At the owners meetings, coach Jay Gruden said Alfred Morris could develop into a 20- to 25-catch running back. Clearly the Redskins would want someone else to handle the third-down role, whether it's Roy Helu this season or Lache Seastrunk in the future.
But with the weapons Washington has at receiver, Morris could be a forgotten man by defenses on early downs. Therefore, it would be wise for him to improve in this area. It’s not just about his hands, though. He said he needs to do a better job running routes against man coverage.
“My focus is building confidence in the quarterbacks as well as the coaches to let them know I can catch,” he said. “I know I can catch the ball.”
Gruden said, "Obviously we want to have him be an all-around back. His hands aren't the most natural, but it's something you can work on."
There was a similar report last year around this time where Morris talked about improving as a receiver, and he increased his catch total to 11 from his previous total of nine, so take this talk with a grain of salt. Roy Helu will likely lead the Redskins' running backs in receptions. One thing working in The Butler's favor is there is a new coaching staff in town, and change usually follows. Gruden may very well follow through with his plan to make Morris a 20-catch running back.
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