Jones, a third-round selection from Florida, has shown the brutal running style and raw physicality that he was known for at school. The next step on his journey, according to head coach Jay Gruden, is consistency and overall strength.
"He's been doing good," Gruden said. "He's got to work on his stamina a little bit. He was running down there on special teams and he got a little bit gassed out there, but you can see the physicality that he runs with. He had a couple great runs there - physical runs and good cuts in open field."Gruden said Jones' progression is on schedule to this point, but noted some places in his game where he can, and must, improve.
"We like where he is right now," Gruden added. "He still has got a little bit of a ways to go in recognizing blitz pickups, which is very important. Chris Thompson did an outstanding job picking up blitzes in the game. Matt has a long way to go to get to that point, but we are happy with where he is."
Alfred Morris is still inked in at the No. 1 rushing position after gaining more than 1,000 yards in each of his three NFL seasons, but the Redskins drafted Jones likely to complement him and take some 3rd-down rushes.
"We're still in the process, but right now I would say [he is] more of a relief back," he said. "Take some load off of Alfred late in the game or the second quarter here and there, spell him from time-to-time. Alfred is doing so good and has been in such good shape, it is hard to take him out of the game on first or second down."
Gruden said Jones, who carried five times for 36 yards at Cleveland last Thursday, is going to keep doing much of the same work he has been.
"I think it's going to be important for Matt to earn his reps," he added. "He's got to go out these last three preseason games and A) stay healthy and B) show the stamina that he has, the ball security that we can trust him in a game on Sunday afternoons. If he earns the reps, he will get his fair share of carries."
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