Matt Jones injures shoulder- NOW what?!*

[cowboykillerzRGiii]

.... I wonder how long Jones will be out- he was doing pretty well before he went down.

Do we look to the wire and add a vet? Bring Pierre back?

According to this: http://walterfootball.com/freeagents2016RB.php

Toby Gerhart or Chris Polk might be our only other options atm...

Figured this deserved it's own thread/ discussion..
Karlos Williams was also released from the Bills and IMHO might be our best option ATM.

What say you?

[riggofan]

I'm not opposed to Karlos Williams if SM likes him, but he's suspended for the first four games. So you can't really call him our best option ATM. He's not any help at all.

It sounds like the team is still expecting Jones to be ready for week 1 either way.

[cowboykillerzRGiii]

Oh damn, I guess I missed the whole suspension tidbit... you're definitely right in that case, his lack of availability to start the season DEFINITELY drops his stock significantly.

I have kinda thought we'd look to bring Pierre back anyhow, he had a couple of big plays down the stretch there... coupled with the value of having a seasoned vet among the rbs, his catching ability will definitely keep him on SMs radar for how Gruden runs his offence

[DarthMonk]

Oh damn, I guess I missed the whole suspension tidbit... you're definitely right in that case, his lack of availability to start the season DEFINITELY drops his stock significantly.

I have kinda thought we'd look to bring Pierre back anyhow, he had a couple of big plays down the stretch there... coupled with the value of having a seasoned vet among the rbs, his catching ability will definitely keep him on SMs radar for how Gruden runs his offence

I also heard the Bills dude was like massively overweight. I think they were talking about him. I think we are waiting on Thomas for some financial reason. I think he's likely to sign late ... unless someone else snatches him.

[elprez19]

This guy seems to be unreliable and hopefully we have someone in mind to fill his position. This guy is either hurt or fumbling away the game. I'm not sure what his deal is but he is turning out to be a bust. We kind of put all of our eggs in on him and not sure it's going to pay off. Alfred sure is looking good to me right about now

[Countertrey]

This guy seems to be unreliable and hopefully we have someone in mind to fill his position. This guy is either hurt or fumbling away the game. I'm not sure what his deal is but he is turning out to be a bust. We kind of put all of our eggs in on him and not sure it's going to pay off. Alfred sure is looking good to me right about now

That "fumble" was on McCoy... just sayin.

[DarthMonk]

Joique Bell
Richie Brockel
James Casey
Tyler Clutts
Derrick Coleman
Anthony Dixon
Toby Gerhart
Alonzo Harris
Roy Helu
Fred Jackson
LaMichael James
Jorvorskie Lane
Bernard Pierce
Chris Polk
Joseph Randle
Josh Robinson
Zac Stacy
Pierre Thomas
Zurlon Tipton
Tyler Varga
Karlos (Hotplate) Williams
Cierre Wood

[cowboykillerzRGiii]

Didn't see helu on the list.. meh

[KILO]

Joique Bell
Richie Brockel
James Casey
Tyler Clutts
Derrick Coleman
Anthony Dixon
Toby Gerhart
Alonzo Harris
Roy Helu
Fred Jackson
LaMichael James
Jorvorskie Lane
Bernard Pierce
Chris Polk
Joseph Randle
Josh Robinson
Zac Stacy
Pierre Thomas
Zurlon Tipton
Tyler Varga
Karlos (Hotplate) Williams
Cierre Wood

There are several who just aren't worth the trouble. Stacy, Williams, Randle all have red flags. Might as well be Ray Rice. Time for Marshall to step up.

[StorminMormon86]

Bring back Pierre Thomas, and cross your fingers that he or Thompson could carry the load.

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

Now nothing. Jay Gruden already said Jones is expected back by week one. In the interim they roll with Thompson, Marshall, and Kelley which gives Marshall and Kelley more opportunity to earn a roster spot.

If Jones prognosis changes before the season opener they might consider scouring the waiver wire but I doubt it. The first option would be to keep both Marshall and Kelley.

[riggofan]

Now nothing. Jay Gruden already said Jones is expected back by week one. In the interim they roll with Thompson, Marshall, and Kelley which gives Marshall and Kelley more opportunity to earn a roster spot.

I'm with this. Just looking at that list of "guys" we could pick up, its not like there are any superstars on there who are going to immediately improve our situation. I'd prefer to see the team bite the bullet, coach these guys up and develop our own players.

I do know its not always that simple. If these young RBs are liabilities in pass protection, risk getting our QB killed or whatever, then do what you gotta do I guess.

Right now my preference is to roll with Jones and Thompson - probably with Kelley as the backup.

[DEHog]

I think you wait and see how the injury goes, “IF” it lingers than I would look for a FA vet on the waivers wire after the final cuts.

[SkinsJock]

Didn't see Helu on the list

he was hiding between Harris and Jackson

if the situation is that bad we may want a look at Ray Rice

the RB situation is not that big a deal to me - it's not like we're just 1 good RB away from an effective offense

[Deadskins]

Now nothing. Jay Gruden already said Jones is expected back by week one. In the interim they roll with Thompson, Marshall, and Kelley which gives Marshall and Kelley more opportunity to earn a roster spot.

If Jones prognosis changes before the season opener they might consider scouring the waiver wire but I doubt it. The first option would be to keep both Marshall and Kelley.

+1

[SkinsJock]

I predict there'll be hell to pay if we don't get this huge issue fixed ... and soon

[elprez19]

Breaking News ** " Matt Jones was just holding a ball, high and tight w left arm and fumbled the football while riding stationary bike with moving handles.

[riggofan]

I predict there'll be hell to pay if we don't get this huge issue fixed ... and soon

I don't know. Maybe the "fix" is just that we're a team that leans more heavily on the passing game. That's obviously where our best players are. As long as they're scoring points, picking up yards and moving the ball, I don't personally care whether its a Matt Jones 7 yard run or a 5 yard toss to Reid.

Just my opinion, but it feels like the local media is making this more of an issue than it really is. Probably because there just isn't that much drama around the team this year. Not much going on to get people calling in and yapping.

My only real concern with the running game is that I want to see fewer 1 yard gains, first down runs stuffed for a loss than we saw last year. I don't think that should be a huge or insurmountable goal for this team. Better blocking up front and RBs doing what they're supposed to be doing.

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

the local media is making this more of an issue than it really is.

This.

[SkinsJock]

I really don't think that the Redskins coaches (or players) believe that this 'issue' at the RB position is going to affect the offense, at all

this franchise is winning 8 or maybe 9 games this season no matter who plays RB

it takes more than a couple of years to put together a good offensive line with decent depth and considering where we were at the beginning of last season, this franchise has improved a lot

[mastdark81]

I really don't think that the Redskins coaches (or players) believe that this 'issue' at the RB position is going to affect the offense, at all

this franchise is winning 8 or maybe 9 games this season no matter who plays RB

it takes more than a couple of years to put together a good offensive line with decent depth and considering where we were at the beginning of last season, this franchise has improved a lot

My whole thing is this then. If they believe that then they better structure an offense around more 3 and 4 starting WR sets and spread this thing out. We ran the ball often on 1st down to no avail last year. If you don't believe in it just sprinkle the run in every once in awhile and then you get to truly evaluate your qb talent at the same time.

Last year our offense sputtered until they stopped forcing the run on teams.

[riggofan]

My whole thing is this then. If they believe that then they better structure an offense around more 3 and 4 starting WR sets and spread this thing out. We ran the ball often on 1st down to no avail last year. If you don't believe in it just sprinkle the run in every once in awhile and then you get to truly evaluate your qb talent at the same time.

Last year our offense sputtered until they stopped forcing the run on teams.

Totally agree, and honestly I think the team and coaches understand this. I'm telling you its the stupid media who will start complaining if the team "isn't balanced". Especially in a loss.

Its old and completely outdated thinking. We would all love to see the team pound the ball on the ground and pick up huge chunks of yardage each time. But if it ain't happening, use the weapons you have and do what works.

[welch]

I can't name "the" player to replace Jones, but NFL RB is a position that has a shorter professional "life-span" even than MLB starting pitcher. With RB, it's knee and shoulder injuries. With SP, it's arm and shoulder injuries.

NFL teams probably keep a stack of young runners as replacement parts.

[SkinsJock]

... use the weapons you have and do what works.

I am sure that these coaches and players will do whatever works best with what they've got here - they understand that it takes time for things to come together and to build the depth you need with this FO running things and they are not trying to fix anything

this franchise has come a long way since 2014 - it will take more than a couple of drafts

[DarthMonk]

I really don't think that the Redskins coaches (or players) believe that this 'issue' at the RB position is going to affect the offense, at all

this franchise is winning 8 or maybe 9 games this season no matter who plays RB

it takes more than a couple of years to put together a good offensive line with decent depth and considering where we were at the beginning of last season, this franchise has improved a lot

My whole thing is this then. If they believe that then they better structure an offense around more 3 and 4 starting WR sets and spread this thing out. We ran the ball often on 1st down to no avail last year. If you don't believe in it just sprinkle the run in every once in awhile and then you get to truly evaluate your qb talent at the same time.

Last year our offense sputtered until they stopped forcing the run on teams.

Last year only 1 team ran the ball on more than half their plays - Buffalo.

We were 14th at 38.65%.

Even though we did not gain a lot of running yards, sticking with it forced people to come up and stop it which allowed our play action to work.

We don't have to run the ball real well but we have to run the ball enough times to keep people honest.