Cowboys coach confirms suspicion about offseason battle involving rookie
The Dallas Cowboys couldn't have been more excited last year when they signed wide receiver KaVontae Turpin to be their returner specialist. At the time, even then offensive coordinator Kellen Moore showed his enthusiasm surrounding the signing as he discussed how the team could get him involved on the offense. Having finished the season as […]
The Dallas Cowboys couldn't have been more excited last year when they signed wide receiver KaVontae Turpin to be their returner specialist.
At the time, even then offensive coordinator Kellen Moore showed his enthusiasm surrounding the signing as he discussed how the team could get him involved on the offense.
Having finished the season as a Pro Bowler and as one of the best players in the league in yards per return in both kickoff and punt duties, it's safe to say Turpin delivered.
But Cowboys special teams coordinator John Fassel indirectly confirmed that Turpin is facing some serious competition this offseason.
When asked about Cowboys rookie RB Deuce Vaughn, Fassel confirmed he intends to see what he can do on punt returns, something he didn't do much of at Kansas State.
"I really project him as far as a role in getting some punt return work in, some kickoff return work," Fassel told reporters during the weekend's rookie minicamp.
It's an important statement for a simple reason: In his last two seasons in college, Vaughn had zero return attempts. Despite his electrifying play-making ability and explosiveness, it's just difficult to know if Vaughn has a shot at earning a massive role on special teams because there's no tape on that.
Even still, Fassel's quote confirms he's expecting the rookie to fight for the job.
"A lot of times guys do it a ton in college and they come into the pros and they might be good at it, they might not," added Fassel, hinting at the fact that it doesn't matter to him if Vaughn has done it or not. It's about trying him out.
If the sixth-round rookie delivers on special teams, it will spell trouble for Turpin. Vaughn, even without Turpin's speed, would fit right into what KaVontae does. Even on offense, Vaughn could take on the jet sweep-type plays where we often saw Turpin.
In other words, it would be redundant to keep Turpin on the roster unless he can provide tangible value on offense as a "traditional" wide receiver, something we haven't seen yet.
To Turpin's advantage, of course, is the fact that he's already done it. The Cowboys know he's got value as a returner and Vaughn will have to convince them first if Turpin is to lose his job.
But make no mistake about it, Pro Bowl honors or not, Turpin's seat got hot when the Cowboys picked Vaughn.
