Portis vs. Betts

My numbers are:

Portis 280 ATT 1300 YDS 8TD 15 REC 175 YDS

Betts 135 ATT 650 YDS 8TD 40 REC 400 YDS

My numbers are:

Portis 280 ATT 1300 YDS 8TD 15 REC 175 YDS

Betts 135 ATT 650 YDS 8TD 40 REC 400 YDS


add 250 yards rushing and 6 tds to Portis.

Hopefully they complement each other, Betts is quicker to the hole and hits it with more power, Portis is more of a finesse type back, and a home run hitter, Portis needs to shed some weight and get back the agility he has lost since he decieded to bulk up he will never be a power back.

I could see at some point Betts becoming a first and second down back depending on what we do first down, and allow Portis to be more of a third down back, although he would be more than your usual third down type back because his running abilities are better than the usual 3rd down speedster. Perhaps the sharing of the work load will serve to keep the both of them healthy, remember Betts has had a history of injuries before last season, which is IMO opinion the only thing that has held him back from being a top back in the league.

All said and done, I feel Betts will get more yards I believe the coaches will stick with Portis early, but Betts will eventually force their hand for his ability to move the chains on a cinsistant basis.


How is Betts quicker than Portis? Portis is a home run threat. Last year was a tale of two running games. Betts was able to run in the downhill offense. Portis ran in the poodle offense.

If the roles were reversed last year (meaning Betts started the year and Portis finished it) Betts would have struggled big time. Portis would have scored at least twice as many TD's as Betts. One, Portis is much better in space and two, he wouldn't have fumbled as many times and would have finished off those drives instead of handing the ball (and games) away.

I also disagree that Betts is a more powerful runner than Portis. He does not get as low. Portis isn't a power back? Rewind to the last 6 games of '05 and try again.

How is Betts quicker than Portis? Portis is a home run threat. Last year was a tale of two running games. Betts was able to run in the downhill offense. Portis ran in the poodle offense.

If the roles were reversed last year (meaning Betts started the year and Portis finished it) Betts would have struggled big time. Portis would have scored at least twice as many TD's as Betts. One, Portis is much better in space and two, he wouldn't have fumbled as many times and would have finished off those drives instead of handing the ball (and games) away.

I also disagree that Betts is a more powerful runner than Portis. He does not get as low. Portis isn't a power back? Rewind to the last 6 games of '05 and try again.

I will explain it for you, there is a difference between speed and quickness, Betts gets the ball full speed and drills the hole faster than Portis, making life easier for the guys blocking up front they don't have to hold their blocks as long.

As far as power between the 2, your delusional if you think Portis is as strong as Betts.

I am pretty tired of all these excuses for Portis, like the only reason Betts outperformed him is because he was allowed to run downhill? That is a big joke! We ran downhill with Betts because we could with him, because of the reasons I stated above, we didn't with Portis because he is to slow looking for the hole, and to weak to run people over. The running game didn't change because we called different play's, it changed because we put a back in there that could handle a downhill running game which Portis is not, a downhill runner.

I'll make no excuses for Portis. has Betts ever had a 1500 yard season? has Betts ever had a double digit season of touchdowns? Betts is a decent back up. period. has Portis ever had a fumble that has cost us a game? has Betts ever had a run of longer then 20 yards? Portis is by far the quicker of the 2 backs. and Betts isn't the power back that some around here think he is.

the next you will be saying is that mike espy is as good as santana moss. come on, wake up alittle

Betts quicker than Portis at what? Fumbling? Yes fumbling.

I will explain it for you, there is a difference between speed and quickness, Betts gets the ball full speed and drills the hole faster than Portis, making life easier for the guys blocking up front they don't have to hold their blocks as long.

As far as power between the 2, your delusional if you think Portis is as strong as Betts.

I am pretty tired of all these excuses for Portis, like the only reason Betts outperformed him is because he was allowed to run downhill? That is a big joke! We ran downhill with Betts because we could with him, because of the reasons I stated above, we didn't with Portis because he is to slow looking for the hole, and to weak to run people over. The running game didn't change because we called different play's, it changed because we put a back in there that could handle a downhill running game which Portis is not, a downhill runner.


Like I said before. Look at the end of the '05 season and then come talk to me.

Excuses for Portis? What was Betts' excuse for fumbling multiple games away? It was a miracle that none of his three fumbles agains Carolina were recovered or that would have been another game that he lost for us.

Great backs don't fumble three times in a season let alone one game.

I have said it before. If Betts is our starter for the majority of this upcoming season we will be staring 6-10 right in the face.

Fumbling can be corrected (hopefully). The thing that seperates Portis from Betts is tenacity. Portis runs like that extra inch is going to save his life. Betts runs hard and fast but seems to let the play die just a little bit before it's actually over.

Make Betts hold the ball like Tiki.