Dec 16, 2012; Cleveland, OH, USA; Washington Redskins running back Alfred Morris (46) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns during the fourth quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports

Next to quarterback Robert Griffin III, the biggest reason for the Redskins’ success last season was their sixth-round draft pick, Alfred Morris. Morris turned heads during the season, going from a training camp body to a Rookie of the Year candidate. Morris hails from Pensacola, Florida and attended Florida Atlantic. He was considered an afterthought after being drafted with the 173rd pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, but continually moved up the depth chart. Morris replaced Tim Hightower, who lead the Redskins in the 2011 season before injuring his knee in a regular season game against the Panthers.

Morris ran for 195 yards in the 39 carries that he was given during the preseason. His name didn’t start picking up steam until he burst on to the scene in the third week of the preseason with a 107-yard performance on only 14 carries against Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts. Morris also sat out the last game of the preseason against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

In the Regular Season opener against the New Orleans Saints, Redskins fans got to see more than one rookie’s spectacular performance.  Robert Griffin III was dazzling in the regular season opener, with 362 all-purpose yards, and two passing touchdowns. Lost in Griffin III’s debut was that of Alfred Morris, who ran for 96 yards and two rushing touchdowns.  Throughout the season, Alfred Morris was a consistent force in the Redskins backfield, even outperforming Browns RB Trent Richardson, who was drafted 170 picks ahead of him. The efforts of Morris and Griffin III resulted in a revitalized Redskins rush attack that finished the season atop the NFL.

Fortunately for the Redskins, Morris saved his best performance  for the most important game the Redskins had played in almost 6 years. “In an NFC East Championship Game”, at Fed Ex Field against the despised Dallas Cowboys, Morris had three rushing touchdowns and  ran for 200 yards, which brought his regular season total to 1,613, eclipsing a previous rushing record held by former Redskins RB Clinton Portis. Morris’ tremendous season validated his nomination for the 2012 Offensive Rookie of the Year award, which was ultimately won by Griffin III.

Ever since Portis played his last game with the Redskins, the team had searched high and low for a running back that provide a spark to on the offensive side of the ball. Although the Redskins drafted two running backs this past April, Morris should remain confident in his that he can once again lead the Redskins in rushing. One of the positives about Mike Shanahan’s offensive mindset is his ability to find running backs in the later rounds of the draft. The Redskins offense can go far if Morris turns out to play the same role that Terrell Davis, who was also drafted by Shanahan, played.

Dec 16, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) talks with teammates after a three and out against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

This may be an unpopular opinion among Redskins fans, but I like Tony Romo. I think he seems like a perfectly nice gentleman. As a quarterback, he is better than his reputation suggests. Last season, he threw for nearly 5,000 yards and 28 touchdowns on an injury-plagued team with a weak offensive line. That’s a pretty good season. Sure, I would rather have Aaron Rodgers or RG3 running my offense, but you could do a lot worse in the NFL. Still, I’m not ready to induct Romo into Canton. So when Cowboys owner Jerry Jones calls into a Sirius XM radio show and describes his vision of the Cowboys offense as one in which Romo assumes a Roger Staubach-like role, it is tough not to laugh.

Speaking with NFL.com writer Gil Brandt, Jones defended his quarterback:

“He’s played a lot of games now. He certainly had a lot of time on the job before he ever started and played. He has a unique grasp of our offensive concepts. The people who are around him the most – his coaches – tell me he’s never had a bad idea.” (emphasis mine)

A few comments on this while I repress Jessica Simpson jokes. First, there is a period in which college quarterbacks need tutelage before really understanding how NFL schemes work. For elite players like Andrew Luck or RG3, this time frame is a matter of months. Aaron Rodgers held a clipboard for three years before getting his chance with the Packers. Tony Romo has been in the league for ten seasons. He’s 33. We are beyond the point where experience is a benefit; the real question is how many more seasons his body will allow him to play.

Secondly, the most poignant criticism of Romo is that he too often has “bad ideas” in the pocket. He forces throws into coverage trying to “make a play.” Last season, he threw nineteen interceptions, tied for the most in the league. If you are a warm-blooded Redskins fan and can read that quote without a chuckle, you are a better person than I.

Finally, I would have less of a problem with the “never had a bad idea” quote if it came from the coaching staff. You know, one of the people who are around him so much. Jones just can’t help himself when it comes to making personnel decisions. Ask any Cowboys fan if they would like to hear more decisions articulated by Jerry Jones or less. You will understand what I mean.

Jones continues:

“If you think about where he’s at right now, he’s 10 years older than most of the players we have on the field. We think his skill level right now is very much where we hoped it would be and will be for several years to come. But what we want to use more than we ever have is the kind of thing that Staubach contributed – input into designing a plan that helps us beat that opponent.”

Again, having a player that is “ten years older than most of the players” on the field is a great advantage when playing little league baseball. It’s less of an asset in professional football. It’s also a completely false assertion when you look at the Cowboys depth chart.

Romo better be at the skill level you think he is, Jerry. You think he is worth $108 million over the next six years. That is a lot to pay a quarterback entering, or perhaps already in, his decline phase. I don’t have a problem with the field general of the team involved in game plans or play-calling. Just don’t compare Romo to Staubach. You are opening yourself up to ridicule.

“You’ve got to do more than look at a couple of quick plays on Tuesday or Monday. You’ve got to get in and study, spend time and look at 100 plays to really have that input. We think he can bring that to the table. That will be a big change. He certainly has had input but not the kind of input he’s going to have going forward.”

That’s a big change? Does that mean Romo has just been skimming the playbook on Mondays in the past? No wonder he has only one career playoff victory.

“When you talk about a guy who’s been behind the center, they’ve seen it. They know what it looks like when it’s coming at them. They know how loud it is out there. Plus, we all know that when it’s your idea and you’ve got to execute it just seems to work better. We all do better when we’ve got some of our own proprietary input in it.”

Historical note: It was Jerry Jones’ idea to draft Felix Jones. How’s that for propriety?

Jerry talks about running the Cowboys’ offense like parents discuss the possibility of getting their children a puppy. If they show they are responsible for the next couple years, we can get one. It will mean more to them because they will know they earned it.

Jason Garrett has the worst coaching job in the league. He was promoted to head coach because he was a “play-calling genius.” After narrowly missing the playoffs last season, his responsibilities have quickly evaporated. Bill Callahan was hired as the offensive coordinator, a move that signals Jones’ displeasure with the direction of the team. Now the owner is asking that the quarterback have more influence over the game plan. For once, it is nice not to be the most dysfunctional team in the division.