Portis/Riggins comparison

I find this comparison very interesting, because both Portis and Riggo give the best of both worlds. I would designate Riggins as a power-back with deceptive speed and Portis as a speed back with deceptive power. Can't go wrong with either guy - both True Redskins as Joe Gibbs used to say.

I completely agree. I couldn't have said it better myself.

Riggins was actually very fast for a 250 lb back. He was a state champion in the 100 yard dash in high school. Once he got a head of steam, he could pull away from many DBs that he outweighed by 50 lbs. Just look at the TD run against Miami in Super Bowl XVII or the 60 yard TD at Dallas in the last game of the '79 season. I find this comparison very interesting, because both Portis and Riggo give the best of both worlds. I would designate Riggins as a power-back with deceptive speed and Portis as a speed back with deceptive power. Can't go wrong with either guy - both True Redskins as Joe Gibbs used to say.

That's a great way to put it.

When you see old clips of Riggo, I'm always shocked at how he could run away from the D in the open field. The guy was definitely very fast for a man his size. Stephen Davis was the same kind of back when he was in his prime, but Riggo had more power.

This is one of the best threads I have ever read on this site! Way too hard for me to compare, but at the end of the day, Super Bowl rings is what we all want to see, and Riggo has one. I am not saying that CP can't get the job done, and I am loving him more and more each season, but I am rolling with Riggo for now. Plus I ran into CP at PF Changs this winter, and he was drinking Pina Coladas! I don't think you will find the diesal ever sipping on one of those!

good question great debate the rings have it.

Very good thread. Great points made. Have to go with rings and HoF. When Portis does either then the discussion gets more interesting. Until then Riggo.

Amen Brotha, I think if Portis stays healthy and this team has more continuity over time it could become a tie if the z man leads them to the promise land!

I think Portis is a great back and getting better all around. But with Riggo, if you needed 2 or 3 yards for a 1rst down and you gave him the ball, you could bank on it. The guy never got stuffed, never was brought down by one guy, and always fell forward for extra yardage. On the other hand Riggo did'nt catch many passes and I don't remember him ever decleating a defender the way Clinton does either. What they do have in common, is they are both a little nuts and fun as hell to watch.

I remember watching Portis his first year in Denver and saying, "I love the way this guy runs; he is my favorite running back in the league." Now I was a big Champ Bailey fan (who wasn't)

that'd be me... yeah, i'm that guy.

riggins was more of a fullback that CP is.i'm not saying portis will not run you over,but i saw riggins run harvey martin,randy white,and about every member of the cowboys dline over more than once,and that's hard to do.riggins was never the dodge and miss back that portis is either.riggins was just a power runner,portis is too,but he can fake you out of your skin in an eye blink.and like i have said before,clinton portis is the best back in the league's history at catching the blitz,i have never seen anybody better at that.

It's a shame Portis was in a dated offense for so long. He was forced to run the ball constantly into eight man fronts. I remember in the '04 opener against Tampa Bay and he broke that 64 yard run- I thought that we were all in for a great couple of years. That season I think he finished with a 3.9 ypc... what a disappointment. I'm glad we have the philosophy now to see some exciting running.