Dallas Cowboys RB Deuce Vaughn could see work out of the slot in second season
Deuce Vaughn may get some work with the Cowboys out of the slot.
The Dallas Cowboys offense was one of the very best in the NFL last year. Much of the group has returned for the 2024 season so things figure to be similarly solid. Dak Prescott is at quarterback and CeeDee Lamb will presumably be in the fold as the top wide receiver provided he returns to the team amid contractual dissatisfaction.
Lamb has been absent throughout voluntary workouts and OTAs up to this point, but given that the summer has just begun there has not been any high level of concern. It is not quite standard operating procedure for these things to occur but they are not uncommon. Ideally all will be well by the time the team gets to Oxnard for training camp.
Between now and then though opportunities are being provided to different players at different positions thanks to things like Lamb’s absence and due to others nursing injuries. It appears that one particular kind of opportunity has presented itself for a certain second-year running back.
Deuce Vaughn has been seeing work out of the slot so far throughout OTAs
This time last year the most popular rookie on the Cowboys was unquestionably running back Deuce Vaughn. His story with his father and being drafted by the team was all so incredible and everyone held a certain excitement that things could fully translate for him on the field.
Unfortunately that was not necessarily the case throughout 2023 as Vaughn was used rather sparingly. All told his rookie year saw him carry the ball 23 times for 40 yards.
But getting Vaughn in space - where he is most dangerous - does not necessarily mean that a hand off is required. During his time at Kansas State he did an immense amount of damage in the passing game and it seems that the Cowboys want to tap into that.
“It was one of those things that we had kind of talked about at the end of the season last year. Talking with Schotty... just a little bit about getting with that slot. Getting with a Brandin Cooks. Getting with a guy that plays out there. And just learning a little bit more about it. Because it’s one of the things I did in college and love to do. Just adds another value. Getting into this OTA season it’s perfect to go out here and learn with these guys and be on the field with Dak. Understand what he’s thinking. Understand what Coop’s thinking. Understand what these guys are doing.”
This is admittedly a bit of an offseason trope, but as Bill Jones pointed out Brian Schottenheimer was with the San Diego Chargers when they utilized Darren Sproles effectively. The similarities between Vaughn and Sproles are well-documented, perhaps there truly is something there.
On the subject of comparisons of sort, Vaughn was asked who he has patented his work in the slot after to this point and he mentioned a familiar name.
“When I went upstairs and started watching... a guy that I watched was Cole Beasley. Not a big guy in prowess but I mean, understood, his IQ of the game, seeing coverages, being able to sit down in the zones, being able to understand how to beat leverage... is unreal. I watched him this offseason and that’s one of the guys that I’ve watched a whole bunch.”
Cole Beasley manned the slot for the Cowboys at a time where they didn’t really have any other options to do so. This isn’t a knock on Beasley by any means given that he was phenomenal at it to Vaughn’s point, but the point is that the Cowboys have much more versatile wide receivers on their team that can float in and outside.
Perhaps Vaughn will emerge as another option for Dallas in that sense. Having options in the passing game is never a bad thing.
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