He has yet to run the ball in an NFL game, but Jaydon Blue is already making a habit out of racing right past preconceived notions about him.
The Cowboys rookie, drafted out of Texas this spring, was originally thought to be one of the steals of the draft, nearly falling out of the top 150 picks. He looked to have landed in a great situation in Dallas, though, where he’d get a legitimate chance to see the field and maybe even be the centerpiece of a reinvented run game.
Known for his speed, the easy assumption was that Blue would be the “lightning,” the dynamic outside threat in a backfield pairing with someone else who could supply the interior, tough-yardage “thunder.” But thus far in camp, the 21-year-old has worked hard to demonstrate to Cowboys coaches that he can bring the whole storm, even if it’s confined to a 5-foot-9, sub-200-pound teacup.
“Jaydon’s very patient. He’s a patient runner. He’s got a really good feel for it,” noted first-year Cowboys running back coach Derick Foster. “He’s got natural instincts, some of those traits that you really look for in a back. And I think once he sees that opening space, he’s not been afraid to stick it up inside in the hole and really try to lower his pads.”
Blue put some of that bowling-ball work on display during Tuesday’s joint practice with the Rams, showing he’s more than just a speed guy.
“We’ve still got to work on that a little bit, but he’s really surprised me in terms of being able to run between the pads,” Foster continued. “That was one of the things that I really wanted to see, with his stature and his body build or whatever: could he do that? I think he’s done a really good job of displaying that ability to be able to run between the tackles.”
It’s an important step in his progression, to be sure, another tool in his bag. But Blue started off his Cowboys tenure hearing about his supposed deficiencies. One particular report that made the rounds was a quote from a long-ago Cowboys assistant who claimed that the rookie already had a “borderline lazy” reputation within the building.
Blue himself admits that he took the month off after minicamp to really study the playbook. But since then, his Cowboys coaches and teammates have praised the Houston native’s work ethic and development.
Foster admitted that Blue came in “a little further behind than we wanted him to be,” but he has matured in short order, showing professionalism, attention to detail, and a drive to do things the right way as he learns the NFL ropes.
And now with the team’s preseason opener set for Saturday and fellow Cowboys running backs Miles Sanders nursing an injury and Deuce Vaughn just coming back from one, Blue is faced with a golden opportunity to defy expectations once again and make a move toward a starting spot in Dallas in his first season.
It could be tough. But that’s quickly proving itself to be Blue’s surprise talent.
“What I found out is that he’s got some toughness to him,” Foster said. “He’s a competitor. I like his mindset.”
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys rookie RB showing toughness, defying expectations with inside power
Reporting by Todd Brock, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
