ESPN: Best backs in the league

Mattyk · 06-05-2008, 11:55 AM

9. Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins
Watch: Portis highlights
Superpower -- Portis is simply impressive in terms of production. He is near the top of the league every year and is a tough player who will fight through bumps and bruises. He attacks the line of scrimmage and can make the first defender miss in the hole. He does not have elite size but knows how to finish his runs.
Kryptonite -- He puts the ball on the ground too often and at times does so in critical situations. He can be aloof when he needs to take care of the ball, dropping easy passes to kill drives and missing blocks in pass protection. He has great physical tools but at times seems to check out mentally.

Full list: ESPN - LT the clear choice as the best back in the NFL - NFL

BleedBurgundy · 06-05-2008, 12:23 PM

Not sure where the pass blocking criticism comes from. He's been pretty well regarded in that area throughout the league.

Monkeydad · 06-05-2008, 12:33 PM

9th? Bag of crap.

Missing blocks? Truck of crap.

MonkFan4Life · 06-05-2008, 12:37 PM

"missing blocks in pass protection" ???

Word ? Word ????

I need to get some what he's tokin because it has got to be that FIRE !!!!!

redsk1 · 06-05-2008, 01:04 PM

CP has to be one of if not the best blocking RB in the league. Someone didn't do there homework.

TheMalcolmConnection · 06-05-2008, 01:06 PM

And Barber ABOVE him?! Give me a break.

Schneed10 · 06-05-2008, 01:12 PM

Well, the author of that one just ruined his credibility entirely. Missing blocks in pass protection? Now you're just making shit up.

over the mountain · 06-05-2008, 01:25 PM

^^^ obviously a back without break away speed or history of consistently putting up 1200 plus yard seasons but does fall forward upon contact is better than a back who can make the first guy miss in the hole and has repeatedly put up 1200 yard seasons.

besides who actually pays attention to a back who lunges thru the air to lay out oncoming linebackers and linemen? (obviously not the writers for espn)

go skins!

irish · 06-05-2008, 02:25 PM

9th seems a bit low to me. He could be up a few slots but not into the top 5.

That Guy · 06-05-2008, 02:27 PM

not a terrible list actually, but addai and barber are too high and johnson's run only lasted 2 years till his OL fell apart and he looked... not so great. he's also 28 now with 2 good years vs portis who's 26 with 5.

so, i'd move portis up to 5 myself, mainly based on track record and production.

Mattyk · 06-05-2008, 02:32 PM

I would put Portis at #6.

sandtrapjack · 06-05-2008, 03:27 PM

Adrian Peterson at #2 struck a nerver in me. Yeah he had a great rookie season, but lets see if he gets bitten by the "sophomore slump" before we rank him at #2 in the league.

BleedBurgundy · 06-05-2008, 04:01 PM

@ stj: Agreed, let's see A.P. maintain that for a few years before we "crown his ass..."

This does look like something put together based solely on FF numbers.

redskinsfanatic · 06-05-2008, 04:47 PM

portis is one hell of a running back,no matter what anybody says.he's going back to play in a system he starred in denver,hopefully he'll put up better numbers,stay uninjured,and
make the pro bowl this year.

hail_2_da_skins · 06-06-2008, 09:01 AM

PUT DOWN THE CRACK PIPE!!!

This writer must be on drugs! How can Adrian Peterson be rated #2 back overall when he is not even the starter on his own team? Peterson is a great talent, but he isn't #2. There are two other names that jump out at me, #3 Steven Jackson and #5 Larry Johnson. Here we have two often injured backs. Steven Jackson is way overrated, he is not that good. Larry Johnson is past his prime. He was once a top five back but just like Shaun Alexander, he is on the downside of his career.

06-05-2008, 11:55 AM	#1
Mattyk ‎\m/ Join Date: Feb 2004 Age: 40 Posts: 72,653	ESPN: Best backs in the league 9. Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins Watch: Portis highlights Superpower -- Portis is simply impressive in terms of production. He is near the top of the league every year and is a tough player who will fight through bumps and bruises. He attacks the line of scrimmage and can make the first defender miss in the hole. He does not have elite size but knows how to finish his runs. Kryptonite -- He puts the ball on the ground too often and at times does so in critical situations. He can be aloof when he needs to take care of the ball, dropping easy passes to kill drives and missing blocks in pass protection. He has great physical tools but at times seems to check out mentally. Full list: ESPN - LT the clear choice as the best back in the NFL - NFL __________________ Support The Warpath! \| Warpath Shop

06-05-2008, 12:37 PM	#4
MonkFan4Life The Starter Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 35 Posts: 1,830	Re: ESPN: Best backs in the league "missing blocks in pass protection" ??? Word ? Word ???? I need to get some what he's tokin because it has got to be that FIRE !!!!! __________________ Catch me on YouTube ! http://www.youtube.com/user/DowntimeRB?feature=mhw5 The "punishment" by the league : "It's like getting a ticket for going too fast on a road a week ago and they changed the speed limit today"

06-05-2008, 01:12 PM	#7
Schneed10 RG Glee Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Newtown Square, PA Age: 33 Posts: 7,892	Re: ESPN: Best backs in the league Well, the author of that one just ruined his credibility entirely. Missing blocks in pass protection? Now you're just making shit up. __________________ Skins' Salary Cap Status \| CrazyCanuck's Cap Figures by Player \| Salary Cap 101

06-05-2008, 01:25 PM	#8
over the mountain Playmaker Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: baltimore Posts: 2,666	Re: ESPN: Best backs in the league ^^^ obviously a back without break away speed or history of consistently putting up 1200 plus yard seasons but does fall forward upon contact is better than a back who can make the first guy miss in the hole and has repeatedly put up 1200 yard seasons. besides who actually pays attention to a back who lunges thru the air to lay out oncoming linebackers and linemen? (obviously not the writers for espn) go skins!

06-05-2008, 02:25 PM	#9
irish Playmaker Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 3,328	Re: ESPN: Best backs in the league 9th seems a bit low to me. He could be up a few slots but not into the top 5.

06-05-2008, 12:23 PM	#2
BleedBurgundy Playmaker Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 4,434	Re: ESPN: Best backs in the league Not sure where the pass blocking criticism comes from. He's been pretty well regarded in that area throughout the league. __________________ "All natural institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian, or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit." Thomas Paine Last edited by BleedBurgundy; 06-05-2008 at 12:23 PM.

06-05-2008, 12:33 PM	#3
Monkeydad Gamebreaker Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: PA Age: 33 Posts: 14,884	Re: ESPN: Best backs in the league 9th? Bag of crap. Missing blocks? Truck of crap.

06-05-2008, 01:04 PM	#5
redsk1 The Starter Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2,351	Re: ESPN: Best backs in the league CP has to be one of if not the best blocking RB in the league. Someone didn't do there homework.

06-05-2008, 01:06 PM	#6
TheMalcolmConnection I like big (_\|_)s. Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lexington, Virginia Age: 31 Posts: 17,119	Re: ESPN: Best backs in the league And Barber ABOVE him?! Give me a break. __________________ Regret nothing. At one time it was exactly what you wanted.

06-05-2008, 02:27 PM	#10
That Guy Living Legend Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Springfield, VA Age: 30 Posts: 15,618	Re: ESPN: Best backs in the league not a terrible list actually, but addai and barber are too high and johnson's run only lasted 2 years till his OL fell apart and he looked... not so great. he's also 28 now with 2 good years vs portis who's 26 with 5. so, i'd move portis up to 5 myself, mainly based on track record and production. __________________ Who says shameless self promotion is stupid? oh yeah, that was me... Click For Tunes!

06-05-2008, 02:32 PM	#11
Mattyk ‎\m/ Join Date: Feb 2004 Age: 40 Posts: 72,653	Re: ESPN: Best backs in the league I would put Portis at #6. __________________ Support The Warpath! \| Warpath Shop

06-05-2008, 03:27 PM	#12
sandtrapjack The Starter Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,545	Re: ESPN: Best backs in the league Adrian Peterson at #2 struck a nerver in me. Yeah he had a great rookie season, but lets see if he gets bitten by the "sophomore slump" before we rank him at #2 in the league.

06-05-2008, 04:01 PM	#13
BleedBurgundy Playmaker Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 4,434	Re: ESPN: Best backs in the league @ stj: Agreed, let's see A.P. maintain that for a few years before we "crown his ass..." This does look like something put together based solely on FF numbers. __________________ "All natural institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian, or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit." Thomas Paine

06-05-2008, 04:47 PM	#14
redskinsfanatic Banned Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 542	Re: ESPN: Best backs in the league portis is one hell of a running back,no matter what anybody says.he's going back to play in a system he starred in denver,hopefully he'll put up better numbers,stay uninjured,and make the pro bowl this year.

06-06-2008, 09:01 AM	#15
hail_2_da_skins Impact Rookie Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: St. Louis, MO Age: 57 Posts: 862	Re: ESPN: Best backs in the league PUT DOWN THE CRACK PIPE!!! This writer must be on drugs! How can Adrian Peterson be rated #2 back overall when he is not even the starter on his own team? Peterson is a great talent, but he isn't #2. There are two other names that jump out at me, #3 Steven Jackson and #5 Larry Johnson. Here we have two often injured backs. Steven Jackson is way overrated, he is not that good. Larry Johnson is past his prime. He was once a top five back but just like Shaun Alexander, he is on the downside of his career. __________________ "HAIL TO THE SKINS"

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ESPN: Best backs in the league

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