One preseason game was enough to shake up the Cowboys’ backup running back picture, and Malik Davis made the biggest noise in Saturday’s win over Seattle.
Dallas had spent Friday talking about a tight battle between Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah, and both backs got a heavy workload in the first half. They handled every snap during that stretch, but the ground game never really got rolling.
Davis changed the feel of the competition once he finally got his chance. He didn’t touch the ball until the third quarter, then finished with 39 rushing yards on 5.6 yards per carry to lead the Cowboys on the ground. For a race that had been framed around the upside of the younger backs, that was a loud response.
The difference showed up in the way Davis ran. At 27, he leaned on veteran instincts and made defenders miss behind the line with a couple of sharp jump cuts. He saw things quickly, moved his feet cleanly and got through holes with a decisiveness the others couldn’t quite match.
That consistency is where Blue and Mafah came up short. Blue flashed burst, but he doesn’t bring much power. Both backs were more effective as receivers than runners, and together they carried 12 times for 28 yards, a rough 2.3 yards per carry.
Mafah’s night ended early because of a chest injury, and he did not return. He only got four touches, which was clearly not the kind of workload Dallas wanted for him.
If the team was simply being cautious with the former Clemson star, that’s one thing. If he misses more time, it could cost him in the battle for the job.
Davis also helped himself in other areas. He had a couple of strong reps in pass protection, and Dallas already trusts him as a returner and as part of the punting operation.
He may not have the flash of Blue or the size profile of Mafah, but he looks like the kind of steady, useful back coaches can count on. And behind Javonte Williams, that might be exactly what the Cowboys need.
In Other News...
Cowboys Suddenly Have A Backup RB Battle Twist To Watch
The backup running back picture got a little more interesting in the preseason opener against Seattle, when Phil Mafah went down with a chest injury and did not return. His exit came early enough to change the rotation, and Jaydon Blue picked up more playing time in Mafahs absence as Dallas kept sorting through its depth chart behind the top options.
Now the focus shifts to the next preseason game against Arizona, where Mafahs availability is in question until Brian Schottenheimer offers an update. For a roster spot that was already going to be decided on the margins, even a short-term setback can matter, especially with Blue getting a chance to make a case while the Cowboys wait to see how Mafah responds. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys May Have Already Fixed A Defensive Problem Fans Hated
The Cowboys preseason opener offered one early sign that a long-frustrating problem might be moving in the right direction. After a defense that struggled badly with missed tackles a year ago, Dallas was noticeably cleaner in this exhibition, with several players helping set a sharper tone. Curtis Robinson and Julian Wood were among those involved in the effort, and the linebacker group is beginning to take shape as the staff works through its options.
Christian Parkers arrival has given that side of the ball a different feel, and the results so far suggest the Cowboys are trying to build something sturdier after last seasons defensive mess. There is still plenty of time for camp to test that progress, but the early signs around DeMarvion Overshown, Dee Winters and Justin Barron point to a unit that is at least trending toward being more disciplined and more reliable. [Read more 🡒]