SI Ranks Offensive Backfields

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by Daseal

Like Orakpo I don't agree with all the rankings, and could see the skins move up a few spots. But I can't argue with a lot of the rankings. That said, a lot of mention of offensive lines in the article. If we're factoring in O-lines, I feel like the list makes more sense.

Agreed 100%, the performance of any skill player relies on the OL. Early in 2008 our OL played great and was healthy, JC & CP lit it up. Second half injuries/age/poor play by the OL killed the whole offense. To blame JC is to ignore that Portis' numbers were dismal also.

These lists are pretty much a waste of storage and webspace. Just something to generate web-hits and kill time until Training Camp.

Originally Posted by Slingin Sammy 33

Agreed 100%, the performance of any skill player relies on the OL. Early in 2008 our OL played great and was healthy, JC & CP lit it up. Second half injuries/age/poor play by the OL killed the whole offense. To blame JC is to ignore that Portis' numbers were dismal also.

These lists are pretty much a waste of storage and webspace. Just something to generate web-hits and kill time until Training Camp.

When did Campbell light it up in the 1st half? Portis played great but I wouldnt go out on a limb and say Campbell lit it up also. He played solid managing the game but their was only 3 games last year where I thought Campbell actually played great (one of them was in Detroit).

While I agree the OL is key to skill players success I also think the OL wasnt the only reason why the team fell apart in the 2nd half of 08. Injuries were a factor near the very end of the season but the injuries imo didnt have anything to do with the Skins problems for the most part of the 2nd half. The age factor I dont think factors in because they were old when they were playing well. It wasnt like the line got old overnight.

The poor play was the whole offense not just the line. Many times last year I saw Campbell make a bad throw when he had enough time in the pocket. The slight problem I have with Portis is that he needs the offensive line to play great to make plays. If the line has even a slight problem he seems to become a different RB. I still think Portis is a damn good RB but his play gets on my nerves at times.

Overall I think the whole offense in general had problems last year. Campbell, Portis. the WRs, Cooley, and the offensive line. In the 2nd half the Skins regressed as a whole and honestly the biggest reason was Jim Zorn and his inability to adapt to what the defense is doing.

[SBXVII]

Originally Posted by Brian Orakpo

When did Campbell light it up in the 1st half? Portis played great but I wouldnt go out on a limb and say Campbell lit it up also. He played solid managing the game but their was only 3 games last year where I thought Campbell actually played great (one of them was in Detroit).

While I agree the OL is key to skill players success I also think the OL wasnt the only reason why the team fell apart in the 2nd half of 08. Injuries were a factor near the very end of the season but the injuries imo didnt have anything to do with the Skins problems for the most part of the 2nd half. The age factor I dont think factors in because they were old when they were playing well. It wasnt like the line got old overnight.

The poor play was the whole offense not just the line. Many times last year I saw Campbell make a bad throw when he had enough time in the pocket. The slight problem I have with Portis is that he needs the offensive line to play great to make plays. If the line has even a slight problem he seems to become a different RB. I still think Portis is a damn good RB but his play gets on my nerves at times.

Overall I think the whole offense in general had problems last year. Campbell, Portis. the WRs, Cooley, and the offensive line. In the 2nd half the Skins regressed as a whole and honestly the biggest reason was Jim Zorn and his inability to adapt to what the defense is doing.

I think we all are talking partial truths. I agree in saying Campbell was not playing lights out, but he was the QB with the highest % and least (I think zero) interceptions. So no he did not put up 4-6 TD's a game or put up like 40-50 points per game, but he did somewhat manage the game well. Even though his 2min. drill sucks. Hopefully he fixes that this yr. Also it was no coincidence that he started doing terrible when the O-line broke down. So yes both heavily rely on the O-line, but I would assume all those teams would heavily rely on their O-lines also.

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by Brian Orakpo

When did Campbell light it up in the 1st half? Portis played great but I wouldnt go out on a limb and say Campbell lit it up also. He played solid managing the game but their was only 3 games last year where I thought Campbell actually played great (one of them was in Detroit).

Saints 24-36-321 1-0
Cards 22-30-193 2-0
Cowgirls 20-31-231 2-1
Eagles 16-29-176 0-0
Rams 18-26-208 0-0 (3 Skins fumbles in Rams territory)
Browns 14-23-164 1-0
Lions 23-28-328 1-0

Out of the first 8 games I'd say he lit it up in 4 and played well in the rest, except for the Giants game.

While I agree the OL is key to skill players success I also think the OL wasnt the only reason why the team fell apart in the 2nd half of 08. Injuries were a factor near the very end of the season but the injuries imo didnt have anything to do with the Skins problems for the most part of the 2nd half. The age factor I dont think factors in because they were old when they were playing well. It wasnt like the line got old overnight.

The injuries and poor play were most likely due to the age of the OL.

In the 2nd half the Skins regressed as a whole and honestly the biggest reason was Jim Zorn and his inability to adapt to what the defense is doing.

Ever try to call plays with an inneffective OL? Not sure what you wanted Zorn to do.

Originally Posted by Slingin Sammy 33

Saints 24-36-321 1-0
Cards 22-30-193 2-0
Cowgirls 20-31-231 2-1
Eagles 16-29-176 0-0
Rams 18-26-208 0-0 (3 Skins fumbles in Rams territory)
Browns 14-23-164 1-0
Lions 23-28-328 1-0

Out of the first 8 games I'd say he lit it up in 4 and played well in the rest, except for the Giants game.

He played well in the Eagles, Rams, and Browns games? Id say he played average at best and thats being nice. If you throw in the Saints game ill agree he lit it up in 4 games and not 3.

Originally Posted by Slingin Sammy 33

The injuries and poor play were most likely due to the age of the OL.

Maybe the injuries were but the poor play was mainly dude to the fact the teams we played were better than us.

Originally Posted by Slingin Sammy 33

Ever try to call plays with an inneffective OL? Not sure what you wanted Zorn to do.

The OL did struggle at times but Zorn should of changed his playcalling after he realized teams knew what he was doing. After the first Eagles game the offense slumped (except for one game in Detroit). Teams locked onto what Zorn was doing and he didnt adjust. The OL wasnt bad enough where Zorn couldnt mix some things up to get some pressure off of the OL.

Im banking on Zorn with a year under his belt calling plays to be more effective. If hes not he wont have a job in Washington after this season.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Daseal

Chad Pennington, Ronnie Brown -- Absolutely a better combo.
Flacco, McClain/McGahee -- In my opinion, about equal.
Schaub, Slaton -- We have the slight edge on them.
Rosenfels, Peterson -- Rosenfels isn't good, but AP is the best in the league, so I can see why he's ahead of them.
K. Collins, Chris Johnson -- I'd rank them ahead of our guys.
S. Hill, Gore - We're better than Hill and Gore.
Tampa's mess - We're better than Tampa.
Orton, Moreno - Orton is probably better than JC, but MOreno is a total question mark, Id have to put us as better.
Sanchez/Clemens, Jones/Washington - We're about even here, having us slightly ahead. Jones led the AFC in rushing last year, but Sanchez/Clemens are too wild cardish.

Like Orakpo I don't agree with all the rankings, and could see the skins move up a few spots. But I can't argue with a lot of the rankings. That said, a lot of mention of offensive lines in the article. If we're factoring in O-lines, I feel like the list makes more sense.

I don't think ANYONE would argue that the difference between Campbell and Rosenfels is not greater than the difference between Peterson and Portis, though. Maybe someone who thinks Peterson is already better than Barry Sanders, but it'd be hard to take their opinion seriously anyway.

I'd like you to come to Chicago and try to tell someone that Kyle Orton is better than Jason Campbell. You'd get a mixed response of disbelieving laughter, and people wondering who the hell Jason Campbell is. Perhaps both from some people. It's weird how actually being forced to root for certain guys would warp your opinion of them. Oh, and it's really not even close on paper.

[dall-assblows]

DALLASSSS #3?????


........well theres proof of them being AMERICAS FAVORITE Team. marion barber is good, but defintely not THAT good. and romo is...........well he's romo. MR. HIGHS/lows.

Originally Posted by dall-assblows

DALLASSSS #3?????


........well theres proof of them being AMERICAS FAVORITE Team. marion barber is good, but defintely not THAT good. and romo is...........well he's romo. MR. HIGHS/lows.

Im sorry but you got me

You actually think they rated the Cowboys #3 because they are Americas Favorite Team?

Romo even with his up and down play at times is a top 10 QB in the NFL. The Cowboys RB trio of Barber, Jones, and Choice is probably the best trio in the league.

[GTripp0012]

I'm sure New England, Indianapolis, and Baltimore love seeing the Giants as the second best backfield in the NFL. Jacobs is probably a top ten back in the NFL, but Ward left, and Eli is clearly the worst QB in their top 5. So, who knows really?

The list gets pretty bad in the second half, so given that, I don't think it matters that the Skins are "below" anyone in particular. No one actually puts thought into the 18th-27th teams on any list anyway. People have better things to do.

[GTripp0012]

It does seem criminal to put the Falcons at No. 7, and then not even mention Jerious Norwood. Without him, that's not a good offensive backfield.

[GTripp0012]

And I think he has Jamaal Charles confused with Priest Holmes, and Matt Cassel confused with an established QB.

[GTripp0012]

I think that ignores that Campbell/Portis were essentially responsible for 6 out of our 8 wins. With Collins and Betts in those rolls, we're a 4-12, or maybe 3-13 team. Which, I think, is something that unit rankings have to figure in.

[redskins1974]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

I think that ignores that Campbell/Portis were essentially responsible for 6 out of our 8 wins. With Collins and Betts in those rolls, we're a 4-12, or maybe 3-13 team. Which, I think, is something that unit rankings have to figure in.

yeah, it had nothing to do with our 4th ranked defense...what world are you living in making that statement?

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by redskins1974

yeah, it had nothing to do with our 4th ranked defense...what world are you living in making that statement?

Dude, don't start. Our defense won some games for us as well (Philly, Week 16). But also struggled mightily when we finished 2-6. And then there was St. Louis, Pittsburgh, etc.

[SBXVII]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Dude, don't start. Our defense won some games for us as well (Philly, Week 16). But also struggled mightily when we finished 2-6. And then there was St. Louis, Pittsburgh, etc.

Well the offense not moving the ball and having a lot of 3 and outs caused our defense to get tired in most of those. I think the defense played admirably for most of those games though. They kept us in the game by keeping the score low all the way up till usually the late 3rd or 4th quarter. I think if the offense can muster atleast 21-30 points a game then the defense will look better. but I would love to be the supprise team in getting the 40 points a game this yr. and I believe it is possible with the talent we have this yr. A few more WR's to help out JC (Kelly, Thomas). Maybe a change of pace back in Alridge who is fast as.....you know what. Maybe just using him with Portis will be a threat to other teams in a 2 back system. Portis either runs it up the middle or Alridge takes it to the outside. Defenses would have to be on their toes.

Speed packages with Moss, Thomas, and Alridge out as a WR as he was used in college will create problems.