Riggo's Rag
FanSided

Washington Redskins: Why Matt Jones was far more than a failed draft choice

By Desmond Lee

LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 16: Running back Matt Jones #31 of the Washington Redskins scores a second quarter touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles at FedExField on October 16, 2016 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 16: Running back Matt Jones #31 of the Washington Redskins scores a second quarter touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles at FedExField on October 16, 2016 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 7
Next
LANDOVER, MD – SEPTEMBER 20: General Manager Scot McCloughan of the Washington Redskins talks on the phone prior to the start of a game against the St. Louis Rams at FedExField on September 20, 2015 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Matt Hazlett/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – SEPTEMBER 20: General Manager Scot McCloughan of the Washington Redskins talks on the phone prior to the start of a game against the St. Louis Rams at FedExField on September 20, 2015 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Matt Hazlett/Getty Images) /

The Redskins failure to plan became a plan to fail

The Redskins entered training camp in 2016 after parting ways with Morris and anointing Jones as their starting running back. This left the team with no contingency plan other than Rob Kelley, an undrafted rookie from Tulane, when the team benched Jones after the Lions game.

The unheralded Kelley adequately acquitted himself and proved to be more effective than Jones. But this hardly meant that Kelley was a bona fide starter in the league.  While he burst through holes and adeptly avoided tackles for losses in the backfield, Kelley was best suited in a supporting – instead of a starting – role.

And, despite the pleasant surprise that Kelley was, that the Redskins had to replace Jones with an undrafted rookie free agent at all was a stark testament that spoke to the negatively consequential player Jones had become.

More from Riggo's Rag

Jones’ demotion also touched off criticism as to why Morris wasn’t re-signed. Morris, who wanted to stay with the team, signed a modest contract with the Dallas Cowboys, which carried a workable $1.8 million cap number in 2016. Keeping Morris would have served several purposes, not the least of which would’ve been to provide a veteran replacement in case Jones faltered, which he did.

The Redskins, however, were content in planning their running game exclusively around Jones. When that failed, the Redskins’ offense became a one-dimensional unit that couldn’t keep opposing defenses honest and keep their own porous defense off the field. This led to their demise late in the season, and has continue to be an issue for the team in the early going of the 2017 season.

Home/Commanders News