RICHMOND – After two seasons and almost 2,900 yards rushing, running back Alfred Morris knows a lot about the NFL. He enjoys sharing his knowledge with less-experienced backs, especially about pass protection.
“One of the main reasons why [some] big-name running backs in college don’t make it in the pros is because [they] can’t pass-pro and can’t read blitzes,” Morris said. “If you can’t protect the quarterback, who is the franchise, then you won’t be on the field.”
After Morris was drafted, he quickly learned how little he knew about pass protection. In college, Morris was assigned to protect only one side of the field. In the NFL, “you have to do a full-field scan. It can be very difficult.
“There’s so much going on in your head. … At first, everything’s bouncing around. You may look to one side too much, and then a cornerback blitzes off the edge, sacks your quarterback and you’re back on the bench.”
The key, Morris said, is to stay calm and survey the whole field. Of course, that’s easier said than done.
“You have to see everything,” he said. “For me being in my third year now, the game has slowed down.”
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What’s ahead:
Washington is next on the field for a 4:10 p.m. walkthrough. Here’s our camp guide, if you’re planning to attend.
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