Deuce Vaughn working with Brandin Cooks, watching Cole Beasley tape as he looks to add value

Dallas Cowboys second-year running back Deuce Vaughn opened up this week about working with the wide receivers and growing his game. Though he’s not with the receivers every day or even most days, the former Kansas State star told reporters this week he’s doing whatever the team wants so that he can add value.

“It’s day-by-day, someone will come in and say, ‘You’re with the receivers today,’ and today was one of those days,” Vaughn said on Thursday. “Just for myself, every single day is trying to get 1% better. It makes sense, it’s that value aspect, doing a multitude of things.

“I’m just bettering my game and finding a way to contribute is the biggest thing for myself.”

Among Vaughn’s techniques for improving in the receiving game are working with Brandin Cooks and studying tape of former Cowboys receiver Cole Beasley. The 5-foot-6 running back sees a lot he can model from Beasley (5-foot-8) who played for Dallas for seven seasons and caught more than 300 passes.

“I talked to Schotty (Brian Schottenheimer) about getting with that slot, getting with Brandin Cooks and learning more about the spot,” he said. “It’s one of the things I did in college and one of the things I love to do, and it adds value.

“When I went upstairs and started watching guys, the guy I was watching was Cole Beasley. Not a big guy in prowess but he understood. His IQ of the game, seeing coverages, being able to sit down in zones and understanding how to beat leverage is unreal. He’s one of the guys I’ve watched a whole bunch.”

Vaughn on board with RB-by-committee approach

Facing a running back-by-committee strategy this season could be intimidating for a player like Vaughn who saw action in just seven games last season, but he’s approaching it with a team-first mentality.

“I feel like the guys we have in this room all do things great,” Vaughn said. “We have guys good in the passing game, good in the blocking game, good in the running game. I feel like we complement each other really well. Having those fresh legs throughout the year is only going to help us.”

In seven games last season, Vaughn had 23 carries for 40 yards, as well as seven catches for 40 yards. For added value, he also had four punt return attempts. Contributing to the game in any way he can has always been part of the sixth-rounder’s M.O.

“For myself, at K-State and coming in here, I felt like I was always a pass-catching back who can run in between the tackles as well,” he said. “I’m just feeding off of these guys. Guys who have been in this league a long, long time. I hope I can learn from them and their experience and their games. Whatever the coaching staff is telling us to do, we’re going to go out there and run through a brick wall.”