, Williams, who entered the league in 2021 as a choice of draft in the second round by the Broncosrushed to 2,394 yards and 11 affected in four seasons in the Mile High. The challenge? He was unable to build his fully rookie performance when he rushed to 903 yards and four affected, including an outing of 111 yards against cowboys that year.
A silver lining with the former All-American back from Caroline du Nord is her ability to play in the air. Last season, he established careers in receptions (52) and receiving yards (346).
While the two appear online for the representatives raised early, the front Office certainly hopes to have found gems in its pair of recruits, Blue and Mafah, as the regular season progresses.
Blue is known for its flamboyant speed and has timed the second fastest time of 40 yards (4.38 s) with the combine harvester. He rushed to 730 yards and eight affected while recording 42 receptions for 368 yards and six scores in the air. The recruit back is fast, agile and can be a shift in the rear field in the passage game.
Mafah, a selection of the third All-ECC team, ended its last season in Clemson rushing for 1,115 yards and has found the goals area 21 times in the past two years. The 6 -foot 1 inch back and 234 pounds is a powerful descent runner known for his aggressive and physical game.
LUEPKE remains a precious option at the rear, while Vaughn, who appeared in 14 games during his first two seasons, could be on his last chance to prove to the coaches that he belongs to the list.
A background as crowded could lead to a committee approach if the team sees production from several backs which each bring a different quality on the field.
However, time is also a factor in this scenario. The quarter-Arrière Dak Prescott returns from an injury to the hamstrings who ended his season last November. Having a reference file and a reliable racing game overall will be essential to help relieve the pressure of the signaller veteran. The transport of efficient rock will be more than ever necessary if Dallas hopes to compete in what has now become an East NFC division more competitive.
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