RB Phil Mafah film breakdown

[conner01]

What makes it so hard to evaluate college backs on how they will do as pros is the huge holes that they get in college games. A lot of the time, they are simply untouched until 10-12 yards downfield. In the NFL, ends do a better job of staying at home, DTs are generally harder to move sideways and linebackers come up and fill. You've got to be able to make defenders miss in the backfield or power through them. You've got to be able to squeeze through holes. You've got to be able to see secondary holes and have the quickness to get through them.

I don't know how Mafah (or Blue) will turn out, but the pro game has eaten up plenty of backs. Some also have found that they can adapt to it well. We'll see which we got.

I was hoping to see more plays that weren’t blocked up. That’s the nfl. You aren’t getting gaping holes. If you could holes like that you want blue in there. But he does have silolid vision, can catch, hopefully can pass block. I do think we will be much more RB by committee this year

 

[RonWashington]

Da

If Mafah ends up being half the player Darius Jackson was for us, I’ll count it a win.

Wasn’t Darius a pre season & camp warrior . I want Mafah in the end zone regular season as an inside the 5 option either running over people or catching screens

 

[gimmesix]

He passes the eye ball test. Not as an every down back. But we don't need him to be.

I think our fan base is underestimating Sanders. I typically appreciate @Aerolithe_Lion's commentary, unlike most Eagles fans. So I trust when he says a lot of his last year had to do with Carolina more than Miles Sanders. Makes sense.

I just watched this video an hour ago though.

It's not a one-year anomaly, though. Sanders was actually worse in 2023 (3.3 YPC) than in 2024 (3.7). I'd like to blame it on scheme or on the line but Chuba Hubbard averaged 4.8 for Carolina last year. He did average 3.8 in 2023, so maybe the line was part of the problem then. Sanders is going into his seventh season and may have just hit the wall. Elliott hit his in his seventh season, but it comes at different times for backs. It's usually when injuries start cropping up in the lower body robbing them of speed and power.

Sanders was carted off the field last November with a foot-ankle injury.

 

[gimmesix]

RB by committee never works. Why in the hell do you think the iggles went and got Barkley? Then hey won the damn SB. DAL is just plain dumb and has been for over 30 years!

None of these RBs on this team are worth a damn.

I feel better about Williams than Sanders because it directly appears that Williams' drop in production was tied to his ACL tear. Of course, it could indicate that he'll never get back fully from it, but he's still a relatively young back with fairly low wear.

I don't think even at his best that he's a great back, but he might be a good enough.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I was hoping to see more plays that weren’t blocked up. That’s the nfl. You aren’t getting gaping holes. If you could holes like that you want blue in there. But he does have silolid vision, can catch, hopefully can pass block. I do think we will be much more RB by committee this year

There's a channel called IIRC "College cutups" that had every carry of his vs Notre Dame and a couple other schools. Pretty sure that was from 2023, but I thought it was pretty good considering they have a solid defense.

 

[GMO415]

I feel better about Williams than Sanders because it directly appears that Williams' drop in production was tied to his ACL tear. Of course, it could indicate that he'll never get back fully from it, but he's still a relatively young back with fairly low wear.

I don't think even at his best that he's a great back, but he might be a good enough.

Nailed it! DAL is full of "good enough" players. Who wins SBs? Teams with "excellent" players. When the Jones's figure that out, DAL will return.

 

[rambo2]

Maf

He passes the eye ball test. Not as an every down back. But we don't need him to be.

I think our fan base is underestimating Sanders. I typically appreciate @Aerolithe_Lion's commentary, unlike most Eagles fans. So I trust when he says a lot of his last year had to do with Carolina more than Miles Sanders. Makes sense.

I just watched this video an hour ago though.

Mafah is a beast. He wasn't healthy all of last year and he still played at a high level. I think he was a steal and ends ups making the team. I think we will have Blue and Mafah and then he have a good group of hungry guys competing to be the 3rd back on this team.

 

[rambo2]

Nailed it! DAL is full of "good enough" players. Who wins SBs? Teams with "excellent" players. When the Jones's figure that out, DAL will return.

They are off to a good start after this outstanding draft.

 

[America's Cowboy]

Nailed it! DAL is full of "good enough" players. Who wins SBs? Teams with "excellent" players. When the Jones's figure that out, DAL will return.

Brother, have a little patience. I have a feeling Jaydon Blue is going to become an "excellent" player for us.

 

[America's Cowboy]

Maf

Mafah is a beast. He wasn't healthy all of last year and he still played at a high level. I think he was a steal and ends ups making the team. I think we will have Blue and Mafah and then he have a good group of hungry guys competing to be the 3rd back on this team.

Agreed, brother.

 

[Pass2Run]

I think we got 4 excellent players in the draft.

 

[js66]

One thing they mentioned on the draft video that I loved… he’s from the Ivory Coast and an IPP qualifier. That’s huge as worst case we can develop him on the practice squad and he doesn’t cost us a spot.

I see some thoughts on him losing weight, I’d rather he gained or at least maintained weight lol. Gimme a 235-245lb punisher. We need either Mafah or Hunter Luepke to pound the rock a few times a game and in the 4th quarter with a lead. I think this might be the new identity of the team and we have the coaching staff for it.

 

[Creeper]

What makes it so hard to evaluate college backs on how they will do as pros is the huge holes that they get in college games. A lot of the time, they are simply untouched until 10-12 yards downfield. In the NFL, ends do a better job of staying at home, DTs are generally harder to move sideways and linebackers come up and fill. You've got to be able to make defenders miss in the backfield or power through them. You've got to be able to squeeze through holes. You've got to be able to see secondary holes and have the quickness to get through them.

I don't know how Mafah (or Blue) will turn out, but the pro game has eaten up plenty of backs. Some also have found that they can adapt to it well. We'll see which we got.

100%. Everyone is faster in the NFL so a lot of college players who could use their 4.6 speed to outrun the lesser defenders, will struggle to do the same in the NFL. Mafah has to be the guy who can bulldoze his way to the 2nd level and leave the big lays for Blue.

His chances a slim though. He is a late 7th round pick for a reason. If we are counting on day 3 picks to make an impact then we are in trouble.

 

[conner01]

There's a channel called IIRC "College cutups" that had every carry of his vs Notre Dame and a couple other schools. Pretty sure that was from 2023, but I thought it was pretty good considering they have a solid defense.

That I will have to try and find. Highlights or even cut ups of bad plays don’t tell you much. I could have gained yards in most of the carries in this video lol he’s actually quicker or appears to be than I expected

 

[Chocolate Lab]

That I will have to try and find. Highlights or even cut ups of bad plays don’t tell you much. I could have gained yards in most of the carries in this video lol he’s actually quicker or appears to be than I expected

Here it is. Zipping through it, I counted 33 of his 36 carries, and I probably missed a few.

ND might not have been the 85 Bears, but Freeman is an excellent coach and they're at least very sound.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Da

Wasn’t Darius a pre season & camp warrior . I want Mafah in the end zone regular season as an inside the 5 option either running over people or catching screens

Yeah, I was being sarcastic.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Voch’s take on Mafah is booty.

 

[beware_d-ware]

He's another Bo Scarbrough. I don't think he's got the juice.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Voch’s take on Mafah is booty.

What did he say?

 

[gtb1943]

Brother @GMO415 , the same doubts and questions were made against Tony Pollard when the Cowboys drafted him in 2019. Everyone was saying that he didn't have the size or strength to ever be a 3-down RB, yet for the last 3 years, Tony Pollard has increased his rushing attempts to full-time status and rushed for 1k+ yards 3 years in a row.

Career stats

Career stats

Year Year	Team Team	ATT Rushing attempts	YDS Rushing yards	AVG Average yards per carry	TD Rushing touchdowns
2024 2024	TEN	260 260	1,079 1,079	4.2 4.2	5 5
2023 2023	DAL	252 252	1,005 1,005	4.0 4.0	6 6
2022 2022	DAL	193 193	1,007 1,007	5.2 5.2	9 9
2021 2021	DAL	130 130	719 719	5.5 5.5	2 2
2020 2020	DAL	101 101	435 435	4.3 4.3	4 4
2019 2019	DAL	86 86	455 455	5.3 5.3	2 2
Career Career		1,022 1,022	4,700 4,700	4.6 4.6	28

I believe Jaydon Blue could eventually become a 3-down RB for the Cowboys if he gains 7-10 pounds and increases his strength. He would still be able to keep his speed up. Just needs to bulk up a little and hit the weight room.

what I noticed is that when he goes over 200 carriers a season, his YPC drops by a full yard.