Re: Portis and the running game are back!
 

I wouldn't get too carried away with the running game being back just yet. Let's wait and see how they do against the Minnesota Vikings who have the #1 rushing defense.

Re: Portis and the running game are back!
 

[quote=RMSkins;394009]I wouldn't get too carried away with the running game being back just yet. Let's wait and see how they do against the Minnesota Vikings who have the #1 rushing defense.[/quote]

you're right, but also consider that we were running the ball in a game situation that necessitated it. The g-men knew we had to rely more on the run game w/collins making his first start in 10 years in a swirling wind. Still, they couldn't stop it enough.

Collins won't have to deal w/the wind in the dome next week & we'll get to see a more wide open attack. Of course we'll want to run the ball but I expect to see more 3 & 4 wr sets, which we didn't see hardly any of last night. Did McCardell, Caldwell & Thrash even get in the game on O?

Re: Portis and the running game are back!
 

[quote=freddyg12;394023]you're right, but also consider that we were running the ball in a game situation that necessitated it. The g-men knew we had to rely more on the run game w/collins making his first start in 10 years in a swirling wind. Still, they couldn't stop it enough.

Collins won't have to deal w/the wind in the dome next week & we'll get to see a more wide open attack. Of course we'll want to run the ball but I expect to see more 3 & 4 wr sets, which we didn't see hardly any of last night. Did McCardell, Caldwell & Thrash even get in the game on O?[/quote]
I agree Portis and the O-line stepped up in a big way last night, but we have seen this before from the running game where they have a big game one week and the next week they come out and are a total non-factor.

Re: Portis and the running game are back!
 

I'll admit that I'm excited about how the Redskins ran the ball last night, especially when they ran that draw 3 or 4 times in a row, but to quote my friend Lee Corso, "not so fast my friend." In Atlanta people would do this all the time, Mike Vick would have a good game passing and then all of a sudden people would praise him as finally developing as a pocket passer. I hope they can keep it up, and chances are they have a better chance of repeating their success next week on the ground then Vick ever had of becoming a pocket passer but lets not get ahead of ourselves.

Re: Portis and the running game are back!
 

[quote=onlydarksets;393912]For being such a flashy dude, CP has amassed a solid season under the radar. He'll end up with 1600+ multipurpose yards and 10 TDs this season. AND he's healthy! I think that's the power of having Betts back there to spell CP (although Betts hasn't had as many touches as I thought he would).[/quote]

I was wrong - he had [B][U]11[/U][/B] touchdowns and 1651 rushing/receiving yards.

And, he's #3 in total yards.

Nice job CP!

Re: Portis and the running game are back!
 

Everything seems to be coming together. The success of Todd Collins being able to hit passes down field, the offensive line opening up decent holes and Clinton Portis hitting the holes with speed is all working. This how Al Saunders offense is supposed to work. Keep it up!

Re: Portis and the running game are back!
 

One thing I have been saying all year about Portis is that we were not using him correctly. Simply shoving him up the gut for 20+ carries a game was a mistake. Now that "the Saunders 700" is being run accordingly to plan, Portis gets to use the tools he has more effectively. And, the more defenses have to respect him as a receiving threat, the less they'll cheat and stack the box against him, which opens up more room to run inside. Imagine how easy it would be to stop Brian Westbrook if you knew the offensive playcalling was always going to use him strictly as an inside runner?

I am a HUGE J-Cam fan (hey, got my #17 Jersey for Christmas) but I have to admit that Collins' touch on the short dump-offs and screens to CP has finally allowed him to thrive as a pass-catching back the way I always knew he could here.