[The Goat]

Already posted this elsewhere but it applies:

I don't think any Skins' fan should get too hyped about Sproles. First, no way does SD let him go. LT seems to be breaking down and SD probably should have traded him and kept Turner: they won't make a similar mistake w/ another dynamite backfield threat.

Secondly, I'd venture to say Sproles wouldn't have much success here. I say that because our run-blocking, even at it's best, is nothing compared to SD. Our old fogies can push off the line a few yards when they're very fresh but rarely make blocks down field, which is why CP doesn't break the big ones anymore. Sure he can grit 7 or 8 yards w/ defenders battering him but there is a certain number of yards from the LOS where it's just CP facing several defenders and our lineman are nowhere in sight. At no time was this more evident than in SF, when I repeatedly saw the o-line give up on blocks/plays while CP was still on his feet. Heyer especially has a knack for giving up on plays, while Rabach/Thomas just don't seem to have what it takes to block DTs or really aggressive LBs. Not to get completely off subject but our line regressed so much this season to the point of looking lazy, slow and very incompetent IMHO. This is a very sad group at this point. Anyway, the whole point is Sproles would struggle mightily to break anything big w/ our line.

To the bigger debate of how to get more dynamic in our backfield, i don't know whether another/different RB is the answer. Again, speedsters and scat-backs just won't have success until we almost completely recycle the line. Have we forgotten that CP was the premier scat-back when we traded for him? To his extreme credit he's become a GD bruiser, but really it's what he had to do (to have success as a Skin). If anything, we should go the opposite direction of Sproles (until the line is completely recycled) and grab a great big bruiser. Honestly I'd hoped Betts would become this guy more each year, adding more bulk and strength to pound defenses whenever CP is out of the game (at least 10-10 carries). Betts is not that player I suppose. He's a Portis lite as someone said.