Portis and Betts: Should We Just Stick With Portis?

[jdlea]

Originally Posted by Redskin Rich

Nah, I wasn't really trying to compare Portis to Hicks in regard to talent... but as to a scat back with the Redskins... I like a smash mouth... and yes, I was comparing Betts to Stephen Davis from his early days here in DC.

Please tell me people's memories are not so short to remember how lowly we thought of Davis in the early days.

What I think you're misconstruing is the fact that Clinton isn't a "scat back" and Ladell Betts isn't a smash mouth back. I've never seen a "smash mouth" back get hit with a shoulder pad and not wrapped up, not score a TD. Also, never seen one get blown up the way Betts did yesterday. Betts is, at best, a poor man's Priest Holmes in that he has good vision, but he doesn't effectively use his supposed power and he's not a good power back.

Bottom line: Portis blocks better and runs harder. Betts is a great change of pace back, he's about as powerful as Ki Jana Carter...

[jdlea]

I really like the way the two guys are working right now more because Portis is staying fresh and he's staying relatively healthy. He hasn't been healthy since last preseason and he's still playing well. I like getting Betts in there to keep Portis fresh, however, I can't accept an argument that Portis (the toughest back they've had since Davis) is somehow a scat back who can't run north south. He's the best north south runner on the team beyond Sellers. Portis is a great back and Betts is a good backup. That's where it ends. This shouldn't be a Portis v. Betts thing, but apparently it has to continue to turn into it.

I've been pleased with what I've seen, more because of W's than because of any overwhelming effectiveness. Portis is playing pretty well, Betts isn't right now. As the season wears on, everyone will be happy the Skins have them both.