The running game will look a little bit different for the Washington Redskins in 2015. They’ve added renowned offensive line coach Bill Callahan to their staff and intend to run a power running scheme, as opposed to the zone-blocking scheme they used last season and previously under Mike Shanahan.
The man who may be most affected by those changes, running back Alfred Morris, has embraced them. After the first session of organized team activities Tuesday afternoon, Morris said he feels comfortable in the team’s new scheme and excited about the changes that have been made. He believes his running style has always been well-suited to a smash-mouth scheme.
“It’s just, like, you get after each other. You know what’s coming,” Morris said. “It’s just a knockout, drag-out style of play, and I just love it. I don’t shy away from contact, not that I’m looking for it, but I don’t shy away from it. So, it’s right up my alley. I thoroughly enjoy it. I don’t know why. I just do.”
Morris, a sixth-round draft pick in 2012, has started every game in each of his three seasons in Washington, accumulating at least 1,000 rushing yards each year. He was selected to the Pro Bowl for the second time last season after rushing for 1,074 yards and eight touchdowns, though his rushing totals have gradually declined each year.
Morris said he is accustomed to Washington’s new power running scheme because it a similar system was in place at Florida Atlantic, where he rushed for 2,323 yards in his final two seasons.
“It’s not new,” Morris said. “I did all downhill in college with the Power I. Did a little inside zone, maybe a tad of outside zone, but mostly it was just downhill, so I feel like I’m better in downhill plays anyways. I’m excited for the new plays we put in, and some of the changes, slight changes, that we made, so I’m excited about it, but it’s nothing new.”
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Morris will enter his fourth season — and the final year of his rookie contract — as the starter, but he will not have to carry all of the workload. The Redskins used their third-round draft pick on Florida running back Matt Jones, a large, powerful back who could spell Morris at times this season.
• Tom Schad can be reached at tschad@washingtontimes.com.
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