Subtle Running Back Shuffle

I guess my bigger point is going into training camp it was Hightower, Helu, Royster and Morris.

Now it's just Morris? I understand there were injuries, but something doesn't add up

Morris has surprised everyone, including Shanahan it seems.

Shanahan has gone with the committee approach in the past, but if he has a guy he believes can carry the load he's not afraid of feeding that guy til he drops. I think perhaps that's what we're seeing.

Has Royster been healthy? I thought that was an issue coming into the season.

Morris has surprised everyone, including Shanahan it seems.

Shanahan has gone with the committee approach in the past, but if he has a guy he believes can carry the load he's not afraid of feeding that guy til he drops. I think perhaps that's what we're seeing.

Yeah. I would go with this. Read an article where MS said Morris is a "special back". Not sure I heard him ever say that about Royster. He may have liked Royster, but not sure he ever was convinced he was a workhorse.

Helu and Hightower got injured seriously enough to take them completely out of the picture so it really came down to Morris/Royster and Morris just went into beast mode. Next year, I think Helu comes back and makes the perfect complement to him.

Shanahan walks through Reston Town Center and bumps into 3 guys every night that will give you 4 yards per carry. He devalues running backs and it's entirely likely that Alf is getting the rock 100% of the time to increase his trade value, ala Clinton Portis in Denver.

That makes no sense at all. In Morris, we have a RB who should have a 1,000+ yard rookie season, will only get better, and probably has many productive years ahead of him and you think he's being showcased for a trade? Despite Shanahan's stellar record in finding and developing RB's, players like Morris don't grow on trees. Adding to that, we don't have a proven back behind him. No, he won't be traded but Shanny will add some more RB bodies to help him next season.

Also, I strongly agree with those who think we need to add an explosive third down back. RGIII needs more weapons. With a couple more explosive players, our offense could be spectacular.

his heart is tied to penn state, once all this kid touching business blows over, he'll get his mojo back

Are you kidding, Penn State is a RB factory! Even Royster, Blair Thomas, Ki-Jana Carter...look at that pedigree.


Wait, wrong side of the ball.

Morris has surprised everyone, including Shanahan it seems.

Shanahan has gone with the committee approach in the past, but if he has a guy he believes can carry the load he's not afraid of feeding that guy til he drops. I think perhaps that's what we're seeing.

Yeah, I'm not so sure I agree with what he's doing. But we'll see how it plays out

Yeah, I'm not so sure I agree with what he's doing. But we'll see how it plays out

Why not? It seems to be effective. Are you concerned with Morris blocking? To me, Royster just seemed to regress. He and Morris seemed to be similar backs but, to me, Morris has just been better. When Royster has had his oppotunities, he just hasn't shown me much.

Are you sleeping with Royster and afraid he may be cut and you may lose your inside source??

Smoot's concern is wearing Morris down in this critical time in the season. Not having a back capable of getting Morris out of the game for a few plays to be able to keep him fresh. He is young but his body has never been through a grueling 16 game NFL season, and there has to be a worry there that he gets to many reps to the point of injury or just flat out fatigue.

I get the fatigue thing. At the same time, it's not like Royster has been cut. It's going to be more of the traditional primary RB offense. When Morris gets winded he sticks his hand up. In addition (I would hope), Shanny probably has Morris on a "pitch count" and certainly can give him a breather for a series or two.

Why not? It seems to be effective. Are you concerned with Morris blocking? To me, Royster just seemed to regress. He and Morris seemed to be similar backs but, to me, Morris has just been better. When Royster has had his oppotunities, he just hasn't shown me much.

Are you sleeping with Royster and afraid he may be cut and you may lose your inside source??

My cousin's neighbor dog walks for this lady whose 8th grade history teacher is Evan Royster's aunt's sister-in-law's life partner...without this source I got nothing!