Portis and the running game are back!
 

Nice job by CP and the line tonight. With that weather we really needed the running game to carry the load and they came through. Nice job! It's about damn time we got the running game cranking again.

Also, it was great to see Betts get a shot to redeem himself a bit with that late carry to ice the game.

Re: Portis and the running game are back!
 

That spin move that Portis had turned a botched play into an 8 yard gain was beautiful. As was Bett's burst up the middle on the delay for a TD. If you can run the ball, you can win in cold weather. That will never change. No matter how much people want to go to 5 WR, no-huddle, pass, pass, pass, offenses. You have to be able to run the ball.

Re: Portis and the running game are back!
 

And not only did the OL do a great job in the running game let's give them credit for the protection as well. Heyer looked like he handled himself quite well against Strahan.

Re: Portis and the running game are back!
 

I was very glad to see us get our running game going. I hope we can keep it up. The vikes have one of the more solid front sevens in the league. If not the best I'd say top 3... so hopefully we can impose our will on them.

Re: Portis and the running game are back!
 

Yupp props to the oline protecting Collins' slow ass too.

Re: Portis and the running game are back!
 

Portis's numbers for the game....a cool:

25 rushes for 126 yds. 5.0 yds per carry and 1 TD.

Re: Portis and the running game are back!
 

Strong in the run. For all this 'talk of open it up' I just love seeing a game where the run game is going. And Betts getting the TD and the 1st down to ice it is sweet.

BTW, as Madden mentioned throughout, CP is just a monster picking up the blitz. Just amazing to watch--he's knocking guys on their asses.

Re: Portis and the running game are back!
 

I think it's pretty much known throughout the league now that Portis is the best blocking back in the NFL.

Re: Portis and the running game are back!
 

[QUOTE=SmootSmack;393768]That spin move that Portis had turned a botched play into an 8 yard gain was beautiful. As was Bett's burst up the middle on the delay for a TD. If you can run the ball, you can win in cold weather. That will never change. No matter how much people want to go to 5 WR, no-huddle, pass, pass, pass, offenses. You have to be able to run the ball.[/QUOTE]

Honestly, I thought those 8 yards were more impressive than his 31 dash.

Re: Portis and the running game are back!
 

Thats over 1,000 yards for CP this year now.

Nice to see CP coming on strong down the stretch, when we really need the balance the team has been seeking. Also, nice mix getting betts in for some action.

Game ball well deserved for CP and the O-line after that performance IMO.

Re: Portis and the running game are back!
 

Gotta admit. The line did its job well - I saw actual holes and Collins had times when he was able to just stand (as in glued to one spot) in the pocket. Maybe they are jelling - the Giants front 7 is the real deal. Heyer did a fine job and they schemed well to get him help as necessary.

Next week is not gonna be a pass but they just may be able to pull it off.

Re: Portis and the running game are back!
 

I was particularly impressed with Fabini and Heyer on the right side. Those guys were knocking some heads off and for the most part handled their assignments very well. Kudos to the coaching staff for sticking with CP/Betts and getting this one done.

Re: Portis and the running game are back!
 

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).

Re: Portis and the running game are back!
 

[quote=Sheriff Gonna Getcha;393824]Honestly, I thought those 8 yards were more impressive than his 31 dash.[/quote]

that spin move was insane

CP was on his game last night no doubt

Re: Portis and the running game are back!
 

[quote=Mattyk72;393769]Heyer looked like he handled himself quite well against Strahan.[/quote]

Portis did have a tremendous all around game last night, but I can't say that I'm all that surprised about it. Washington needed the running game, and Portis delivered. He does that, more often than not.

I am a bit surprised by Heyer's performance though. I've been a big fan of Heyer since week one, but he was basically lights out on Strahan last night during running and passing downs. I wouldn't have predicted that he could keep Strahan out of the backfield all night. He could still use a bit of polish, but he's one of the few gems that Washington has found late in the draft.

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.