Portis v. Betts: The Grass is Always Greener

Again, though, that doesn't excuse failure in the open field.

Portis hasn't been good for us this year. He looks like he's too hurt to improve in the short term.

Plenty of guys can fail behind this offensive line, we don't need to keep on chuggin' until Portis can succeed.

Problem is he's not even able to get to the open field, sometimes he's lucky to just get back to the LOS.

Problem is he's not even able to get to the open field, sometimes he's lucky to just get back to the LOS.Oftentimes, yes.

And when he does get the oppertunity, he gets tripped up by whatever blew across in the breeze.

I'm not making this up, he's really struggling to gain postive yardage in similar situations to plays that he would break wide open two years ago.

So with the updated Cap Sheets up there, it's pretty easy to see why guys start talking about Betts over CP right now. You may say, "Betts isn't any better than Portis!" or "Portis is by far the better, more complete players!", and you may be right.

But, I think we're all looking at that glistening $41m of remaining contract and thinking, "wow... Ladell makes a quarter of that?"

Oftentimes, yes.

And when he does get the oppertunity, he gets tripped up by whatever blew across in the breeze.

I'm not making this up, he's really struggling to gain postive yardage in similar situations to plays that he would break wide open two years ago.

I don't think that there is a big difference between how we see this issue GTripp. But, I cannot agree that Betts will be better than Portis (unless the O-line improves). I also cannot agree that Portis is getting tripped up by whatever blew across in the breeze. The guy is still one damn physical back and he usually doesn't go down by just getting touched.

Dgack,

I am definitely disappointed in Portis' production. However, I think 90% of his woes have to do with the piss-poor play of the O-line and the fact that defenses know that we are going to run left a disproportionate amount of the time. I do agree though that Portis' numbers don't justify his salary. With regard to Betts, I think we can all agree that we signed him at rock-bottom prices.

I heard a lot of people saying Edge had "lost IT" after he went to Arizona. Now that Russ Grimm is coaching Arizona's line, surprise, surprise, the Edge has IT again. IMO, if our line starts playing better, we will see Portis start posting great numbers again and he will have rediscovered IT.

Finally, I hope you know that I am not pissy with you. You have presented coherent arguments. I have enjoyed talking with people like you and GTripp about this subject. I just can't the posters who write things like "Porits stikns , he is being the worstest back ever."

Bring John Riggins out of retirement!!!

http://media.scout.com/Media/Image/27/279505.jpg

I'm not going to get into the argument over why Portis is playing so terrible. I'm sure it's a combination of many things including contract year and previous injuries. Honestly though I would love to see Betts start getting more reps. I know when he has gotten them this season he really hasn't done anything with them but I think he just needs to find his rhythm out there like he did last year.

Whatever it is though the bottom line is this:
Portis isn't performing even close to what he should be and if our running game doesen't get started either this week or next, I think it is time for a change.

I don't think that there is a big difference between how we see this issue GTripp. But, I cannot agree that Betts will be better than Portis (unless the O-line improves). I also cannot agree that Portis is getting tripped up by whatever blew across in the breeze. The guy is still one damn physical back and he usually doesn't go down by just getting touched.

Dgack,

I am definitely disappointed in Portis' production. However, I think 90% of his woes have to do with the piss-poor play of the O-line and the fact that defenses know that we are going to run left a disproportionate amount of the time. I do agree though that Portis' numbers don't justify his salary. With regard to Betts, I think we can all agree that we signed him at rock-bottom prices.

I heard a lot of people saying Edge had "lost IT" after he went to Arizona. Now that Russ Grimm is coaching Arizona's line, surprise, surprise, the Edge has IT again. IMO, if our line starts playing better, we will see Portis start posting great numbers again and he will have rediscovered IT.

Finally, I hope you know that I am not pissy with you. You have presented coherent arguments. I have enjoyed talking with people like you and GTripp about this subject. I just can't the posters who write things like "Porits stikns , he is being the worstest back ever."

Nice reference about Edge....and very true. I've just read through all 5 pages of this thread, and I actually think most of these points are valid. Obviously with the O line injuries, the running game isn't working great...but it does seem to me that Portis isn't what he used to be....he's not making anyone miss and most of the time is brought down by 1 guy, granted a lot of times that guy is in the backfield, but he doesn't seem to have that quickness and burst like he used to....and the same thing goes for Moss as well....neither of them look right. I just hope it is some small injury or something and not attitude or something like that.

For the people that were talking about the $$$ that Portis is making vs. Betts, to me the money wasted right now is on Saunders. This play calling is nothing spectacular by any means, and I honestly feel that IF Joe was still calling the plays....there wouldn't be much difference....hell it may be even better and he'd be more involved and might give this offense an identity that it certainly does not have right now.

I'm not going to get into the argument over why Portis is playing so terrible. I'm sure it's a combination of many things including contract year and previous injuries. Honestly though I would love to see Betts start getting more reps. I know when he has gotten them this season he really hasn't done anything with them but I think he just needs to find his rhythm out there like he did last year.

Whatever it is though the bottom line is this:
Portis isn't performing even close to what he should be and if our running game doesen't get started either this week or next, I think it is time for a change.

As I said earlier, I think Betts needs to get more reps. That said, why should we make a switch before we see that Betts can actually do a better job than Portis after getting more reps?

Well obviously if Betts has the around the same or worse production with his reps then I say keep it how it is because Portis is the better back. I would still like to see Betts get more reps though, something has to give.

boy i'm sure glad portis miss training camp to keep him fresh for the regualr season. Because its sure paying off now. Instead of doing the dirty work the rest of the team had to do.