Is Alfred Morris alright? (An untrained observation)

It may just me and please inform me if it is but it does not seem that he is running with the same authority as he had been early in the season. I see one defender taking him down more often and he doesn't seem to seek contact as much. I know he hurt his shoulder (Carolina game ?) so maybe that's what it is. The vision and cutting is still there he just hasn't seem like the bull he has been lately anyone else notice this ? ps. This is not a complaint just an observation.

I think with college playing less games, his body has to get use to a full NFL season. A lot of players tend to break down around this time. Add on to the fact that he doesn't have anyone to spell him... hell yea he is tired.

Should injury is a good observation as well. Hope we can get Helu back healthy, and draft Montee Ball in the 4th if he is still there

I've been talking about this in game chats. He may very well be playing with a bad shoulder and the way he runs, that's going to take something out of your game. And as solja said, the rookie wall may be fast approaching, especially being the type of running back he is. I was really hoping we could get someone to give him some breathers, besides Royster, who himself looks gimpy.

Im sure he's never carried the load the way he's had to this season. Rookies have a long year they play there last college season then have to prepare for the senior bowl,combine,draft etc. Then go straight into rookie OTAs. They don't get much of a break that first season, it has to take a toll. Not to mention he plays running back which takes the worst beatings on the field.

I think with college playing less games, his body has to get use to a full NFL season. A lot of players tend to break down around this time. Add on to the fact that he doesn't have anyone to spell him... hell yea he is tired.

Should injury is a good observation as well. Hope we can get Helu back healthy, and draft Montee Ball in the 4th if he is still there

This is true I thought about him hitting the rookie wall physically. It would suck if this is what is happening because Royster looks almost useless

I've been talking about this in game chats. He may very well be playing with a bad shoulder and the way he runs, that's going to take something out of your game. And as solja said, the rookie wall may be fast approaching, especially being the type of running back he is. I was really hoping we could get someone to give him some breathers, besides Royster, who himself looks gimpy.

What scares me is that our offense is predicated on the run game. If Morris becomes less effective how will that impact our ground game ?

I've noticed this as well, but I heard some analysis this week that he was running better last week than he was a couple games before the bye.

Nope. Haven't noticed it. Sounds like I'm the only one.

Nope. Haven't noticed it. Sounds like I'm the only one.

Same here so no you're not the only one.

I have him on fantasy...and while he is still racking in 70-80 yards or so, he does seem a bit less dominant. I think maybe the season may just be wearing a little on him. We do need a true change of pace back. Royster is repulsively slow out there...Whatever happened to hightower? I know he was the odd man out but he looked good enough to be a 3rd string back in preseason. I'd give him some PT over royster at this point.

Dude looked like an animal in the way he ran Sunday. He couldn't be brought down sometimes. If the holes aren't there there's not much he can do.

Looks fine to me. Sometimes you aren't going to get 100 yards in a game.

rookie wall, and he wasnt the primary ball carrier in college.

Looks like the same runner to me. Defenses, however, are now stacking the line, daring us to run the ball. Our OL can't keep up.

Looks like the same runner to me. Defenses, however, are now stacking the line, daring us to run the ball. Our OL can't keep up.

I'd agree with that, I don't think our linemen have been doing as good as they could in run blocking lately. I also think they're slow in getting out in blocking in our screening game. You would think we'd be able to utilize the screen pass way more than we do with how many times we run.

He may be sore.Shanahan is certainly loading his plate. His backup only has 13 carries.

While I thought it was foolish to have him running the ball last week late in the 4th in the blowout, I felt like Kyle spread out his carries much better. Perhaps it was a few short fields, but it was not a coincidence he was in the game so much, and RG3 posted a PPR.

He's on pace for a 1,300 yard season either way.

Damn...lol

He still ran hard Sunday. Just because he isn't getting 100 a game doesn't mean he is slowing down.

This thread just seems like an overreaction

Damn...lol

He still ran hard Sunday. Just because he isn't getting 100 a game doesn't mean he is slowing down.

This thread just seems like an overreaction

I'm not talking about his yardage. I'm talking about the way he takes/gives contact. He hasn't been as physical (to me) since the first 6 weeks or so. I have seen on numerous occasions one backer knock him down hard lately.. That wasn't happening during those first weeks. I wondered if others noticed and they have.. Not making this up

It may just me and please inform me if it is but it does not seem that he is running with the same authority as he had been early in the season. I see one defender taking him down more often and he doesn't seem to seek contact as much. I know he hurt his shoulder (Carolina game ?) so maybe that's what it is. The vision and cutting is still there he just hasn't seem like the bull he has been lately anyone else notice this ? ps. This is not a complaint just an observation.

At this level, if Morris wants to be more than a one or two year wonder he's got to learn when/how to give it his all and when/how to hold it back. Being consistently good is better than having one awesome game and sucking the next week or being injured. A long time ago a management specialist noted that you got more production by restricting load size because your workers would have higher utilization rates and were less likely to be sidelined with injury (you'd need to replace sidelined workers with new guys who you need to train and may not be as good).

I have him on fantasy...and while he is still racking in 70-80 yards or so, he does seem a bit less dominant. I think maybe the season may just be wearing a little on him. We do need a true change of pace back. Royster is repulsively slow out there...Whatever happened to hightower? I know he was the odd man out but he looked good enough to be a 3rd string back in preseason. I'd give him some PT over royster at this point.

He was still injured when we cut him and prior to picking up grant the skins checked in with Hightower and he had had a setback.

Looks fine to me. Sometimes you aren't going to get 100 yards in a game.

Thing about Almo is that his consistency. He's really only had one bad game (interestingly, we won that one). His other inferior game was more due to the fact that our receivers kept dropping the ball thus limiting his opportunities. He's also had a few great games but no monsters (130+). I think with RG3, the WRs and Helu, the original plan was to hit the big play via the air, use Helu on the ground or RG3 on the broken play and run clock with Almo.

---------- Post added November-22nd-2012 at 09:51 AM ----------

Looks like the same runner to me. Defenses, however, are now stacking the line, daring us to run the ball. Our OL can't keep up.

Which might be why the long ball more often.

draft Montee Ball in the 4th if he is still there

Ball in the 4th....Shoooooot, I'd be happier than Gallagher at a farmers market. I think teams,(and especially the 'boys with their two good corners) will stack the box against us and force Robert and our WR's to beat them.

I know our backups haven't been great, but I'm confident Shanahan can plug and go. He's done it everywhere.

He's got a little more tread on the tires. It's a long season. But I think he's still running hard and looking for contact; he's just being more judicious about it. He has to keep himself healthy since he's really the most productive guy we've got, unless Royster regains some form or Keiland gets some touches.

But I don't think he looks that different. Surprisingly once we started running out of our base offense late in the game he looked a lot more productive.

Ball in the 4th....Shoooooot, I'd be happier than Gallagher at a farmers market. I think teams,(and especially the 'boys with their two good corners) will stack the box against us and force Robert and our WR's to beat them.

If Helu looks like he'll be healthy next season I'd go with Morris and Helu with Royster as third choice. I don't see a need to get another RB in the next draft given how many other needs we have,