Portis in 2005

[Ron Burgundy and Gold]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

True but what I'm saying is who cares if it's Portis or someone else who gets the TDs?

hm yeah I agree with that, but I'd like to see Clinton get some breakaway TD's like the first carry of the season last year, I mean 63 yard touchdown runs arent very common but with his skill he should be able to break off 30 and 40 yard touchdown runs, help stretch the offense out, help the verticality of the offense by drawing more defenders into the box and opening up play action routes. I think it's a very telling sign of our offense that he only ran for 5 last year, I expect him to double that this year.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

IF he's not injured, I'd say he'll get somewhere around 1500 yards.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Not only do I love Portis' running game, but he's a good pass catcher (as has been pointed out) and he's a damn good blocker - especially for his size.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

In one of the highlight films posted on this site, it shows him making a HELL of a block...

[Riggo44]

1500 + I'll say he gets 1821 yards. Not a yard less and not a yard more.

[JWsleep]

If he got 1300 with last year's offense, I gotta go with 1500 plus. Imagine if we can actually PASS the ball so other teams can't stack the line? I also expect the average to go way up--if we get the passing game going and force teams to back off, Clinton is going to break a few. He can fly. Remeber, he had a "down year" at 1300!

[TheMalcolmConnection]

I like the fact that the whole notion he was a "system back" is finally gone. He proved last year he still has what he had in Denver.

[Daseal]

I like the fact that the whole notion he was a "system back" is finally gone

I don't think it is gone. We're implimenting a more denver-esque system, which caters to his forte. However, there's nothing wrong with being a system back. John Riggins wasn't going to be a real slasher and cutter for you. He probably wasn't bright enough to find a hole on his own. So pointing and saying run that way was probably the only system he could really excel in.

I don't think the rookie special team players will get as many snaps at RB as most. I think we're going to try to keep Clinton in the game. Last year Portis hardly got any TDs. Hell, he mighta had more TDs called back than he scored! I have a feeling we may put these guys in as blocking fullbacks and he's going to carry the ball. The problem is rarely do we ever throw in the Redzone, so if Portis ain't scoring, prolly means the rest of the team isn't either.

[mooby]

okay lets see. i would say 1500 yards or more based on what he got last season. we had a number of o-line injuries, not to mention the spotty play of our center, and he still rushed for over 1300 yards. provided the 0-line doesn't get injured again, i don't see why he wouldn't be able to get 1500.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Originally Posted by Daseal

I don't think it is gone. We're implimenting a more denver-esque system, which caters to his forte. However, there's nothing wrong with being a system back. John Riggins wasn't going to be a real slasher and cutter for you. He probably wasn't bright enough to find a hole on his own. So pointing and saying run that way was probably the only system he could really excel in.

I don't think the rookie special team players will get as many snaps at RB as most. I think we're going to try to keep Clinton in the game. Last year Portis hardly got any TDs. Hell, he mighta had more TDs called back than he scored! I have a feeling we may put these guys in as blocking fullbacks and he's going to carry the ball. The problem is rarely do we ever throw in the Redzone, so if Portis ain't scoring, prolly means the rest of the team isn't either.

Very true. Let me rephrase in that I think he is getting away from the idea that his talent was due to the system rather than the system amplified his talent.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

It's crazy not to say that Denver can take an average back and make him look good. They took Portis, who's among the top 5 backs in the league, and made him look like Barry Sanders. As MC said, the system simply amplified Portis' talents.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Yeah, I don't doubt that either and honestly I think Reuben Droughns will be a bust for Cleveland.

[celts32]

1300 yards for Betts...

Just kidding with Betts. I would say portis will get about as many yards as last year. Hopefully, it will be with less carries though and a higher YPC. And a higher YPC average will make for more success through the air.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

I'd go for that. I just feel like he'll have more yards because we are a running/ball-control team.

[GoSkins!]

I think that Gibbs will want to prove that he can get 1500 yards out of Portis just to prove he's as good as Shanahan.