Running game will be vastly improved

[dblanch66]

With all the talk of receivers and defense, a commonly overlooked element of next year's offense will be our much improved running attack and O-Line. Portis will have a year under his belt in Gibb's running scheme and I think the addition of Casey Rabach will have a bigger impact than a lot of folks think. Jansen's return and Samuels having another year under Buges means our tackle spot is set. Randy Thomas is a stud at RG and Dockery and Ray Brown will be ok at LG. Plus we now have depth with Molinaro and Wilson. Anyone have any reason to believe our "Dirtbags" won't be a great line this year? I'm pretty excited about them.

[offiss]

Originally Posted by dblanch66

With all the talk of receivers and defense, a commonly overlooked element of next year's offense will be our much improved running attack and O-Line. Portis will have a year under his belt in Gibb's running scheme and I think the addition of Casey Rabach will have a bigger impact than a lot of folks think. Jansen's return and Samuels having another year under Buges means our tackle spot is set. Randy Thomas is a stud at RG and Dockery and Ray Brown will be ok at LG. Plus we now have depth with Molinaro and Wilson. Anyone have any reason to believe our "Dirtbags" won't be a great line this year? I'm pretty excited about them.

Great? they were horrible last year, Rabach is a nice signing he's nothing spectacular, Jansen will obviously help, but it's not like Portis needed a year to learn how to run, were talking a RB here not a QB, bottom line the mere mention of Brown on our line pretty much say's it all we will have a 42 year old backing up our guard's and tackles, we can be decent but I don't see greatness with that line.

[Daseal]

Our running game will be better once we stop pretending we have John Riggins in the game. The second we start working it for Portis's fortes the sooner we start seeing big results.

[dblanch66]

That's my point. Portis had 1,315 yards last year with a patchwork line.

[Daseal]

He also had among the lowest YPC in the NFL. What's your point?

Fact is Portis is a stud, but not for the power running game. It's not the line as much as the system.

[dblanch66]

I guess I'm just optimistic because if he can gain over 1300 yards with a sub-par line and IF the coaching staff adusts a little to CP's style this year, I like the chances for an improved running game.

[offiss]

Originally Posted by dblanch66

I guess I'm just optimistic because if he can gain over 1300 yards with a sub-par line and IF the coaching staff adusts a little to CP's style this year, I like the chances for an improved running game.

That's a big IF, I was saying that the day I heard we may trade for the guy, and yet the coaches not only didn't see it, they ran him as Daseal said like Gibbs thought he was Riggins, without doing much in the area of changing the blocking schemes to suit Portis's running style, 1300 yds? And Gibb's took 2 years off his NFL life to get there, he dropped over 1 and a half yards per carry under his career average, and couldn't get the big yard on third or fourth and 1 if his life depended on it. 1300 yards for Portis is like a QB who throws for 300 yards with 60 pass attempts for 5 yards a pop, 300 yards sounds good until you see what he had to do to get there.

[dblanch66]

still doesn't mean we won't be better this year. Last year is over.

[joecrisp]

From what I recall of watching the Redskins' running attack over the course of the season, Gibbs did install running plays that involved zone blocking, and Portis responded pretty well to that, since it was similar to what he excelled with in Denver. However, Gibbs never went totally in that direction, preferring to maintain a balance of zone-blocking and the trap-blocking, power-running style that brought him so much success in his previous stint.

[Daseal]

If they can let him pick his holes and use his speed then our running game could be amazing.

[Redskins8588]

I believe that our offense as a whole will be better this season. Hopfully Portis can stay healthy and take advantage of it, after all we are playing against his favorite division this year, AFC WEST!!!!

[Hog1]

GOOD points, and you are correct, the return of injured players on both sides of the ball will seem like a new and much improved team!

[MTK]

I think the line does have the potential to be very good. Jansen and Samuels are a great tackle tandem, Randy Thomas is one of the more underrated guards around, and Rabach should solidify the middle. Our only question mark is at left guard. Will Dockery finally blossom?

[uhohjimoh]

I think our line will be decent this year, barring any devastating injuries like Jansen last year. Rabach is a really good center. And i think his addition to this club has been vastly underated due to all the usual skins drama in the offseason. Plus its buges..i believe he can shape up these guys and give patrick the time he needs and let portis have the holes he needs. DOnt forget that mst of the seasons other teams dfenses were stacked against the run, due to our aenemic passing game. Randy thomas is an excellent run blocker.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

I'm crossing my fingers for a "safe" preseason.