With 14 games of at least 75 yards on the ground and seven 100-yard outings, he was one of the most consistent fantasy commodities, too.ĭespite his nose for the end zone (he scored on 41 percent of his carries inside the 10, 2nd ) and impressive durability (he barely sniffed the injury report despite 335 carries), Morris might not be as safe a pick as he appears. The threat of Robert Griffin's accurate arm and blazing speed prevented defenses from keying on Morris, opening running lanes and allowing the bullish back to rack up the second-most rushing yards and touchdowns in the league. Backup and third-down man Roy Helu was generally more responsible for catching the ball out of the backfield last year, and that projects to continue this season.Ī sixth-round pick, Morris proved to be the steal of the 2012 NFL Draft, as he was an ideal fit for Washington's read-option attack.Īt 5-9, 219, Morris isn't fast, but he provides a powerful downhill style that has just enough wiggle and burst to get him through arm tacklers and into the second and third levels. That said, Morris is not a truly dynamic back – he doesn't break tackles at a terribly high rate and he's a near-total non-factor in the passing game, having totaled 20 receptions in two seasons. While some pundits may be inclined to downgrade Morris on that news, combined with his fullback-like 4.63 40 time, the 5-10, 218-pound bowling ball of a back is a tremendous downhill runner, a guy who can just put his shoulder down and plow for solid yardage on just about every play. While new coach Jay Gruden seems less inclined than Mike Shanahan to use the read option that's been a major factor in Morris's success, it could be a blessing in disguise for him. Blame for this statistical decline can largely be laid on a reduced carry total – particularly in the red zone – and Robert Griffin III's injury issues. While Morris turned in an impressive 2013, finishing fourth in the NFL in rush yardage, his sophomore campaign fell well short of the 100-yards-per-game benchmark he set for himself as a rookie. Washington drafted Matt Jones, a bruising back with more size, in the third round to be his understudy, but while Jones may keep Morris' workload manageable and help wear down opposition defenses faster, the starting job is still firmly in Morris' grasp. While his carries and YPC have trended downward over his career, that's as much a product of inconsistent play from his offensive line and an inability by the Washington offense to remain on the field as it is any decline in Morris' abilities. While not a burner, Morris has the vision and burst to exploit a hole and make his mark in the red zone, plus his strong pass protection skills have become augmented with improved hands, reducing the need for a third-down back to complement him. Since being a sixth-round pick in 2012, he's never missed a game or a chance to his lower his pads and grind out another couple yards. If Freeman doesn't make much progress this week, Morris may again be called upon Sunday at Washington.Entering his fourth NFL season, Morris remains an island of stability in the sea of chaos that is the Washington offense. Predictably, Wayne Gallman led the way with 32 of 74 offensive snaps en route to 13 touches for 62 yards and one TD, but Morris (21 snaps and 8-28-0) was close behind him while Dion Lewis served as the pass-catching option, hauling in two of three targets for eight yards and a score. With Devonta Freeman sidelined due to an ankle injury, the Giants elevated Morris to reinforce the backfield for Monday's game against the Buccaneers. Morris reverted back to the Giants' practice squad Tuesday, Dan Salomone of the team's official site reports.
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