Ladell Betts in Saunders' offense

there's a total of maybe 7 teams with an RB situation bad enough next year to make him a starter, and some of them may find someone this year already on their rosters or draft a stud in april.

he's decent, but if he's your starter, you're probably not a great team.

Not saying he is a superstar in waiting - and I agree with your assessment as to teams looking next year. With that said, I think he would be a fine feature back and quality starter. Watching him last year, he seemed to have decent vision and do some good straight ahead running. To me, it seems he has improved each year he's been here.

However, it all matters not. time will tell, let's see how does with the pads on, blah blah blah. : )

Ladell Betts seems like he'd be the next Duce Staley, to me. He could be a solid featured back if given the chance. Can run over some people, can catch a few passes, can do some blocking. But he'll never make a pro-bowl, and he's not the type to rush for much more than 1000 yards in a season. Duce was a nice back during his prime, I feel like Betts could have a similar career if given the feature role.

Betts is a perfect guy to have as your 2nd RB; he can step in and keep the defense honest while Portis is catching a breather. That's all you can ask for from your 2nd.

Ladell Betts seems like he'd be the next Duce Staley, to me. He could be a solid featured back if given the chance. Can run over some people, can catch a few passes, can do some blocking. But he'll never make a pro-bowl, and he's not the type to rush for much more than 1000 yards in a season. Duce was a nice back during his prime, I feel like Betts could have a similar career if given the feature role.

Betts is a perfect guy to have as your 2nd RB; he can step in and keep the defense honest while Portis is catching a breather. That's all you can ask for from your 2nd.
That's a great comparison. Betts has shown that he's a dependable, solid player, and I have no doubt that he'd be a 1000-yard rusher in this league if he was in the feature role. That being said, if your team has a 1000-yard rusher as its feature back, you are looking for an upgrade.

What has happened with Duce Staley anyway? Whenever I saw a Steeler game, (and I've seen several) he was in street clothes on the sidelines.

The comments about Betts are spot on, I think. He's perfect in the role that he's in now. But I don't know if I'd want him starting for 16 games. Plus, he's about as elusive as an M1A1 Abrahms tank. Just watch him on kickoffs -- he'll find the nearest pile of players and ram himself into it.

I don't expect him in Washington as the #2 guy next year though.

I like his straight ahead style on kickoffs, sometimes that's the best approach. He averaged 25.9 per return last year, pretty damn good.

I like his straight ahead style on kickoffs, sometimes that's the best approach. He averaged 25.9 per return last year, pretty damn good.I would think they will let him return kicks this year. We already have Randle El returning punts and playing offense, and we have a defense that wont let the opposing offense on the board much. I would be happy starting from the 25-35 on offense every time rather than the 20 most times, and the 45 every once in awhile.

From today's (6/19/2006) WT:

One player who has caught associate head coach Al Saunders' attention is running back Ladell Betts, who is again slated to be a kick returner and backup to Clinton Portis this season.
"I don't know if people realize what a quality player he is," Saunders said. "He's a three-dimensional player -- he runs the ball, he can catch it and he can block well enough to be successful. Clinton is Clinton, one of the dominant backs in the NFL. Having somebody like Ladell has been a surprise because I knew he was good, but not this good.
"We'll have situations where Ladell and Clinton will be in the game at the same time. Ladell deserves to play and we've got to find a way to get him on the field and not just as a back-up player to Clinton."

So it appears that Ladell is going to get his opportunities here in Washington. Good for him, and good for us.

Betts and CP in the backfield at the same time...

I like that!

Betts and CP in the backfield at the same time...

I like that!

especially if they are used in the passing game more, which seems to be the way it's going to be. I feel like opposing defenses are going to be lost against us and I love it!