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Deon Anderson lines up in the backfield, but he rarely gets his mitts on the ball. He was introduced with the offensive starters in seven of the first 10 games, but he might be the most low-profile regular in the Dallas lineup.

In the '60s, fullbacks were glory guys, the focal point of the offense on many teams. Pro Football Hall of Famers Jim Brown and Jim Taylor were the fullbacks on the NFL's All-Decade team of the '60s, each among the legendary ball carriers in the game's history.

Since then, however, the role of the fullback has been scaled back.

Way back.

These days, it's a pass-oriented game, with most of the ground yardage eaten up by the tailback.

In the Cowboys' scheme, the position is almost 100 percent blocking. As of Thanksgiving, Anderson had touched the ball 11 times on offense in his three seasons with Dallas-nine receptions and two rushes.

The natural inclination would be to presume that Anderson is frustrated with his limited role. In high school, he put up big numbers as a running back. In college at Connecticut, he had 162 touches during his career as a fullback.

Such presumptions would be totally wrong. Anderson's philosophy is that a successful block means he shares in every Marion Barber touchdown run, every Tashard Choice third-down conversion and every long-gainer by Felix Jones.

"Everyone who follows football, that's their take on it," says Anderson, a solid 5-10 and 246 pounds. "But my take on it is when I make a block, when I feel Marion run up my back and get a first down, score a touchdown, make a big run, when I make a block to spring somebody open, that's my incentive right there. Whatever they tell me I need to do to help the team win, that's what I'm going to do."

Anderson quickly learned that a Cowboys fullback must forget about having any ego.

"That's why it's a team," he says. "Each of us has a specific role to play and when we play those roles to the best of our ability, you are successful.

"From Day One I knew. I wasn't looking for anything glorious, big stats, anything like that. I just came here to make the team. Once I did that, I was just trying to fill a role. You can't say, 'Hey, coach, I want to do something else.' You can, but you wouldn't last long. This is what I do, whether it's Marion scoring touchdowns or somebody else getting 150 yards. I do my job and I'm satisfied."

Soon after his arrival as a sixth-round pick in 2007, Anderson discussed the fullback's parameters with one of the franchise's all-time greats at the position, Daryl Johnston.

The Moose's advice: embrace your role and contribute to a winning team.

"We've spoken numerous times," Anderson says. "I remember coming in from practice one day and he told me everything, from where to sit in the meeting room to how to lift weights in the offseason. He has a lot of wisdom."

Blocking is something Anderson has always relished.

"I've always liked it," he says. "I may not touch the ball all that often but it doesn't matter to me, as long as I get to hit somebody."

Of course, Anderson was already mentally prepared to assume a support role from his time at Connecticut.

He was recruited by Huskies coach Randy Edsall as a middle linebacker in 2001 after earning All-New England, All-Conference and team MVP honors as a senior at Old Farms Prep in Avon, Conn. Edsall was trying to build up the program, and he sought out hard-nosed players like Anderson.

Since he started playing the sport as a kid, the Providence, R.I. native always loved defense despite putting up some huge numbers as a running back early in his career for Hope High School. He enjoyed the physical dimension of middle linebacker, and planned to be a key part of the Huskies' defense.

But Edsall threw a change-up at his new recruit.

"When I got there and went to camp, I found out I was a fullback," Anderson says. "But I figured I could make the adjustment because I always liked to hit people."

Anderson doesn't play full-time on offense. He is replaced on passing downs for an extra tight end or wide receiver. Three times this season he didn't start because the Cowboys opened the game with a second tight end.

Thus, it's imperative for him to pitch in on special teams.

It didn't take long for new special teams coach Joe DeCamillis to develop an appreciation for Anderson's attitude toward the kicking game.

"Deon's got a real physical presence," DeCamillis says. "If he's got to take on the double-team or run into someone, he's going to do it over and over. He has a real toughness and getting more and more used to what I'm asking him to do.

"The way the 45-man roster is set up in the NFL, the fullback has to give you plays. If he doesn't, it's not good for you, that's for sure."

For Anderson, excelling on special teams is a point of pride.

"That's where I get in my defensive play, on special teams, on punt and kickoff coverage," Anderson says. "You're running down there and it's like you're on defense. I still have that hunter's mentality. I enjoy it, running down there, busting wedges, blocking. I like it all."

Anderson's special teams prowess at Connecticut was a primary reason the Cowboys drafted him. Anderson led the Huskies in kicking-game tackles in each of his four seasons, and he also filled slots on coverage teams in high school.

"I played offense, defense and special defense from when I was eight years old through high school, and then offense and special teams from college on," Anderson says.

Now, he's a blend of offensive lineman and tight end with a sprinkling of running back.

"I'm in between, in that gray area," he says with a smile.

The Cowboys have featured a strong ground game all season. They rushed for more than 200 yards in Weeks 2 and 3 and have stood among the top 10 running teams this year.

Anderson has helped make that success possible.

He's paid a price for his physical style. During his three seasons at Valley Ranch, he's had two surgeries on his left knee and a torn right rotator cuff that required an operation.

But you'll never catch him shying away from contact.

"He's very important because he brings that physicality to the team," Choice says. "It's a hard role to have because you have to be very unselfish and understand you have to throw your body out there on every play for somebody else to get the yards."

Keeping his profile low and understanding his role, Anderson is content to pave the way.