ESPN.com's Top RB Duos No Portis/Betts

[skinsfan_nn]

Originally Posted by irish

I didnt say anything about CP other than he can pop out one more great year but likely doesnt have 3 great seasons in him. As for Betts, besides the few games when he took over for any injured CP and ran well, what has he done thats so spectacular?

And your basing your he can only pop out one more good year on what? Why would you think a 26 year old back that is coming of a great year especially with the o-line situation and healing from injuries ( and still producing 1300 yards rushing, 400 receiving...not bad huh) not be able to have at least three really solid seasons minimum left? Please explain that one.

And when Betts came in for 9 game starts in 2006 when CP went down, he had 1154 yards, 4.7 YDC not bad for a 2nd back, other than that not to much I guess. Just your generic middle of the road tandem......

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by skinsfan_nn

And your basing your he can only pop out one more good year on what? Why would you think a 26 year old back that is coming of a great year especially with the o-line situation and healing from injuries ( and still producing 1300 yards rushing, 400 receiving...not bad huh) not be able to have at least three really solid seasons minimum left? Please explain that one.

And when Betts came in for 9 game starts in 2006 when CP went down, he had 1154 yards, 4.7 YDC not bad for a 2nd back, other than that not to much I guess. Just your generic middle of the road tandem......

What great year? He was sub 3.9 YPC and fumbled 6 times.

Anyway, thats what has me worried is that he had a poor year at age 26. It was probably just the line, but I'm not sure.

[skinsfan_nn]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

What great year? He was sub 3.9 YPC and fumbled 6 times.

Anyway, thats what has me worried is that he had a poor year at age 26. It was probably just the line, but I'm not sure.

Coming off the injuries he suffered in 2006 how in the world can you consider the OVERALL production last season of CP poor....? That makes no sense.

If you want to look at that narrow of a picture of his so called sub par YPC at 3.9 and 6 fumbles, not that these are great numbers BUT coming off the injuries in 06 I don't think anyone really knew how strong CP would perform last year to begin with.

Look at the window of his last 4 games leading us into the playoffs, of course with help from Todd and the rest of the offense and really good D. But CP came down the stretch hot when we really needed him.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by skinsfan_nn

Coming off the injuries he suffered in 2006 how in the world can you consider the OVERALL production last season of CP poor....? That makes no sense.

If you want to look at that narrow of a picture of his so called sub par YPC at 3.9 and 6 fumbles, not that these are great numbers BUT coming off the injuries in 06 I don't think anyone really knew how strong CP would perform last year to begin with.

Look at the window of his last 4 games leading us into the playoffs, of course with help from Todd and the rest of the offense and really good D. But CP came down the stretch hot when we really needed him.

He played very well down the stretch.

Your original assertion was that he had a great year. That is downright incorrect, at least by the standards Portis set for himself. He had a pair of nice games in November, and then finished strong with a great final three games. There was certainly flashes of brilliance throughout, but again, his entire body of work was the least impressive he's had since 2004.

I did give the injury earlier as a potential excuse; but it was a broken hand so I'm not sure how much that's supposed to affect his running.

Also, I don't know how you can argue that overall production isn't important in determining if he had a good year or not. Your modified assertion, that his year was average all things considered: that I can get on board with. He just happened to have a lot of bad games last year.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

What great year? He was sub 3.9 YPC and fumbled 6 times.

Anyway, thats what has me worried is that he had a poor year at age 26. It was probably just the line, but I'm not sure.

What poor year?

I wouldn't say he had a great year but it definitely wasn't a poor year.

He was 6th in the NFL in rushing yards, and 4th in the NFL in rushing TDs.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

What poor year?

I wouldn't say he had a great year but it definitely wasn't a poor year.

He was 6th in the NFL in rushing yards, and 4th in the NFL in rushing TDs.

He got the most carries (325), so he had the very best chance to be No. 1 in both categories.

6th in rushing yards with the most carries is very poor. You can't put all the blame on Portis here: it's hardly all his fault. But we do have to call a spade a spade.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

He got the most carries (325), so he had the very best chance to be No. 1 in both categories.

6th in rushing yards with the most carries is very poor. You can't put all the blame on Portis here: it's hardly all his fault. But we do have to call a spade a spade.

I still wouldn't call it a poor year.

You can also use your most carries argument to explain why he fumbled so much.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

You can also use your most carries argument to explain why he fumbled so much.

Yes, we certainly can.

As I said, I'm not worried about the fumbles for the future, he's been pretty good at holding the ball over the most of his career. Still, a fumble per 54 carries is a lot, and contributed to a rough all around year for CP.

I'll repeat this so I'm not misunderstood: I think he's going to be very good in 2008. I just don't think it was smart to guarantee his 2009 salary ahead of time. Tons of stuff can happen to make the investment look horrible in hindsight and bring the haters out in full force.

[Miller101]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

He got the most carries (325), so he had the very best chance to be No. 1 in both categories.

6th in rushing yards with the most carries is very poor. You can't put all the blame on Portis here: it's hardly all his fault. But we do have to call a spade a spade.

Hey GTripp........I agree with you it is pretty poor. But, keep in mind that he lost two offensive lineman once the year started. Two of his best run blockers too!

And I remember for one game..........I think it was green bay........we were shuffling guards and tackles around as if there was a revolving door out on the field. Don't you remember? Wade goes down with something and then Heyer steps in. Heyer slips on the wet turf and does the splits. A 300 pound guy doing the splits.........needless to say he went down and then Wade, playing hurt, comes back in. Fabini goes down and then that left guard, crap his name escapes me, comes in. But then our center goes down so he went to play center and someone else stepped up at guard..........................I'm pretty sure thats how it all happened. But, If I have left a detail out please forgive me. I try to forget about those games.

Now that I think about it, Being 4th in scoring and 6th in rushing is pretty good when you have to go through all that! The only thing that pisses me off with Portis is its been about two years now since he's knocked out a blitzing linebacker! It appears that once he hurt his shoulder he's lost his ability to knock out a blitzing linebacker. So he has lost a step. But only in his blocking ability. His running ability is still there. Just give him that healthy offensive line and it will be alright!

[irish]

Originally Posted by skinsfan_nn

And your basing your he can only pop out one more good year on what? Why would you think a 26 year old back that is coming of a great year especially with the o-line situation and healing from injuries ( and still producing 1300 yards rushing, 400 receiving...not bad huh) not be able to have at least three really solid seasons minimum left? Please explain that one.

And when Betts came in for 9 game starts in 2006 when CP went down, he had 1154 yards, 4.7 YDC not bad for a 2nd back, other than that not to much I guess. Just your generic middle of the road tandem......

Yes Betts was great in those 9 games but like I mentioned, thats the only thing he's ever done thats note-worthy. 9 games does not a great back make.

I dont think his year was great. It was good but not great and if he keeps that up he will be doing better than most backs and Skins fans will be happy. My problem is he has been having injury problems these past few seasons and I just dont see the o-line getting that much better (sure some of the injured guys will be back but they are a year older and likely will go down again) so I think what CP is doing now is the best he can do (which aint bad) but IMO his career has peaked and he is on the down-side now.

[skinsfan_nn]

Originally Posted by irish

Yes Betts was great in those 9 games but like I mentioned, thats the only thing he's ever done thats note-worthy. 9 gamesdoes not a great back make.

I dont think his year was great. It was good but not great and if he keeps that up he will be doing better than most backs and Skins fans will be happy. My problem is he has been having injury problems these past few seasons and I just dont see the o-line getting that much better (sure some of the injured guys will be back but they are a year older and likely will go down again) so I think what CP is doing now is the best he can do (which aint bad) but IMO his career has peaked and he is on the down-side now.

I didn't say he was a great back, thats why he's #2 on the depth chart. But I certainly think your assessmest as Betts being just to weak is way off.

I think overall we have a very solid tandem.

[irish]

Originally Posted by skinsfan_nn

I didn't say he was a great back, thats why he's #2 on the depth chart. But I certainly think your assessmest as Betts being just to weak is way off.

I think overall we have a very solid tandem.

I agree they are a solid tandem but not one of the top tandems.

[jdlea]

Originally Posted by irish

I agree they are a solid tandem but not one of the top tandems.

They're definitely better than Jones and Duckett, though. That list is garbage to me as soon as Jones and Duckett become a dynamic running back duo.