Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander

this is a big game, no doubt about it.. but i think that we should step back and take a long look at the bigger picture. if we can have a running game "by committee" where we can see doses of ladell (if healthy), shaun and rock, we should have a healthy run game against dallas' soft defense. what makes a great run game isn't always the runner himself - take benjarvis green-ellis and any back that plays in denver - its usually the offensive line. other than the silly penalty here and there, our o-line + sellers + cooley on the block has been fairly unstoppable. we don't need to feed just one rb.

Hopefully Betts can go too.

if CP goes,so go the redskins.knowing portis,it will be hard for him to miss this game.
but i bet if the skins get off to a great start and turn it into a "non competitive"game
really fast like the giants did 2 weeks back,pull him out.

By the way, I think there's a huge difference between "Clinton Portis can't go" and "Shaun Alexander is our starting RB". The former tells me that at least Portis is smart enough to not try to be out there running the ball when his agility is compromised, so we can at least try to have a running game. The latter tells me that we'll have no threat of a running game whatsoever.

Betts' health is so important in this game, and despite what JLC says, expect more Rock Cartwright if Portis and Betts are down.

I'm not giving up hope on Portis just yet, I'd rather have CP at 80% than Alexander at 100%.

Again I know the importance of the game and all but I will be wincing on every cut Clinton makes if he plays. There is a lot more season to go and would hate to imagine it with out him.

Here is a thought:
If Shaun plays at 80% of what he was in Seattle in his hey day then that is equivalent to roughly 85% of what Clinton would be, were he playing at 80% of what he has been playing at this season.:silly: Making any sense?

Time for #37 to run of the Cow-sissies.

I'd still rather see Clinton start.. SA is good if CP can't go but this is a huge game for both teams and we need every edge we can get

I have mixed feelings about Clinton playing, but one thing that gives me a little hope is that he has already played on this injury for 3 quarters. Remember he injured it in the Pittsburg game during the 1st quarter.

If he can play, I'd force him to wear a knee brace and still use him sparingly. He is so valuable as a pass blocker that I'd like to see him in there even at 70%. Dallas would have to account for him.

I'd love to see Alexander have a good day. Portis is my main man and without him the run game will hurt a little but for some reason I just wanna see SA break one to prove he's not as washed up as everyone thinks he is.

I'm holding out more hopes of Betts playing than Portis. Certainly hoping to see Betts rather than Alexander. Based similar injuries to other backs (Betts and Willie Parker specifically) the timetable seems closer to 4 weeks than to two. That would have Portis back for the Giants. That is what I am thinking at this point anyway.

I don't think Portis should go. He has taken this team on his back for the entire half of the season, and has been a difference maker on both sides of the ball, but we are going to need him further down this season. If we brought SA in here to run the ball when guys get injured, let him work for his money. He and Rock should be able to keep some pressure off JC. If Portis does go, I think we risk our season, and we cannot afford that. Gotta go RB by comittee and hope that the other guys step up