bigger role for Betts this year?

I hope so...

Redskins Insider - Smith: Offense Up To Speed -- And Watch Betts (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/smith-offense-up-to-speed----a.html)

"The guy that's been standing out to me is Ladell Betts," Smith said of the running back who serves as Clinton Portis's backup. "To me, he's stepped his game up. He's preparing like he's a starter. He's taken a leadership role, which I'm not saying he wasn't a leader before, but I just think he's a very good player. He's jumped out to me.

His versaltility is his main strength, but he's been just mediocre after his good year in '06. I'm really hoping one of those backs we signed (Aldridge, Dorsey, Mason) step and become the #2 behind Portis.

Smith isn't the first coach to say that he liked Betts. Remember when saunders said he was excited about Betts' potential & wanted to get Betts & Portis in at the same time?

That never happened as far as I know, although Saunders liked to go to Betts in the passing game when Portis was healthy. Seems that since Portis came back in 07, for whatever reason, Betts just doesn't get called on that much. It's unfair to him to say he hasn't done much since 06. He's still a very good back, give him the ball in a variety of situations & he'll produce.

I bet he's as quick or quicker to the hole as portis these days. His main problem has always been fumbling, not his speed or toughness.

I want to see us give another back every 3rd or so series. Portis is a very good back, but he's getting a bi long in the tooth (for a RB) and I can't think of anything that could help this team more than Portis with something left in the tank in the 4th quarter or the game and season. Stop killing Portis by week 11.

Betts has to play a bigger role this year or Portis will again have nothing left by the 2nd half of the season.

totally agree w/Matty & Daseal.

Does anyone have a theory as to why Betts hasn't gotten may carries the last 2 years, even as the coaches seem to always praise him in training camp & the team re-signed him to a nice deal?

Smith isn't the first coach to say that he liked Betts. Remember when saunders said he was excited about Betts' potential & wanted to get Betts & Portis in at the same time?

That never happened as far as I know, although Saunders liked to go to Betts in the passing game when Portis was healthy. Seems that since Portis came back in 07, for whatever reason, Betts just doesn't get called on that much. It's unfair to him to say he hasn't done much since 06. He's still a very good back, give him the ball in a variety of situations & he'll produce.

I bet he's as quick or quicker to the hole as portis these days. His main problem has always been fumbling, not his speed or toughness.

Nobody's questioning his speed or quickness, because all of that is irrelevant. The bottom line is that when he's had oppurtunities he hasn't taken full advantage of them, whether that's fumbling or getting injured (which isn't his fault). If you look at production, he really hasn't done much since '06 and that (could) be blamed on playing time but if he made the most out of his oppurtunities we would not have signed 3 RB's to compete with him for the #2 job which already tells you something.

I'm cool with more of a Portis/Betts sharing the load arrangement. Betts is good in bursts (say that 5 times fast) but he has to work on ball security. I know his fumbles per carry ratio is similar to Portis but his fumbles seem to come at killer times.

Hopefully his role will be cheering on the sideline 95% of the time and relieving Portis for a breathing spell the other 5% of the time.

On a good day I'd like to see Betts get at least 10 carries. Let him play a couple of series in a row to get in a groove. I'd rather see a healthy Portis at the end of the year with 1200 yards than a totally gassed Portis with 1500 yards. Come playoff time a broken down CP is going to be worthless.