good Ricky article.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/writers/jeffri_chadiha/07/27/blog.0727/index.html

Interesting how he mentions Clinton Portis got over 50% of his yards in the NFC West alone.

They were three mediocre defenses he was up against (KC, Oakland, and San Diego), but it may be a Chicken vs. Egg debate. Is your run defense bad because you play Portis and Priest Holmes twice, or are they elite because they run against you twice?

Everyone is saying that Portis was in a bad division defensively, and he had a good o-line. If he comes out and puts up similar numbers to last year in the NFC East then everyone will shut up. Its just like everyone saying how "mediocre" our o-line is and how they gave up the 3rd most sacks in one season, but no one is talking about who coached them. Same goes for our defense. Bottom line is......the Redskins have a lot to prove this season and every player should have a chip on his shoulder. I really hope we can come out and prove everyone wrong.

Also, Portis missed 3 games - all against non NFC West teams. So that means he played 6 games vs NFC opponents and 7 against other teams. Playing games within your division is usually more intense, and the players get up for those games more. Also, Portis played against KC twice, averaging 180 yds/gm, 8yds/carry, 3 tds/game.

They were three mediocre defenses he was up against (KC, Oakland, and San Diego), but it may be a Chicken vs. Egg debate. Is your run defense bad because you play Portis and Priest Holmes twice, or are they elite because they run against you twice?
and Landanian Tomlinson.

if the skins were in that division last year, well... i don't really want to think about that...

Just watch him put up the same if not better numbers for the next 3 to 4 years!! It's not the AFC west that made him good it's his heart. And you can take that to the bank!!