In hopes of giving Robert Griffin III the best offense to work with in the upcoming season, position competition is at an all-time high as training camp gets underway. Griffin is entering the season as the undisputed starter, but the same cannot be said for everyone. A week into camp, the Washington Redskins are pleased with some of the production they have been getting out of players as Jordan Reed looks to step up in the upcoming season.
Head coach Jay Gruden told the media that he sees a positive different in Reed who caught 50 passes last season, but struggled to stay injury free. As a result, the Redskins re-signed Niles Paul in free agency to give themselves positive depth to work with. Last season with Reed off the field, Paul put up 507 yards on 39 catches. However, Reed is healthy and showing progress which could keep him at the top of the depth chart.
"He's got to continue to get better as a blocker, but as far as the passing game is concerned, he's a threat, no doubt," Gruden said, via ESPN.com. "He can run the option routes, the choice routes on the inside. He can line up on the outside and create mismatch problems for safeties or linebackers. So, he's a big part of our offense when he's healthy. We just have to try to do a good job of keeping him healthy."
Reed will prove to be a versatile threat on offense for Griffin, but it is the run that he will rely most heavily upon. Griffin told the media that the offense will feature a lot of rushing this season, putting the pressure on Alfred Morris and rookie Matt Jones. Morris is entering a crucial season as he prepares to play out the final year of his contract. According to the Washington Post, Morris and the Redskins are discussing an extension, but one is not expected this season.
Jones is currently dealing with an injury to his knee at the moment, leaving Morris and Silas Redd to take care of most of the rushing work. Jones could be the biggest threat to the future of Morris if he excels this year. Gruden told the media that he likes the overall progress the running back is showing so far.
"It's a tough position to play," Gruden said, via the team website. " You think you just get the ball from the quarterback and you run through a hole and all is good, but there is a lot more to it to playing running back. So far he's picking up the nuisances of the protections and the footwork of entering the hole and obviously catching the ball out of the backfield is something a little bit new to him. I've been impressed with his progress thus far."
