It was tough sledding for Cowboys rookie Jaydon Blue in 2025, and now we know why.
When the Dallas Cowboys selected Texas Longhorns running back Jaydon Blue in the fifth-round of the NFL Draft, fans were excited to see what he could do in Brian Schottenheimer's offense.
But things didn't go too well for Blue in Year 1.
After showing glimpses in training camp, Blue was in and out of the lineup, and after Week 8 agaisnt the Denver Broncos, we didn't see Jaydon on the field until Week 18.
Citing the need for consistency, Schottenheimer kept preaching what Blue needed to accomplish to get on the field during gameday. It got to the point where he was a healthy scratch for most weeks.
But now, we have a little more insight into what really kept Blue off the field in 2025.
Our own Mike Fisher, after talks with people inside The Star, has gained some knowledge of why it took so long for Jaydon to get on the field in his rookie season.
"Jaydon Blue is not a bum," Fish said on The Fish Report. "He's not lazy. Now, I can't speak for what he did in college. I'm talking about now. I'm talking about the problems that he had this year getting where they wanted to go.
"Speed and pad level. He runs up. This coaching staff and the scouting department would go to him and say, Jaydon, you gain leverage down here. It took him all year to get him to get that."
Running with leverage. That is a big key for a running back.
Look at Javonte Williams and how he runs. Low to the ground, his bruising style pushes defenders back, not to mention his patience as a runner, which allows running lanes to open up.
So, pad level was a big issue for Jaydon.
But Fish added another key element to what was hindering Blue.
"You got all kinds of plays, let's say you're lined up and the plays to run off left tackle, he had no patience," Fish added. "He didn't know exactly what to do. So, he just ran as fast as he could from point A to point B.
"That's not how you play running back. You got to have rhythm, patience, you have to have vision. He's learning that."
So now we have more insight into why Blue barely saw the field in 2025.
In Week 18, though, at MetLife Stadium, we saw what Jaydon could become.
The lightning-quick feet, the ability to see a gap and his the accelerator, before scooting through to the second level. Things finally clicked.
Of course, success in the NFL isn't linear, and in Blue's case, he had a lot to work on in his first season.
Now, as he enters Year 2, he will be a big watch when training camp begins.
With pad level and patience, the two big-ticket items to watch.