The Portis Effect

I was thinking, and this is merely speculation on my part, but is it possible that the injury to Clinton Portis (and his subsequent rant in TV interviews) had an effect on the team's morale when it comes to preseason games?

Is it possible that most of the players agree that they shouldn't be out there for preseason play, and perhaps they went after the Jets pretty half-heartedly?

I'm probably off-base, because this wouldn't explain what happened to the special teams. Those guys are all fighting for jobs, they need the preseason. And it wouldn't explain the defense's overpursuit on the reverse that went for a TD, if anything they were too aggressive on that play. And you saw individual efforts like Randle-El come surfacing up as positives.

But maybe some of the team came out a little flat because they've heard one of the popular players on the team saying that basically these games are meaningless and dumb? Or are they getting overconfident and starting to believe things will come easy to them? Or did they just plain eff it up the other night?

I thought it was worth discussing.

I don't think CP's statements about the preseason have had ANY effect. All of the players knew the scores of these games ARE MEANINGLESS and we're seen plenty of great plays from guys trying to make the team or earn a higher spot on the depth chart...like Espy and J. Campbell. Even the new guys like Lloyd, Carter and Randel El are coming out and making good plays to excite the fans.

Saunders is being conservative (no motion, just getting the basics down). I can't explain the Special Teams failures, but I have no worries about the beginning of the regular season. It doesn't even appear we're playing our 1st-team special teams much, Randel El for example. I doubt Espy will be our #1 kick returner.

I think some people are just worrying too much. The Colts had a HORRIBLE preseason (going by scores) last year and look what happened. We've had preseasons like this in successful seasons before. It's not the team's goal to win these games, it's merely a practice session for the new players and systems. Campbell is getting his reps and looks better with each play. We'll be fine.

I was thinking something along those lines Saturday night myself. I think if anything the Skins live and die as a team, so maybe they care so much about what Portis thinks that they played tentatively. I'd like to think they wouldn't, but it would at least seem to reason that the injury to Portis alone might cause them to step back and understand that the preseason is not counting in the win/loss column.

I don't think it is far-fetched at all to think CP's injury has had an effect. You see a big-time starter go down in pre-season like that and you start to question how hard you should be playing (assuming you already have a roster spot).

I don't think it is mere coincidence that Patten suddenly developed a nasty case of T-Rex arms. He straight up ignored two catchable balls on Saturday. Riggins spotted it immediately.

A couple of things worth pointing out. Both Betts and Cartwright said in the WP they felt Portis was entitled to his opinion, but they totally disagreed with his statement. Betts went on to say there is no way you can simulate real game speed in practice, there's no substitute for pre-season. That being said, I have to beleive at the end of the day these guys are professionals and wouldn't let a comment like that sidetrack them or the entire team for that matter.

I do believe, however, the bad play on our part was because we came out flat. I do think they are starting to believe the hype about this season and more than anything else this is what's really bugging Joe Gibbs. He'll never say it in public. But these guys read the papers, they listen to ESPN, they see the money that's been spent to upgrade the team in the off season, and I have to think they have become slightly over confident. The only good thing is it's still preseason, so a good butt whoopin means nothing come September 11.

I think Gibbs biggest challenge this year, besides injuries, will be not to allow this team to believe their own press. The best thing that happened to them last year was perhaps the comments of Sean Salisbury and others that counted us out.

but when players start playing soft or tentatively...thats when injuries happen....full speed is the best way to go...there was a doccumentary on NFL on demand...i forget who the LB was but he said that most injuries occur when players start going 1/2 speed or not giving it their all....

I don't think it is far-fetched at all to think CP's injury has had an effect. You see a big-time starter go down in pre-season like that and you start to question how hard you should be playing (assuming you already have a roster spot).

I don't think it is mere coincidence that Patten suddenly developed a nasty case of T-Rex arms. He straight up ignored two catchable balls on Saturday. Riggins spotted it immediately.

Yep. Another reason that we shouldn't put too much into preseason stats either. Campbell's been MUCH better than his numbers and if he were playing in the regular season, he'd be throwing to Moss and Lloyd instead of Espy and Cash.

We shouldn't be trying to scrap last year's playbook. The majority of the starting offense has been running it for 2 years right?

The only "Portis effect" is a winning offense

I think anytime a team loses its face of the offense it is a un/conscious set back. This is a running team. We dont have much of an identity in passing. Sure Moss, cooley last year i know but most of that seemed to be YAC. Brunell set his career high last season in TD's and Moss set a club record in recieving yds. This is Mark's last year before he retires and he hasnt thrown more TD's till this past season. Thats embarrassing if you ask me. The team knows it. I think what is scary is nobody stepped up in those games to say I will carry us.

I dont know something isnt right. Doubt underlined how we played. I swear I hope its just a preseason thing and vanilla this/that. We have weapons that better not get dusty. Soon but not soon enough the season will start, it will be on, Skins will rebound this preseason effort and make me seem like an idiot for being upset. But I will be reall pissed off if we bring ak's , uzi's and grenades to battle and all we do is slap fight. First play of the season I want a bomb downfield maybe not at Smoot but please take risks. Make this offense explosive. Please pass 8 times in a row if we want. For all the money invested and talent out there people ought to be open everywhere.