Do You think Betts is Expendable?

[30gut]

Originally Posted by gw0103

I'm just wondering what the Redskins Fans think about Ladell Betts. The guy is a great character piece in the locker room, He does virtually anything the coaches ask, and is pretty versatile, but my thought is that He and Portis are the same mould of RB essentially.. He doesn't have the breakout speed or the line jarring bulk that We need at a #2 back.... We are going to need a RB that can shoulder some of the load so Portis can get some sort of break and have enough steam in the late to post season, and unless the guy has a serious blossoming/break-out, I don't see it.

The guy has proven that he can be a 1,000 yard rusher in this league.
Its up to the coaches to play him.
Imo Betts lack of production its a coaching/playing time issue rather then an ability issue.

[Nflnick11]

Originally Posted by 30gut

The guy has proven that he can be a 1,000 yard rusher in this league.
Its up to the coaches to play him.
Imo Betts lack of production its a coaching/playing time issue rather then an ability issue.

He also fumbles during key times of the game....Seattle this year...st. Louis the year we lost portis for the year

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by Nflnick11

He also fumbles during key times of the game....Seattle this year...st. Louis the year we lost portis for the year

The fumble against St Louis was effing ridiculous...can't remember what I threw at the wall but it broke. Held a grudge against Betts for quite a while. But when he catches a pass out of the backfield and barrels over a defender or two I warm up to him again...Zorn needs to use him smarter and we'll have a more dynamic offense.

[diehardskin2982]

he may become expendible with james being released. Then again its a 3 rb nfc east

[Eknox]

I would love to see him replaced, we need a number 2 who comes in and makes some noise, not fumble or lose yardage, but one who can take it to the house or pound 3,4, and 5 yards out down the middle.IMO

[Skins4L]

I wouldnt mind Betts if Portis wasnt our #1. because like weve said during season every year... u get the feeling watching Betts hes a "CP-Lite"... a slower, less elusive RB with almost the same running style.

WE NEED A CHANGE OF PACE. either a bruiser.. or a speed demon faster or just as fast as CP.

[53Fan]

Originally Posted by 30gut

The guy has proven that he can be a 1,000 yard rusher in this league.
Its up to the coaches to play him.
Imo Betts lack of production its a coaching/playing time issue rather then an ability issue.

I agree with 30gut. If the coaches used Betts more to "spell" Portis, I think he would do a fine job. There doesn't seem to be a "change up" plan. It's more or less, run Portis until he needs a blow or gets hurt, then put Betts in. I don't know if it would be any different with any other back we'd get. I can understand wanting a speedy back or even a bruiser to put into the mix, but would he even be used? They don't seem very interested in that or they would have addressed it. Maybe that will change w/Aldridge or the other guy but using Betts more would at least save Portis from being so beat up at the end of the season. Is it because of the coaching or Portis? He doesn't seem to like being taken out unless it's his own decision.

[MTK]

I always find it funny when people are like, I remember that fumble from 3 years ago and I still hate him for that. Really? Like the guy hasn't done plenty of good things since then and before? One mistake and you're gonna crucify the guy? Please.

[irish]

Expendable? Yes. I cant think of anything Betts has done to make him a must keep.

[GoSkins!]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I always find it funny when people are like, I remember that fumble from 3 years ago and I still hate him for that. Really? Like the guy hasn't done plenty of good things since then and before? One mistake and you're gonna crucify the guy? Please.

I don't think that it was just one fumble. As a point in fact, he had 6 in 2006. Worse yet, he has done it at very inopportune times. In limited action, he has fumbled only once each of the last two years, and lost them both. I think to use the word "hate" is harsh, but "frustrated" would be very appropriate. I even remember Portis being very frustrated on the one from last year.

Still, Betts value is really as a pass catcher out of the backfield. He excels at that. Not sure why no one else has brought this up. Not the scat back people are looking for here, but he does have exceptional skills at slipping out of the backfield on screens and outlet passes. Zorn seemed to be getting much better at using him to do those things later in the year and I expect this year he will be a legit threat in the passing game.

[freddyg12]

I really question those who say Betts is a "slower" version of CP. Maybe at one time, but I would doubt that now. Certainly, Betts has as much or more of a burst than CP & hits the hole just as quickly IMO. He's not as tough as CP & doesn't make as much when there's nothing there, but in the open field I think he's probably better than CP at this point.

[SBXVII]

Having not read the other threads my feeling is expendable only to the point that he is similar to Portis but Portis does it better. If anyone was expendable to me to get rid of or let go it would be Rock. He's third on the depth chart and honestly only does one job. He's a KR. He does not even do PR. They only used him as a RB when Portis went down and that was sparingly to the effect they brought in Alexander. You have 3 RB's in case one goes down and they still brought someone in off the street and used him instead of Rock.

I think the position coach was saying prior to draft that he would like a small faster RB like a scat back, one that could take it to the edge. Portis , Betts, nor Rock have the speed to do that. Originally Portis did but he was asked to put on weight during Gibbs tenure and he slowed down some. Portis is more of the straight ahead runner now. Ram it through the line. However I would still be looking for a solid heavier goal line RB/FB to punch the ball over the line for the 1-4 yrd gain. Heavy duty package.

I would probubly get rid of Rock and allow one of our other KR's to step up and fill both KR and PR and leave ARE to WR only. That person might be one of the smaller faster RB's we picked up prior to the draft, the one from Canada or the one from the Bronco's who are more of the scat back types.

I would obviously keep Mason cause he is the second coming and would be nice to develope for t he future to replace Betts and Portis.

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by SBXVII

Having not read the other threads my feeling is expendable only to the point that he is similar to Portis but Portis does it better. If anyone was expendable to me to get rid of or let go it would be Rock. He's third on the depth chart and honestly only does one job. He's a KR. He does not even do PR. They only used him as a RB when Portis went down and that was sparingly to the effect they brought in Alexander. You have 3 RB's in case one goes down and they still brought someone in off the street and used him instead of Rock.

I think the position coach was saying prior to draft that he would like a small faster RB like a scat back, one that could take it to the edge. Portis , Betts, nor Rock have the speed to do that. Originally Portis did but he was asked to put on weight during Gibbs tenure and he slowed down some. Portis is more of the straight ahead runner now. Ram it through the line. However I would still be looking for a solid heavier goal line RB/FB to punch the ball over the line for the 1-4 yrd gain. Heavy duty package.

I would probubly get rid of Rock and allow one of our other KR's to step up and fill both KR and PR and leave ARE to WR only. That person might be one of the smaller faster RB's we picked up prior to the draft, the one from Canada or the one from the Bronco's who are more of the scat back types.

I would obviously keep Mason cause he is the second coming and would be nice to develope for t he future to replace Betts and Portis.

One thing about Rock is that he is the ST "QB". Certainly we need to look at the RB's in training camp/preseason, but Rock is more to the team then just a KR. (Hyping a draft pick, Cody Glenn may kinda fill this role)

[redskingrove]

Portis #1 back, Sellers as FB, Keep Cartwright as #2 back, and let Alridge and Mason compete for the #3 back position. Dorsey or #3 back competition loser could compete for special teams or be practice squad. Trade Betts for a starter quality LB. Saints only have 2 backs. Maybe they would be interested in a trade for Betts or another team. Betts is a good back but not a change of pace back for Portis. Maybe Alridge or Mason who are quick slash type runners can compete as the #2 back even.

[celts32]

I think Betts is expendable but I think they missed the window on his value. Hindsight is 20/20 but they definitely should have traded him after his big half season a couple years ago. He is not a good compliment to Portis which meant he was never going to be more then a backup here.