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Matt Jones Even Faster Than You Think He Is
Following up on an item in this week's Team Notes. ... According to NFL.com's Chris Wesseling, the Redskins realized they had a third-round steal on their hands back in rookie mini-camp, when general manager Scot McCloughan evoked Marshawn Lynch in describing Matt Jones.

While it's easy to understand comparisons to physical tackle-breakers such as Lynch, Chris Ivory, an early-career Steven Jackson and even former Cowboys bruiser Marion Barber, Wesseling went on to point out that Jones has displayed a high-end speed element those backs never possessed.

Leading the Redskins' new ground 'n' pound attack in a convincing 24-10 victory over the Rams, Jones reached two of the four fastest speeds recorded by a running back in Week 2.

Citing Next Gen Stats, Wesseling notes that Jones maxed out at 21.70 mph on his 39-yard touchdown run, racing down the sideline to eliminate cornerback Janoris Jenkins' angle with an extra gear. Among all ball carriers, Darrius Heyward-Bey was the only player to record a higher speed.

Jones flashed that extra gear again in the second quarter, blowing through a crease of four Rams defenders at 20.54 mph on a 25-yard gain.

Wesseling added: "There are only a handful of human beings capable of moving like that at 6-2 and 230 pounds."

Jones' presence doesn't mean Alfred Morris disappears, however. The Redskins fully intend to complement an improved defense with a ball-control offense, thereby reducing the need for Kirk Cousins to shoulder the full responsibility of moving the chains.

"There will be some games where it may not happen like that," head coach Jay Gruden said Sunday. "Our plan is to keep both of them fresh. I don't really care who is in there. In pro football, I think that is the blueprint for most successful teams. We have a young quarterback. We don't want to throw it 50 times."

Worth noting: The Giants have allowed the third-fewest rushing yards in the league through the first two weeks (68 yards per game), but ESPN.com's Dan Graziano reports they've paid close attention to the tape on Morris and Jones in advance of tonight's contest.

The Giants know they're going to have to stop the run in order to force Cousins into mistakes downfield, and Washington's powerful backfield duo is more imposing than anything they saw from Dallas or Atlanta, both of which had more success throwing to their backs than they did running with them.

Meanwhile, receiver DeSean Jackson (hamstring) was officially ruled out; he's expected to miss another two to three weeks.