Two Cowboys Who Are Surprisingly Preparing to Get Action at Running Back This Season
The Cowboys this offseason sought after changes at the running back position after the departure of Rico Dowdle to the Carolina Panthers. They signed both Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders in free agency for cheap while also drafting Jaydon Blue in the fifth round of this year's draft. The battle for lead back is still to be determined during this year’s training camp, but two unusual members of the roster are looking to get reps this season at the position. All-Pro return specialist Kavonte Turpin and the three-year veteran Deuce Vaughn will not be the Cowboys’ first-choice running back; however, when their names are called in the run game, they are certain to have an explosive play.
Turpin's ability with the football speaks for itself, as he is arguably the best returner in the whole NFL with several All-Pros under his belt. Many Cowboys fans have always felt that the Cowboys staff needs to put the ball in his hands any way possible, and there is no better way than running back. His speed and acceleration are the main reasons for the decision to try him out at running back. Ideally, the Cowboys would give him tosses or jet sweeps to get the most out of him at the position. His background as a kick returner is able to play a huge factor in this role of playing behind the blockers and finding the open space. In camp thus far, Turpin has been able to take advantage of his speed and the great young offensive line that Dallas is brewing, which is exactly what Dallas is hoping to see.
Vaughn's road to the NFL has been storybook, but his playtime has not gone as he would have hoped. With limited opportunities to get significant playing time during his previous two seasons, it seemed that Vaughn's chances in Dallas—and potentially in the NFL—were dwindling. However, with Brian Schottenheimer at the helm, he has seemingly felt that the Cowboys need to use Vaughn's ability. His first-team reps are not common, but Vaughn is making sure that every time he’s there with the first team, he is proving his worth. Cowboys’ new offensive line coach Conor Riley might have a say in the decision to play Vaughn with the first team, as he used to work with him back when they both were at Kansas State. While Riley was not the offensive coordinator when Vaughn was there, his role as the offensive line coach played a huge role in Vaughn's elite play in college.
