Cowboys Extra: Spotlight on Redskins running back Alfred Morris

Height: 5-10Weight: 224

Season: 3rdCollege: Florida Atlantic

Strengths: Morris has been a 1,000-yard rusher since high school. He ran for 1,049 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior at Pensacola (Fla.) Pine Forest. As a senior at Florida Atlantic, he gained 1,186 yards and scored nine touchdowns. He has three 1,000-yard seasons in his three NFL seasons. Morris is a natural runner with great vision. A determined runner, he is hard to bring down. Morris’ biggest asset might be his stamina. He gets stronger in games and stronger late in the season. He had 77 carries for 380 yards, a 4.9 average, and three touchdowns in November. He is also a good blocker.

Weaknesses: Morris lasted until the sixth round because of his 40-yard dash time. He ran a 4.65 at the combine. His longest career run is 45 yards, so he is not a game-breaker. Morris is not a threat in the passing game. He has only 15 receptions for 136 yards this season, and that is a career-best. He does not always secure the football. He has 11 career fumbles, with seven lost, although he has just two fumbles with none lost this season.

Last week: He had 21 carries for 83 yards and a touchdown in the Redskins’ 27-24 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday.

Who has to stop him? The Cowboys rank ninth against the run after holding the Indianapolis Colts to 1 rushing yard on 10 carries last week. Morris has played five games against the Cowboys, gaining 555 yards on 115 carries, a 4.8-yard average, with seven touchdowns.

Notable: Morris has 864 career carries for 3,919 yards and 28 touchdowns. … He is chasing No. 14 Walter Payton (3,921), No. 13 Edgerrin James (3,924) and No. 12 Eddie George (4,061) for the most yards in the first three seasons for a running back. … Only 12 players have 4,000 yards in their first three seasons. … Morris has the highest rushing average in team history at 4.54. …Morris needs three rushing touchdowns to tie John Riggins (10) for the most rushing touchdowns against the Cowboys by any player in NFL history.

This story was originally published December 23, 2014 at 8:51 PM with the headline "Cowboys Extra: Spotlight on Redskins running back Alfred Morris."