Mike Shanahan is a respected member of the coaching community, and is touted as one of the greatest offensive minds the National Football League has to offer. Shanahan’s ability to find and plug running backs into his system could quite possibly be second to none.
The guy “behind the scenes” that often isn’t mentioned when discussing Mike Shanahan’s success with running backs is current Redskins’ RB coach Bobby Turner. Coach Turner was with Shanahan during his entire head coaching tenure with the Denver Broncos. Most notably, Turner played a significant role in the development of Terrell Davis.
Coach Turner is the type of person that doesn’t say much – he’s a true “old school” football coach. He’s also man of fashion – not many are capable of wearing a full sweat suit everyday to practice. Even during the peak of summer, coach Bobby Turner’s outfit remains the same.
Together, Mike Shanahan and Bobby Turner compiled a long list of running backs that had success in their staple zone blocking running scheme. Mike Anderson, Olandis Gary, Terrell Davis, and Clinton Portis are just a few of many running backs that have excelled under the tutelage of coach Bobby Turner and Mike Shanahan during their time in Denver. 
It came as no shock when Mike Shanahan hired coach Turner after being named the Washington Redskins head coach in 2010. The duo reunited, hoping that they could reach the same success they had in Denver with finding quality running backs.
“We’re looking for talent,” coach Bobby Turner said in a 2011 interview with Redskins.com. “I’m looking for the next Terrell Davis. We’re talking about a guy in the late rounds that can produce and help you win World Championships year in and year out. And the key thing is also-without getting into the physical tools that you’re looking for, is a player coachable?” Turner said. “The bottom line is that there has to be a trust level. You know, and that he believes in himself, and he believes in us.”
One year later, coach Bobby Turner and Mike Shanahan could have quite possibly found the guy they’ve been searching for. Ironically, the player they ended up drafting wasn’t an initial draft target. In fact, it was Florida Atlantic’s coach Howard Schnellenberger that personally sought out Mike Shanahan, asking him to give a guy named Alfred Morris a chance. Shanahan looked at the tape and liked what he saw, and the rest is now history.
Alfred Morris has made his presence known after being a 6th round pick in a draft that included a rare running back commodity in Trent Richardson. Through 4 weeks of football, Alfred Morris has been a complete stud. On a Redskins’ team that has a star rookie quarterback in Robert Griffin III, Morris has often been referred to as “the other star rookie.” But the guy has surpassed expectations and is on pace to statistically be Mike Shanahan’s All-Time best rookie running back ever.
Alfred Morris is tied with Griffin III as the league’s leader in rushing touchdowns through 4 games. Not to mention, he’s in the top 5 of every rushing category: Rushing attempts (#2), rushing yards (#3), 10 + yard runs (#5), and he leads all rookies in rushing attempts/yards. Not to mention, the Washington Redskins lead the league in rushing.
Morris is on pace for 328 attempts, 1,504 yards, and 16 touchdowns this season. Statistically, that would be greater numbers than Mike Shanahans’ most notable rookie running backs, including Terrell Davis, Olandis Gary, and Mike Anderson. According to Morris’ current season pace numbers, he would fall short of Clinton Portis’ 1,508 yards, but Morris would have one more touchdown and far greater attempts than Portis.
Mike Anderson and Clinton Portis won Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in their respective rookie seasons. But the largest difference is, Alfred Morris is playing behind a less talented offensive line than the one Portis and Mike Anderson played behind in Denver.
You could call them overachievers or products of a quality offensive blocking system, but it’s been a group effort in the early success of the Washington Redskins’ rushing attack. Thanks to All-22, I can show you how -
This first screenshot is from last week’s game against the Buccaneers. The Redskins are lined up in a traditional “I formation” with Josh Morgan circled in the slot-back position. This is a little wrinkle Washington has implemented this year, and to stay unpredictable they also use a slot-back sporadically on passing downs.
This is a typical zone-blocking play. Offensive line moved laterally and Josh Morgan was the initial reason this play went for 17 yards. Morgan was able to secure a key block on the Buccaneers’ hard hitting rookie safety, Mark Barron.
The other key block came from Pierre Garçon who was able to stunt Bucs’ DB Aqib Talib. Alfred Morris was then able to plant his foot and burst through the hole and gain extra yards. The play ended up being a 17 yard gain thanks to two key blocks by Washington’s receivers. But it shows Alfred Morris’ patience, burst, and vision.
This next screenshot is one of the best pure “gut it out” runs Alfred Morris has had this season. It came against the Cincinnati Bengals in the 3rd quarter:
The player circled is Alfred Morris – Washington was lined up in pistol formation giving a triple option-look with Brandon Banks in the backfield.
What’s circled could be analyzed as congestion. Most running back would be lucky to get 3 yards on this play. But most running backs aren’t named Alfred.
Alfred Morris lowered his head and just exploded through the Bengals defense for a 12 yard gain. At least 10 of those yards were made after contact.
The Washington Redskins have something special in rookie RB Alfred Morris. He possesses everything Mike Shanahan and coach Bobby Turner looks for in a running back.
