Portis: Sit or Start Him?
 

If you were Zorn, would you be inclined to sit or start Portis this weekend? On the one hand, Portis is pretty banged up and could use the rest, the Ravens defense will likely stuff whomever we have in the backfield, and it's unlikely that we will win this Sunday. On the other hand, Portis is our best weapon (healthy or not), we have our backs to the wall in terms of the playoffs, and I'm afraid that Betts will get Jason killed when he's back there in pass protection.

Re: Portis: Sit or Start Him?
 

I say play more Betts and keep Portis to 15 carries..

Re: Portis: Sit or Start Him?
 

Sit him -- give him an extra week and he will be good for 3 100+ games against Cin SF and Phi (3 wins) making us 10-6

Re: Portis: Sit or Start Him?
 

[quote=hooskins;507650]I say play more Betts and keep Portis to 15 carries..[/quote]

yea i was thinkin somethin like that....maybe start CP...give em the first couple carries...let em disappear...then bring him in on 3rd downs..or really run him in the 2nd half or the redzone when/if the D is broken down.

Re: Portis: Sit or Start Him?
 

Play him. You can't assume anything in today's NFL, not even that SF and Cinci are automatic victories with a healthy Portis.

Play to win. Play him. He'll fight through.

Re: Portis: Sit or Start Him?
 

i rarely agree with schneed. but he is spot on. the key phrase is play to win. and besides, anytime Betts gets some carries, he fumbles:(

Re: Portis: Sit or Start Him?
 

If he says he can go, I say F it, let'm play.

Re: Portis: Sit or Start Him?
 

Play to win the game, if it gets out of hands either way, sit him down.

Re: Portis: Sit or Start Him?
 

Betts is a worry as far as turnovers go, especially against a Raven's D in a game that will likely be decided by a few field goals and field position. Also, Betts is not the blocker Portis is.

However, as GTripp pointed out in his weekly offensive breakdown, Portis badly missed a few blocking assignments last Sunday, which is very unlike him. Now add a jammed neck to the equation, and you've got to wonder how effective he'll be. We all appreciate his toughness at this point, but if he's too hurt to do his job properly...

My opinion is he should be splitting carries this week. I agree with SGG that Baltimore will in all likelihood stuff whoever we put back there. If we rotate him and Betts evenly, at least we'll have fresher legs toting the rock.

We need some creative playcalling on offense or we're gonna get murdered by that defense.

Re: Portis: Sit or Start Him?
 

I would prefer to sit him, let him rest for the remaining games, and let Betts get some action. I'd rather go in with Betts against the Ravens and a relatively healthy Portis against our remaining opponents, than play a banged up Portis and only aggravate his injuries.

Re: Portis: Sit or Start Him?
 

We lived and died by the success and failure of CP. if he can play he has to play. When he's effective we win. When he's not getting the job done we lose. We can't afford to lose this one

Re: Portis: Sit or Start Him?
 

Either way works for me; However, I wonder if Portis being out, would push Zorn to be more aggressive.

Re: Portis: Sit or Start Him?
 

[quote=Sheriff Gonna Getcha;507649]If you were Zorn, would you be inclined to sit or start Portis this weekend? On the one hand, Portis is pretty banged up and could use the rest, the Ravens defense will likely stuff whomever we have in the backfield, and it's unlikely that we will win this Sunday. On the other hand, Portis is our best weapon (healthy or not), we have our backs to the wall in terms of the playoffs, and I'm afraid that Betts will get Jason killed when he's back there in pass protection.[/quote]

No matter who we start its about the playcalling are we going to play into their strength and run the ball or are we going to exploit the fact that they have a pathetic secondary, even with Reed back there he can't run backwards only forwards, thats why he makes the plays he does its always action in front of him. So we cant 2-5 yard pass on them.

If we start CP get Cooley and the WR involved early/often. and spell Betts 1/2the time in first half and see where we stand. Ravens at home are going to be amped up in front of the night drunk crowd. If CP is limping we need BETTS to step up for once this season.

I'm telling you all, we need to start spreading the offense and roll out more, too many drives are being stalled without a first down b/c of bad pocket presence and poor blocking. Spread it out and they won't be batting down passes at the line. DUH ZORN.

Re: Portis: Sit or Start Him?
 

sit him, this game won't be won on the ground.

Re: Portis: Sit or Start Him?
 

[quote=Schneed10;507667]Play him. You can't assume anything in today's NFL, not even that SF and Cinci are automatic victories with a healthy Portis.

Play to win. Play him. He'll fight through.[/quote]

So Portis at 50% to 60% is better than a 100% Betts?? I say sit him down. Every team in the NFL plays back ups. Betts has carried the load and he a very capable NFL RB. He just needs to hold on to the damn ball.