Portis and Betts: Should We Just Stick With Portis?

THE greatest post.

How about we reserve our criticism for areas of the team that are actually shaky (which is a category our running game does NOT fall under)? I love being a skins fan but some of us are way too fickle and judgemental for my taste.

The funny thing is, I completely agree. But I'm unable to let completely ridiculous statements slide by without any kind of rebuttal.

What's lost in my argumentative comments is the fact that I actually like Ladell Betts in his current role in the offense. I just disagree with what some people seem to think his role SHOULD be.

Nah, I wasn't really trying to compare Portis to Hicks in regard to talent... but as to a scat back with the Redskins... I like a smash mouth... and yes, I was comparing Betts to Stephen Davis from his early days here in DC.

Please tell me people's memories are not so short to remember how lowly we thought of Davis in the early days.

What I think you're misconstruing is the fact that Clinton isn't a "scat back" and Ladell Betts isn't a smash mouth back. I've never seen a "smash mouth" back get hit with a shoulder pad and not wrapped up, not score a TD. Also, never seen one get blown up the way Betts did yesterday. Betts is, at best, a poor man's Priest Holmes in that he has good vision, but he doesn't effectively use his supposed power and he's not a good power back.

Bottom line: Portis blocks better and runs harder. Betts is a great change of pace back, he's about as powerful as Ki Jana Carter...

I really like the way the two guys are working right now more because Portis is staying fresh and he's staying relatively healthy. He hasn't been healthy since last preseason and he's still playing well. I like getting Betts in there to keep Portis fresh, however, I can't accept an argument that Portis (the toughest back they've had since Davis) is somehow a scat back who can't run north south. He's the best north south runner on the team beyond Sellers. Portis is a great back and Betts is a good backup. That's where it ends. This shouldn't be a Portis v. Betts thing, but apparently it has to continue to turn into it.

I've been pleased with what I've seen, more because of W's than because of any overwhelming effectiveness. Portis is playing pretty well, Betts isn't right now. As the season wears on, everyone will be happy the Skins have them both.

betts is a terriffic back but theres a reason that we traded champ bailey 4 years ago, they should stick with clinton

So now Portis is a scat back... I don't understand why people still have the impression that Betts is this bruising power back. Does anyone recall the play yesterday when Betts was running straight up the gut, and got blown up on a high tackle? Any "power" back in the league should have an advantage on a high tackle when the supposed power back is running downhill with a head of steam, but Betts got knocked two yards backwards.

And Betts isn't exactly in his "early" days. He's been in the league for six years now, which means over half his career is over. Running backs aren't really known for 10+ year careers.

I remember the play and basically Ernie Sims - a top 10 pick - flashed in the hole completely untouched (was on the right side of the line btw) and hit Betts in the backfield. I don't recall Betts being "blown up" on the play and actually he spun a bit and fell forward. Basically the play was dead for the get go because the blocking apparently broke down, or Sims made a nice play, or some combination of the two. No one would have had a chance on that play, not Clinton Portis, not Ladell Betts, not Stephen Davis, not Gerald Riggs, not John Riggins, you get my point. I don't think you need to tear down Betts because you like Portis and a probably wouldn't point to that particular play. If you are getting hit in the backfield, just after you get the ball, by a 250 pound man who runs a 4.5 who is coming at a dead sprint then there are other problems other than who is carrying the ball.

Yeah he didn't get blown up, he got hit hard. He stayed up though and if Simms hadn't rapped his legs he would have kept going. It's not Bett's fault Simms got into the backfield that fast.

I remember the play and basically Ernie Sims - a top 10 pick - flashed in the hole completely untouched (was on the right side of the line btw) and hit Betts in the backfield. I don't recall Betts being "blown up" on the play and actually he spun a bit and fell forward. Basically the play was dead for the get go because the blocking apparently broke down, or Sims made a nice play, or some combination of the two. No one would have had a chance on that play, not Clinton Portis, not Ladell Betts, not Stephen Davis, not Gerald Riggs, not John Riggins, you get my point. I don't think you need to tear down Betts because you like Portis and a probably wouldn't point to that particular play. If you are getting hit in the backfield, just after you get the ball, by a 250 pound man who runs a 4.5 who is coming at a dead sprint then there are other problems other than who is carrying the ball.

Exactly! Weird how some people want to tear down Betts after he helped us save some dignity through last year's nightmare. This guy is better than every other backup I can think of aside from Turner, and he's better than a few of the starters (Lindell White). I think Skins fans should stop crapping on our guy - he's a Redskin thru and thru or he would have gone elsewhere after last season to cash in on his performance (2nd only to LT for the last 6 or 8 games).

I would like to see Mr. Sellers get some carries early , to wear down the defence . Give teams one more thing to worry about , then those toss plays to CP will pick up some huge gains . When are we going to see R. El throw a td to CP ? Once the Line gels , JC keeps getting better , CP / Moss near 100% the O should be just fine ,,,, just need to get 7 pts on our long drives and after turnovers !!

Exactly! Weird how some people want to tear down Betts after he helped us save some dignity through last year's nightmare. This guy is better than every other backup I can think of aside from Turner, and he's better than a few of the starters (Lindell White). I think Skins fans should stop crapping on our guy - he's a Redskin thru and thru or he would have gone elsewhere after last season to cash in on his performance (2nd only to LT for the last 6 or 8 games).

Yet it's perfectly ok to crap on Portis...

And just as I see the play as a supposed power back getting overpowered, the Betts lovers see it completely different. I've already stated that I like the current situation with the running backs, but some people still seem to think that Betts' production last season has anything to do with this season, in which Betts' numbers are below average.