A closer look at what Jaydon Blue is and isn't

[eromeopolk]

The Cowboys 5th round draft pick RB Jaydon Blue is an intriguing player with lots of speed and elusiveness. That is certainly a skill missing from this team’s RBs since maybe Zeke’s rookie year. In 2016.

While Blue has blazing 4.25 speed and adds a welcome big play threat to this offense, he’s not particularly big nor has ever been “the guy” in terms of carries and touches while playing 3 seasons at the University of Texas.

Let’s look at what Jaydon Blue’s stats were as a RB as a Texas Longhorn over his 3 seasons there:

• 2022 season (Freshman season- played in 9 games)
  
  • Rushing: 15 carries for 33 yards, 2.2 yds per carry, 0 TDs
  • Receiving: 0 receptions
  • Total touches/yards- 15/33 yards, 0TDs
  • Avg 1.6 touches per game
• 2023 season (Soph season, played in 14 games)
  • Rushing: 65 carries for 398 yards, 6.1 yds pc., 3 TDs
  • Receiving: 14 receptions for 135 yds, 9.6 yds pc., 4 TDs
  • Total touches/yards: 79/533, 6.7 yds per play, 7 TDs
  • Avg. 5.6 touches per game, avg 38 yards per game.
• 2024 season (Junior and final season at UT, played in 15 games)
  • Rushing: 134 carries for 730 yards, 5.4 yds pc, 8 TDs
  • Receiving: 42 receptions for 368 yds, 8.8 yds pc, 6 TDs
  • Total touches/yards: 176/1,098 yards, 6.2 yds per play, 14 TDs
  • Avg. 11.7 touches per game, avg 73.2 yards per game
• TOTALS OVER 3 SEASONS:
  • Rushing: 214 carries for 1,161 yards, 5.4 ypc, 11 TDs
  • Receiving: 56 receptions for 503 yds, 9.0 per reception, 10 TDs
  • Total touches/yards: 270 touches, 1,664 yds, 6.2 avg per play.
  • Total touches avg for 3 yrs: 38 games, 7.1 touches per game, 44 yds per game.

So over his three seasons at Texas, Blue averaged 7.1 touches per game for 44 yds per game. A better, more accurate look at what he can be is better captured in his numbers last year where he averaged about 12 touches a game for 73 yards per game.

CONCLUSIONS

• Jaydon Blue is fast, versatile and averaged about 6 yards per play in college. That’s very good, but not a particularly big workload.
• Blue is clearly not an every down back and will probably be a 8-12 touches a game at most as a rookie.
• If Jaydon Blue receives the largest share of carries for the Cowboys, it will be the FIRST time since he was a high school RB. He never led the longhorns in rushing yards or carries.
• I think Blue will make some big plays but I don’t expect to see him be more than part of a committee. Still glad he’s a Cowboy.

Do you remember Lance Dunbar? That is going to be the impact of Blue and hope he does not get the blues that finally got Dunbar who knee injury ended the impact he was having on the Cowboys.

 

[speedkilz88]

Do you remember Lance Dunbar? That is going to be the impact of Blue and hope he does not get the blues that finally got Dunbar who knee injury ended the impact he was having on the Cowboys.

Don't quit your day job.

 

[Bobhaze]

Do you remember Lance Dunbar? That is going to be the impact of Blue and hope he does not get the blues that finally got Dunbar who knee injury ended the impact he was having on the Cowboys.

I do remember Dunbar. There are certainly some interesting similarities. Dunbar had great speed but also undersized. I do think Blue will be more than just an occasional gadget weapon like Dunbar was.

Couple other big differences - LD was an undrafted FA who made the team in 2012. And he is about an inch shorter and 10 lbs lighter than Blue, who was a 5th round pick.

 

[Old'Boyfan]

You've got him pegged for 3?

Sure.

 

[Pass2Run]

Here's a bit about Blue to consider. He played 7 man in high school, so his first year was an adjustment period.

Started to show more in his rookie year.

I think it was part of the coaches strategy to keep him fresh and limit his mileage. They eased him in.

By the end of his senior year, he was torching Ohio.

But I think this explains some of his fumbling problem. He has talent for sure. But I think we'll see the full scope of what he can do in year 2. Because like his freshman year, there may be a slight learning curve his first year.

I still think he produces some this year though.

 

[Pass2Run]

We will have much better RBs this season.

True, we do not seem to have a Pro Bowl level RB but they will be far more productive in meaningful circumstances such as scoring.

The Cowboys ranked dead last in running TD's last season. Nowhere to go but up.

And that's why Rico was shipped out. The Rico fanboys fail to realize this.

 

[eromeopolk]

Don't quit your day job.

I own.

 

[eromeopolk]

I do remember Dunbar. There are certainly some interesting similarities. Dunbar had great speed but also undersized. I do think Blue will be more than just an occasional gadget weapon like Dunbar was.

Couple other big differences - LD was an undrafted FA who made the team in 2012. And he is about an inch shorter and 10 lbs lighter than Blue, who was a 5th round pick.

Dunbar out of college was an inch shorter but he was 10 pounds heavier than Blue, also had 5200 more all purpose yards, and 31 more TDs. Dunbar problem was N. Texas went 5-19 his last 2 years at NTU. He was the NTU offense.

Just before Dunbar injured his knee with the Cowboys in that game, I told .... "they are running him to much, he is going to get hurt". Then, bam! That is why I told everyone Deuce Vaughn (less size, less agility, and less speed) would not do anything in the NFL.

If they over use Blue like they did Dunbar (Murray was hurt), the same thing will happen.

This is why Tony Dorsett 5-10-190 amazes me and Landry had to preserve his career with less than or right at 20 touches per game his first 4 years.