A slot on the roster with a huge question mark at the moment has to be RB3. Sure, there’s Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott who secure the RB1 and RB2 slots, but the third slot is a head scratcher. However, a suitable candidate is looking more and more like Deuce Vaughn.
Deuce Vaughn: Emerging as a Strong Candidate for RB3
The 6th-round Draft Pick Tends to Fall Flat
Vaughn was 2023’s 6th-round draft pick by the Dallas Cowboys. Surely, that’s part of the reason he made the team previously. However, he didn’t make headlines. He seemed to fall flat of his potential, collecting 23 carries for 40 yards. He did have some time on the returning squad, where he also fell average too.
Maybe Vaughn’s size is a contributing factor to getting defeated on the line. Vaughn stands 5’6, 178 pounds. When compared to Rico Dowdle, who is 6’0, 215 pounds, there’s reason for concern on breaking tackles.
If that’s the case, there doesn’t seem to be much reason in keeping Vaughn. Well, except that his time in camp and against the Raiders looked pretty good.
Vaughn’s Training Camp and Preseason Reps
Vaughn fell susceptible to an illness a few days before the game against the LA Rams, so there wasn’t an opportunity to see him on the field. However, he made up for it these past few days in training camp.
In fact, in the joint-practice with the Rams, Vaughn stood out at running back. On every single rush, Vaughn quickly finds the hole and collects significant yardage. He’s also able to catch on the outside and pick up yards that way too.
Then, he capitalized on this when the Cowboys played the Las Vegas Raiders. Vaughn was the leading running back with five carries for 34 yards, averaging 6.8 yards per carry. This was significantly more efficient than Royce Freeman, the preferred RB3, who had seven carries for 32 yards.
Cowboys Current Depth Chart
The Cowboys recently released a very preliminary version of their depth chart on their website. On it are the two players who are currently being ranked in front of Vaughn right now: Royce Freeman and Malik Davis.
Freeman is a back with a lot of history, having played for numerous teams in the league. This is his 8th year in the league and his 5th team. Out of the 17 games in the season, he played 14, coming up with 319 yards and two touchdowns. He was unable to play in the game against the Rams because of an ongoing groin injury.
Davis is a younger back who made the Cowboys practice squad last season. Due to this, he primarily played on Special Teams, which is why the Cowboys are trying to give him another chance at running back. However, Davis struggled in the game against the Rams, only creating 18 yards after eight carries. He didn’t do well against the Raiders either, making five carries for 14 yards.
The competition is fierce in this running back room. Right now, neither guy has had a more successful running game than Vaughn when it comes to actual gameplay. Not to mention, they’re all the same kind of back–big and bulky.
Vaughn creates variety for an offense that is starting to look similar, no matter who is carrying the ball. Because of his shorter stature, he’s more likely to pause and find a hole instead of force his way through, collecting more yards.
Preseason Minutes Will Matter for Deuce Vaughn
It isn’t just about preseason and training camp for Vaughn, though. He is fighting to make sure he’s a part of the legacy the Cowboys are creating on the field. Because of this, he has to make sure he creates more momentous plays against the LA Chargers this week.
His future wearing the star could depend on it.
Main Image: Jason Parkhurst – USA Today Sports
