Portis v. Riggins
 

Let me just preface this thread with the comment that Portis has not yet [B]proven[/B] that he is going to be as valuable to this franchise as John Riggins. However, [B]I do believe [/B] Portis will turn into the most productive back in team history, will set a number of records, and will ultimately become the best tailback in 'Skins history.

In nine seasons with the Redskins, John Riggins had just 4 seasons in which he carried the ball over 200 times in a season. In 1978, appearing in 15 games, Riggins rushed 248 times for 1,014 yards (4.1 ypc) and 5 TDs. In 1979, appearing in 16 games, Riggins rushed 260 times for 1,153 yards (4.4 ypc) and 9 touchdowns. In 1983, appearing in 15 games, Riggins carried the ball 375 times for 1,347 yards (3.6 ypc) and a whopping 24 touchdowns. In 1984, appearing in 14 games, Riggins carried the ball 327 times for 1,239 yards (3.8 ypc) and 14 touchdowns.
All told, in his nine seasons with the Redskins, Riggins rushed 1,988 times for 7,472 yards (3.76 ypc) and 79 touchdowns.

In his first season in Washington, Clinton Portis rushed 343 times (more than Riggins did in 8 of his 9 seasons), for 1,315 yards (more than Riggins did in 8 of his 9 seasons), for 3.8 yards (.04 yards per carry more than Riggins' career average as a Redskin), and for 7 receiving and rushing touchdowns.

Now mind you, Portis wasn't rushing behind guys like Grimm, Jacoby, Bostic, George Starke, or Mark May. Nope, instead he was rushing behind Dockery, Samuels, Thomas, Friedman/Raymer, and Brown/Jones/Wilson. Moreover, instead of rushing with a fantastic passing attack (a Gibbs trademark), Portis rushed with 8 or 9 defenders stacking the box because our passing attack was as anemic as an Ethiopian vegan.

Statistically, when you compare Portis to Riggins, Portis had a damn good year. I understand Portis didn't show us the consistent ability to get 3.5 yards - especially on 3rd and short. However, when you consider the line play, the passing attack, this was Gibbs' first year back in the league, opposing defenses were stacking the box, and Portis is a good 30 pounds lighter than Riggins, I'd say one has to recognize that Portis had a good year.

So quit this trade/release talk, it's non-sense.

Amen!!!
Your forgot one thing!!! Now listen to this closely!!!!

PORTIS IS ONLY 23 YEARS OLD!!!! By the start of next season he will be 24!!!

WOW!!!! Not only is he good but he is young and not on his way out of the league!!!!!

I think Portis will work out fine in the long run (no pun intended)...Gibbs will figure it out. My only real concern about Portis is his effort. At the 49ers game he didn't seem to care or run with any passion. I hope he doesn't develop an attitude of "do it my way or i won't try hard."....so to speak. just my two cents.

I think Portis, like the rest of the offense, was a bit frustrated. I'm sure he's asked for certain blocking techniques, or at least be allowed to use his speed a few times a game. He's also never really been on a "losing" team has he? U of M, Denver, now welcome to Washington where every year we're going to the super bowl, but always seem to fall short of the playoffs.

[QUOTE=NY_Skinsfan]I think Portis will work out fine in the long run (no pun intended)...Gibbs will figure it out. My only real concern about Portis is his effort. At the 49ers game he didn't seem to care or run with any passion. I hope he doesn't develop an attitude of "do it my way or i won't try hard."....so to speak. just my two cents.[/QUOTE]

this was the first and only game i could ever question Portis's effort. every other time i've seen him he was throwing his body into everyone.

i'm pretty sure Portis was hurt that game. he only played a half after that, and he made it known since then he had been playing through a bad right shoulder.

Ramseyfan:

Let me be explicit here: I do NOT want Portis traded or cut or demoted or anything else.

The Riggins stats from 78 and 79 are most comparable to Portis' season this year. In 78 and 79 the Redskins were mediocre; Russ Grimm and Mark May and company had not yet arrived. That's kinda what Portis had this year in DC.

The difference that I see between Riggins and Portis is that I can never recall Riggins appearing to "take a play off" let alone "take a weekend off". But I sure got that impression from Portis a couple of times this season and that is not a good sign at all.

Anyone else find it ironic that SC's icon happens to be Sean Taylor?

[QUOTE=Daseal]Anyone else find it ironic that SC's icon happens to be Sean Taylor?[/QUOTE]


LOL. You mean Meathead?

[QUOTE=Daseal]Anyone else find it ironic that SC's icon happens to be Sean Taylor?[/QUOTE]
LOL

ahhh the irony!

My father called me a meathead so many times that I lost count. So I know a meathead when I see one...

blasphemy! When Portis straps the Redskins to his back and carries them all the way to a Super Bowl championship then and not one second sooner can he be compared to Riggo...

portis is will never have the line that riggins had

[QUOTE=sportscurmudgeon]Ramseyfan:

Let me be explicit here: I do NOT want Portis traded or cut or demoted or anything else.

The Riggins stats from 78 and 79 are most comparable to Portis' season this year. In 78 and 79 the Redskins were mediocre; Russ Grimm and Mark May and company had not yet arrived. That's kinda what Portis had this year in DC.

The difference that I see between Riggins and Portis is that I can never recall Riggins appearing to "take a play off" let alone "take a weekend off". But I sure got that impression from Portis a couple of times this season and that is not a good sign at all.[/QUOTE]

Riggo had HEART........I don't think Portis has as much......I remember the stories of Riggo checking in the hospital with his back aching so bad.....sure a few beer cans rolled out from under the hosptial bed......but come Sunday Riggo would ignore the pain and play his heart out. Another thing I liked about Riggo was Gibbs asked him one time if he wanted to check back into the game to break a record....and Riggins replied, all I care about is winning the game, not records!!! Riggo is a TRUE Redskin and I would have to see something more out of Portis for him to earn that title..............

[QUOTE=sportscurmudgeon]The difference that I see between Riggins and Portis is that I can never recall Riggins appearing to "take a play off" let alone "take a weekend off". But I sure got that impression from Portis a couple of times this season and that is not a good sign at all.[/QUOTE]

You would probably remember this better than me, but didn't Riggo take a year off (a la Ricky) back in 1980 because he just didn't feel like playing?

Don't get me wrong, I love Riggins....

[QUOTE=smootsmack]You would probably remember this better than me, but didn't Riggo take a year off (a la Ricky) back in 1980 because he just didn't feel like playing?

Don't get me wrong, I love Riggins....[/QUOTE]
I think you are right. When Gibbs came to coach in 1981 he went to get Riggo back on the team with the intent to trade him, but when Gibbs went to meet with Riggo, Riggo said that he would come back only if there was a no trade clause in his contract. I am pretty sure I seen that on ESPN Classic last year when they had Redskins week, I recorded the whole week.

If I recall Riggo said "I'm bored, I'm broke, I'm back"

classic Riggins

Well Riggo was a strange guy to say the least. He did a lot of crazy things, but he never gave less than 100% in any game that he ever suited up in. And stats are not even the best measure of Riggo's greatness. When the Redskins needed 4 yards he got 4 and when they had 3rd and 1 he was rarely stopped short. He was devastating in the redzone and we have seen this year how important that is. I have been watching the Skins since the mid to late 70's and I think he is the best Redskins player that ever wore the uniform in my lifetime. No offense to Monk or Green or our great O-lineman but Riggo is the best...

There will NEVER EVVVEEERRR be another Riggo. Given the support than Riggo had- the o-line, and the deep passing theat Portis could be close. Portis may get more yards per season than Riggo but given the choice who to give it to on 4th and long the answer is obvious.

Don't get me wrong, I loved Riggo too, but remember that Gibbs was able to plug in not only multiple QB's but multiple RB's as well over his first tenure. So just imagine having both Ramsey and Portis in this offense for the next 5+ years! It will happen (barring injuries)....Consistency!!!
I think that was part of the original point. If Portis can gain 1300+ yards in his first year with a pitiful offense, then just imagine when Gibbs tweaks the system some and Portis is fully used to it. Everyone was talking about how he was on pace to, and should have broken 1500 yards, but everyone seemed to overlook that NO Redskin has EVER rushed for over 1450 yards, let alone 1500....not Riggo, not Davis, not anyone! If he hadn't gotten the injury, he just might have come close to Davis' Skins record of 1432 if not broken it.....if he had the 118 yards that Betts had against the Vikings, his total would have been 1433. I agree that Portis will most likely eventually own most of the Skins rushing records.
Another thing, Riggo was known for not being the easiest guy to deal with off the field, but on it, he was awesome....I see alot of the same in Clinton....just a different "style" both on and off the field.

john riggins ran over players,just ask lawrence taylor,lyle blackwood,bill bates,randy white or harvey martin.clinton portis runs around players,very rarely will he run straight into somebody.riggins was a power runner,portis is a finess runner.

until portis came here last year,stephen davis was the best running back the redskins have had since john riggins.davis did'nt mind laying a hit on anybody either.

I like this quote about the Portis Baily trade:

"Manning's play-action touchdown toss to Dallas Clark, dropped in between three defenders. So much for that upgraded Broncos secondary; if the season was any indication, they should have dealt Clinton Portis for the rest of Washington's defense."

[QUOTE=Redskins8588]I like this quote about the Portis Baily trade:

"Manning's play-action touchdown toss to Dallas Clark, dropped in between three defenders. So much for that upgraded Broncos secondary; if the season was any indication, they should have dealt Clinton Portis for the rest of Washington's defense."[/QUOTE]


That is a great quote....