PFW: Whispers Around the NFL
 

[url]http://proxy.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=1838837&type=story[/url]

Some random Redskins-related news posted today (7/13):

"The Redskins, always looking to add D-line depth despite a thin market, were interested in bringing back DT Daryl Gardener before his retirement and would have been interested in former Packers DE Jamal Reynolds, but he was traded to Indianapolis. The Redskins will keep looking, but they have no interest in free-agent pass rusher Jason Gildon."

"Redskins RB Rock Cartwright was thought to be a square peg in a round hole after the hiring of head coach Joe Gibbs (Gibbs doesn't use a traditional fullback), but Cartwright has lost 10 pounds -- from 225 to 215 -- this offseason and looked good at tailback in minicamps. He could make the team over Sultan McCullough as a goal-line or short-yardage back, something Cartwright proved he could handle last season."

And, of course, for comic relief:

"Sources close to the Cowboys say WR Antonio Bryant is back in Dallas working out, but not at the team's facility. The team is kind of hamstrung with Bryant following his lashing out at coach Bill Parcells, because it is so thin at at the position, especially now that recently signed Dedric Ward has suffered a foot injury."

Additionally, the latest on Ogunleye:

"We hear that if the Dolphins and DE Adewale Ogunleye aren't able to come to terms on a long-term contract extension before the season, he intends to sit out the first seven games before returning. According to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Dolphins have the right to suspend him for three games after he reports, and Ogunleye must play a minimum of six games to accrue a credited year toward unrestricted free agency in 2005."

Cartwright was the main short yardage back at the end of last year, I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the same role again this year, especially if Betts doesn't do anything to excite the staff.

Personally, I would prefer the Rock. Betts just doesn't have the same quickness and cutting ability that Rock has. Plus Rock is a better pass catcher also.

and he has a great football name

[QUOTE=Bergman14]and he has a great football name[/QUOTE]


True

Rock is the man

I agree with everyting that was just said.I would be very mad if they cut him.I dont really recall too many times last year when we needed a couple of yards and he didnt get them.I wish we could have found a way to use him more.

No one seems to recall Rock's abyssmal pass blocking last year. On more than one occasion, he threw his body and hit nothing but air and grass. TV announcers were calling for replays of his "technique" just to wonder how it could be so bad.

If he did not learn to pass block during the off-season, he should be gonzo.

BTW, I can remember more than a couple of third and one and fourth and one situations where Rock got stoned and did not move the chains. One was in the Philly game that the Skins only lost due to a missed two point conversion.

Betts is no superstar; I'm not trying to make him out to be one. And Betts has been injury prone. But Cartwright was only marginally impressve last year.

To be fair to Rock and all of the backs in fact, they were left on an island when it came to blocking last year. Guys were coming from left and right totally untouched, yes some of it was their fault for not picking up the blocks, some of it was the scheme, and some of it probably had a lot to do with the piss poor coaching.

What I remember more than Cartwrights' poor blocking was Betts not playing 7 games due to injury.

Don't expect to see Portis taken out of the game when we have situations like this. He cuts so well, even between the tackles, that he's effective EVERYWHERE.

[QUOTE=Daseal]Don't expect to see Portis taken out of the game when we have situations like this. He cuts so well, even between the tackles, that he's effective EVERYWHERE.[/QUOTE]
Portis is an every down back no doubt, but being that he's a bit undersized and has had some injury problems it's likely that Gibbs will look to keep him fresh whenever he can, either by spelling him in short yardage or goal line situations, or both. He's too valuable to run in to the ground.

Kinda sucks from a fantasy standpoint. If you have a great back in portis who gets it to the goalline then someone else scores, kinda like mccants gettings tds after coles got us there. Anyone else think Dick Vermeil has Priest on hsi fantasy team and thereofre always gives him the ball in a scoring situation?

[QUOTE=Redskins_P]Personally, I would prefer the Rock. Betts just doesn't have the same quickness and cutting ability that Rock has. Plus Rock is a better pass catcher also.[/QUOTE]

while I really like Rock, he's not close to being the same threat as a reciever as Betts is, especially on screens.

[QUOTE=Redskins_P]Personally, I would prefer the Rock. Betts just doesn't have the same quickness and cutting ability that Rock has. Plus Rock is a better pass catcher also.[/QUOTE]

I defiently have to disagree on this one RP, bett's is much quicker, and cutt's better than rock could ever dream of, both can catch, I can understand the sentiment for Rock, I like the guy to, but Bett's is much more talented, hopefully thing's will work out so both will make the team, and be able to contribute.

I don't know why but I have this gut feeling that Morton is going to be a key part of the team. Not just special teams but also as a third-down back. I see big things for him this year.

As for the Cowgirls situation, any problems for the Tuna is a great news for us!

I think Morton could emerge as the 'new' joe washington...

I must say Sultan McCoullough, my friend Clint calls him "chainsaw", impressed me last preseason as the blocking was among the worst in the league. I know it's preseason, but why didn't he get a shot when Trung couldn't do squat? I'm so glad Portis is here! My bro hung out with him in Richmond @ Circuit City a couple of weeks back, bringing home a signed football! GO GIBBS, GO SKINS!!! Let the Redskins Renaissance begin!!!

[QUOTE=sportscurmudgeon]No one seems to recall Rock's abyssmal pass blocking last year. On more than one occasion, he threw his body and hit nothing but air and grass. TV announcers were calling for replays of his "technique" just to wonder how it could be so bad.

If he did not learn to pass block during the off-season, he should be gonzo.

BTW, I can remember more than a couple of third and one and fourth and one situations where Rock got stoned and did not move the chains. One was in the Philly game that the Skins only lost due to a missed two point conversion.

Betts is no superstar; I'm not trying to make him out to be one. And Betts has been injury prone. But Cartwright was only marginally impressve last year.[/QUOTE]
I wasn't impressed with Rock as a short-yardage back or a pass-blocker, either. I remember those same situations you mentioned, SC. I thought he was somewhat effective as a runner, but if I had a choice, I'd probably take Betts, because he seems like more of a prototypical back-- minus the damn injury problems, of course!

But I don't think Betts is going to have too much trouble making the team, and he'll more than likely be Portis' primary backup. What we're really talking about is a choice between Rock and Sultan McCullough. I'm hoping we'll get to see a lot of Sultan in the preseason, because if that guy gets an opportunity to carry the ball, he can go the distance. Either way, where these guys really have to prove themselves is on special teams. Whichever of them impresses special teams coach Danny Smith the most-- and he's not an easy guy to impress-- is likely the one who will stick.

I agree, I see Betts as being the primary backup because he's the biggest back we have right now. I see him being the short yardage and goal line back this year.

I remember one game when he was lined up on the right, ignored the blitzer on his side and ran in front of the qb and whiffed on the blitzer on the left. I can't remember exactly which game it was, and while it showed good effort on his part the fact that he ignored one blitzer in his face and whiffed on another just seemed like piss poor execution, the story of the Steve Spurrier era. I really hope it was more SS stupid blitz pickup schemes and not Rock having a brain fart. Even though that was not an isolated incident, I'm willing to give Rock the benefit of the doubt.

I think Rock has the edge on Sultan because he's a better blocker since he's a fullback and we have a crowded backfield already. It's going to be difficult for Sultan to make the squad on special teams because we've already got Morton and Thrash to return kicks. I just don't think Sultan adds anything that Morton doesn't already do better. If Rock can catch then he'll probably make the squad.

[QUOTE=memphisskin]I think Rock has the edge on Sultan because he's a better blocker since he's a fullback and we have a crowded backfield already. It's going to be difficult for Sultan to make the squad on special teams because we've already got Morton and Thrash to return kicks. I just don't think Sultan adds anything that Morton doesn't already do better. If Rock can catch then he'll probably make the squad.[/QUOTE]
That's true, but with Sultan's speed, he could make an excellent gunner on punts. I would like to see him get a chance to return some kicks, just to see what he can do, but I doubt he would be any better than Morton or Thrash. It's just frustrating to know that a guy has so much talent, but didn't really get many opportunities to prove himself last year. His wrist injury held him back a bit, but from what I've heard, he was a victim of front office politics as much as anything else. Apparently, McCullough was Cerrato's baby, and after Cerrato/Snyder overruled Spurrier on Wuerffel, Spurrier decided he'd just sit McCullough and see what Cerrato thought of that.

Interesting, I had thought Sultan was brought on at the request of Hue Jackson

Thinking outside the box...offis? Anyone remember Betts fumbling into the endzone against DAL? He was rundown by DE Eukeban. Betts' 40 time is probably still better than Cartwright. But Cartwrght hits the holes quicker! And who has the run power? Cartwright will turn out to be the Mike Anderson of the 'Skins!

Betts did not have a fumble last year (Rock had 2). It was Rock who fumbled going into the endzone. I believe it was the Carolina game and not the Dallas game when the fumble occurred, as well.

Rock: [url]http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/6119[/url]
Betts: [url]http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5942[/url]

[QUOTE=cpayne5]Betts did not have a fumble last year (Rock had 2). It was Rock who fumbled going into the endzone. I believe it was the Carolina game and not the Dallas game when the fumble occurred, as well.

Rock: [url]http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/6119[/url]
Betts: [url]http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5942[/url][/QUOTE]

Nope. It was Betts who fumbled into the endzone -- but that was at the end of the '02 season against Dallas.

[QUOTE=Bergman14]and he has a great football name[/QUOTE]
Yea you can't get a better name then ROCK!!

Oh, 2k2 season. I was under the impression that you guys were talking about the 2k3 season. I'm sorry.

Betts didn't play enough last year to get the chance to fumble, LOL

i'm still not hot on betts. So far, i've just seen a lot of bench warming on his part... hoepfully he can get over that.

[QUOTE=smootsmack]Interesting, I had thought Sultan was brought on at the request of Hue Jackson[/QUOTE]
There was definitely a USC connection with Jackson having been Sultan's O-coordinator at USC during his sophomore or junior year, and that was the connection that brought Sultan to the Redskins. But from what I've heard, it was Cerrato that favored keeping pet project McCullough over then-Spurrier favorite Kenny Watson. Cerrato cut Watson, then proceeded to cut Spurrier's darling, Danny Wuerffel, and that was the final blow to Spurrier's ego that essentially cemented the hostilities between Spurrier and the front office-- and sealed McCullough's fate as benchwarmer in 2003.

Crisp, could you make the argument cutting Watson and Wuerffel was Snyder's way of appeasing to both Cerrato and Spurrier? Sort of like when Norv wanted Dilfer and Westbrook (if I remember right) and Casserley wanted Shuler and Galloway, and we got one of each?

[QUOTE=BossHog]Thinking outside the box...offis? Anyone remember Betts fumbling into the endzone against DAL? He was rundown by DE Eukeban. Betts' 40 time is probably still better than Cartwright. But Cartwrght hits the holes quicker! And who has the run power? Cartwright will turn out to be the Mike Anderson of the 'Skins![/QUOTE]

Plain and simple, there is no way Rock hit's the hole faster than Bett's, Bett's has been unfortunate in the injury dept. but never sustained an injury in college, I think his injuries have been coincidental, he tried to come back to soon last year with the forearm injury, and it never really healed, Bett's can be a very, very, good back, nothing I saw from Rock last year told me that he can't be replaced, he's solid, but he will alway's be a tweener.

[QUOTE=smootsmack]Crisp, could you make the argument cutting Watson and Wuerffel was Snyder's way of appeasing to both Cerrato and Spurrier? Sort of like when Norv wanted Dilfer and Westbrook (if I remember right) and Casserley wanted Shuler and Galloway, and we got one of each?[/QUOTE]
No, because in this case, Spurrier wanted both Watson and Wuerffel. Cerrato wanted McCullough over Watson, and didn't want Wuerffel. Spurrier lost on both counts.

woah, just looked, watson had 800 yds in 2002, 23 kick returns, 0 fumbles, not bad for a backup.

seems like cutting him was dumb; those numbers beat rock in all categories...

[QUOTE=joecrisp]No, because in this case, Spurrier wanted both Watson and Wuerffel. Cerrato wanted McCullough over Watson, and didn't want Wuerffel. Spurrier lost on both counts.[/QUOTE]

Oops I mean to say McCullough, but I see your point. Thanks JC!

I like Rock's chances of making the team :thumb: