Could this veteran become the Cowboys new return specialist?
Demoted from his starting position, will this veteran player become the Dallas Cowboys newest return specialist?
The Dallas Cowboys made waves this offseason, surprisingly addressing a position many thought had been filled relatively well with a longtime veteran. That position being running back.
On the heels of his first 1,000+ yard rushing season since 2010, and reaching that mark for only the second time in his eight-year career, veteran running back Darren McFadden emerged last year as the Cowboys full-time starter.
But this offseason the Cowboys decided that securing the running back position was priority. That’s despite the fact McFadden was the fourth best rusher in the league, posting 1,089 yards while only starting in 10 games for Dallas in 2015.
The Cowboys signed two-time Pro Bowl running back Alfred Morris this offseason as a free agent. In his four seasons with the Washington Redskins, Morris rushed for over the thousand yard mark three times. Last year, he posted career lows in yardage (751), carries (202) and yards per carry (3.7).
In April, the Cowboys used the fourth overall selection in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft to pick Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott. His addition to the team essentially makes Elliott the projected starter in Dallas for the foreseeable future.
With both Elliott and Morris now bolstering the backfield, and the recent elbow injury McFadden suffered while apparently trying to save his cell phone, the future for the 28-year old with the Cowboys is in question.
The main question being what role will an aging McFadden play in 2016 as he has one season remaining on the two-year, $3 million contract he signed last March. Along with being a rotational runner on Dallas’ depth chart, one Cowboys insider believes Run DMC can also have an impact on special teams.
"“Let’s not forget about Darren McFadden as a return specialist,” wrote Nick Eatman on the team’s official site Friday. “If there are some on the staff that want to make sure he sticks around on the roster, putting him back on kick returns is a way to separate himself from Morris when it comes to value. Now that Ezekiel Elliott is the starting running back, there will be a need to find roles for McFadden and/or Morris.”"
Last season, undrafted rookie wide receiver Lucky Whitehead led the team in special team returns. Williams posted 16 kick returns for 452 yards, an average 28.3 yards per. If he’d have qualified, that would have been the fifth best average in the league last season. Whitehead also led the Cowboys in punt returns, fielding 19 for 110 yards.
McFadden may be able to step in as a returner due to the expected absence of veteran scat back Lance Dunbar. The fifth-year runner fielded six kick returns last season for 146 yards until he tore the ACL, MCL and patellar tendon in his knee in Week Four. A candidate to start the regular season on the reserve/PUP list, McFadden may be asked to fill the void left by Dunbar on special teams.
Next: Why Tony Romo will be a legit MVP candidate in 2016
In the last two seasons, the speedy McFadden has had a total of four kick returns for a combined 82 yards. If the veteran can prove his worth on special teams, the former starter will add value to the team as something more than just a rotational runner behind Elliott and Morris in Dallas.