Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

Will Shaun start on Sunday night?
I think it is best to let Clinton heal completely.
This is the reason why we got him so I say give him the ball 15 - 20 times and see if he still has it.

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

give it to rock 15-20 times. alexander 5-10. let campbell air it out.

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

This is SA's moment to shine and show he belongs back in the NFL. I think they should let him run it a lot to minimize the amount of passes Campbell needs to throw.

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

This is a must win for the redskins, they lost the last home game, can't afford to lose this one, especially at home again. Play Portis!!

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

I understand the importance of the game, but one bad cut or hit in the knee and we could lose Clinton for longer than a game. If Shaun isn't doing it we can always bring him in but I would hate to see us lose Clinton for the season by pushing it.
I think if Shaun gets some carries and into the flow he can have impact.

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

We should all be thankful right now that we have someone like SA to fill in when our two top backs are banged up. If we combine for 100 yards rushing and avoid stupid f'ing penalties (Jansen, Rabach) we will put ourselves in a good postition to pull out the "W".

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

[I]Hello?! You play to win the game. You play. To win the game.[/I]

In all seriousness, check this analysis out:

[url=http://www.postgameheroes.com/?p=4644]Alexander The…Great? | postgameheroes.com[/url]

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

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

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

Well from what I heard on the radio if CP is not ready then he SA gets the start. I just hope if he does not look good they give Rock the chance to run the ball.

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

[quote=sd5692;499980]This is a must win for the redskins, they lost the last home game, can't afford to lose this one, especially at home again. Play Portis!![/quote]
So you think they should play Portis even though it could cause more damage to his kneee and missing more then this game. I'm not sure if he even sits out this game that he could play the following week.

Re: 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.

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

Hopefully Betts can go too.

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

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.

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

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.

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

[quote=Mattyk72;499986]I'm not giving up hope on Portis just yet, I'd rather have CP at 80% than Alexander at 100%.[/quote]

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.

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

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

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

I have mixed feelings about Clinton playing, but one thing that gives me a little hope is that [U]he has already played on this injury for 3 quarters[/U]. 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.

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

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.

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

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.

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

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

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

I could go with SA as the 1st and 2nd down back, but I would rather have Portis in on 3rd down even just as a blocking back. We definitely drop off when he isn't doing that.

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

You have to sit Portis for this one, we need him to be healthy to make the push for the playoffs later in the season. What about giving some of those carries to Sellars? Did anybody notice when the Cowpukes played the Giants a few weeks back, they were afraid to tackle Jacobs. Sellers is 280+ he would a good alternative to punish them. Does anyone know the status of Kelly? I heard there was a chnce he would be in the line up. Could be a factor in moving the chains.

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

We can't forget that WHOEVER is our RB is going to have a serious dose of pass protection all night long. JLC mentioned this a few days ago, after Portis and Betts we have a HUGE reduction in pass blocking RBs. Shaun just isn't very good at it and Rock is undersized and has never really done it before.

Running the ball is just half of what Portis brings to our offense and even though Betts would be a GREAT backup if he's ready to go, even he is half the pass protector that Portis is.

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

[quote=LMsexyAO;500024]We can't forget that WHOEVER is our RB is going to have a serious dose of pass protection all night long. JLC mentioned this a few days ago, after Portis and Betts we have a HUGE reduction in pass blocking RBs. Shaun just isn't very good at it and Rock is undersized and has never really done it before.

Running the ball is just half of what Portis brings to our offense and even though Betts would be a GREAT backup if he's ready to go, even he is half the pass protector that Portis is.[/quote]

Not that I'm supporting this idea, but if worse came to worse, could Sellers pass block?

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

I rather have portis out and hope the others can step up because we need a healthy Portis if we go to the play offs. I DON'T WANT PORTIS IN THIS GAME!!! If the Cowgirls smell blood in the water I don't think they will hesitate to take portis out

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

marcus mason should be on the roster

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

CP lead the league in rushes last year was leading this year and how hard he runs its no surpirse he is dinged up . . . i would have liked to have seen betts share some carries over the past 4 games but the timing of betts injury just never allowed it.

kinda sucks to have one of the best backup rbs in the league then for the 4-6 game window he would be relied upon he isnt available. just bad luck and timing, no way to avoid the inevitable injury to portis . . . . very frustrating to have to go to your back up back up plan for such a big game and stretch in the season.

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

This doesn't sound good for Portis:

[url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3698545&name=bell_stephania]ESPN - Stephania Bell Blog[/url]

Portis has a grade 2 medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain that could sideline him this week, according to the Washington Post. We all know that Portis has been taking his share of hits with his big workload so far this year and has proved extremely resilient, but a grade 2 MCL sprain is a compromising injury for a running back.



The Post reports that Portis said on John Thompson's radio show that he was having more pain in his knee late last week, which led to further evaluation and the ultimate diagnosis. Portis also stated that as of Tuesday he was just starting to bend his knee and could not fully straighten it, either. This is not unusual for an MCL injury, as some of the ligament fibers are stretched when the knee is bent and others are stretched when the knee is extended. As the ligament is trying to heal, it is important not to overstretch those fibers, so initially the knee is restricted from the extremes of the range of motion.



If Portis was still lacking range of motion Tuesday, it's almost impossible to imagine that he could regain full motion and have enough strength and stability to perform in a game. Remember Willie Parker just returned (against the Redskins, in fact) after missing about a month with a similar injury. LaDainian Tomlinson tried to play in the 2007 AFC Championship game but lasted only a few plays because of a grade 2 MCL injury. Running backs' rapid directional changes stress the MCL significantly, and pain or a sense of instability will render them far less effective. This injury typically requires a few weeks of recovery, but a grade 2 (moderate) sprain represents a big range in terms of the extent of damage to the tissue -- the time frame for recovery is not automatic. If Portis is able to participate in practice late in the week, it bodes well for an earlier recovery, but even then, it would be a big surprise to see him in the lineup Sunday.

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

[quote=Mattyk72;499986]I'm not giving up hope on Portis just yet, I'd rather have CP at 80% than Alexander at 100%.[/quote]

Exactly. You have to account for CP even if he isnt getting the ball. He blocks extremely well something that Alexander does not excel at.

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

[quote=Mattyk72;500063]This doesn't sound good for Portis:

[URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3698545&name=bell_stephania"]ESPN - Stephania Bell Blog[/URL]

Portis has a grade 2 medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain that could sideline him this week, according to the Washington Post. We all know that Portis has been taking his share of hits with his big workload so far this year and has proved extremely resilient, but a grade 2 MCL sprain is a compromising injury for a running back.



The Post reports that Portis said on John Thompson's radio show that he was having more pain in his knee late last week, which led to further evaluation and the ultimate diagnosis. Portis also stated that as of Tuesday he was just starting to bend his knee and could not fully straighten it, either. This is not unusual for an MCL injury, as some of the ligament fibers are stretched when the knee is bent and others are stretched when the knee is extended. As the ligament is trying to heal, it is important not to overstretch those fibers, so initially the knee is restricted from the extremes of the range of motion.



If Portis was still lacking range of motion Tuesday, it's almost impossible to imagine that he could regain full motion and have enough strength and stability to perform in a game. Remember Willie Parker just returned (against the Redskins, in fact) after missing about a month with a similar injury. LaDainian Tomlinson tried to play in the 2007 AFC Championship game but lasted only a few plays because of a grade 2 MCL injury. Running backs' rapid directional changes stress the MCL significantly, and pain or a sense of instability will render them far less effective. This injury typically requires a few weeks of recovery, but a grade 2 (moderate) sprain represents a big range in terms of the extent of damage to the tissue -- the time frame for recovery is not automatic. If Portis is able to participate in practice late in the week, it bodes well for an earlier recovery, but even then, it would be a big surprise to see him in the lineup Sunday.[/quote]

Doesn't look too good for CP. I think we should sit him down the next couple of weeks and let this thing heal up. Let Rock and Alexander carry the ball and have Thomas or Thrash return kicks. We'll be fine.

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

I'd rather have CP obviously, but I think that we may be pleasantly surprised by what Shaun Alexander can still do if he gets the nod.

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

Of the few carries that I've seen from Shaun Alexander, I've seen nothing from him to indicate that we'll have any semblance of a running game on Sunday night.

I'll bet Rock Cartwright looks a thousand times better than Alexander does.

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

[quote=Beemnseven;500121]Of the few carries that I've seen from Shaun Alexander, I've seen nothing from him to indicate that we'll have any semblance of a running game on Sunday night.

I'll bet Rock Cartwright looks a thousand times better than Alexander does.[/quote]

Every time I think of Deion's nickname for SA, I can't help but laugh out loud. The Tiptoe Burglar! HA!

Seriously though, SA's first few games with us were essentially training camp/pre-season for him. He's got fresh legs and he's totally injury free, so there's a chance he looks okay for us this Sunday. I sure hope so.

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

He had one 9 yard run. He may not be Portis, but I don't think opposing D's can disregard him with our line. And Dallas' D has been soft, so he should be able to provide a good running game for us.

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

I'll give Alexander a pass for his first few games, now he should have his legs back under him and he should be familiar enough with the running game to be effective. If he wants to prove he can still play, here's his chance.

That said, I'm still hoping Betts can play and be effective.

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

as bad as it sounds sit clinton for this game amd us the other backs that you have spent all this money on sellars can run or run block hes 280+ and if not put two backs back there with jason make them stack the box and let moss. cooley and jason burn them up

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

[quote=Jamaican'Skin;500016]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[/quote]

Pretty much !

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

Alexander fought his way back to the line of scrimmage in Detroit on a play that appeared to end in a loss. If the OL can get some actual holes, I'm not that pessimistic about the running game.

[url=http://theredskinsblog.com/2008/11/12/on-the-field-for-practice-1112/#more-2520]On the Field for Practice - 11/12 « The Official Blog of The Washington Redskins[/url]
Also, this is from the above url. [quote]# Ladell Betts, however, was back out, practicing with the running backs. He looked better than I expected — I had forgotten, during his injury, what a strong (what Zorn would probably call “violent”) runner he is — but Coach Zorn said after practice that he was still lacking burst. Betts, Shaun Alexander and Rock Cartwright all took some snaps with the first team.
# Alexander, incidentally, continues to look good, and not at all reticent to hit the hole or even block — he was getting as into the diving block drill (above) as anyone. Zorn described his play as “improved,” noting that “The way we we play is a little different than what we asked him to do in Seattle.”[/quote]

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

[quote=Mattyk72;500141]I'll give Alexander a pass for his first few games, now he should have his legs back under him and he should be familiar enough with the running game to be effective. If he wants to prove he can still play, here's his chance.

That said, I'm still hoping Betts can play and be effective.[/quote]

I agree with that. I was'nt crazy about signing Alexander but if Portis can't go, and I'm not convinced he won't, Alexander might surprise some people. I would feel alot better with Betts in there though.

Re: Time for a good look at Shaun Alexander
 

I'm on the sellers bandwagon. I know he wants the ball. GIVE IT TO HIM!