Shanahan Dodging the Heat

In defense of Portis, his pass protection is so much more physical than any other RB that I can't accept that its a matter of him shying away from contact when he carries the ball.

IMO there are different types of "contact".

Portis has no problem with taking a few steps and plowing into a line where the other players pretty much have no momentum, its not really your typical high impact contact.

He doesnt have a problem blocking a much larger guy who is coming off a block and trying to get to hit someone other than portis. Its alot easier to be the hitter than the hitted.

Portis does shy away from contact in the open field where you can have those bone and brain jarring speed momentum blindside hits.

That and his concussion last year, maybe he is thinking he wants to preserve enough of portis to try and get another contract in the nfl after his skins contract expires?

IMO there are different types of "contact".

Portis has no problem with taking a few steps and plowing into a line where the other players pretty much have no momentum, its not really your typical high impact contact.

He doesnt have a problem blocking a much larger guy who is coming off a block and trying to get to hit someone other than portis. Its alot easier to be the hitter than the hitted.

Portis does shy away from contact in the open field where you can have those bone and brain jarring speed momentum blindside hits.

That and his concussion last year, maybe he is thinking he wants to preserve enough of portis to try and get another contract in the nfl after his skins contract expires?

This sounds about right, although in that long Fred Davis catch and run against the Texans, he nailed a guy in the open field. But then again that guy was probably back pedaling or something and not coming at him at full speed.

I still think it is more of a balance issue with him, rather than him shying away from contact (unlike McNabb's scrambles when you can clearly see the "sideline, sideline, sideline!" look on his face, which is about right since he's a QB).

Yeah i'm seriously hoping that he now realizes that Portis is D-O-N-E as a feature back. They have the right role for him, keep him in on 3rd down and in passing situations. It shouldn't be a question if he is an every down runner, because he isnt.

What pissed Shanahan off with Portis, and I guarantee you why he was pulled, was when he broke that run and voluntarily slid down like he always used to do, instead of trying to fight for more yards.

You will see more of Ryan Torain, and perhaps LJ could even be brought back as #2.

Shanahan said today Portis told him he was having trouble with his wrist and wasn't sure he could secure the ball if he had to absorb contact on it. I guess one is left to asume Shanahan didn't feel comfortable with Portis being in the game based on what he told him.