Redskins running game has its ‘MoJo’ working
Sep 20, 2015; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins running back Matt Jones (31) carries the ball to score a touchdown against the St. Louis Rams during the first half at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Redskins running game has its ‘MoJo’ working
Last year it seemed like the Washington Redskins running game took the season off. They went from being a top five rushing attack in 2013 to number 18 last season. So coming into 2015 head coach Jay Gruden and GM Scot McCoughan were determined to get the Redskins running game back to where it belongs.
The first thing Gruden did was hire former Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Bill Callahan as the new offensive line coach. He was responsible for making the Cowboys running game so good and helping their offensive line to become one of the best in the league.
The second thing to do was to bring in more talent to fit a power running game. McCloughan used the Redskins first round draft pick to take offensive tackle Brandon Scherff. Scherff was rated as the best offensive lineman in the draft but the thinking was that he’d make a better guard than tackle.
With the development of Morgan Moses at right tackle, Callahan and Gruden made the switch to Scherff from tackle to guard. McCloughan used his third round draft pick on running back Matt Jones.
I’ll admit at the time I thought McCloughan took Jones too high but with the way Jones has performed I can see the vision that McCloughan had for him in the Redskins offense and the pick was justified. Jones had a direct impact on the Redskins beating the Rams in week two.
Combine Jones with Alfred Morris and the Redskins have a two-headed monster coming out of the back field. Some fans have been calling the Morris / Jones combination “MoJo” and so far after two games the mojo is definitely working.
In addition to the running backs, Scherff’s performance at right guard has one of the reasons why. He and Morgan Moses has played above expectations so far on the right side and the rest of the O-line in Trent Williams, Shawn Lauvao, and center Kory Lichtensteiger have elevated their games as well.
I’ve noticed improved blocking from tight end Jordan Reed and the wide receivers too. If the commitment to blocking continues the Redskins running game could be a force all season. They are currently ranked number one in the NFL is rushing offense and that’s without a quarterback running the ball frequently.
Both Morris and Jones have each had 100 yard rushing games and seem to be interchangeable in and out of the lineup. Morris has improved as a receiver out of the backfield and is being used more in the passing game, which makes the offense more versatile when he’s in there.
Jones is much better than I thought he’d be. I knew he had great size and power but his quickness and speed have been a tremendous surprise. Defenses now have no choice but to sell out to stop the run, which opens things up in the passing game for Kirk Cousins.
I look forward to seeing the combination of Morris and Jones and the offensive line enforcing their will on defenses. This is how the Redskins used to win games back in the day and it’s nice to see that mentality back again. So let’s go MoJo! HTTR!!