Washington Redskins Running Game Key for 2015

By Andrew Long | May 14, 2015

The Washington Redskins selected a total of 10 players in the 2015 NFL Draft. Of the 10 players that Washington selected, six of them reside on the offensive side of the ball. The team’s third round pick, and second offensive pick of the draft, was running back Matt Jones out of Florida.

Jones is a player that can instill a sense of power and strength to the backfield in Washington, which will be necessary as the Redskins shift towards a downhill running scheme under new general manager Scot McCloughan. In his previous stops in San Francisco and Seattle, the McCloughan built teams utilized this approach – the 49ers with Frank Gore, and the Seahawks with Marshawn Lynch.

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While it would be ignorant to assume that Jones will be as productive as Gore and Lynch, he does have the advantage of being able to study their tape. Being able to study the intricacies of their game, Jones will have a pair of good subjects to base his game off of. In addition to this, he will also be afforded the luxury of playing and learning behind a two time Pro Bowl running back in Alfred Morris.

A bulk of Morris’ success can be attributed to the zone-blocking scheme that the Redskins have employed over the last several seasons. With that being said, Morris demonstrated the ability to succeed in power-blocking situations last season. This isn’t to say that Morris will automatically succeed in a more physical rushing attack, though.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of Morris and I believe that he is as valuable as any back in the league. Having amassed 3,962 yards, 28 touchdowns, and a 4.5 yard average throughout his three-year career, I don’t have to argue his worth, as it is clearly evident that he is capable of being a workhorse running back.

But, with a new general manager and rushing attack in place, Morris will have to prove that he possesses the ability to succeed outside of the zone-blocking scheme that he has flourished in up until this point in his career. Having said that, I believe that he can make the transition. I also believe that the presence of Matt Jones in the backfield will help his case, as he will feel the need to further prove himself with new competition in town.

If Morris can retain his job as Washington’s starting running back, which I believe he can, then Jones will likely be destined for third down duties. He hasn’t had a lot of experience catching passes out of the backfield (Jones caught only 19 passes during his three-year career in Florida), but he has shown the ability to identify and block opposing blitzers. Outside of the occasional carry on first or second down, I see this being where he contributes most as a rookie.

The combination of Morris and Jones will be extremely important for the Washington Redskins in 2015. Both players have a lot to learn (Morris in the power-run game, and Jones in general), but if they play off of each other’s strengths, they, and the Redskins, will have a legitimate chance to succeed next season.

Next: Washington Redskins: McCloughan benefits RG3

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