Blue has done everything asked of him this offseason, and while he's made good strides, the Cowboys know the true test is yet to come.
Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue has ticked a lot of boxes this offseason at OTAs and now as minicamp begins.
After a poor rookie season, Blue has returned to The Star, and by his own words, is more "mature" as a person.
But that is only half the battle; in truth, maturity is expected in the NFL, though it does take some players a little longer to fully grasp it.
However, Blue is doing what he needs to in the classroom and on the field, and it is changing how his teammates and coaches view him.
Of course, this isn't "proper" football yet, but Blue can only control what he can control, and stack good days of production en route to training camp in Oxnard.
And with his teammates noticing a difference in Jaydon, head coach Brian Schottenheimer does too.
"I think he's come back with a different look on his face,” Schottenheimer said. "I think he's practicing better. As he continues to grow, he's got to understand and realize that until he's the bell cow, there's going to be other roles he's going to have to fill, whether it's coming out of the backfield, catch the football, special teams."
We know that the Cowboys have a "Thunder and Lightning" plan at running back, but that is predicated on Blue being the player Dallas needs him to be.
Of course, the talent is there, the speed is there, but it all has to come together, and right now, it has been a slow burn.
But Schotty knows that Jaydon can be a weapon.
“I love the idea of a change of pace back to go with Javonte, who is just an absolute pounder, bruiser, for us," Schottenheimer said. "Jaydon's a huge part of what we're trying to do, and he's got to do his part, and I think he is doing his part, but that's got to continue."
So Blue had done all the right things so far this offseason, but as I stated above, this isn't "real" football right now, so in a sense, it can be taken with a grain of salt.
And for Schottenheimer, while he was in full praise of Blue, he dealt him, and others on the roster, a little reality check about what's coming down the pipeline this offseason.
"This is not a knock at Jaydon, but right now we're not playing real football, Schottenheimer added. "I've seen a lot of great players that are awesome in shorts and then when you put the pads on, you're like, man, what happened?
"I don't predict that for Jaydon. But my point is, I'm not going to get too high or too low on anybody. Right now, I'm just excited about the fact that he has matured.”
So, the expectations have been tempered.
Yes, Blue has hit the right notes so far, but he isn't being properly tested as he will be in Oxnard, and that will be his sink-or-swim moment.
It's one thing to block against air; it's another, as Schotty said, to pick up a DeMarvion Overshown blitz and protect your quarterback.
Jaydon is off to a good start, but the path to becoming a key piece of the offense is a long one, and in truth, it hasn't even started yet.
