MTK
09-17-2004, 04:02 PM
Redskins tailback Clinton Portis was exhausted after his first carry Sunday against the Tampa Buccaneers. That's because he went 64 yards for a touchdown to highlight a 16-10 victory (http://65.54.187.250/cgi-bin/linkrd?_lang=EN&lah=66b6249231dcc9e247a4a35f74860493&lat=1095451281&hm___action=http%3a%2f%2fletters%2ewashingtonpost% 2ecom%2fW8RH0442FE5E10875E17F3F576C840) in the season opener.
Portis carried 28 more times and finished with 148 yards for a 5.1 average.
The 5-foot-11, 205-pound Portis must prove he can take the constant pounding required by a Joe Gibbs tailback. And Portis said yesterday that he is ready for another bushel of carries.
"If it comes I feel good," Portis told reporters at Redskins Park. "I had treatment every day recovering from last week so if it I comes, I'll take it. If not, we've got other athletes who can make plays."
When Portis played in Denver, amassing more than 3,000 yards in his first two years, he complained about not getting enough carries. Portis rushed for a career-high 290 times last season and 273 in 2002. He will easily set a new mark at his current pace.
Gibbs won't give a ballpark figure for how much he plans to use Portis, but said: "I'd say his tongue's going to be hanging out. Let's put it that way. I warned him."
Last year, Portis missed three games, including the final two of the regular season, because of knee and ankle injuries. In Portis' rookie season, he played every game, including 12 starts.
"Good thing we've got capable backs such as John [Simon] and Ladell [Betts] and Rock [Cartwright] and Chad [Morton]," Portis said, referring to his backups, "who are going to help me take these carries so all the pressure is not on me."
But Portis added: "Denver was stingy with the ball. If they put the ball in my hand, I'm going to step up to the challenge, if they don't I've got to do whatever it takes to help get a win."
Running backs coach Ernest Byner said that the Redskins will be careful about wearing out Portis.
"We're going to be smart about how we use him but also how we practice him as well," Byner said. "That's the other thing that can affect the longevity and also the season nagging injuries. We'll make sure we keep him fresh, give him as many massages as he needs, go to the chiropractor, all that type of stuff. We're trying to ensure as much as possible that Clinton will make it through the season. But whether he's sturdy enough or not, you're going to have nagging injuries. That's just going to happen."
-- By Nunyo Demasio
Portis carried 28 more times and finished with 148 yards for a 5.1 average.
The 5-foot-11, 205-pound Portis must prove he can take the constant pounding required by a Joe Gibbs tailback. And Portis said yesterday that he is ready for another bushel of carries.
"If it comes I feel good," Portis told reporters at Redskins Park. "I had treatment every day recovering from last week so if it I comes, I'll take it. If not, we've got other athletes who can make plays."
When Portis played in Denver, amassing more than 3,000 yards in his first two years, he complained about not getting enough carries. Portis rushed for a career-high 290 times last season and 273 in 2002. He will easily set a new mark at his current pace.
Gibbs won't give a ballpark figure for how much he plans to use Portis, but said: "I'd say his tongue's going to be hanging out. Let's put it that way. I warned him."
Last year, Portis missed three games, including the final two of the regular season, because of knee and ankle injuries. In Portis' rookie season, he played every game, including 12 starts.
"Good thing we've got capable backs such as John [Simon] and Ladell [Betts] and Rock [Cartwright] and Chad [Morton]," Portis said, referring to his backups, "who are going to help me take these carries so all the pressure is not on me."
But Portis added: "Denver was stingy with the ball. If they put the ball in my hand, I'm going to step up to the challenge, if they don't I've got to do whatever it takes to help get a win."
Running backs coach Ernest Byner said that the Redskins will be careful about wearing out Portis.
"We're going to be smart about how we use him but also how we practice him as well," Byner said. "That's the other thing that can affect the longevity and also the season nagging injuries. We'll make sure we keep him fresh, give him as many massages as he needs, go to the chiropractor, all that type of stuff. We're trying to ensure as much as possible that Clinton will make it through the season. But whether he's sturdy enough or not, you're going to have nagging injuries. That's just going to happen."
-- By Nunyo Demasio