bigger role for Betts this year?

Betts has to earn it, he could be one of those workout/practice monsters.

In my eyes Betts is not a #1. Has never been and will never be. He's an admirable #2 and thats all, but I would rather have a change of pace back with speed. Someone who can take it outside. Then we can place both Portis and the speed back in the back field and let the defense try to figure out who's getting the ball. Mason offers about as much as Betts does and he's younger. I now Betts was used as a KR/PR in the past but hardley used in that copacity now.

He's had 2 fumbles in the last 2 years you know.

Well his combined carries in '07 and '08 don't come close to 2006 when he got basically a full workload and fumbled 6 times. I think most people, including myself, look at '06 and that Seattle fumble this past season that nearly cost us the game.

Ladell Betts has had over 93 carries in a season once. Portis usually gets over 320 carries a season. In 2006 when Betts was used as a starter because of Portis's injury, he carried the ball 245 times and averaged 4.7 yards per carry. The highest YPC for Portis as a Redskin? 4.3. In 2006 Betts also had 53 receptions for 445 yards. The most receptions for Portis in a year? 47 for 389 yards. Betts only started for about half the season in 2006, and had a better YPC than Portis has had in a year since joining the Redskins. In that same year when he started about half the games, he also had more receptions in a year than Portis has had in one year since Portis joined the Redskins as the starter in 2004. Gibbs didn't resign Betts to compliment Portis as much as he resigned him in case of injury. He knew if Portis went down, Betts could start without missing much. Look at the numbers. Is he a change of pace back? To a degree, but not to the degree of a Sproles. I personally don't think Sproles would be as good as a starter as he is as a change-up. It would be great if someone like Aldridge makes the team and can be used like Sproles. But if Portis goes down, I want Betts starting, not Aldridge. Nice post Stuck in TX.

Nice work 53...

Ladell Betts has had over 93 carries in a season once. Portis usually gets over 320 carries a season. In 2006 when Betts was used as a starter because of Portis's injury, he carried the ball 245 times and averaged 4.7 yards per carry. The highest YPC for Portis as a Redskin? 4.3. In 2006 Betts also had 53 receptions for 445 yards. The most receptions for Portis in a year? 47 for 389 yards. Betts only started for about half the season in 2006, and had a better YPC than Portis has had in a year since joining the Redskins. In that same year when he started about half the games, he also had more receptions in a year than Portis has had in one year since Portis joined the Redskins as the starter in 2004. Gibbs didn't resign Betts to compliment Portis as much as he resigned him in case of injury. He knew if Portis went down, Betts could start without missing much. Look at the numbers. Is he a change of pace back? To a degree, but not to the degree of a Sproles. I personally don't think Sproles would be as good as a starter as he is as a change-up. It would be great if someone like Aldridge makes the team and can be used like Sproles. But if Portis goes down, I want Betts starting, not Aldridge. Nice post Stuck in TX.

Here's my personal oppinion; Portis is 27, and Betts is 29, Rock is 29.

All three came out of the 2002 draft. Portis #51, Betts #56 of the 2nd round and Rock #257 of the 7th round.

For their career's since 2002;

Portis: 4.5 yds per carry. 9,202 yrds totall.
Betts: 4.1 yds per carry. 2,966 yrds totall.
Rock: He doesn't even have stats hardley for being a RB. He has roughly less then 200 yrds each yr except for 2003 where he had 411 yrds. All of Rocks stats are based off of KR/PR duties.

I actually would rather see the team pick up a younger RB to take the bulk of the duties and take the bulk of the punishment slamming the ball up the middle. I know Rock has character but time to move on with someone who can KR and PR as well as be a speed back to run to the outside. Betts is also a nice character guy but he serves the same function as Portis...he is a between the tackles type of runner. Portis has been hammered each yr and although is a soldier he's starting to get banged up. If the motto is to get younger then Portis at age 27 and anyone older should go including Betts and Rock.

I think I would try to salvage Portis one more yr. Either bring in a younger between the tackles type of runner or mold Mason. Keep either Alridge or Dorsey whoever outshines and use them as KR/PR and as our scat back. Maybe even as a second RB in the back field to keep defenses guessing.

Here's my personal oppinion; Portis is 27, and Betts is 29, Rock is 29.

All three came out of the 2002 draft. Portis #51, Betts #56 of the 2nd round and Rock #257 of the 7th round.

For their career's since 2002;

Portis: 4.5 yds per carry. 9,202 yrds totall.
Betts: 4.1 yds per carry. 2,966 yrds totall.
Rock: He doesn't even have stats hardley for being a RB. He has roughly less then 200 yrds each yr except for 2003 where he had 411 yrds. All of Rocks stats are based off of KR/PR duties.

I actually would rather see the team pick up a younger RB to take the bulk of the duties and take the bulk of the punishment slamming the ball up the middle. I know Rock has character but time to move on with someone who can KR and PR as well as be a speed back to run to the outside. Betts is also a nice character guy but he serves the same function as Portis...he is a between the tackles type of runner. Portis has been hammered each yr and although is a soldier he's starting to get banged up. If the motto is to get younger then Portis at age 27 and anyone older should go including Betts and Rock.

I think I would try to salvage Portis one more yr. Either bring in a younger between the tackles type of runner or mold Mason. Keep either Alridge or Dorsey whoever outshines and use them as KR/PR and as our scat back. Maybe even as a second RB in the back field to keep defenses guessing.

I'm not just throwing this out to play devil's advocate...i really believe CP has plenty of time left and by retirement the kid will hold every Skins RB record on the books. From everything I can see Portis eats, sleeps and breaths the game. I don't even think of him as an athlete...he's a spectacular football player. He takes extremely good care of himself and has shown a remarkable talent for adjusting his style to 1) fit the offensive system he's part of 2) take as little punishment as possible w/o sacrificing the team and 3) extend his career.

I do agree it's critical we implement a more true 2 back system because no human can carry the load CP has for more than a few years. But the biggest challenge toward that end (IMHO) will be convincing CP to take fewer carries. Zorn, whatever we think of him, displays a lot of integrity and character so if there's anyone who might get through to Portis it should be coach Z.

let betts play 25% of the game, enough said, period!

I'm not just throwing this out to play devil's advocate...i really believe CP has plenty of time left and by retirement the kid will hold every Skins RB record on the books. From everything I can see Portis eats, sleeps and breaths the game. I don't even think of him as an athlete...he's a spectacular football player. He takes extremely good care of himself and has shown a remarkable talent for adjusting his style to 1) fit the offensive system he's part of 2) take as little punishment as possible w/o sacrificing the team and 3) extend his career.

I do agree it's critical we implement a more true 2 back system because no human can carry the load CP has for more than a few years. But the biggest challenge toward that end (IMHO) will be convincing CP to take fewer carries. Zorn, whatever we think of him, displays a lot of integrity and character so if there's anyone who might get through to Portis it should be coach Z.With as much mileage as Portis has accumulated playing our physical brand of football, it will become more important in coming years that Betts assumes some of that load. I'd love to see Betts get 8-10 carries and be used as a receiver from two back sets with Portis. I don't recall seeing them on the field together in the past, but I've always felt they would present matchup problems for opposing LBs. In similar fashion, I'm also hoping to see some two TE sets with Cooley and Davis.

Why do we need a change of pace if he is good at what he does?

This whole 'change of pace' back is a fad.
You just need 2 good backs in the NFL.
Style doesn't matter.

Vikes-Peterson has Chester Taylor he isn't a 'scat' back.
Panthers-DeAngelo Williams has Stewart not a 'scat' back.
Dolphins-Ronnie Brown & Ricky Williams
Ravens-McClain & McGahee
Seattle-Morris & Jones
etc...

Betts is a proven back in this league.
Saunders thought that Betts was better receiver then Portis, and i agree with him.

Bottom line is that Betts was hurt last year when we needed him the most.

Imo Sherman Smith is right they do need to get Betts more involved but i wonder if part of the problem with getting Betts the ball is Portis.
They have to sell Portis on giving up some plays to keep him fresh and running hard.

This whole 'change of pace' back is a fad.
You just need 2 good backs in the NFL.
Style doesn't matter.

Vikes-Peterson has Chester Taylor he isn't a 'scat' back.
Panthers-DeAngelo Williams has Stewart not a 'scat' back.
Dolphins-Ronnie Brown & Ricky Williams
Ravens-McClain & McGahee
Seattle-Morris & Jones
etc...

Betts is a proven back in this league.
Saunders thought that Betts was better receiver then Portis, and i agree with him.

Bottom line is that Betts was hurt last year when we needed him the most.

Imo Sherman Smith is right they do need to get Betts more involved but i wonder if part of the problem with getting Betts the ball is Portis.
They have to sell Portis on giving up some plays to keep him fresh and running hard.

Same here. Portis is used to going in and out as he pleases. That has to change.