Portis v. Betts: The Grass is Always Greener

[Redskin]

Portis finds the endzone

[djnemo65]

What I don't understand is why we aren't utilizing a two back approach more. It seems like since the Miami game - by far Betts' most succesful outing - Portis has gotten the overwhelming majority of the carries. Why not try and balance the attack more, especially since Portis hasn't been that productive?

[billyharless]

Portis doesn't have any passion for his game any longer from what I can tell. NFL running backs have an average lifespan of 6 years in the NFL. Portis might have already seen his best days. The Skins need to start looknig for other options.

[rtsp94]

Portis is a good running back, I just think is style doesn't fit totally what the redskins needs. Which is a power back, that is why Betts idea type of running back. Betts always surges forward when running, even when theres nothing there. Portis runs side to side when he's in trouble. Don't get me wrong Portis is excellent when we call him to run towards the side but when it comes to the gut or between the tackles his success is very low.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

I cannot believe that people accuse Portis of going down easily, not being physical, etc. And for those of you who do rail against Portis' durability, do you think Betts' is any better?

[dgack]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

I cannot believe that people accuse Portis of going down easily, not being physical, etc. And for those of you who do rail against Portis' durability, do you think Betts' is any better?

The answer is that for what each is being paid, we're basically getting roughly equal contribution from both of those guys. Look, I don't see how anybody can look at CP's numbers and think he is not losing it. It's right there, staring you in the face.

The only way Portis can achieve the kinds of yardage we expect is to run him into the ground, which is what we did when he got here. And that approach doesn't come without a price. We're all getting to witness that right now.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by dgack

The answer is that for what each is being paid, we're basically getting roughly equal contribution from both of those guys. Look, I don't see how anybody can look at CP's numbers and think he is not losing it. It's right there, staring you in the face.

Using that logic, we should dump every guy playing at a skill position. I guess Cooley's best days are behind him too since he got a fat contract and hasn't done much this season. Moss should be dumped too. We should also dump JC since his numbers aren't looking too hot. Why not just dump the entire team and look to free agency?

[dgack]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

Using that logic, we should dump every guy playing at a skill position. I guess Cooley's best days are behind him too since he got a fat contract and hasn't done much this season. Moss should be dumped too. We should also dump JC since his numbers aren't looking too hot. Why not just dump the entire team and look to free agency?

Where did I ever say we should dump Portis? I'm not saying that at all. What I'm saying is I wish guys would stop with the denial on CP. He is NOT fine. He is NOT just being victimized by a bad O-Line. He is NEVER going to be the back he was when we acquired him, again, in my opinion.

You guys talk about the '05 season like it validates everything but you completely gloss over the fact that he broke records through quantity of touches, attempting to Curtis Martin himself through the record books. Well, guess what? The man is simply not built for the kind of running he's doing here.

I don't really care if it's the system, the O-Line, the playcalling, or his own biology. I'm not making that argument. Fact is, he's never approached the level of play here that he had in Denver, and he's fading fast.

If one of you guys wants to tell me how he's going to return to the days of 5.5 rushing averages, 15 TD seasons, and huge, back-breaking runs of 50-60 yards on opponents, I'm all ears. But I don't see it happening here, regardless of who's fault that is.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by dgack

Where did I ever say we should dump Portis? I'm not saying that at all. What I'm saying is I wish guys would stop with the denial on CP. He is NOT fine. He is NOT just being victimized by a bad O-Line. He is NEVER going to be the back he was when we acquired him, again, in my opinion.

You guys talk about the '05 season like it validates everything but you completely gloss over the fact that he broke records through quantity of touches, attempting to Curtis Martin himself through the record books. Well, guess what? The man is simply not built for the kind of running he's doing here.

I don't really care if it's the system, the O-Line, the playcalling, or his own biology. I'm not making that argument. Fact is, he's never approached the level of play here that he had in Denver, and he's fading fast.

If one of you guys wants to tell me how he's going to return to the days of 5.5 rushing averages, 15 TD seasons, and huge, back-breaking runs of 50-60 yards on opponents, I'm all ears. But I don't see it happening here, regardless of who's fault that is.

I made this argument preseason. Then I backed down a bit after the Miami game.

I think a lot of backs could have been effective behind Samuels, Kendall, Rabach, Thomas, and Jansen. Now, we don't have Thomas and Jansen, and it's really starting to hurt.

I really feel now though that I had the "Portis Prospectus" nailed in the preseason. Unfortunately, I don't feel good about it. It's a sinking feeling knowing now that the guy's best days are behind him.

He's not an elite back anymore. He was for his first 4 years in the league, but now he's a shadow of his former self. He's still a crafty vet who can run 15 times a game for a team who emphasizes the pass game (like we can with better protection), but he's not going to carry a team on his legs anymore. He just can't, physically.

It's very clear that playing to our strengths is throwing the football, in a max protect kind of way, often using play action. Campbell is going to be forced to hit tight windows, but its something that he's good at.

[GTripp0012]

Portis was never a great tackle breaker, but this season he has shown zero ability to make any sort of a play.

I look to a play in the first quarter of yesterday's game as my example. It was a draw play where Portis cut back and Vrabel "legally" horsecollared him to the ground. That play had a ton of open space, some great design, and pretty decent blocking. Vrabel was totally out of position, and all he was able to do was get about three fingers inside Portis' shoulder pads.

Portis has to run through that. If he has to take Vrabel's arm with him, so be it. But you absouletly can not get taken down like that if you are an NFL running back. That play has become far too common this year.

I love the intensity the guy plays with but if he's not going to help us in the running game, we might as well put in someone who can.

[MTK]

One of the biggest myths in Redskins history is that Betts is a power back.

[offiss]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

One of the biggest myths in Redskins history is that Betts is a power back.

And Portis is a franchise back as well.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by offiss

And Portis is a franchise back as well.

You are entitled to your opinion. You are also entitled to post pretty much whatever you want to post on this site. You also might be one fine human being. So, I hope you don't take this post as me getting all bent out of shape, but I cannot understand why exactly you post here.

All of your posts are the same (i.e., bitch about our players, make jokes about Gibbs' senility, etc.). Your take on the state of the team is almost always the same. I personally don't understand how people can never change their opinions about issues that are constantly changing (like the state of the team).

I have personally called out the coaches and various players. I have also given the coaches and the players. I call it like I see it. I think you, on the other hand, call things before you even see them. Ever since Ramsey was benched by Gibbs, you haven't been quite the same.

Again, I don't mean to personally attack you. I just can't get over how your posts are like a broken record.

[offiss]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

You are entitled to your opinion. You are also entitled to post pretty much whatever you want to post on this site. You also might be one fine human being. So, I hope you don't take this post as me getting all bent out of shape, but I cannot understand why exactly you post here.

All of your posts are the same (i.e., bitch about our players, make jokes about Gibbs' senility, etc.). Your take on the state of the team is almost always the same. I personally don't understand how people can never change their opinions about issues that are constantly changing (like the state of the team).

I have personally called out the coaches and various players. I have also given the coaches and the players. I call it like I see it. I think you, on the other hand, call things before you even see them. Ever since Ramsey was benched by Gibbs, you haven't been quite the same.

Again, I don't mean to personally attack you. I just can't get over how your posts are like a broken record.

I can appreciate difference in opinion and not making debate personnel, well said.

You are correct that I repeat myself, I do say the same things over and over, I am tired of listening to me say the same things after almost 4 years, but there is a reason, we continue to do the same things over and over as a team, nothing changes, the same problems that were there 4 seasons ago are still there, and Gibbs ain't changing, his first season we were all wondering what he was doing in the second half of games with the constant conservative 3 and outs putting the burden of winning in the defenses hands, we all chalked it up to him getting re acclimated back into the NFL after 10 years off, well he hasn't, and he isn't going to, so if I sound like a broken record it's because I have been watching one in Gibbs for the last 4 seasons.

If I rip our team it is because I want to see it fixed, I enjoy winning probably more than most, that is why I am so hard on Gibbs, I hate knowing we are spinning our wheels as an organization, I want us to right the ship and get back to our winning tradition, but patting people on the back, and sugar coating reality only prolongs the inevitable, I don't feel sorry for these guys they make way to much money for me to shed a tear. It's tough love, just because you discipline your child doesn't mean you don't love he, or she, it means you want the very best for them and if they have to be punished to get the point across then so be it, they will thank you later in life. Same here until they realize Gibbs is just flat out lost as a coach this problem is not getting fixed so long as he is in charge, I don't care how many assistant head coaches and head coaches and so on he hires and gives an important title to them, it's over as far as he is concerned, hire a real coach and a real GM and let Gibbs walk around in the stands and shake hands with everyone on game day because that is about his value to this franchise at this point and time, he can be the face of the Skins just not a decision maker. It's over Joe, thank you very much for the 80's!!

[The Zimmermans]

Another Poll

TRASH or LLOYD

Make your pick. The odds of completing a pass downfield to thrash with asante samuel on him is lowe than the odds of us winning that game, agreed?