Cowboys rookie outside linebacker Malachi Lawrence doesn’t mind being in the shadow as the “other” first-round pick in Dallas. He said that’s a comfortable place for him, dating to college, or even during the draft process, as he rose in public opinion to eventually becoming a first-round pick.
“It really doesn’t phase me,” Lawrence said.
And while Downs has earned a lot of the hype he’s received, Lawrence has earned some recognition, too. Lawrence and Rashan Gary were the team’s first outside linebackers on the first team defensive snap of minicamp. It’s hard to truly evaluate pass rushers in minicamp because there are no pads and they want quarterbacks to be kept clean, but Lawrence’s speed was on display. That should be encouraging for Cowboys fans. The biggest question about Lawrence heading into his rookie season is whether he can harness the 4.52 40-yard dash speed and the 1.59 10-yard split he showed at the combine. He didn’t always during his time in college. It looks like he’s starting to in the NFL with the help of outside linebacker coach Chidera Uzo-Diribe and pass rush consultant B.T. Jordan.
“With the false stepping, I’ve seen great work, just hitting it every day and making it one of my key focuses so I can use my explosiveness to my advantage when getting off the ball,” Lawrence said.
Who’s the true RB2?
The Cowboys, it appears, are already preparing for the long run with running back Javonte Williams. The Cowboys didn’t use Williams in team drills in minicamp. Just like last year, he probably won’t be a workhorse in training camp practices, either. That not only allows the Cowboys to keep him fresh, but it also allows them to get a closer look at their two second-year running backs, Phil Mafah and Jaydon Blue.
Both bring different qualities. Mafah is a balanced bruiser who they believe could replicate a lot of what Williams can do, if needed. They believe Blue can be a difference maker. There’s a chance they aren’t competing against each other, per se, but rather trying to cement their own places in the backfield.
“There’s nothing that would make me and the offensive staff more ecstatic than for Jaydon to take the step we hope he takes, because of the one-two punch that he and Javonte could potentially have,” Schottenheimer said. “Jaydon’s ability to hurt you catching the ball out of the backfield, that’s a dimension that we — not didn’t have — didn’t do as much because we chose to throw the ball to CeeDee [Lamb], George [Pickens] and [Jake Ferguson] and guys like that. I do think it is different.”
The Cowboys also have a lot of trust in veteran Malik Davis.
We know Williams will get the brunt of the work this season. The others will likely get the brunt of the work before the season begins, however.